2023 Edition

Background

Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged after the dissolution of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A decades-long conflict between government forces, paramilitaries, and antigovernment insurgent groups heavily funded by the drug trade, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), escalated during the 1990s. More than 31,000 former United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) paramilitaries demobilized by the end of 2006, and the AUC as a formal organization ceased to operate. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, new criminal groups arose, whose members include some former paramilitaries. After four years of formal peace negotiations, the Colombian Government signed a final peace accord with the FARC in November 2016, which was subsequently ratified by the Colombian Congress. The accord calls for members of the FARC to demobilize, disarm, and reincorporate into society and politics. The accord also committed the Colombian Government to create three new institutions to form a 'comprehensive system for truth, justice, reparation, and non-repetition,' to include a truth commission, a special unit to coordinate the search for those who disappeared during the conflict, and a 'Special Jurisdiction for Peace' to administer justice for conflict-related crimes. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug-related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong and independent democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.

Area

land

1,038,700 sq km

note

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

highest point

Pico Cristobal Colon 5,730 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

593 m

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

10,900 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

6,672 km

Land use

agricultural land

37.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 34.5% (2018 est.)

forest

54.4% (2018 est.)

other

8.1% (2018 est.)

Location

Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama

Major aquifers

Amazon Basin

Major rivers (by length in km)

Rio Negro river source (shared with Venezuela and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco (shared with Venezuela [s]) - 2,101 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)

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 droughtsvolcanism: Galeras (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 (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

Population distribution

the majority of people live in the north and west where agricultural opportunities and natural resources are found; the vast grasslands of the llanos to the south and east, which make up approximately 60% of the country, are sparsely populated

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

22.45% (male 5,663,590/female 5,413,209)

15-64 years

66.66% (male 16,066,724/female 16,820,068)

65 years and over

10.89% (2023 est.) (male 2,367,369/female 3,005,494)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

3.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

4.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

15.1 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.7% (2015/16)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

81% (2015/16)

Current health expenditure

9% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

55.3% (2023 est.)

Death rate

7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2023 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 below 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 almost one-third of the population lives below the poverty line. Colombia experiences significant legal and illegal economic emigration and refugee outflows. Large-scale labor emigration dates to the 1960s; the United States and, until recently, Venezuela have been the main host countries.  Emigration to Spain picked up in the 1990s because of its economic growth, but this flow has since diminished because of Spain’s ailing economy and high unemployment. Venezuela’s political and economic crisis since 2015 has prompted many Colombians to return home.  Forced displacement continues to be prevalent because of violence among guerrillas, paramilitary groups, and Colombian security forces. Afro-Colombian and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected.  Even with the Colombian Government’s December 2016 peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the risk of displacement remains as other rebel groups fill the void left by the FARC.  As of April 2023, almost 6.9 million people were internally displaced in Colombia. This estimate may undercount actual numbers because many internally displaced persons are not registered. Historically, Colombia also has one of the world’s highest levels of forced disappearances. The Colombian Truth Commission estimated than nearly 122,000 people were the victims of forced disappearances during the countries five-decade-long armed conflict—including human rights activists, trade unionists, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, and farmers in rural conflict zones. Because of political violence and economic problems, Colombia received limited numbers of immigrants during the 19th and 20th centuries, mostly from the Middle East, Europe, and Japan.  More recently, growth in the oil, mining, and manufacturing sectors has attracted increased labor migration; the primary source countries are Venezuela, the US, Mexico, and Argentina.  Colombia has also become a transit area for illegal migrants from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean – especially Haiti and Cuba – who are en route to the US or Canada.  Between 2016 and October 2022, Colombia was host to the largest number of Venezuelan refugees and migrants, totaling almost 2.9 million. Ecuadorian migrants also go to Colombia, many of them attempting to transit the dense and dangerous jungles of the Darien Gap to enter Panama and head onward to the US.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

