named in honor of the Independence hero Antonio José de Sucre who was quoted by the founders of this department in reference to Simón Bolívar's death as saying "They have killed my heart", expression said while cruising the territory of the present day Sucre Department.

As of 2026, the Sucre Department has an estimated population of 1,047,052, of which 331,045 are in the department capital Sincelejo,