COP Rates Now (2023-03-28 08:50 (GMT -4:00))

Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama

4 00 N, 72 00 W

South America

total: 1,138,910 sq km

land: 1,038,700 sq km

water: 100,210 sq km

note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank

country comparison to the world: 27

total: 6,672 km

border countries (5): Brazil 1,790 km, Ecuador 708 km, Panama 339 km, Peru 1,494 km, Venezuela 2,341 km

3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos)

mean elevation: 593 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,730 m

note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation

petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower

agricultural land: 37.5%

arable land 1.4%; permanent crops 1.6%; permanent pasture 34.5%

forest: 54.4%

other: 8.1% (2011 est.)

10,900 sq km (2012)

the majority of people live in the north and west where agricultural opportunities and natural resources are found; the vast grasslands of the llanos to the south and east, which make up approximately 60% of the country, are sparsely populated

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts

volcanism: Galeras (4,276 m) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes, having erupted in 2009 and 2010 causing major evacuations; it has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Nevado del Ruiz (5,321 m), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985 producing lahars (mudflows) that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted in 1991; additionally, after 500 years of dormancy, Nevado del Huila reawakened in 2007 and has experienced frequent eruptions since then; other historically active volcanoes include Cumbal, Dona Juana, Nevado del Tolima, and Purace

deforestation resulting from timber exploitation in the jungles of the Amazon and the region of Choc?; illicit drug crops grown by peasants in the national parks; soil erosion; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

47,698,524 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

noun: Colombian(s)

adjective: Colombian

mestizo and white 84.2%, Afro-Colombian (includes mulatto, Raizal, and Palenquero) 10.4%, Amerindian 3.4%, Romani <.01, unspecified 2.1% (2005 est.)

Spanish (official)

Roman Catholic 79%, Protestant 14% (includes Pentecostal 6%, mainline Protestant 2%, other 6%), other 2%, unspecified 5% (2014 est.)

Colombia is in the midst of a demographic transition resulting from steady declines in its fertility, mortality, and population growth rates. The birth rate has fallen from more than 6 children per woman in the 1960s to just above replacement level today as a result of increased literacy, family planning services, and urbanization. However, income inequality is among the worst in the world, and more than a third of the population lives below the poverty line.

Colombia experiences significant legal and illegal economic emigration and refugee outflows. Large-scale labor emigration dates to the 1960s; the United States and, until recently, Venezuela have been the main host countries. Emigration to Spain picked up in the 1990s because of its economic growth, but this flow has since diminished because of Spain’s ailing economy and high unemployment. Colombia has been the largest source of Latin American refugees in Latin America, nearly 400,000 of whom live primarily in Venezuela and Ecuador. Venezuela’s political and economic crisis since 2015, however, has created a reverse flow, consisting largely of Colombians returning home.

Forced displacement continues to be prevalent because of violence among guerrillas, paramilitary groups, and Colombian security forces. Afro-Colombian and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected. Even with the Colombian Government’s December 2016 peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the risk of displacement remains as other rebel groups fill the void left by the FARC. Between 1985 and September 2017, nearly 7.6 million persons have been internally displaced, the highest total in the world. These estimates may undercount actual numbers because many internally displaced persons are not registered. Historically, Colombia also has one of the world’s highest levels of forced disappearances. About 30,000 cases have been recorded over the last four decades—although the number is likely to be much higher—including human rights activists, trade unionists, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, and farmers in rural conflict zones.

Because of political violence and economic problems, Colombia received limited numbers of immigrants during the 19th and 20th centuries, mostly from the Middle East, Europe, and Japan. More recently, growth in the oil, mining, and manufacturing sectors has attracted increased labor migration; the primary source countries are Venezuela, the US, Mexico, and Argentina. Colombia has also become a transit area for illegal migrants from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean -- especially Haiti and Cuba -- who are en route to the US or Canada.

total dependency ratio: 45.6

youth dependency ratio: 35.4

elderly dependency ratio: 10.2

potential support ratio: 9.8 (2015 est.)

total: 30 years

male: 29 years

female: 31 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 118

0.99% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 115

16.1 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 114

5.5 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 177

-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 129

the majority of people live in the north and west where agricultural opportunities and natural resources are found; the vast grasslands of the llanos to the south and east, which make up approximately 60% of the country, are sparsely populated

urban population: 77% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 1.47% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

BOGOTA (capital) 9.765 million; Medellin 3.911 million; Cali 2.646 million; Barranquilla 1.991 million; Bucaramanga 1.215 million; Cartagena 1.092 million (2015)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

21.7 years

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2015 est.)

