2001 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 31.88% (male 6,507,282; female 6,354,454) 15-64 years: 63.37% (male 12,452,182; female 13,117,707) 65 years and over: 4.75% (male 859,967; female 1,057,796) (2001 est.)

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

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. Colombia Geography

Birth rate

22.41 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Capital

Bogota

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)

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

Death rate

5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

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

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

Ethnic groups

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

Executive branch

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

Geographic coordinates

4 00 N, 72 00 W

Geography - note

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

Government type

republic; executive branch dominates government structure

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.31% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,700 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

71,000 (1999 est.)

Independence

20 July 1810 (from Spain)

Infant mortality rate

23.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Irrigated land

5,300 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 6,004 km border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km

Land use

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

Languages

Spanish

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.57 years male: 66.71 years female: 74.55 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

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

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Nationality

noun: Colombian(s) adjective: Colombian

Natural hazards

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population

40,349,388 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate

1.64% (2001 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: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

2.66 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

1,091 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 92 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 38 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 8 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 999 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 64 914 to 1,523 m: 321 under 914 m: 613 (2000 est.) Colombia Military

Budget

revenues: $22 billion expenditures: $24 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Currency

Colombian peso (COP)

Currency code

COP

Debt - external

$34 billion (2000 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038 telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejia chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338

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

Economic aid - recipient

$40.7 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Colombia is poised for muted growth in the next several years, marking continued recovery from the severe 1999 recession when GDP fell by about 4%. President PASTRANA's well-respected economic team is working to keep the economy on track, maintaining low interest rates, for example. In accordance with its IMF loan agreement, the administration also is taking steps to improve the public sector's fiscal health. However, many challenges to improved prosperity remain. Unemployment was stuck at a record 20% in 2000, contributing to the extreme inequality in income distribution. Two of Colombia's leading exports, oil and coffee, face an uncertain future; new exploration is needed to offset declining oil production, while coffee harvests and prices are depressed. 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 continued support from the international community to boost economic and peace prospects.

Electricity - consumption

40.532 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

27 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

35 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

43.574 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 22.27% hydro: 76.19% nuclear: 0% other: 1.54% (1999)

Exchange rates

Colombian pesos per US dollar - 2,241.43 (January 2001), 2087.90 (2000), 1,756.23 (1999), 1,426.04 (1998), 1,140.96 (1997), 1,036.69 (1996)

Exports

$14.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, coffee, coal, apparel, bananas, cut flowers

Exports - partners

US 50%, EU 14%, Andean Community of Nations 16%, Japan 2% (2000 est.)

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

[57] (1) 315-2197

Fiscal year

calendar year Colombia Communications

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 Colombia Economy

GDP

purchasing power parity - $250 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 19% industry: 26% services: 55% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2000 est.)

Highways

total: 110,000 km paved: 26,000 km unpaved: 84,000 km (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 44% (1999)

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 1999 - 122,500 hectares, a 20.3% increase over 1998); cultivation of opium in 1999 increased to 7,500 hectares from 6,100 hectares in 1998; potential production of opium in 1999 - 75 metric tons, a 25% increase over 1998; potential production of heroin in 1999 - nearly 8 metric tons, as compared with 6 tons in 1998; the world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of about 90% of the cocaine to the US and the great majority of cocaine to other international drug markets, and an important supplier of heroin to the US market; active aerial eradication program

Imports

$12.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 35%, EU 16%, Andean Community of Nations 15%, Japan 5% (2000 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

11% (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9% (2000)

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, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.co

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

18 (2000)

Internet users

600,000 (2000) Colombia Transportation

Judicial branch

four, coequal, supreme judicial organs; 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); Higher Council of Justice (administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; members of the disciplinary chamber resolve jurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members are elected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)

Labor force

18.3 million (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

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) elections: Senate - last held 8 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2002); House of Representatives - last held 8 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2002) 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

Merchant marine

total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 53,322 GRT/69,444 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 4, container 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 2 (2000 est.)

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 billion (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.4% (FY00) Colombia Transnational Issues

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 10,779,148 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 7,205,211 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 379,295 (2001 est.)

Pipelines

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

Political parties and leaders

Conservative Party or PSC [Ciro RAMIREZ Anzon]; Liberal Party or PL [Luis Guillermo VELEZ]; Patriotic Union or UP is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and Colombian Communist Party or PCC [Jaime CAICEDO]; 19 of April Movement or M-19 [Antonio NAVARRO Wolff]

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; largest paramilitary group is United Self-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUC

Population below poverty line

55% (1999)

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)

Radios

21 million (1997)

Railways

total: 3,304 km standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines to maritime port at Bahia de Portete) narrow gauge: 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (major sections not in use) (2000)

Telephone system

general assessment: 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)

Unemployment rate

20% (2000 est.)

Waterways

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