Colombia Population: 45,745,783
13,707 VISITORS FROM HERE!«  Previous Country | Next Country  » Back to Flag Counter Overview |  |
| Background | |
| Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A nearly five-decade long conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) heavily funded by the drug trade, escalated during the 1990s. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia as a formal organization had ceased to function. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, emerging criminal groups arose, whose members include some former paramilitaries. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, but continue attacks against civilians. Large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. In October 2012, the Colombian Government started formal peace negotiations with the FARC aimed at reaching a definitive bilateral ceasefire and incorporating demobilized FARC members into mainstream society and politics. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its administrative departments. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties. |
 |
| |
| Geography | |
| Only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea | |
| Location: | Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama |
| Geographic coordinates: | 4 00 N, 72 00 W |
| Area: | 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 Size comparison: slightly less than twice the size of Texas |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 6,309 km border countries: Brazil 1,644 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,800 km, Venezuela 2,050 km |
| Coastline: | 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km) |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
| Climate: | tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands |
| Terrain: | flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation |
| Natural resources: | petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower |
| Land use: | arable land: 2.01% permanent crops: 1.37% other: 96.62% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 9,000 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts volcanism: Galeras (elev. 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 (elev. 5,321 m), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985 producing lahars 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 |
| Current Environment Issues: | deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions |
| International Environment Agreements: | 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 |
| ^Back to Top | |
| People | |
| Population: | 45,745,783 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 25.8% (male 6,032,725/female 5,755,437) 15-24 years: 18.2% (male 4,241,621/female 4,101,552) 25-54 years: 41.5% (male 9,376,745/female 9,597,744) 55-64 years: 8% (male 1,705,451/female 1,962,606) 65 years and over: 6.5% (male 1,242,980/female 1,728,922) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 28.3 years male: 27.3 years female: 29.2 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.128% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 17.23 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 5.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 15.92 deaths/1,000 live births male: 19.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 74.79 years male: 71.55 years female: 78.23 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.1 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.5% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 160,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 14,000 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Colombian(s) adjective: Colombian |
| Ethnic groups: | mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1% |
| Religions: | Roman Catholic 90%, other 10% |
| Languages: | Spanish (official) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.4% male: 90.1% female: 90.7% (2005 census) |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Government | |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Colombia conventional short form: Colombia local long form: Republica de Colombia local short form: Colombia |
| Government type: | republic; executive branch dominates government structure |
| Capital: | name: Bogota geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions: | 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 |
| Independence: | 20 July 1810 (from Spain) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 20 July (1810) |
| Constitution: | 5 July 1991; amended many times |
| Legal system: | civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (since 7 August 2010); Vice President Angelino GARZON (since 7 August 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (since 7 August 2010); Vice President Angelino GARZON (since 7 August 2010) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 30 May 2010 with a runoff election 20 June 2010 (next to be held in May 2014) election results: Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon 69.06%, Antanas MOCKUS 27.52% |
| Legislative branch: | bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 14 March 2010 (next to be held in March 2014); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 14 March 2010 (next to be held in March 2014) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - U Party 28, PC 22, PL 16, PIN 9, CR 8, PDA 8, Green Party 5, other parties 5; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - U Party 47, PC 37, PL 36, CR 16, PIN 12, PDA 4, Green Party 3, other parties 10; note - as of 1 January 2011, the Senate currently has 101 seats after one seat became vacant due to a PL senator losing their seat for illegal collusion with the FARC; the Chamber of Representatives also has one seat vacant after only 165 of the 166 candidates were credentialed |
| Judicial branch: | four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest court of criminal law; judges are selected by their peers from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Council of State (highest court of administrative law; judges are selected from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Constitutional Court (guards integrity and supremacy of the constitution; rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties); Superior Judicial Council (administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; resolves jurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members are elected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms) |
| Political parties and leaders: | Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Clara LOPEZ]; Conservative Party or PC [Efrain CEPEDA Sarabia]; Green Party [Jorge LONDONO Ulloa; Enrique PENALOSA]; Liberal Party or PL [Simon GAVIRIA Munoz]; National Integration Party or PIN [Angel ALIRIO Moreno]; Radical Change or CR [Antonio GUERRA de la Espriella]; Social National Unity Party or U Party [Juan Francisco LOZANO Ramirez] note: Colombia has seven major political parties, and numerous smaller movements |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Central Union of Workers or CUT; Colombian Confederation of Workers or CTC; General Confederation of Workers or CGT; National Liberation Army or ELN; Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC note: FARC and ELN are the two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia |
| International organization participation: | BCIE, BIS, CAN, Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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, PCA, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos URRUTIA Valenzuela chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338 FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Beverly Hills (CA), Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Newark |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Michael MCKINLEY 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 |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Economy | |