64 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 87

total: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 16.5 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 106

total population: 75.9 years

male: 72.8 years

female: 79.3 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 96

2 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 122

79.1% (2009/10)

7.2% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 76

1.82 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

1.5 beds/1,000 population (2014)

improved:

urban: 96.8% of population

rural: 73.8% of population

total: 91.4% of population

unimproved:

urban: 3.2% of population

rural: 26.2% of population

total: 8.6% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 85.2% of population

rural: 67.9% of population

total: 81.1% of population

unimproved:

urban: 14.8% of population

rural: 32.1% of population

total: 18.9% of population (2015 est.)

0.4% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 73

120,000 (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 37

2,800 (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 44

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever

note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

22.3% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 78

3.4% (2010)

country comparison to the world: 108

4.5% of GDP (2016)

country comparison to the world: 95

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 94.2%

male: 94.1%

female: 94.4% (2015 est.)

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 15 years (2015)

total: 16.6%

male: 12.6%

female: 22.2% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 78

conventional long form: Republic of Colombia

conventional short form: Colombia

local long form: Republica de Colombia

local short form: Colombia

etymology: the country is named after explorer Christopher COLUMBUS

presidential republic

name: Bogota

geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W

time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, Archipielago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina (colloquially San Andres y Providencia), Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

20 July 1810 (from Spain)

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

several previous; latest promulgated 5 July 1991; amended many times, last in 2015 (2016)

civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident of Colombia

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (since 7 August 2010); Vice President Ret. Gen. Oscar Adolfo NARANJO Trujillo (since 30 March 2017); note - Vice President German VARGAS Lleras' resignation on 15 March 2017 became effective on 21 March 2017; the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (since 7 August 2010); Vice President Ret. Gen. Oscar Adolfo NARANJO Trujillo (since 30 March 2017)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 4-year term (beginning in 2018); election last held on 25 May 2014 with a runoff held on 15 June 2014 (next to be held on 27 May 2018); note - political reform in 2015 eliminated presidential reelection; beginning in 2018, presidents can serve only one 4-year term

election results: Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (U Party) 51.0%, Oscar Ivan ZULUAGA (CD) 45.0%, other 4.0%

description: bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; 100 members elected in a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation popular vote and 2 members elected in a special nationwide for indigenous communities to serve 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats; members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation constituency popular vote to serve 4-year terms)

elections: Senate - last held on 11 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2022); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 11 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2022)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CD 19, CR 16, PC 15, PL 14, U Party 14, Green Alliance 10, PDA 5, other 7; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 35, CD 32, CR 30, U Party 25, PC 21, Green Alliance 9, other 6

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of the Civil-Agrarian and Labor Chambers each with 7 judges, and the Penal Chamber with 9 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 magistrates); Council of State (consists of 31 members); Superior Judiciary Council (consists of 13 magistrates)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Supreme Court members from candidates submitted by the Superior Judiciary Council; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Constitutional Court magistrates - nominated by the president, by the Supreme Court, and elected by the Senate; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Council of State members appointed by the State Council plenary from lists nominated by the Superior Judiciary Council

subordinate courts: Superior Tribunals (appellate courts for each of the judicial districts); regional courts; civil municipal courts; Superior Military Tribunal; first instance administrative courts

Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Clara LOPEZ]

Citizens Option (Opcion Ciudadana) or OC [Angel ALIRIO Moreno] (formerly known as the National Integration Party or PIN)

Conservative Party or PC [David BARGUIL]

Democratic Center Party or CD [Alvaro URIBE Velez, Oscar Ivan ZULUAGA, Carlos HOLMES TRUJILLO, Ivan DUQUE]

Green Alliance [Jorge LONDONO, Antonio SANGUINO, Luis AVELLANEDA, Camilo ROMERO]

Liberal Party or PL [Horacio SERPA]

People's Alternative Revolutionary Force or FARC [Timoleon JIMENEZ]

Radical Change or CR [Carlos Fernando GALAN]

Social National Unity Party or U Party [Roy BARRERAS, Jose David NAME]

note: Colombia has numerous smaller movements

Central Union of Workers or CUT

Colombian Confederation of Workers or CTC

General Confederation of Workers or CGT

National Liberation Army or ELN

BCIE, BIS, CAN, Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission: Ambassador Camilo REYES Rodriguez (since 21 July 2017)

chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338

FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark (NJ), Orlando, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

consulate(s): Boston, Chicago, San Francisco

chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin WHITAKER (since 11 June 2014)

embassy: Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50, Bogota, D.C.

mailing address: Carrera 45 No. 24B-27, Bogota, D.C.

telephone: [57] (1) 275-2000

FAX: [57] (1) 275-4600

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the short-lived South American republic that broke up in 1830; various interpretations of the colors exist and include: yellow for the gold in Colombia's land, blue for the seas on its shores, and red for the blood spilled in attaining freedom; alternatively, the colors have been described as representing more elemental concepts such as sovereignty and justice (yellow), loyalty and vigilance (blue), and valor and generosity (red); or simply the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity

note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

Andean condor; national colors: yellow, blue, red

name: "Himno Nacional de la Republica de Colombia" (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia)

lyrics/music: Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI

note: adopted 1920; the anthem was created from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ

population without electricity: 1,200,000

electrification - total population: 97%

electrification - urban areas: 100%

electrification - rural areas: 88% (2013)

