Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
17 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
8.91 million (2023 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.co
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
79.35% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
12 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
6.32 million (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
174 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
92.1 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sugarcane, oil palm fruit, milk, rice, plantains, potatoes, bananas, maize, chicken, avocados (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
3.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
20.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$123.966 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$116.49 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$12.365 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$19.819 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$18.702 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$12.587 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$9.924 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$14.041 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$14.809 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$9.267 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$17.949 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$20.879 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$8.285 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$7.412 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$184.496 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$108.027 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
4074.434 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
1868.895 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
2001.105 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
2741.782 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
3055.255 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
2951.487 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
2955.704 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
3281.622 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
3693.276 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
3744.244 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
4256.194 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
4325.955 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
4074.434 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, coal, gold, coffee, refined petroleum (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$64.570 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$63.418 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$45.932 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$41.608 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$47.233 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$53.137 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$51.259 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$36.557 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$51.591 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$73.514 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$68.674 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$68.866 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
16% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
14.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
73.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-20.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
16.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
9.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
23.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
58.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$22,349 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$418.542 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$1.182 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
52.0 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
51.7 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
50.9 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
51.6 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
52.5 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
54.4 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
55.1 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
54.8 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
54.6 (2023 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
54.4 (2024 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
42.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
1.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$51.351 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$66.654 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$60.744 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$62.803 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$68.962 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$70.067 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$55.511 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$76.007 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$89.608 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$76.449 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$78.633 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-1.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
4.99% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
7.51% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
4.31% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
3.24% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
3.52% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
2.53% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
3.50% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
10.18% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
11.74% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
6.61% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
26.822 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
31.80% (2024 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
67.10% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
47.98% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
66.91% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
66.73% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
71.65% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
72.70% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
91.16% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2021
80.43% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2022
70.26% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
71.33% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$621.898 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$626.206 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$665.398 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$693.117 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$807.591 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$785.738 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$889.809 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$955.016 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$961.82 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$978.592 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
2.96% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
2.09% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
1.36% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
2.56% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
3.19% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-7.19% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
10.80% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
7.33% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
0.71% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.60% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$13,355 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$13,332 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$14,027 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$14,401 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$16,182 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$15,519 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$17,383 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$20,854 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$21,246 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$4.450 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$4.166 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$5.002 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$6.925 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$8.608 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
2.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$46.223 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$46.174 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$47.131 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$47.888 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$52.653 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$58.499 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$58.019 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$56.704 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$59.041 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$61.898 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
17.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
10.28% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
15.98% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
13.90% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
10.54% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
9.59% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
