Colombia

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 6,678,543 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2018 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

total: 29,990,017 | percent of population: 62.26% (July 2018 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: fastest growing sector is mobile broadband with LTE infrastructure and investment in 5G; strong demand in rural areas for mobile broadband, potential is high while penetration is low; fiber-optic network linking 50 cities; the cable sector commands about half of the market by subscribers, with DSL having a declining share while fiber-based broadband is developing strongly; competition among the MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) sector has promoted 2.9 million subscribers as of mid-2018; most infrastructure is primarily in high-density urban areas; growing popularity of bundled services (2020) | domestic: fixed-line connections stand at about 14 per 100 persons; mobile cellular telephone subscribership is about 132 per 100 persons; competition among cellular service providers is resulting in falling local and international calling rates and contributing to the steep decline in the market share of fixed-line services; domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations (2019) | 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) | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 6,774,363 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13.93 (2019 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 64,033,049 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131.67 (2019 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: 83.35 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 91.73 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: BBB- (2020) | Moody's rating: Baa2 (2014) | Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2017)

Current account balance

-$13.748 billion (2019 est.) | -$13.118 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external

$124.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $115 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Ease of Doing Business Index scores

70.1 (2020)

Economic overview

Colombia heavily depends on energy and mining exports, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in commodity prices. Colombia is Latin America’s fourth largest oil producer and the world’s fourth largest coal producer, third largest coffee exporter, and second largest cut flowers exporter. Colombia’s economic development is hampered by inadequate infrastructure, poverty, narcotrafficking, and an uncertain security situation, in addition to dependence on primary commodities (goods that have little value-added from processing or labor inputs). Colombia’s economy slowed in 2017 because of falling world market prices for oil and lower domestic oil production due to insurgent attacks on pipeline infrastructure. Although real GDP growth averaged 4.7% during the past decade, it fell to an estimated 1.8% in 2017. Declining oil prices also have contributed to reduced government revenues. In 2016, oil revenue dropped below 4% of the federal budget and likely remained below 4% in 2017. A Western credit rating agency in December 2017 downgraded Colombia’s sovereign credit rating to BBB-, because of weaker-than-expected growth and increasing external debt. Colombia has struggled to address local referendums against foreign investment, which have slowed its expansion, especially in the oil and mining sectors. Colombia’s FDI declined by 3% to $10.2 billion between January and September 2017. Colombia has signed or is negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with more than a dozen countries; the US-Colombia FTA went into effect in May 2012. Colombia is a founding member of the Pacific Alliance—a regional trade block formed in 2012 by Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru to promote regional trade and economic integration. The Colombian government took steps in 2017 to address several bilateral trade irritants with the US, including those on truck scrappage, distilled spirits, pharmaceuticals, ethanol imports, and labor rights. Colombia hopes to accede to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Exchange rates

Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar - | 3,457.93 (2020 est.) | 3,416.5 (2019 est.) | 3,147.43 (2018 est.) | 2,001 (2014 est.) | 2,001.1 (2013 est.)

Exports

$61.697 billion (2019 est.) | $60.151 billion (2018 est.) | $59.644 billion (2017 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 28.5%, Panama 8.6%, China 5.1% (2017)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$323.255 billion (2019 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity) - real

$668.233 billion (2019 est.) | $647.135 billion (2018 est.) | $631.257 billion (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 68.2% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 14.8% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 22.2% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 0.2% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 14.6% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -19.7% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 7.2% (2017 est.) | industry: 30.8% (2017 est.) | services: 62.1% (2017 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,838 (2019 est.) | $7,695 (2018 est.) | $7,621 (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

GDP real growth rate

3.26% (2019 est.) | 2.51% (2018 est.) | 1.36% (2017 est.)

Gross national saving

18.9% of GDP (2017 est.) | 19% of GDP (2016 est.) | 17.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.2% | highest 10%: 39.6% (2015 est.)

Imports

$87.072 billion (2019 est.) | $80.546 billion (2018 est.) | $76.136 billion (2017 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 26.3%, China 19.3%, Mexico 7.5%, Brazil 5%, Germany 4.1% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate

-2.2% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.5% (2019 est.) | 3.2% (2018 est.) | 4.3% (2017 est.)