12.5

potential support ratio

8 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

43.5

youth dependency ratio

31

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 87.5% of population

improved: total

total: 97.7% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 12.5% of population

unimproved: total

total: 2.3% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Mestizo and White 87.6%, Afro-Colombian (includes Mulatto, Raizal, and Palenquero) 6.8%, Amerindian 4.3%, unspecified 1.4% (2018 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.95 (2023 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2018)

Infant mortality rate

female

10.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

13.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

Languages

Languages

Spanish (official) and 65 Amerindian languages

major-language sample(s)

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.7 years

male

71.3 years

total population

74.9 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

95.9% (2020)

male

95.4%

total population

95.6%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high (2023)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria

Major urban areas - population

11.508 million BOGOTA (capital), 4.102 million Medellin, 2.864 million Cali, 2.349 million Barranquilla, 1.381 million Bucaramanga, 1.088 million Cartagena (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

75 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

33.6 years

male

31.2 years

total

32.4 years (2023 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.7 years (2015 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

adjective

Colombian

noun

Colombian(s)

Net migration rate

-1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.3% (2016)

Physicians density

2.33 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

49,336,454 (2023 est.)

Population distribution

the majority of people live in the north and west where agricultural opportunities and natural resources are found; the vast grasslands of the llanos to the south and east, which make up approximately 60% of the country, are sparsely populated

Population growth rate

0.54% (2023 est.)

Religions

Christian 92.3% (predominantly Roman Catholic), other 1%, unspecified 6.7% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 87.7% of population

improved: total

total: 97% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.1% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 12.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 3% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.9% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2020)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

female

4.6% (2020 est.)

male

12.4% (2020 est.)

total

8.5% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.94 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

82.4% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

32.8%

male

21.9%

total

26.4% (2021 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, Archipielago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina (colloquially San Andres y Providencia), Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

Capital

etymology

originally referred to as "Bacata," meaning "enclosure outside of the farm fields," by the indigenous Muisca

geographic coordinates

4 36 N, 74 05 W

name

Bogota

time difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident of Colombia

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the government, by Congress, by a constituent assembly, or by public petition; passage requires a majority vote by Congress in each of two consecutive sessions; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on citizen rights, guarantees, and duties also require approval in a referendum by over one half of voters and participation of over one fourth of citizens registered to vote; amended many times, last in 2020

history

several previous; latest promulgated 4 July 1991

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Colombia

conventional short form

Colombia

etymology

the country is named after explorer Christopher COLUMBUS

local long form

República de Colombia

local short form

Colombia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Francisco L. PALMIERI (since 1 June 2022)

email address and website

ACSBogota@state.govhttps://co.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Carrera 45, No. 24B-27, Bogota

FAX

[57] (1) 275-4600

mailing address

3030 Bogota Place, Washington DC  20521-3030

telephone

[57] (1) 275-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1724 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Luis Gilberto MURILLO URRUTIA (since 16 September 2022)

consulate(s)

Boston, Chicago, San Francisco

consulate(s) general

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

email address and website

eestadosunidos@cancilleria.gov.cohttps://www.colombiaemb.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 232-8643

telephone

[1] (202) 387-8338

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022); Vice President Francia Elena MÁRQUEZ Mina (since 7 August 2022); the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

2022: Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (PHxC) 40.3%, Rodolfo HERNÁNDEZ Suárez (LIGA) 28.2%, Federico GUTIÉRREZ Zuluaga (Team for Colombia / CREEMOS) 23.9%, other 7.6%; percent of vote in second round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego 50.4%, Rodolfo HERNÁNDEZ Suarez 47.3%, blank 2.3%2018: Iván DUQUE Márquez elected president in second round; percent of vote - Iván DUQUE Márquez (CD) 54%, Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (Humane Colombia) 41.8%, other/blank/invalid 4.2%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 4-year term; election last held on 29 May 2022 with a runoff held on 19 June 2022 (next to be held on 31 May 2026); note - political reform in 2015 eliminated presidential reelection

head of government

President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022); Vice President Francia Elena MÁRQUEZ Mina (since 7 August 2022)

