2000 Edition

Background

Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian Government escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by funds from the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, the movement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary to overthrow the government. While Bogota continues to try to negotiate a settlement, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders.

Area

land

1,038,700 sq km

note

includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank

total

1,138,910 sq km

water

100,210 sq km

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

highest point

Nevado del Huila 5,750 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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

border countries

Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km

total

6,004 km

Land use

arable land

4%

forests and woodland

48%

other

8% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

1%

permanent pastures

39%

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, hydropower

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 32% (male 6,463,195; female 6,310,723) 15-64 years: 63% (male 12,206,095; female 12,854,682) 65 years and over: 5% (male 832,986; female 1,017,974) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

22.85 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.27 years (2000 est.)

male

66.43 years

total population

70.28 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

91.4% (1995 est.)

male

91.2%

total population

91.3%

Nationality

adjective

Colombian

noun

Colombian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

39,685,655 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.68% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%

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: 0.82 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.69 children born/woman (2000 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

Capital

Bogota

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Curtis Warren KAMMAN

embassy

Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831

mailing address

APO AA 34038

telephone

(1) 315-0811

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejia

telephone

(202) 387-8338

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet

chief of state

President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998); Vice President Gustavo BELL Lemus (since 7 August 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

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 21 June 1998; Andres PASTRANA elected president; percent of vote - 50.3%; Gustavo BELL elected vice president; percent of vote - 50.3%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002); 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 last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002)

head of government

President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998); Vice President Gustavo BELL Lemus (since 7 August 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

FAX

(202) 232-8643

(1) 315-2197

consulate(s)

Atlanta

consulate(s) general

Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Washington, DC

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

BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice or 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

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 (163 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - PL 50%, PSC 24%, smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 26%; seats by party - PL 58, PSC 28, smaller parties 16; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PL 52%, PSC 17%, other 31%; seats by party - PL 98, PSC 52, indigenous parties 2, others 11

elections

Senate - last held NA March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2002); House of Representatives - last held NA March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2002)

National holiday

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Alliance-April 19 Movement or AD/M-19 is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident liberals and conservatives [Carlos Franco ECHAVARRIA, Antonio NAVARRO Wolff, Otty PATINO, Carlos Alonso LUCIO]; Liberal Party or PL [Jose Fernando BAUTISTA]; New Democratic Force or NDF ; Patriotic Union or UP is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and Colombian Communist Party or PCC [Aida ABELLA]; Social Conservative Party or PSC [Dr. Eugenio MERLANO de la Ossa]

Political pressure groups and leaders

two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - National Liberation Army or ELN; and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$24 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

revenues

$22 billion

Colombia's leading exports, oil and coffee, face an uncertain future

new exploration is needed to offset a pending decline in oil production, and the coffee harvest has dropped off because of aging plantations and natural disasters. The lack of public security is a key concern for investors, making progress in the government's peace negotiations with insurgent groups an important driver of economic performance. Colombia is looking for international financial assistance to boost economic recovery and peace prospects.

Currency

1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos

Debt - external

$35 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$40.7 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Colombia is poised for moderate growth in the next several years, marking an end to the severe 1999 recession when GDP fell by about 5%. President PASTRANA's well-respected economic team is taking steps to keep the recovery on track, such as lowering interest rates and shoring up the financial system. In its loan agreement with the IMF, the administration has pledged to take additional steps to restore growth, reduce inflation, and improve the public sector's fiscal health. Many challenges to sustainable growth remain, however. Unemployment reached a record 20% in 1999 and may remain high, contributing to the extreme inequality in income distribution.

Electricity - consumption

41.963 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

94 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

45.02 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

30.11%

hydro

69.25%

nuclear

0%

other

0.64% (1998)

Exchange rates

Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 1,925.63 (January 2000), 1,756.23 (1999), 1,426.04 (1998), 1,140.96 (1997), 1,036.69 (1996), 912.83 (1995)

Exports

$11.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, coffee, coal, gold, bananas, cut flowers

Exports - partners

US 39%, EU 24%, Andean Community 15%, Japan 2% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $245.1 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

19%

industry

26%

services

55% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,200 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 46.9% (1995)

Imports

$10 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity

Imports - partners

US 35%, EU 20%, Andean Community 15%, Japan 7% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

-7% (1999 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.2% (1999)

Labor force

16.8 million (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)

Population below poverty line

17.7% (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate

20% (1999 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

13 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)

Radios

21 million (1997)

Telephone system

modern system in many respects

domestic

nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking 50 cities

international

satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat; 3 fully digitalized international switching centers; 8 submarine cables

Telephones - main lines in use

5,433,565 (December 1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,800,229 (December 1998)

Television broadcast stations

60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997)

Televisions

4.59 million (1997)

Airports

1,101 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

90 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 37 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1,011 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 62 914 to 1,523 m: 330 under 914 m: 618 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

13,868 km

total

115,564 km

unpaved

101,696 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 4, cargo 5, container 1, multi-functional large load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 2 (1999 est.)

total

13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 51,343 GRT/67,168 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km

Ports and harbors

Bahia de Portete, Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo

Railways

narrow gauge

3,230 km 0.914-m gauge (1,830 km in use) (1995)

standard gauge

150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines to maritime port at Bahia de Portete)

total

3,380 km

Waterways

18,140 km, navigable by river boats (April 1996)

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

$3.4 billion (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.7% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 10,599,704 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 7,093,676 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

370,356 (2000 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

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 1998 - 101,500 hectares, a 28% increase over 1997); cultivation of opium in 1998 remained steady at 6,600 hectares; 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, and an important supplier of heroin to the US market; active aerial eradication program

COMOROS