2010 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. In January 2011, Colombia assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 term.

Area

land

1,038,700 sq km

total

1,138,910 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

highest point

Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

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)

per capita

235 cu m/yr (2000)

total

10.71 cu km/yr (50%/4%/46%)

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

border countries

Brazil 1,644 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,800 km, Venezuela 2,050 km

total

6,309 km

Land use

arable land

2.01%

other

96.62% (2005)

permanent crops

1.37%

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

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts

volcanism

Galeras (elev. 4,276 m, 14,029 ft) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes, having erupted in 2009 and 2010 causing major evacuations; it has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Nevado del Ruiz (elev. 5,321 m, 17,453 ft), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985 producing lahars that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted in 1991; additionally, after 500 years of dormancy, Nevado del Huila reawakened in 2007 and has experienced frequent eruptions since then; other historically active volcanoes include Cumbal, Dona Juana, Nevado del Tolima, and Purace

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: 27.7% (male 6,192,707/female 5,919,959) 15-64 years: 66.4% (male 14,292,342/female 14,717,249) 65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,093,432/female 1,461,683) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

17.76 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

5.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2008)

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.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

9,800 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

170,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

13.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

20.52 deaths/1,000 live births

total

16.87 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.84 years (2010 est.)

male

70.98 years

total population

74.31 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

90.7% (2005 census)

male

90.1%

total population

90.4%

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

female

28.6 years (2010 est.)

male

26.7 years

total

27.6 years

Nationality

adjective

Colombian

noun

Colombian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

44,205,293 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.184% (2010 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2008)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.18 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

74% of total population (2008)

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

geographic coordinates

4 36 N, 74 05 W

name

Bogota

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.

FAX

[57] (1) 315-2197

mailing address

Carrera 45 No. 24B-27, Bogota, D.C.

telephone

[57] (1) 315-0811

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Gabriel SILVA Lujan

consulate(s) general

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

FAX

[1] (202) 232-8643

telephone

[1] (202) 387-8338

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (since 7 August 2010); Vice President Angelino GARZON (since 7 August 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon 69.06%, Antanas MOCKUS 27.52%

elections

president and vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 30 May 2010 with a runoff election 20 June 2010 (next to be held in May 2014)

head of government

President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (since 7 August 2010); Vice President Angelino GARZON (since 7 August 2010)

Flag description

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Columbia, the short-lived South American republic that broke up in 1830; various interpretations of the colors exist and include: yellow for the gold in Colombia's land, blue for the seas on its shores, and red for the blood spilled in attaining freedom; alternatively, the colors have been described as representing more elemental concepts such as sovereignty and justice (yellow), loyalty and vigilance (blue), and valour and generosity (red); or simply the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity 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, UN Security Council (temporary), UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, 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 elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - U Party 28, PC 22, PL 16, PIN 9, CR 8, PDA 8, Green Party 5, other parties 5; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - U Party 47, PC 37, PL 36, CR 16, PIN 12, PDA 4, Green Party 3, other parties 10; note - as of 1 January 2011, the Senate currently has 101 seats after one seat became vacant due to a PL senator losing their seat for illegal collusion with the FARC; the Chamber of Representatives also has one seat vacant after only 165 of the 166 candidates were credentialed

elections

Senate - last held on 14 March 2010 (next to be held in March 2014); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 14 March 2010 (next to be held in March 2014)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI note: adopted 1920; the anthem was created from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ

name

"Himno Nacional de la Republica de Colombia" (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia)

National holiday

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Political parties and leaders

Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Clara LOPEZ]; Conservative Party or PC [Fernando ARAUJO]; Green Party [Luis GARZON]; Liberal Party or PL [Rafael PARDO]; National Integration Party or PIN [Angel ALIRIO Moreno]; Radical Change or CR [German VARGAS Lleras]; Social National Unity Party or U Party [Juan Francisco LOZANO Ramirez] note: Colombia has seven major political parties, and numerous smaller movements

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

Central bank discount rate

3% (October 2010) 5.5% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

12.98% (31 December 2009 est.) 17.18% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$5.946 billion (2010 est.) -$4.991 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$57.74 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $52.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

58.5 (2009) 53.8 (1996)

