2015 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 nearly five-decade-long conflict between government forces and antigovernment insurgent groups, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) heavily funded by the drug trade, escalated during the 1990s. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia 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 insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, but continue attacks against civilians. Large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. In November 2012, the Colombian Government started formal peace negotiations with the FARC aimed at reaching a definitive bilateral cease-fire and incorporating demobilized FARC members into mainstream society and politics. 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. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.

Area

land

1,038,700 sq km

note

includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank

total

1,138,910 sq km

water

100,210 sq km

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

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 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)

per capita

308 cu m/yr (2010)

total

12.65 cu km/yr (55%/4%/41%)

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

10,870 sq km (2011)

Land boundaries

border countries (5)

Brazil 1,790 km, Ecuador 708 km, Panama 339 km, Peru 1,494 km, Venezuela 2,341 km

total

6,672 km

Land use

arable land 1.4%; permanent crops 1.6%; permanent pasture 34.5%

agricultural land

37.5%

forest

54.4%

other

8.1% (2011 est.)

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) 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), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985 producing lahars (mudflows) 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 (Llanos)

Total renewable water resources

2,132 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

24.94% (male 5,967,860/female 5,688,106)

15-24 years

17.81% (male 4,234,564/female 4,087,134)

25-54 years

41.71% (male 9,653,094/female 9,841,546)

55-64 years

8.62% (male 1,885,481/female 2,141,618)

65 years and over

6.93% (male 1,349,613/female 1,887,712) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

16.47 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

note

data represents children ages 5-17 (2009 est.)

percentage

9%

total number

988,362

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.4% (2010)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

79.1% (2009/10)

Death rate

5.4 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Demographic profile

Colombia is in the midst of a demographic transition resulting from steady declines in its fertility, mortality, and population growth rates. The birth rate has fallen from more than 6 children per woman in the 1960s to just above replacement level today as a result of increased literacy, family planning services, and urbanization. However, income inequality is among the worst in the world, and more than a third of the population lives below the poverty line.

Colombia experiences significant legal and illegal economic emigration and refugee flows. Large-scale labor emigration dates to the 1960s; Venezuela and the United States continue to be the main host countries. Colombia is the largest source of Latin American refugees in Latin America, nearly 400,000 of whom live primarily in Venezuela and Ecuador. Forced displacement remains prevalent because of violence among guerrillas, paramilitary groups, and Colombian security forces. Afro-Colombian and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected. A leading NGO estimates that 5.2 million people have been displaced since 1985, while the Colombian Government estimates 3.6 million since 2000. These estimates may undercount actual numbers because not all internally displaced persons are registered. Historically, Colombia also has one of the world's highest levels of forced disappearances. About 30,000 cases have been recorded over the last four decades - although the number is likely to be much higher - including human rights activists, trade unionists, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, and farmers in rural conflict zones.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

10.2%

potential support ratio

9.8% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

45.6%

youth dependency ratio

35.4%

Drinking water source

urban: 96.8% of population

rural: 73.8% of population

total: 91.4% of population

urban: 3.2% of population

rural: 26.2% of population

total: 8.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic groups

mestizo and white 84.2%, Afro-Colombian (includes multatto, Raizal, and Palenquero) 10.4%, Amerindian 3.4%, Roma

Health expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

4,700 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

124,400 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

17.68 deaths/1,000 live births

total

14.58 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.8 years (2015 est.)

male

72.34 years

total population

75.48 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.8% (2015 est.)

male

94.6%

total population

94.7%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever (2013)

Major urban areas - population

BOGOTA (capital) 9.765 million; Medellin 3.911 million; Cali 2.646 million; Barranquilla 1.991 million; Bucaramanga 1.215 million; Cartagena 1.092 million (2015)

Median age

female

30.3 years (2015 est.)

male

28.3 years

total

29.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Colombian

noun

Colombian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.7% (2014)

Physicians density

1.47 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

46,736,728 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.04% (2015 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 85.2% of population

rural: 67.9% of population

total: 81.1% of population

urban: 14.8% of population

rural: 32.1% of population

total: 18.9% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2010)

male

13 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.98 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.88 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.72 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.04 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

28.9% (2011 est.)

male

17%

total

21.9%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.66% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

76.4% of total population (2015)

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, Archipielago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina (colloquially 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

several previous; latest promulgated 5 July 1991; amended many times, last in 2011 (2013)

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 Kevin WHITAKER (since 11 June 2014)

embassy

Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50, Bogota, D.C.

