1998 Edition

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, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank

Area-comparative

slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Climate

tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

Coastline

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado del Huila 5,750 m

Environment-current issues

deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions

Environment-international agreements

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geographic coordinates

4 00 N, 72 00 W

Geography-note

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

Irrigated land

5,300 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 7,408 km border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km

Land use

arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 39% forests and woodland: 48% other: 8% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

South America, Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 33% (male 6,474,927; female 6,321,404) 15-64 years: 62% (male 11,725,078; female 12,333,982) 65 years and over: 5% (male 780,486; female 945,072) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

24.93 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

5.69 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%

Infant mortality rate

25.44 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.06 years male: 66.15 years female: 74.11 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.3% male: 91.2% female: 91.4% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Colombian(s) adjective: Colombian

Net migration rate

-0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

38,580,949 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

1.89% (1998 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.9 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Constitution

5 July 1991

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Colombia conventional short form: Colombia local long form: Republica de Colombia local short form: Colombia

Data code

CO

Executive branch

chief of state: President Ernesto SAMPER Pizano (since 7 August 1994); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ernesto SAMPER Pizano (since 7 August 1994); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 29 May 1994 (next to be held May 1998); vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term in a new procedure that replaces the traditional designation of vice presidents by newly elected presidents election results: Ernesto SAMPER Pizano elected president; percent of vote-no candidate received more than 50% of the total vote, therefore, a run-off election to select a president from the two leading candidates was held 19 June 1994; percent of vote-Ernesto SAMPER Pizano (Liberal Party) 50.4%, Andres PASTRANA Arango (Conservative Party) 48.6%, blank votes 1%; Humberto de la CALLE Lombana elected vice president; percent of vote-NA

FAX

[1] (202) 232-8643 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Washington, DC consulate(s): Atlanta and Tampa Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Curtis Warren KAMMAN embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, No. 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 mailing address: APO AA 34038 telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811

[57] (1) 315-2197

Flag description

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

Government type

republic; executive branch dominates government structure

Independence

20 July 1810 (from Spain)

International organization participation

AG, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G3, G-11, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MINUGUA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Juan Carlos ESGUERRA Portocarrero chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justical), highest court of criminal law, judges are selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms; Council of State, highest court of administrative law, judges are selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice 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 Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party or PL [Emilio LEBOLO Castellanos]; Conservative Party or PC [Hugo ESCOBAR Sierra]; New Democratic Force or NDF [Andres PASTRANA Arango]; Democratic Alliance M-19 or AD/M-19 is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident liberals and conservatives; Patriotic Union (UP) is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and Colombian Communist Party (PCC) Political pressure groups and leaders: two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia-Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC; and National Liberation Army or ELN

Legal system

based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (161 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate-last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held March 1998); House of Representatives-last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held March 1998) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Liberal Party 59, conservatives (includes PC and NDF) 31, other 12; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Liberal Party 89, conservatives (includes PC and NDF) 53, AD/M-19 2, other 17

National capital

Bogota

National holiday

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp farming

Budget

revenues: $26 billion (1996 est.) expenditures: $30 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Currency

1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos

Debt-external

$17.1 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $30 million (1993)

Economy-overview

Columbia is recovering from a short recession that began in late 1996 - resulting from tight monetary policy to drive down inflation, declining business confidence related to President SAMPER's political difficulties, and a slowdown in exports stemming from an appreciation of the peso and a recession in neighboring Venezuela. Although 1997's 3.1% GDP growth rate represented an improvement over 1996, it ranked among the lowest in Latin America and was substantially lower than the average annual growth rate exceeding 4% that Colombia posted for several decades prior to SAMPER's election. Colombia's next president will inherit a variety of economic problems. Most notably, the unemployment rate is at its highest level this decade, risks for the export sector and foreign investors are rising as a result of increasing guerrilla violence and a volatile exchange rate, and the fiscal deficit has more than tripled since 1994.

Electricity-capacity

10.781 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

1,307 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

47 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1-1345.0 (February 1998), 1,140.96 (1997), 1,036.69 (1996), 912.83 (1995), 844.84 (1994), 863.06 (1993)

Exports

total value: $11.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: petroleum, coffee, coal, bananas, fresh cut flowers partners: US 39%, EC 25.7%, Japan 2.9%, Venezuela 8.5% (1992)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$231.1 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 19% industry: 26% services: 55% (1996)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$6,200 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

3.1% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $13.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.) commodities: industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products partners: US 36%, EC 18%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 6.5%, Japan 8.7% (1992)

Industrial production growth rate

-1.2% (1996)

Industries

textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds

Inflation rate-consumer price index

17.7% (1997 est.)

Labor force

total: 16.8 million (1997 est.) by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 413 (licensed), FM 217 (licensed), shortwave 28

Radios

NA

Telephone system

modern system in many respects domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

1.89 million (1986 est.)

Television broadcast stations

33

Televisions

5.5 million (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

12.2% (1997 est.)

Airports

1,136 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 86 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 36 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 7 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1,050 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 65 914 to 1,523 m: 348 under 914 m: 636 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 107,000 km paved: 12,733 km unpaved: 94,267 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 70,775 GRT/94,677 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 8, container 1, multi-function large load carrier 2, oil tanker 3 (1997 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km Ports and harbors: Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo

Railways

total: 3,386 km standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines to maritime port at Bahia Portete) narrow gauge: 3,236 km 0.914-m gauge (1,830 km in use) (1995)

Waterways

14,300 km, navigable by river boats

Military branches

Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$2 billion (1995)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

2.8% (1995)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 10,229,023 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 6,862,893 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 352,204 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial disputes with Nicaragua over Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank

Historical perspective

Comoros has had difficulty in achieving political stability, having endured 18 coups or attempted coups since receiving independence from France in 1975. Most recently, in August 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. An attempt in September 1997 by the government to reestablish control over the rebellious islands by force failed, and presently the Organization of African Unity is brokering negotiations to effect a reconciliation.

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis; cultivation of coca in 1997-79,500 hectares, an 18% increase over 1996; potential production of cocaine in 1997-125 metric tons, a 14% increase over 1996; cultivation of opium in 1997-6,600 hectares, a 5% increase over 1996; potential production of opium in 1997-66 metric tons, a 5% increase over 1996; the world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of cocaine to the US and other international drug markets; active aerial eradication program seeks to virtually eliminate coca and opium crops Introduction