9.62% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
24.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
16.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
19.8% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
9.72 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
46.425 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
1,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
52.376 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
4.554 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
34% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
62.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
82.309 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
1.293 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
407.788 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
21.053 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
7.232 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
29.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
11.885 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
958.724 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
10.927 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
87.782 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
2.036 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
374,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
800,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
15.463 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
20.688 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
49.727 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
85.878 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation from timber exploitation in the Amazon and the Chocó region; soil erosion; soil and water pollution from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
Environment: International environmental 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Law of the Sea
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
36.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 32% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
53.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
9.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
1,791.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
814.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
18.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
600.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
13.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
2.36 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
20.46 billion cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
1.033 billion cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
3.405 billion cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
78.52% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
12.15 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
28.5% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Geography: Area: land
1,038,700 sq km
Geography: Area: water
100,210 sq km
Geography: Coastline
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Pico Cristobal Colon 5,730 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
593 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
4 00 N, 72 00 W
Geography: Geography - note
only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
Geography: Irrigated land
6,506 sq km (2013)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Brazil 1,790 km; Ecuador 708 km; Panama 339 km; Peru 1,494 km; Venezuela 2,341 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
6,672 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
36.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 32% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
53.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
9.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Amazon Basin
Geography: 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 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)
Geography: Map references
South America
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts volcanism: Galeras (4,276 m) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes; 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; 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
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos)
Government: Administrative divisions
32 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ) and 1 capital district* ( distrito capital ); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlántico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyacá, Caldas, Caquetá, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, Archipiélago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina (colloquially San Andres y Providencia), Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
Government: Capital: etymology
originally named Santa Fe de Bacatá in 1538, after the Chibcha people's nearby settlement of Bacatá; the name was later corrupted to Bogotá
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
4 36 N, 74 05 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident of Colombia
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
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
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest promulgated 4 July 1991
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Colombia
Government: Country name: etymology
named after explorer Christopher COLUMBUS
Government: Country name: local long form
República de Colombia
Government: Country name: local short form
Colombia
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires John McNAMARA (since 1 February 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ACSBogota@state.gov https://co.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Carrera 45, No. 24B-27, Bogota
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[57] (601) 275-4600
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
3030 Bogota Place, Washington DC 20521-3030
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[57] (601) 275-2000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1724 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Daniel GARCÍA-PEÑA JARAMILLO (since 18 September 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark (NJ), Orlando, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
eestadosunidos@cancilleria.gov.co https://www.colombiaemb.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 232-8643
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 387-8338
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single 4-year term
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
31 May 2026
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
29 May 2022, with a runoff held on 19 June 2022
Government: Flag
description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red meaning: various interpretations of the colors exist; one has yellow for the gold in Colombia's land, blue for the sea, and red for the blood spilled in attaining freedom; another describes them as representing sovereignty and justice (yellow), loyalty and vigilance (blue), and valor and generosity (red); another has the colors standing for liberty, equality, and fraternity
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ACS, BCIE, BIS, CABEI, 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
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Superior Tribunals (appellate courts for each of the judicial districts); regional courts; civil municipal courts; Superior Military Tribunal; first instance administrative courts
Government: Legal system
civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
March 2026
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
3/13/2022
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
187 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Liberal Party (PL) (32); Historic Pact (27); Conservative Party (CP) (25); Democratic Centre (CD) (16); Radical Change (CR) (16); Union Party for the People “Partido de la U” (15); Green Alliance - Hope Centre coalition (11); Other (14)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
29.4%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate (Senado de la República)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
March 2026
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
3/13/2022
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
108 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Historic Pact (20); Conservative Party (CP) (15); Liberal Party (PL) (14); Green Alliance - Hope Centre coalition (13); Democratic Centre (CD) (13); Radical Change (CR) (11); Union Party for the People “Partido de la U” (10); Other (4)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
31.4%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Congress (Congreso)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1920; the anthem comes from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ; the anthem always starts with the chorus
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI
Government: National color(s)
yellow, blue, red
Government: 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)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
9 (6 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Government: National symbol(s)
Andean condor
Government: Political parties
Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA Citizens Option (Opcion Ciudadana) or OC (formerly known as the National Integration Party or PIN) The Commons (formerly People's Alternative Revolutionary Force or FARC) Conservative Party or PC Democratic Center Party or CD Fair and Free Colombia (Colombia Justa Libres) Green Alliance Historic Pact for Colombia or PHxC (coalition composed of several left-leaning political parties and social movements) Humane Colombia Independent Movement of Absolute Renovation or MIRA League of Anti-Corruption Rulers or LIGA Liberal Party or PL People's Alternative Revolutionary Force or FARC Radical Change or CR 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 We Believe Colombia or CREEMOS