67.26 billion kWh (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 41

57.6 billion kWh (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 45

460 million kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 70

45 million kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 105

16.66 million kW (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 49

29.4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 186

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 70

69% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 19

1.6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 130

886,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 22

681,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 19

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 111

2.002 billion bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 37

362,100 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 39

345,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 40

83,920 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 44

95,790 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 59

11.91 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 39

18.82 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 44

400 million cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 45

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 110

123.5 billion cu m (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 51

74 million Mt (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 49

total subscriptions: 7,115,984

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

total: 58,684,924

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

general assessment: modern system in many respects with a nationwide microwave radio relay system, a domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations, and a fiber-optic network linking 50 cities; multiple providers of both fixed-line and mobile-cellular services, but infrastructure remains poor in small urban centers and rural areas

domestic: fixed-line connections stand at about 15 per 100 persons; mobile cellular telephone subscribership is about 120 per 100 persons; competition among cellular service providers is resulting in falling local and international calling rates and contributing to the steep decline in the market share of fixed-line services

international: country code - 57; multiple submarine cable systems provide links to the US, parts of the Caribbean, and Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 10 (6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 3 fully digitalized international switching centers) (2016)

combination of state-owned and privately owned broadcast media provide service; more than 500 radio stations and many national, regional, and local TV stations (2007)

.co

total: 27,452,550

percent of population: 58.1% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

number of registered air carriers: 12

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 157

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 30,742,928

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,317,562,271 mt-km (2015)

HJ, HK (2016)

836 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 8

total: 121

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 9

1,524 to 2,437 m: 39

914 to 1,523 m: 53

under 914 m: 18 (2017)

total: 715

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 25

914 to 1,523 m: 201

under 914 m: 488 (2013)

3 (2013)

gas 4,991 km; oil 6,796 km; refined products 3,429 km (2013)

total: 2,141 km

standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 1,991 km 0.914-m gauge (2015)

country comparison to the world: 73

total: 206,500 km (2016)

country comparison to the world: 25

24,725 km (18,300 km navigable; the most important waterway, the River Magdalena, of which 1,488 km is navigable, is dredged regularly to ensure safe passage of cargo vessels and container barges) (2012)

country comparison to the world: 6

total: 103

by type: general cargo 17, oil tanker 9, other 77 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 84

major seaport(s): Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Cartagena, Santa Marta, Turbo; Pacific Ocean - Buenaventura

river port(s): Barranquilla (Rio Magdalena)

oil terminal(s): Covenas offshore terminal

dry bulk cargo port(s): Puerto Bolivar (coal)

container port(s) (TEUs): Cartagena (1,853,342)

3.5% of GDP (2018 est.)

3.39% of GDP (2016)

3.13% of GDP (2015)

3.13% of GDP (2014)

3.29% of GDP (2013)

country comparison to the world: 22

National Army (Ejercito Nacional), Republic of Colombia Navy (Armada Republica de Colombia, ARC, includes Naval Aviation, Naval Infantry (Infanteria de Marina, IM), and Coast Guard), Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia, FAC) (2012)

18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; service obligation is 18 months (2012)

in December 2007, ICJ allocated San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina islands to Colombia under 1928 Treaty but did not rule on 82 degrees W meridian as maritime boundary with Nicaragua; managed dispute with Venezuela over maritime boundary and Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics, guerrilla, and paramilitary activities penetrate all neighboring borders and have caused Colombian citizens to flee mostly into neighboring countries; Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica, and the US assert various claims to Bajo Nuevo and Serranilla Bank

refugees (country of origin): 177,131 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2018)

IDPs: 7,708,465 (conflict between government and illegal armed groups and drug traffickers since 1985; about 300,000 new IDPs each year since 2000) (2018)

stateless persons: 11 (2016)

illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator with 188,000 hectares in coca cultivation in 2016, a 18% increase over 2015, producing a potential of 710 mt of pure cocaine; the world's largest producer of coca derivatives; supplies cocaine to nearly all of the US market and the great majority of other international drug markets; in 2016, the Colombian government reported manual eradication of 17,642 hectares; Colombia suspended aerial eradication in October 2015 making 2016 the first full year without aerial eradication; a significant portion of narcotics proceeds are either laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market peso exchange; Colombia probably remains the second largest supplier of heroin to the US market; opium poppy cultivation was estimated to be 1,100 hectares in 2015, sufficient to potentially produce three metric tons of pure heroin