Labor force

19.309 million (2020 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 17% | industry: 21% | services: 62% (2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

28% (2017 est.)

Public debt

49.4% of GDP (2017 est.) | 49.8% of GDP (2016 est.) | note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$47.13 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $46.18 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

10.5% (2019 est.) | 9.68% (2018 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

95.59 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports

726,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

863,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

1.665 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

68.25 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

460 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

29% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

69% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

378 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

16.89 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

74.92 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

population without electricity: 2 million (2019) | electrification - total population: 97% (2019) | electrification - urban areas: 100% (2019) | electrification - rural areas: 86% (2019)

Natural gas - consumption

10.08 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

48.14 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

10.02 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

113.9 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

333,000 bbl/day (2016 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.)

Area

total: 1,138,910 sq km | land: 1,038,700 sq km | water: 100,210 sq km | note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Texas | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × South America :: Colombia Print Image Description slightly less than twice the size of Texas | total: 6,672 km | border countries (5): Brazil 1790 km, Ecuador 708 km, Panama 339 km, Peru 1494 km, Venezuela 2341 km | 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km) | territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation | tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands | flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos) | mean elevation: 593 m | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,730 m | petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower | agricultural land: 37.5% (2011 est.) | arable land: 1.4% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1.6% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 34.5% (2011 est.) | forest: 54.4% (2011 est.) | other: 8.1% (2011 est.) | 10,900 sq km (2012) | 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 | highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts volcanism: 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 | 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 | party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea | only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

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

mean elevation: 593 m | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,730 m

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 Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

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

total: 6,672 km | border countries (5): Brazil 1790 km, Ecuador 708 km, Panama 339 km, Peru 1494 km, Venezuela 2341 km

Land use

agricultural land: 37.5% (2011 est.) | arable land: 1.4% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1.6% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 34.5% (2011 est.) | forest: 54.4% (2011 est.) | other: 8.1% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts volcanism: 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)

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

name: Bogota | geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W | time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | etymology: originally referred to as "Bacata," meaning "enclosure outside of the farm fields," by the indigenous Muisca

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

history: several previous; latest promulgated 4 July 1991 | 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

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Colombia | conventional short form: Colombia | local long form: Republica de Colombia | local short form: Colombia | etymology: the country is named after explorer Christopher COLUMBUS

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Philip S. GOLDBERG (since 19 September 2019) | telephone: [57] (1) 275-2000 | embassy: Carrera 45, No. 24B-27, Bogota | mailing address: Carrera 45 No. 24B-27, Bogota, D.C. | FAX: [57] (1) 275-4600

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco SANTOS Calderon (since 17 September 2018) | chancery: 1724 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 | telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338 | FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643 | consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark (NJ), Orlando, San Juan (Puerto Rico) | consulate(s): Boston, Chicago, San Francisco

Executive branch

chief of state: President Ivan DUQUE Marquez (since 7 August 2018); Vice President Marta Lucia RAMIREZ Blanco (since 7 August 2018); the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Ivan DUQUE Marquez (since 7 August 2018); Vice President Marta Lucia RAMIREZ Blanco (since 7 August 2018) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 4-year term; election last held on 27 May 2018 with a runoff held on 17 June 2018 (next to be held in 2022); note - political reform in 2015 eliminated presidential reelection | election results: Ivan DUQUE Marquez elected president in second round; percent of vote - Ivan DUQUE Marquez (CD) 54%, Gustavo PETRO (Humane Colombia) 41.8%, other/blank/invalid 4.2%

Flag description

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the short-lived South American republic that broke up in 1830; various interpretations of the colors exist and include: yellow for the gold in Colombia's land, blue for the seas on its shores, and red for the blood spilled in attaining freedom; alternatively, the colors have been described as representing more elemental concepts such as sovereignty and justice (yellow), loyalty and vigilance (blue), and valor and generosity (red); or simply the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity | note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