Economy - overview

Colombia experienced accelerating growth between 2002 and 2007, chiefly due to improvements in domestic security, rising commodity prices, and to President URIBE's promarket economic policies. Foreign direct investment reached a record $10 billion in 2008, and continues to flow in, especially in the oil sector. A series of policies enhanced Colombia's investment climate: pro-business reforms in the oil and gas sectors and export-led growth fueled mainly by the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act. Inequality, underemployment, and narcotrafficking remain significant challenges, and Colombia's infrastructure requires major improvements to sustain economic expansion. Because of the global financial crisis and weakening demand for Colombia's exports, Colombia's economy grew only 2.7% in 2008, and 0.8% in 2009 but rebounded to around 4.5% in 2010. The government has encouraged exporters to diversify their customer base beyond the United States and Venezuela, traditionally Colombia's largest trading partners; the SANTOS administration continues to pursue free trade agreements with Asian and South American partners and awaits the approval of a Canadian trade accord by Canada's and EU's parliaments. The business sector remains concerned about Venezuela's trade restrictions on Colombian exports, an appreciating domestic currency, and the pending US Congressional approval of the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.

Electricity - consumption

38.59 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - exports

876.7 million kWh (2007)

Electricity - imports

39.4 million kWh (2007)

Electricity - production

50.58 billion kWh (2007)

Exchange rates

Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar - 1,893.1 (2010), 2,157.6 (2009), 2,243.6 (2008), 2,013.8 (2007), 2,358.6 (2006)

Exports

$40.24 billion (2010 est.) $34.03 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 39%, Venezuela 12%, Netherlands 4% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

9.3%

industry

38%

services

52.7% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,800 (2010 est.) $9,500 (2009 est.) $9,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.4% (2010 est.) 0.8% (2009 est.) 2.7% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$283.1 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$431.9 billion (2010 est.) $413.7 billion (2009 est.) $410.4 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 45% (2008)

Imports

$36.26 billion (2010 est.) $31.48 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 28%, China 11%, Mexico 7%, Brazil 6.5%, France 4.5%, Germany 4% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

5.5% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (2010 est.) 4.2% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

21.27 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

18%

industry

18.9%

services

63.1% (2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$133.3 billion (31 December 2009) $87.03 billion (31 December 2008) $102 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

8.1 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

900 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

9 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

112 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

288,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

294,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - imports

16,540 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

686,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

2.1 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

46.8% (2008)

Public debt

44.8% of GDP (2010 est.) 45.3% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$26.92 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $24.99 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$104.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $82.39 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$19.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $16.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$84.62 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $75.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$123 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $96.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$31.83 billion (31 December 2010 est) $24.41 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

11.2% (2010 est.) 12% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

combination of state-owned and privately-owned broadcast media provide service; more than 500 radio stations and large number of national, regional, and local TV stations (2007)

Internet country code

.co

Internet hosts

2.527 million (2010)

Internet users

22.538 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

modern system in many respects with a nationwide microwave radio relay system, a domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations, and a fiber-optic network linking 50 cities; telecommunications sector liberalized during the 1990s; multiple providers of both fixed-line and mobile-cellular services

international

country code - 57; landing points for the ARCOS, Colombia-Florida Subsea Fiber (CFX-1), Maya-1, Pan American, and the South America-1 submarine cables providing 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) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

7.5 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

42.16 million (2009)

Airports

990 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

116 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 41 914 to 1,523 m: 50 under 914 m: 15 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

874 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 35 914 to 1,523 m: 228 under 914 m: 610 (2010)

Heliports

2 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 11, petroleum tanker 1, specialized tanker 1

registered in other countries

3 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Panama 2) (2010)

total

13

Pipelines

gas 4,567 km; oil 6,097 km; refined products 3,382 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Puerto Bolivar, Santa Marta, Turbo

Railways

narrow gauge

3,652 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)

standard gauge

150 km 1.435-m gauge

total

3,802 km

Roadways

total

164,257 km (2005)

Waterways

18,000 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 11,556,939 females age 16-49: 11,609,122 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 8,957,960 females age 16-49: 9,763,655 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

416,051 (2010 est.)

male

432,280

Military branches

National Army (Ejercito Nacional), National Navy (Armada Republica de Colombia, includes Naval Aviation, Naval Infantry (Infanteria de Marina, IM), and Coast Guard), Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia, FAC) (2010)

Military expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

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

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 January 20, 2011 ======================================================================

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

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