Socioeconomic Marginalization in La Guajira, Colombia: A Multidimensional Analysis of Municipalities

La Guajira, a department in northern Colombia, faces significant socioeconomic challenges, including high poverty levels and marginalization. This study aims to analyze the socioeconomic marginalization of municipalities in La Guajira, Colombia, by identifying key factors contributing to their vulnerability. Using Principal Component Analysis, the paper examines 21 socioeconomic indicators derived from the 2018 National Population and Housing Census conducted by the National Administrative Department of Statistics to uncover the multidimensional aspects of marginalization. The findings reveal three main dimensions of marginalization related to household socioeconomic disadvantages, infrastructure and basic services deficiencies, and ethnic and physical vulnerabilities. Municipalities are grouped into three clusters based on these dimensions using Cluster Analysis, highlighting stark differences between them, particularly the northern areas with indigenous communities. The results provide a foundation for targeted policies to address the unique socioeconomic issues of municipalities in La Guajira.