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

note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

Government type

presidential republic

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, PROSUR, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, 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 27 judges); 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:Senate or Senado (108 seats; 100 members elected in a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation vote, 2 members elected in a special nationwide constituency for indigenous communities, 5 members of the Commons political party, formerly the People's Alternative Revolutionary Force (FARC), for 2 legislative terms only: 2018-2022 and 2022-2026 as per the 2016 peace accord, and 1 seat reserved for the runner-up presidential candidate in the recent election; all members serve 4-year terms) Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (188 seats; 162 members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote, 2 members elected in a special nationwide constituency for Afro-Colombians, 1 member elected by Colombians residing abroad, 1 member elected in a special nationwide constituency for the indigenous communities, 5 members of the Commons political party for two legislative terms only: 2018-2022 and 2022-2026 as per the 2016 peace accord, 16 seats for rural conflict victims for two legislative terms only: 2022-2026 and 2026-2030, and 1 seat reserved for the runner-up vice presidential candidate in the recent election; all members serve 4-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PHxC 16, PC 16, PL 15, Green Alliance and Center Hope Coalition 14, CD 14, CR 11, U Party 10, MIRA–Colombia Free and Just Coalition 4; composition - men 75, women 33, percent of women 31%Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 33, PHxC 28, PC 27, CR 18, CD 16, U Party 16, Green Alliance 14, League of Anticorruption Governors 2, others 34; composition - men 136, women 52, percent of women 28%; total Congress percent of women 29%

elections

 Senate - last held on 13 March 2022 (next to be held in March 2026)Chamber of Representatives - last held on 13 March 2022 (next to be held in March 2026)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI

name

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

note

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

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Chiribiquete National Park (m); Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia (c); Historic Center of Santa Cruz de Mompox (c); Los Katíos National Park (n); Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (n); Tierradentro National Archeological Park (c); San Agustín Archaeological Park (c); Colonial Cartagena (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

total World Heritage Sites

9 (6 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed)

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 [Alexander LOPEZ Maya]Citizens Option (Opcion Ciudadana) or OC [Angel ALIRIO Moreno] (formerly known as the National Integration Party or PIN)The Commons (formerly People's Alternative Revolutionary Force or FARC) [Rodrigo LONDONO Echeverry]Conservative Party or PC [Carlos Andres TRUJILLO]Democratic Center Party or CD [Alvaro URIBE Velez]Fair and Free Colombia (Colombia Justa Libres) [Eduardo Canas Estrada and Ricardo Arias Mora]Green Alliance [Claudia LOPEZ Hernandez]Historic Pact for Colombia or PHxC (coalition composed of several left-leaning political parties and social movements)Humane Colombia [Gustavo PETRO]Independent Movement of Absolute Renovation or MIRA [Carlos Eduardo GUEVARA]League of Anti-Corruption Rulers or LIGA [Rodolfo HERNANDEZ Suarez]Liberal Party or PL [Cesar GAVIRIA]People's Alternative Revolutionary Force or FARC [Rodrigo LONDONO Echeverry]Radical Change or CR [German VARGAS Lleras]Team for Colombia - also known as the Experience Coalition or Coalition of the Regions (coalition composed of center-right and right-wing parties)Union Party for the People or U Party [Dilian Francisca TORO]We Believe Colombia or CREEMOS [Federico GUTIERREZ]

note

note: Colombia has numerous smaller political parties and movements

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sugar cane, milk, oil palm fruit, potatoes, rice, bananas, cassava leaves, plantains, poultry, maize

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

3% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

on food

19.2% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$103.098 billion (2019 est.)

revenues

$94.985 billion (2019 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

BBB- (2020)

Moody's rating

Baa2 (2014)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

BBB- (2017)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2019

-$14.808 billion (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2020

-$9.347 billion (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$17.621 billion (2021 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$128.238 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$135.644 billion (2019 est.)

