For years, urban development in Colombia has been marked by the shadow of large metropolises such as Bogotá, Medellín and Cali that have concentrated political, economic and business attention, leaving intermediate cities with the role of followers. However, two recent measurements show that that narrative is beginning to change.
Both the Modern Cities Index (ICM), from the National Planning Department, and the Cities Competitiveness Index (ICC) 2025, from the Private Competitiveness Council and the Universidad del Rosario, coincide in which the leadership of the regions no longer depends exclusively on size or economic weight.
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These reports, revealed in the last two weeks, made it clear that today, the drivers of development also beat strongly in medium-sized cities that are combining innovation, sustainability and good public management to close the distance with large capitals; despite the challenges that exist due to development gaps.
A new urban map
Firstly, the Modern Cities Index (ICM), which evaluates the performance of more than 1,100 municipalities based on 36 indicators grouped into six dimensions such as governance, productivity, security, sustainability, science and technology, and equity and social inclusion; by 2025, showed general progress, with a national average of 47.9 points, compared to a possible maximum of 100.
Intermediate cities become development centers for the regions.
Image from ChatGPT
The most relevant thing is not only the general progress, but who is leading that progress, since according to the DNP, Floridablanca (Santander) and Manizales (Caldas) lead the national ranking with 71 points, followed by Tocancipá (Cundinamarca) with 70; while among the departmental capitals, Manizales, Bogotá and Bucaramanga share the podium with the highest scores.
These results show that territorial development is not a monopoly of large cities, and that the presence of municipalities such as Floridablanca and Tocancipá in the first places is proof that local processes of modernization and strategic planning are transforming regional dynamics.
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“The index allows us to understand how territories evolve and guide public policies towards a more balanced and sustainable development,” the DNP explained in the report.
The intermediate rise
On the other hand, intermediate cities, those that are not large capitals but concentrate a significant number of population, services and innovation, stand out especially in this indicator for their progress in science, technology and innovation (CTI), since National Planning indicates that this dimension was the one that grew the most in 2025, with Tunja, Pasto and Manizales exceeding 90 points.
Intermediate cities become development centers for the regions.
Image from ChatGPT
“In total, 41 municipalities (3.6%) achieved high performance, while 82.8% were ranked in average performance and 13.4% in low performance. The national average was 47.9 points, showing sustained progress, although there are still challenges in territorial equity,” the report says.
At the departmental level, the leadership falls on Atlántico (62 points), Caldas (61) and Santander (60). Caldas, in addition, was the department with the greatest progress compared to the previous measurement, driven by its commitment to education, technology and citizen participation.
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Competitiveness: a more open game
The panorama is complemented by the results of the Cities Competitiveness Index (ICC) 2025; a measurement, focused exclusively on the 32 departmental capitals that offers a more economic view, since it analyzes 13 pillars that include the institutional environment, infrastructure, innovation, health, education, labor market and environmental sustainability.
In the general ranking, Bogotá DC maintains first place with 7.47 points out of 10, followed by Medellín (6.67), Tunja (6.24), Cali (6.18) and Manizales (6.08). Although large cities continue to lead, the rise of intermediate cities is undeniable.
Tunja retains third place thanks to its solidity in the financial system and its institutional environment, while Manizales and Montería are recognized for their emerging performance in competitiveness. In particular, Montería makes the biggest jump in the ranking after climbing three positions between 2019 and 2025, driven by economic diversification and improvement in infrastructure.
Intermediate cities become development centers for the regions.
Image from ChatGPT
“We want this exercise to contribute to enriching the debate on the country’s major issues from a subnational competitiveness approach,” said Ana Fernanda Maiguashca, president of the CPC.
Gaps that still weigh
Despite the progress, both studies agree that territorial inequalities remain profound. For example, the ICM shows a gap of 12 points between cities and dispersed rural municipalities and while urban agglomerations reach 56.1 points, the most remote territories barely reach 44.4.
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For experts, this difference reflects inequalities in access to services, connectivity and productive opportunities, which prevents urban progress from being translated homogeneously throughout the country.
Something similar happens at the ICC; since while Bogotá, Medellín and Cali remain above 6 points, the most lagging cities, such as Inírida (2.87), Puerto Carreño (3.11) and Mitú (3.13), show a very low level of competitiveness, marked by weaknesses in infrastructure, financial access and the labor market; making it clear that the reduction of the gap between the best and worst cities in seven of the thirteen pillars is a good sign, but the challenge remains enormous.
Intermediate cities become development centers for the regions.
Image from ChatGPT
With these data, it can be said that both the DNP and the CPC agree on a change of approach that takes into account that urban development is no longer measured only in terms of economic growth, but also environmental sustainability and quality of life.
Read together, the two reports draw a portrait in which Colombia is becoming more polycentric, with development poles emerging in different regions and although the large capitals maintain their weight, the intermediate ones are consolidated as strategic nodes of territorial articulation.
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Manizales, Tunja, Floridablanca and Montería have become examples of efficient management, urban planning and connection between knowledge and productivity; since each one, from its scale, is helping to balance the national economic map. The challenge, however, is to convert this momentum into sustained convergence.
DANIEL HERNÁNDEZ NARANJO
Portfolio Journalist
