2009 Edition

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 four-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. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government and violence has been decreasing since about 2002, but insurgents continue attacks against civilians and large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) 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 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. However, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders.

Area

total: 1,138,914 sq km country comparison to the world: 26 land: 1,109,104 sq km water: 100,210 sq km note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 10.71 cu km/yr (50%/4%/46%) per capita: 235 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

4 00 N, 72 00 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

9,000 sq km (2003)

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

Land use

arable land: 2.01% permanent crops: 1.37% other: 96.62% (2005)

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

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

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

Total renewable water resources

2,132 cu km (2000)

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.9% (male 6,679,701/female 6,522,976) 15-64 years: 65.4% (male 14,571,536/female 15,297,179) 65 years and over: 5.6% (male 1,103,391/female 1,469,240) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

19.57 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Death rate

5.54 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Education expenditures

4.7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 80

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

HIV/AIDS - deaths

9,800 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

170,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Infant mortality rate

total: 18.9 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 108 male: 22.53 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.81 years country comparison to the world: 114 male: 68.98 years female: 76.76 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.4% male: 90.1% female: 90.7% (2005 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Median age

total: 27.1 years male: 26.1 years female: 28 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Colombian(s) adjective: Colombian

Net migration rate

-0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Population

45,644,023 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Population growth rate

1.377% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2006)

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: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.46 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Urbanization

urban population: 74% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

Capital

name: Bogota geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

5 July 1991; amended many times

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador William R. BROWNFIELD embassy: Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50, Bogota, D.C. mailing address: Carrera 45 No. 24B-27, Bogota, D.C. telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Carolina BARCO Isakson chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338

Executive branch

chief of state: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS Calderon (since 7 August 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS Calderon (since 7 August 2002) cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the three largest parties that supported President URIBE's reelection - the PSUN, PC, and CR - and independents elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 28 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010) election results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez reelected president; percent of vote - Alvaro URIBE Velez 62%, Carlos GAVIRIA Diaz 22%, Horacio SERPA Uribe 12%, other 4%

FAX

[1] (202) 232-8643 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington, DC

[57] (1) 315-2197

Flag description

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red note: 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), CDB, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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)

Legal system

based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted into law in 2004 and reached full implementation in January 2008; judicial review of executive and legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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: Senate - last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2010); House of Representatives - last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2010) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSUN 20, PC 18, PL 18, CR 15, PDI 10, other parties 21; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 35, PSUN 33, PC 29, CR 20, PDA 8, other parties 41

National holiday

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Political parties and leaders

Colombian Conservative Party or PC [Efrain Jose CEPEDA Sarabia]; Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Carlos GAVIRIA Diaz]; Liberal Party or PL [Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo]; Radical Change or CR [German VARGAS Lleras]; Social National Unity Party or U Party [Carlos FERRO Solanilla] note: Colombia has 15 formally recognized political parties, and numerous unofficial parties that did not meet the vote threshold in the March 2006 legislative elections required for recognition

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $83.22 billion expenditures: $82.92 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

11.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 30 11.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17.18% (31 December 2008)

Current account balance

-$6.712 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 -$5.838 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$46.38 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 56 $44.55 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

53.8 (2005) country comparison to the world: 15 57.1 (1996)

Economy - overview

Colombia has experienced accelerating growth between 2002 and 2007, with expansion above 7% in 2007, chiefly due to advancements in domestic security, to rising commodity prices, and to President URIBE's promarket economic policies. Colombia's sustained growth helped reduce poverty by 20% and cut unemployment by 25% since 2002. Additionally, investor friendly reforms to Colombia's hydrocarbon sector and the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) negotiations have attracted record levels of foreign investment. Inequality, underemployment,and narcotrafficking remain significant challenges, and Colombia's infrastructure requires significant updating in order to sustain expansion. Economic growth slipped in 2008 as a result of the global financial crisis and weakening demand for Colombia's exports. In response, URIBE's administration has cut capital controls, arranged for emergency credit lines from multilateral institutions, and promoted investment incentives such as Colombia's modernized free trade zone mechanism, legal stability contracts, and new bilateral investment treaties and trade agreements. The government has also encouraged exporters to diversify their customer base away from the United States and Venezuela, Colombia's largest trading partners. Nevertheless, the business sector continues to be concerned about the impact of a global recession on Colombia's exports, as well as the approval of the CTPA, which is stalled in the US Congress.