Economic overview

prior to COVID-19, one of the most consistent growth economies; declining poverty; large stimulus package has mitigated economic fallout, but delayed key infrastructure investments; successful inflation management; sound flexible exchange rate regime; domestic economy suffers from lack of trade integration and infrastructure

Exchange rates

Currency

Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2017

2,951.327 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

2,955.704 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

3,280.832 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

3,694.854 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

3,743.59 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2019

$51.324 billion (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$38.224 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$50.793 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, coal, coffee, gold, refined petroleum (2021)

Exports - partners

United States 31%, China 11%, Panama 6%, Ecuador 5% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

14.6% (2017 est.)

government consumption

14.8% (2017 est.)

household consumption

68.2% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-19.7% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.2% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.2% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

7.2% (2017 est.)

industry

30.8% (2017 est.)

services

62.1% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$323.255 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020

54.2 (2020 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

39.6% (2015 est.)

lowest 10%

1.2%

Imports

Imports 2019

$65.47 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2020

$51.312 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2021

$70.84 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicines, corn (2019)

Imports - partners

United States 27%, China 20%, Mexico 7%, Brazil 6% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

9.65% (2021 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

3.52% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

2.53% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

3.5% (2021 est.)

Labor force

26.137 million (2021 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

17%

industry

21%

services

62% (2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

35.7% (2019 est.)

Public debt

note

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

Public debt 2018

71.65% of GDP (2018 est.)

Public debt 2019

72.7% of GDP (2019 est.)

Public debt 2020

90.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$733.546 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$681.844 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$754.645 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2019

3.19% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-7.05% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

10.68% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2019

$14,600 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$13,400 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$14,600 (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019

$52.653 billion (31 December 2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020

$58.499 billion (31 December 2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021

$58.019 billion (31 December 2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14.23% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2019

9.96% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate 2020

15.04% (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate 2021

14.34% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

32.8%

male

21.9%

total

26.4% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

12.666 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

20.662 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

47.679 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

81.007 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

8.547 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

69.861 million metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

79,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

51.395 million metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

4.554 billion metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

69,856,680,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports

251 million kWh (2020 est.)

imports

1.302 billion kWh (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity

19.769 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

5.724 billion kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

99.9% (2021)

electrification - total population

99.9% (2021)

electrification - urban areas

100% (2021)

population without electricity

2 million (2020)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

32.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

65.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

34.703 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

11,708,232,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2020 est.)

imports

403.146 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

production

11,305,086,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

proven reserves

87.782 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

481,300 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

2.036 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

352,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

756,400 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

56,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

57,170 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

303,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15 (2020 est.)

total

7,764,772 (2020 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 (2019)

Internet country code

.co

Internet users

percent of population

73% (2021 est.)

total

37.96 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line connections stand at about 15 per 100 persons; mobile cellular telephone subscribership is 150 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

the telecom sector had a solid year thanks to positive performances in the fixed-line broadband, mobile broadband, and mobile voice and data markets; the fixed-line penetration remained stable by the end of 2020, though began to increase into 2021 as a result of the particular demands on households resulting from government measures associated with addressing the pandemic; the mobile market reached a penetration rate of 136% (an increase of over three percentage points on 2019) and managed to keep the same upward growth trajectory that it has sustained over the last ten years; the fixed-line broadband market also expanded, with the number of subscribers increasing 11.4%, and with revenue increasing 9.9% thanks to increased data usage as many customers were forced to work or study from home during the year; the mobile broadband market was the standout performer in 2020, with a 13% increase in the number of subscribers year-on-year, the penetration rate is relatively low compared to other Latin American countries; most significant of all was the surge in mobile broadband traffic a 51% increase over the previous year (2022)

international

country code - 57; landing points for the SAC, Maya-1, SAIT, ACROS, AMX-1, CFX-1, PCCS, Deep Blue Cable, Globe Net, PAN-AM, SAm-1 submarine cable systems 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) (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

7.6 million (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

150 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

75 million (2021 est.)