FAX

[57] (1) 275-4600

mailing address

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

telephone

[57] (1) 275-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Juan Carlos PINZON Bueno (since 3 August 2015)

consulate(s)

Boston, Chicago, San Francisco

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark (NJ), Orlando, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

FAX

[1] (202) 232-8643

telephone

[1] (202) 387-8338

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

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 chief of state and head of government

election results

Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon reelected president in runoff; percent of vote - Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (U Party) 51.0%, Oscar Ivan ZULUAGA (CD) 45.0%, other 4.0%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority vote in two rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 25 May 2014 with a runoff election 15 on June 2014 (next to be held on 27 May 2018)

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 Colombia, 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 valor 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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

BCIE, BIS, CAN, Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of the Civil-Agrarian and Labor Chambers each with 7 judges, and the Penal Chamber with 9 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 magistrates); Council of State (consists of 31 members); Superior Judiciary Council (consists of 13 magistrates)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges appointed by the Supreme Court members from candidates submitted by the Superior Judiciary Council; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Constitutional Court magistrates - nominated by the president, by the Supreme Court, and elected by the Senate; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Council of State members appointed by the State Council plenary from lists nominated by the Superior Judiciary Council

subordinate courts

Superior Tribunals (appellate courts for each of the judicial districts); regional courts; civil municipal courts; Superior Military Tribunal; first instance administrative courts

Legal system

civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; 100 members elected nationally - not by district or state - and two elected on a special ballot for indigenous communities to serve 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats; members elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - U Party 21, CD 20, PC 18, PL 17, CR 9, PDA 5, Green Party 5, other 7; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 39, U Party 37, PC 27, CD 19, CR 16, Green Party 6, PDA 3, other 19

elections

Senate - last held on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in March 2018); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in March 2018)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI

name

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

note

adopted 1920; the anthem was created from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ

National holiday

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

National symbol(s)

Andean condor; national colors: yellow, blue, red

Political parties and leaders

Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Clara LOPEZ]

Conservative Party or PC [David BARGUIL]

Democratic Center Party or CD [Alvaro URIBE Velez, Oscar Ivan ZULUAGA]

Green Alliance [Jorge LONDONO, Antonio SANGUINO, Luis AVELLANEDA, Camilo ROMERO]

Liberal Party or PL [Horacio SERPA]

Citizens Option (Opcion Ciudadana) or OC (formerly known as the National Integration Party or PIN) [Angel ALIRIO Moreno]

Radical Change or CR [Carlos Fernando GALAN]

Social National Unity Party or U Party [Roy BARRERAS, Jose David NAME]

note

Colombia has eight major political parties, and numerous smaller movements

Political pressure groups and leaders

Central Union of Workers or CUT

Colombian Confederation of Workers or CTC

General Confederation of Workers or CGT

National Liberation Army or ELN

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC

note

FARC and ELN are the 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; shrimp; forest products

Budget

expenditures

$120.2 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$114.1 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.75% (31 December 2011)

5% (31 December 2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.9% (31 December 2014 est.)

11% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$19.29 billion (2014 est.)

-$12.28 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$84 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$80.63 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

53.5 (2012)

56.9 (1996)

Economy - overview

Colombia's consistently sound economic policies and aggressive promotion of free trade agreements in recent years have bolstered its ability to weather external shocks. Real GDP has grown more than 4% per year for the past four years, continuing almost a decade of strong economic performance. All three major ratings agencies have upgraded Colombia's government debt to investment grade, which helped to attract record levels of investment in 2013 and 2014, mostly in the hydrocarbons sector. Colombia depends heavily on energy and mining exports, making it vulnerable to a drop in commodity prices. Colombia is the world's fourth largest coal exporter and Latin America's fourth largest oil producer. Economic development is stymied by inadequate infrastructure, inequality, poverty, narco-trafficking and an uncertain security situation. Moreover, the unemployment rate of 9.2% in 2014 is still one of Latin America's highest. The SANTOS Administration's foreign policy has focused on bolstering Colombia's commercial ties and boosting investment at home. Colombia has signed or is negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with more than a dozen countries; the US-Colombia FTA went into force on May 2012. Colombia is also a founding member of the Pacific Alliance - a regional grouping formed in 2012 by Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru to promote regional trade and economic integration. In 2013, Colombia began its ascension process to the OECD. In 2014, Colombia passed a tax reform bill to offset the lost revenue from the global drop in oil prices. The SANTOS administration is also using tax reform to help finance implementation of a peace deal, in the event FARC and the government reach an agreement in 2015. Colombian officials estimate a peace deal may bolster economic growth by almost 2%.