| Colombia's consistently sound economic policies and aggressive promotion of free trade agreements in recent years have bolstered its ability to face external shocks. Real GDP has grown more than 4% per year for the past three years, continuing almost a decade of strong economic performance. All three major ratings agencies have upgraded Colombia's government debt to investment grade. Nevertheless, Colombia depends heavily on oil exports, making it vulnerable to a drop in oil prices. Economic development is stymied by inadequate infrastructure, weakened further by recent flooding. Moreover, the unemployment rate of 10.3% in 2012 is still one of Latin America's highest. The SANTOS Administration's foreign policy has focused on bolstering Colombia's commercial ties and boosting investment at home. The US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was ratified by the US Congress in October 2011 and implemented in 2012. Colombia has signed or is negotiating FTAs with a number of other countries, including Canada, Chile, Mexico, Switzerland, the EU, Venezuela, South Korea, Turkey, Japan, China, Costa Rica, Panama, and Israel. Foreign direct investment - notably in the oil and gas sectors - reached a record $10 billion in 2008 but dropped to $7.2 billion in 2009, before beginning to recover in 2010, and reached a record high of nearly $16 billion in 2012. Colombia is the third largest Latin American exporter of oil to the United States, and the United States' largest source of impored coal. Inequality, underemployment, and narcotrafficking remain significant challenges, and Colombia's infrastructure requires major improvements to sustain economic expansion. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $500 billion (2012 est.) $479.6 billion (2011 est.) $452.8 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $365.4 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 4.3% (2012 est.) 5.9% (2011 est.) 4% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $10,700 (2012 est.) $10,400 (2011 est.) $9,900 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 6.8% industry: 38.1% services: 55.1% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 23.08 million (2012 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 18% industry: 13% services: 68% (2011 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 10.3% (2012 est.) 10.8% (2011 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 34.1% (2011 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 44.4% (2010 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 58.5 (2011) 53.8 (1996) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.2% (2012 est.) 3.4% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 24.1% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $104.2 billion expenditures: $106 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 40.2% of GDP (2012 est.) 43.4% of GDP (2011 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities |
| Agriculture - products: | coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; shrimp; forest products |
| Industries: | textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 0% (2012 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 56.28 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 46.87 billion kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 1.294 billion kWh (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 8.22 billion kWh (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 11.26 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 9.08 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 2.18 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 40,290 cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 134.1 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$13.29 billion (2012 est.) -$9.978 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $59.96 billion (2012 est.) $56.22 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | petroleum, coal, emeralds, coffee, nickel, cut flowers, bananas, apparel |
| Exports - partners: | US 42%, Netherlands 4.7%, China 4.2% (2011) |
| Imports: | $55.49 billion (2012 est.) $50.73 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity |
| Imports - partners: | US 29.2%, China 11.9%, Mexico 11.5%, Brazil 5.3% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $34.74 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $31.91 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $73.41 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $70.04 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $111.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $95.67 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $32.56 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $31.12 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $201.3 billion (31 December 2011) $208.5 billion (31 December 2010) $133.3 billion (31 December 2009) |
| Exchange rates: | Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar - 1,800.4 (2012 est.) 1,848 (2011 est.) 1,898.6 (2010 est.) 2,157.6 (2009) 2,243.6 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 7.127 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 26 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 46.2 million (2011) |
| Telephone system: | 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; telecommunications sector liberalized during the 1990s; multiple providers of both fixed-line and mobile-cellular services domestic: fixed-line connections stand at about 15 per 100 persons; mobile cellular telephone subscribership is about 100 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) (2011) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .co |
| Internet hosts: | 4.41 million (2012) |
| Internet users: | 22.538 million (2009) |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 862 (2012) country comparison to the world: 8 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 121 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 41 914 to 1,523 m: 55 under 914 m: 16 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 741 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 178 under 914 m: 537 (2012) |
| Heliports: | 2 (2012) |
| Pipelines: | gas 4,801 km; oil 6,334 km; refined products 3,309 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 874 km standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 498 km 0.950-m gauge; 226 km 0.914-m gauge (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 141,374 km (2010) |
| Waterways: | 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 the safe passage of cargo vessels and container barges) (2012) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 12 by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2 registered in other countries: 4 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Panama 2, Portugal 1) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Puerto Bolivar, Santa Marta, Turbo oil terminals: Covenas offshore terminal |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Military | |
| Military branches: | 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) (2011) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; service obligation - 18 months (2004) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 11,692,647 females age 16-49: 11,727,625 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 9,150,400 females age 16-49: 9,861,760 (2010 est.) |
| ^Back to Top | |
«
Previous Country | Next Country » Back to Flag Counter OverviewSource: CIA - The World Factbook