Airports

836 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

121

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

715

note

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

HJ, HK

Heliports

3 (2021)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 28, oil tanker 12, other 108

total

148 (2022)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

1,349,450,000 (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

33,704,037 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

157

number of registered air carriers

12 (2020)

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Buenaventura (1,082,746), Cartagena (3,343,810) (2021)

dry bulk cargo port(s)

Puerto Bolivar (coal)

major seaport(s)

Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Cartagena, Santa Marta, TurboPacific Ocean - Buenaventura

note

Pacific Ocean - Buenaventura

oil terminal(s)

Covenas offshore terminal

river port(s)

Barranquilla (Rio Magdalena)

Railways

narrow gauge

1,991 km (2019) 0.914-m gauge

standard gauge

150 km (2019) 1.435-m gauge

total

2,141 km (2019)

Roadways

total

205,379 km (2019)

Waterways

24,725 km (2019) (18,225 km navigable; the most important waterway, the River Magdalena, of which 1,092 km is navigable, is dredged regularly to ensure safe passage of cargo vessels and container barges)

Military - note

the Colombian military is responsible for defending and maintaining the country’s independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity but also has an internal security role, which includes protecting the civilian population, as well as private and state-owned assets, and ensuring a secure environment; the military’s primary focus is the conduct of counternarcotics, counterterrorism, and counterinsurgency operations against drug traffickers, several factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and the insurgent/terrorist group National Liberation Army (ELN); the Colombian Government signed a peace agreement with the FARC in 2016, but some former members (known as dissidents) have returned to fighting (note - these dissident groups include the US-designated foreign terrorist groups Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army or FARC-EP and Segunda Marquetalia; see Appendix T);  in 2017, the Colombian Government initiated formal peace talks with the ELN, but it officially ended the talks shortly after the ELN exploded a car bomb at the National Police Academy in Bogota in January 2019; operations against the FARC dissident groups and the ELN continued into 2023, although the Colombian Government resumed talks with the ELN in November 2022 and began exploratory talks with the FARC-EP and Segunda Marquetalia; a 6-month cease-fire agreement was reached with the ELN in June 2023, which was scheduled to go into effect in August 2023; the military is also focused on the security challenges posed by its neighbor, Venezuela, where instability has attracted narcotics traffickers, and both the ELN and FARC dissidents operate openly; Colombia shares a 1,370-mile (2,200 km) border with Venezuela; ELN and FARC insurgents have also used neighboring Ecuador to rest, resupply, and shelterthe Colombian National Army is one of the largest and most experienced ground forces in the Western Hemisphere, having spent decades conducting operations against insurgents and terrorist groups; it has also kept a small battalion (about 250-300 troops) in the Sinai Peninsula with the Multinational Observer Force since 1980; the Army’s primary focus is ongoing operations against the ELN, FARC dissidents, and other illegal armed groups, which are challenged by difficult topography and long and porous land borders; the Air Force and Navy play a role in the counterinsurgency campaign but their participation is minor in comparison to the Army; the Army is largely configured for flexible and mobile counterinsurgency operations with one mechanized and seven light infantry divisions; the light infantry divisions are not uniformly structured and typically include a mix of conventional infantry and specialized air mobile, counterinsurgency, jungle, mountain, and security brigades; some divisions may also have special task forces for anti-kidnapping, counternarcotics, or urban operations; the Army also has a special forces division, a rapid deployment force (Fuerza de Despliegue Rápido or FUDRA) comprised of special forces and counterinsurgency brigades, and an air assault division with aviation and light infantry/air mobile forces; the National Police works with the Army against illegal armed groups and has a variety of specialized forces, including commandos, quick reaction, counterterrorism, counternarcotics, motorized, and anti-riot (Escuadron Móvil Antidisturbios, or ESMAD) units the Navy is responsible for security in Colombia’s waters in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Oceans, the country’s extensive network of rivers, and a few small land areas under its direct jurisdiction; it takes part in multinational naval exercises, and over the past decade has undertaken efforts to modernize; its principal warships are a mix of 10 frigates, corvettes, and offshore patrol ships, and four attack submarines, which are supplemented by dozens of coastal and riverine patrol craft; the Navy also has a 22,000-man marine force comprised of five marine/riverine infantry brigades and a special forces brigade, as well as a small aviation force; the Air Force has an air defense role, but also supports the Army’s counterinsurgency operations; it has a mix of about 50 fighters and ground attack combat aircraft, plus reconnaissance, electronic warfare, logistical, and training fixed-wing aircraft, as well as approximately 100 multirole helicopters Colombia has close security ties with the US, including joint training, military assistance, and designation in 2022 as a Major Non-NATO Ally, which provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense, trade, and security cooperation; it also has close ties with some regional neighbors, such as Argentina, Chile, and Peru; Colombian military and security forces have training programs with their counterparts from a variety of countries, mostly those from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean; security ties with Ecuador and Venezuela have been challenged by the presence of narcotics traffickers, ELN, and FARC dissidents in the border regions (2023)