Electricity - consumption

38.59 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Electricity - exports

876.7 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

39.4 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

50.58 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Exchange rates

Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar - 2,243.6 (2008), 2,013.8 (2007), 2,358.6 (2006), 2,320.75 (2005), 2,628.61 (2004)

Exports

$38.53 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $30.58 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 38%, Venezuela 16.2%, Ecuador 4% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 9% industry: 38.1% services: 52.9% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 $9,100 (2007 est.) $8,600 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 7.5% (2007 est.) 6.9% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$240.8 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$396 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $386.7 billion (2007 est.) $359.7 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 45.9% (2006)

Imports

$37.56 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $31.17 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 29.2%, China 11.5%, Mexico 7.9%, Brazil 5.9% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

0.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 5.5% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

24.3% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Labor force

21.3 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 22.4% industry: 18.8% services: 58.8% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$87.03 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 48 $102 billion (31 December 2007) $56.2 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

8.1 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Natural gas - exports

900 million cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 36

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Natural gas - production

9 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Natural gas - proved reserves

105.9 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Oil - consumption

291,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Oil - exports

294,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Oil - imports

16,540 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Oil - production

600,600 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Oil - proved reserves

1.355 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Population below poverty line

49.2% (2005)

Public debt

42.6% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 51.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$23.67 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 $20.95 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$13.18 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $10.93 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$67.23 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 $56.45 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$89.69 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 39 $85.34 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$21.58 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 35 $21.81 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$26.57 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 39 $27.25 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

11.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 11.2% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.co

Internet hosts

2.217 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 30

Internet users

17.117 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 21

Radio broadcast stations

AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)

Telephone system

general assessment: modern system in many respects; telecommunications sector liberalized during the 1990s; multiple providers of both fixed-line and mobile-cellular services; fixed-line connections stand at about 15 per 100 persons; mobile cellular telephone subscribership is about 90 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 domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking 50 cities international: country code - 57; submarine cables 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) (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

6.82 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 27

Telephones - mobile cellular

41.365 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 27

Television broadcast stations

60 (1997)

Airports

992 (2009) country comparison to the world: 7

Airports - with paved runways

total: 116 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 40 914 to 1,523 m: 50 under 914 m: 15 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 876 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 35 914 to 1,523 m: 228 under 914 m: 612 (2009)

Heliports

2 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 17 country comparison to the world: 100 by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 3, specialized tanker 1 registered in other countries: 6 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Panama 4) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 4,560 km; oil 6,094 km; refined products 3,383 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Turbo

Railways

total: 3,802 km country comparison to the world: 45 standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 3,652 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 164,257 km (2005) country comparison to the world: 31

Waterways

18,000 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 6

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 11,478,109 females age 16-49: 11,809,279 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 8,212,944 females age 16-49: 10,045,435 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 446,432 female: 437,164 (2009 est.)

Military branches

National Army (Ejercito Nacional), National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation, Naval Infantry (Infanteria de Marina, IM), and Coast Guard), Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia, FAC) (2008)

Military expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Military service age and obligation

18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Disputes - international

in December 2007, ICJ allocates San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina islands to Colombia under 1928 Treaty but does not rule on 82 degrees W meridian as maritime boundary with Nicaragua; managed dispute with Venezuela over maritime boundary and Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics, guerrilla, and paramilitary activities penetrate all neighboring borders and have caused Colombian citizens to flee mostly into neighboring countries; Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica, and the US assert various claims to Bajo Nuevo and Serranilla Bank

IDPs

1.8-3.5 million (conflict between government and illegal armed groups and drug traffickers) (2007)

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator with 167,000 hectares in coca cultivation in 2007, a 6% increase over 2006, producing a potential of 535 mt of pure cocaine; the world's largest producer of coca derivatives; supplies cocaine to nearly all of the US market and the great majority of other international drug markets; in 2005, aerial eradication dispensed herbicide to treat over 130,000 hectares but aggressive replanting on the part of coca growers means Colombia remains a key producer; a significant portion of narcotics proceeds are either laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market peso exchange; important supplier of heroin to the US market; opium poppy cultivation is estimated to have fallen 25% between 2006 and 2007; most Colombian heroin is destined for the US market (2008) page last updated on November 11, 2009