Exchange rates

Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar -

1,992 (2014 est.)

1,868.9 (2013 est.)

1,798 (2012 est.)

1,848 (2011 est.)

1,898.6 (2010 est.)

Exports

$55 billion (2014 est.)

$58.03 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 26.3%, China 10.5%, Panama 6.6%, Spain 5.8%, India 5.1% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

18.5%

government consumption

17%

household consumption

59.8%

imports of goods and services

-20.8%

investment in fixed capital

25.5%

investment in inventories

0.1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

6.1%

industry

37.3%

services

56.6% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,400 (2014 est.)

$12,800 (2013 est.)

$12,200 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.6% (2014 est.)

4.9% (2013 est.)

4% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$384.9 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$640.1 billion (2014 est.)

$612.2 billion (2013 est.)

$583.4 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

19.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

21.2% of GDP (2013 est.)

20.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

42% (2012 est.)

lowest 10%

1.1%

Imports

$56.75 billion (2014 est.)

$55.03 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 28.5%, China 18.4%, Mexico 8.2% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

4.2% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.9% (2014 est.)

2% (2013 est.)

Labor force

23.67 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

17%

industry

21%

services

62% (2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$262.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$201.3 billion (31 December 2011)

$208.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

32.7% (2012 est.)

Public debt

41.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

43.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

note

data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$47.74 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$43.16 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$177.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$161.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$44 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$39 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$144.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$127.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$177.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$166.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$47.31 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$44.55 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

28.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

9.1% (2014 est.)

9.7% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

74.9 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

777,900 bbl/day (2009)

Crude oil - imports

10 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - production

1.022 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

2.377 billion bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

50.25 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

236 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

32.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

67.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

8.22 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

14.47 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

59.22 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

9.39 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

2.54 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

11.93 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

198.4 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

306,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

92,410 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

49,790 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

313,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.co

Internet users

percent of population

52.4% (2014 est.)

total

24.3 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line connections stand at about 15 per 100 persons; mobile cellular telephone subscribership is about 100 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; multiple submarine cable systems 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) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

16 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

7.2 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

120 (2014 est.)

total

55.3 million

Television broadcast stations

60 (1997)

Airports

836 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

39

2,438 to 3,047 m

9

914 to 1,523 m

53

over 3,047 m

2

total

121

under 914 m

18 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

488 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

25

914 to 1,523 m

201

over 3,047 m

1

total

715

Heliports

3 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2

registered in other countries

4 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Panama 2, Portugal 1) (2010)

total

12

Pipelines

gas 4,991 km; oil 6,796 km; refined products 3,429 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Cartagena (1,853,342)

dry bulk cargo port(s)

Puerto Bolivar (coal)

major seaport(s)

Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Cartagena, Santa Marta, Turbo; Pacific Ocean - Buenaventura

oil terminal(s)

Covenas offshore terminal

river port(s)

Barranquilla (Rio Magdalena)

Railways

narrow gauge

724 km 0.914-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

150 km 1.435-m gauge

total

874 km

Roadways

total

141,374 km (2010)

Waterways

24,725 km (18,300 km navigable; the most important waterway, the River Magdalena, of which 1,488 km is navigable, is dredged regularly to ensure safe passage of cargo vessels and container barges) (2012)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

11,727,625 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

11,692,647

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

9,861,760 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

9,150,400

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

413,974 (2010 est.)

male

430,634

Military branches

National Army (Ejercito Nacional), Republic of Colombia Navy (Armada Republica de Colombia, ARC, includes Naval Aviation, Naval Infantry (Infanteria de Marina, IM), and Coast Guard), Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia, FAC) (2012)

Military expenditures

3.28% of GDP (2012)

3.06% of GDP (2011)

3.63% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; service obligation is 18 months (2012)

Disputes - international

in December 2007, ICJ allocated San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina islands to Colombia under 1928 Treaty but did 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 83,000 hectares in coca cultivation in 2011, a 17% decrease over 2010, producing a potential of 195 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 2012, aerial eradication dispensed herbicide to treat over 100,549 hectares combined with manual eradication of 30,486 hectares; 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 to 1,100 hectares in 2009 while pure heroin production declined to 2.1 mt; most Colombian heroin is destined for the US market (2013)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

6,044,200 (conflict between government and illegal armed groups and drug traffickers since 1985; about 300,000 new IDPs each year since 2000) (2014)

stateless persons

12 (2014)