Military and security forces

Military Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Militares de Colombia): National Army (Ejercito Nacional), Republic of Colombia Navy (Armada Republica de Colombia, ARC; includes Coast Guard), Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia, FAC); Colombian National Police (PNC; civilian force that is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense) (2023)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 290,000 active troops (225,000 Army; 50,000 Navy, including about 20,000 marines; 15,000 Air Force); approximately 180,000 National Police (2023)

Military deployments

275 Egypt (MFO) (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory includes a wide mix of equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Canada, Europe, Israel, South Korea, and the US; the US has been the top provider in recent years; Colombia's defense industry is active in producing air, land, and naval platforms (2023)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2018

3.1% of GDP (2018 est.)

Military Expenditures 2019

3.1% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-24 years of age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military service; conscript service obligation is 18 months; conscripted soldiers reportedly include regular soldiers (conscripts without a high school degree), drafted high school graduates (bachilleres), and rural (campesino) soldiers who serve in their home regions (2023)

note

note 1: conscripts reportedly comprise about 50% of the Colombian military's active force with more than 50,000 conscripts brought into the military annuallynote 2: the Colombian military first incorporated women in 1976 in administrative positions; women were incorporated as non-commissioned officers in 1983 and officers in 2009; women comprised about 1% of the military in 2023

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

Colombia is the world’s top cocaine producer and exporter; is a source of heroin and marijuana; coca cultivation estimated at 234,000 hectares (ha) in 2021; pure cocaine production decreased to 972 metric tons in 2021; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics  

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

6,863,334 (conflict between government and illegal armed groups and drug traffickers since 1985) (2023)

refugees (country of origin)

2,477,588 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2023)

stateless persons

11 (2022)

Space agency/agencies

Colombian Space Commission (Comision Colombiana Del Espacio, CCE; established 2006); Air and Space Operations Command (Colombian military); note – the Colombian Space Agency (Agencia Espacial Del Colombia, AEC) is a private, non-profit agency established in 2017  (2023)

Space program overview

has a small program focused on acquiring satellites, particularly remote sensing (RS) satellites; operates satellites and produces nanosatellites; researches other space technologies, including telecommunications, satellite navigation, and astronautics; has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies or commercial space industries, including those of Denmark, India, Russia, the US, and some members of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) (2023)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S

Terrorist group(s)

National Liberation Army (ELN); Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP); Segunda Marquetalia

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

97.81 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

81.52 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

14.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

Environment - current issues

deforestation resulting from timber exploitation in the jungles of the Amazon and the region of Chocó; illicit drug crops grown by peasants in the national parks; soil erosion; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements

party to

Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Land use

agricultural land

37.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 34.5% (2018 est.)

forest

54.4% (2018 est.)

other

8.1% (2018 est.)

Major aquifers

Amazon Basin

Major rivers (by length in km)

Rio Negro river source (shared with Venezuela and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco (shared with Venezuela [s]) - 2,101 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)

Revenue from coal

0.75% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.1% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

2.36 trillion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

25.04 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

360 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

3.72 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

82.4% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

12,150,120 tons (2011 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

2,089,821 tons (2013 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

17.2% (2013 est.)