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
Colombia was one of three countries that emerged after the dissolution of Gran Colombia in 1830 -- the others are Ecuador and Venezuela. A decades-long conflict among 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. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization in the 2000s, new criminal groups arose that included some former paramilitaries. After four years of formal peace negotiations, the Colombian Government signed a final accord with the FARC in 2016 that called for its members 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,' including 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-trade-related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong and independent democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Colombian military is responsible for defending and maintaining the country’s independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity but also has a considerable 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 counterinsurgency and counter-narcotics operations against domestic illegal armed groups, including drug traffickers, several factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist group, and the insurgent/terrorist group National Liberation Army (ELN) border security is also a focus, particularly with Venezuela where economic and political instability has brought refugees and attracted narcotics trafficking and other cross-border crime; both the ELN and FARC dissidents operate openly in the border region; ELN and FARC insurgents have also used neighboring Ecuador to rest, resupply, and shelter 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 security ties with regional neighbors, such as Argentina, Brazil, 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 (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Military Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Militares de Colombia ) : National Army (Ejercito Nacional), Colombian Aerospace Force (Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana, FAC), Colombian Navy (Armada de Colombia; includes Coast Guard); National Police of Colombia (Policia Nacional de Colombia, PNC) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 260,000 active Military Forces; approximately 150,000 National Police (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
275 Egypt (MFO) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported armaments from a variety of suppliers, including Brazil, Canada, Germany, Israel, South Korea, and the US; Colombia's defense industry is active in producing air, land, and naval platforms (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
3.11% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
3.07% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
3.21% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
3.03% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
3.15% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
3.53% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
3.20% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
2.80% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
2.97% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
3.36% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-24 years of age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military (and police) service; conscript service obligation is 18 months or 12 months for those with a college degree; 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 (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
22.3% (male 5,643,995/female 5,394,147)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
66.5% (male 16,127,377/female 16,859,161)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
11.2% (2024 est.) (male 2,434,999/female 3,128,678)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
3.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
4.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
14.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
6.7% (2015)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
4.9% (2015)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
23.4% (2015)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
3.7% (2016 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
8.14% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
50.9% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
17.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
5.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
50.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
33.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 86.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 13.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure
5.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
5.26% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Mestizo and White 87.6%, Afro-Colombian (includes Mulatto, Raizal, and Palenquero) 6.8%, Indigenous 4.3%, unspecified 1.4% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.94 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
9% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
15.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.60% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
10.2 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
10.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Spanish (official) 98.9%, indigenous 1%, Portuguese 0.1%; 65 indigenous languages exist (2023 est.)
People and Society: 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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
80.6 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
75.2 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
95.7% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
95% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
95.34% (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
59 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
34 years
People and Society: Median age: male
31.5 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
21.7 years (2015 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Colombian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-2.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
22.3% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
2.54 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
52,886,363 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.54% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
25,521,339
People and Society: Population: male
24,320,959
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 88.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 97% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 11.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
15 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
14 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
14 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.96 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.78 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
4.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
11.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
7.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.63 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
78.52% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
2007 - first domestically produced technology-demonstration/remote-sensing (RS) nanosatellite (Libertad I) launched by Russia 2014 - second experimental RS nanosatellite (UAPSAT) launched by US 2018 - first RS satellite (FACSAT-1) for military use purchased from Denmark and launched by India 2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration 2023 - second RS satellite (FACSAT-2 or Chibiriquete) launched by US
Space: Space agency/agencies
Colombian Space Commission (Comision Colombiana Del Espacio, CCE; established 2006) (2025)
Space: 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 astronautics, satellite navigation, and telecommunications; works with a variety of foreign space agencies or commercial space industries, including those of Denmark, India, Russia, Sweden, the US, and some members of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
National Liberation Army (ELN); Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP); Segunda Marquetalia (SM); Tren de Aragua (TdA)
Transnational Issues: Illicit drugs: USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
7,264,767 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
30,611 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
5 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
661 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
HJ, HK
Transportation: Heliports
57 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 28, oil tanker 13, other 112
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
153 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Covenas, El Bosque, Mamonal, Pozos Colorados, Puerto Bolivar, Puerto Prodeco, Santa Marta
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
2
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
10
Transportation: Ports: size unknown
1
Transportation: Ports: small
8
Transportation: Ports: total ports
14 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
3
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
1,991 km (2019) 0.914-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
150 km (2019) 1.435-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
2,141 km (2019)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.