2002 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2002 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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. An anti-insurgent army of paramilitaries has grown to be several thousand strong in recent years, challenging the insurgents for control of territory and illicit industries such as the drug trade and the government's ability to exert its dominion over rural areas. While Bogota continues to try to negotiate a settlement, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders.
Geography
Area
total: 1,138,910 sq km land: 1,038,700 sq km note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank 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
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 and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
Environment - international agreements
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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
8,500 sq km (1998 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: 2% other: 96% (1998 est.) permanent crops: 2%
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
Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 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
People and Society
Age structure
31.6% (male 6,552,961; female 6,399,666) 15-64 years: (male 886,921; female 1,098,961) (2002 est.)
Birth rate
21.99 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate
5.66 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Ethnic groups
mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%
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.)
Infant mortality rate
23.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Languages
Spanish
Life expectancy at birth
74.83 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (2002 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
-0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Population
41,008,227 (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate
1.6% (2002 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 (2002 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Distrito Capital de 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, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
Capital
Bogota
Constitution
5 July 1991
Country name
Republic of Colombia conventional short form: Government type: republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejia chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Washington, DC consulate(s): 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 FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197
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 government head of government: BELL Lemus (since 7 August 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the two dominant parties - the PL and PSC - and independents elections: election last held 26 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2006) election results: on 26 May 2002, President-elect Alvaro URIBE Velez received 53% of the vote; Vice President-elect Francisco SANTOS was elected on the same ticket; they will take office in August 2002
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
Independence
20 July 1810 (from Spain)
International organization participation
BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, 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
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)
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 (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: of Representatives - last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held NA March 2006) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PL 28, PSC 13, independents and smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 61; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 54, PSC 21, independents and other parties 91
National holiday
Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Political parties and leaders
Conservative Party or PSC [Carlos HOLGUIN Sardi]; Liberal Party or PL [Horatio SERPA Uribe]; 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] note: Colombia has about 60 formally recognized political parties, most of which do not have a presence in either house of Congress
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; largest anti-insurgent paramilitary group is United Self-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUC
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp
Budget
revenues: $24 billion expenditures: $25.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Currency
Colombian peso (COP)
Currency code
COP
Debt - external
$39 billion (2001 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
57.1 (1996)
Economic aid - recipient
$NA
Electricity - consumption
40.348 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports
37 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports
77 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production
43.342 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 25.93% hydro: 73.09% other: 0.98% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Exchange rates
Colombian pesos per US dollar - 2,275.89 (January 2002), 2,299.63 (2001), 2,087.90 (2000), 1,756.23 (1999), 1,426.04 (1998), 1,140.96 (1997)
Exports
$12.3 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities
petroleum, coffee, coal, apparel, bananas, cut flowers
Exports - partners
US 43%, Andean Community of Nations 22%, EU 14%, (2001 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity - $255 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 19% industry: 26% services: 55% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
1.5% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 44% (1999)
Imports
$12.7 billion (c.i.f., 2001 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% (2001 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
4% (2001 est.)
Industries
textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
7.6% (2001)
Labor force
18.3 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)
Population below poverty line
55% (2001)
Unemployment rate
17% (2001 est.)
Communications
Internet country code
.co
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
18 (2000)
Internet users
878,000 (2001)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)
Radios
21 million (1997)
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)
Transportation
Airports
1,066 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 93 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 9 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 37
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 973 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 58 under 914 m: 602 (2001) 914 to 1,523 m: 312
Heliports
1 (2001)
Highways
total: 110,000 km paved: 26,000 km unpaved: 84,000 km (2000)
Merchant marine
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 32,438 GRT/43,126 DWT bulk 5, cargo 3, container 1, petroleum tanker 2 note: Germany 1 (2002 est.)
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
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 est.)
Waterways
18,140 km (navigable by river boats) (April 1996)
Military and Security
Military branches
Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, including Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$3.3 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
3.4% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 10,946,932 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 7,308,703 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age
18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
males: 379,295 (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and against Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundary involving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian drug activities penetrate Peruvian border area
Illicit drugs
illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 2000 - 136,200 hectares, an 11% increase over 1999); potential production of opium since 1995 has remained relatively stable at 66 metric tons; potential production of heroin has averaged 6.5 metric tons; 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 This page was last updated on 1 January 2002 Northern Mariana Islands