Government type

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, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest courts: 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 People's Alternative Revolutionary Force (FARC) political party for the 2018 and 2022 elections only 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 (172 seats; 165 members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote, 5 members of the FARC for the 2018 and 2022 elections only as per the 2016 peace accord, and 1 seat reserved for the runner-up vice presidential candidate in the recent election; all members serve 4-year terms) | elections: Senate - last held on 11 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2022) Chamber of Representatives - last held on 11 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2022) | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CD 19, CR 16, PC 15, PL 14, U Party 14, Green Alliance 10, PDA 5, other 9; composition - men 77, women 31, percent of women 28.7% Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 35, CD 32, CR 30, U Party 25, PC 21, Green Alliance 9, other 13; composition - men 147, women 25, percent of women 14.5%; total Congress percent of women 20%

National anthem

name: "Himno Nacional de la Republica de Colombia" (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia) | lyrics/music: Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI | note: adopted 1920; the anthem was created from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ

National holiday

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

National symbol(s)

Andean condor; national colors: yellow, blue, red

Political parties and leaders

Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Jorge Enrique ROBLEDO] Citizens Option (Opcion Ciudadana) or OC [Angel ALIRIO Moreno] (formerly known as the National Integration Party or PIN) Conservative Party or PC [Hernan ANDRADE] Democratic Center Party or CD [Alvaro URIBE Velez] Green Alliance [Claudia LOPEZ Hernandez] Humane Colombia [Gustavo PETRO] Liberal Party or PL [Cesar GAVIRIA] People's Alternative Revolutionary Force or FARC [Rodrigo LONDONO Echeverry] Radical Change or CR [Rodrigo LARA Restrepo] Social National Unity Party or U Party [Roy BARRERAS] | note: Colombia has numerous smaller political movements

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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, illegal armed 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. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to expand its presence into every one of its administrative departments. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug-related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.

Military - note

the Colombian Armed Forces are primarily focused on internal security, particularly counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, and counterinsurgency operations against drug traffickers, militants from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN) terrorist/guerrilla organizations, and other illegal armed groups; the Colombian Government signed a peace agreement with the FARC in 2016, but some former members (known as dissidents) have returned to fighting; the Colombian military resumed operations against FARC dissidents and their successor paramilitary groups in late 2019; in 2017, the Colombian Government initiated formal peace talks with the ELN, but in January 2019, the government ended the peace talks shortly after the ELN exploded a car bomb at the National Police Academy in Bogotá; the military is also focused on the security challenges posed by its neighbor, Venezuela (2020)

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 (civilian force that is part of the Ministry of Defense) (2020)

Military and security service personnel strengths

size estimates for the Military Forces of Colombia (FMC) vary; approximately 295,000 total active troops (235,000 Army; 45,000 Navy, including about 22,000 marines; 14,000 Air Force) (2019 )

Military deployments

275 Egypt (MFO) (Dec. 2019)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Colombian military inventory includes a wide mix of equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Brazil, Canada, Europe, Israel, South Korea, and the US; Germany, Israel, and the US are the leading suppliers of military hardware since 2010; Colombia's defense industry is active in producing air, land, and naval platforms (2019 est.)

Military expenditures

3.2% of GDP (2019) | 3.1% of GDP (2018 est.) | 3.2% of GDP (2017) | 3.1% of GDP (2016) | 3.1% of GDP (2015)

Military service age and obligation

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.27% (male 5,853,351/female 5,567,196) | 15-24 years: 16.38% (male 4,098,421/female 3,939,870) | 25-54 years: 42.04% (male 10,270,516/female 10,365,423) | 55-64 years: 9.93% (male 2,307,705/female 2,566,173) | 65 years and over: 8.39% (male 1,725,461/female 2,390,725) (2020 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × South America :: Colombia Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Colombia. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate

15.4 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.7% (2015/16)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

81% (2015/16)

Current Health Expenditure

7.2% (2017)

Death rate

5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Demographic profile

Colombia is in the midst of a demographic transition resulting from steady declines in its fertility, mortality, and population growth rates. The birth rate has fallen from more than 6 children per woman in the 1960s to just above replacement level today as a result of increased literacy, family planning services, and urbanization. However, income inequality is among the worst in the world, and more than a third of the population lives below the poverty line. Colombia experiences significant legal and illegal economic emigration and refugee 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. Colombia has been the largest source of Latin American refugees in Latin America, nearly 400,000 of whom live primarily in Venezuela and Ecuador. Venezuela’s political and economic crisis since 2015, however, has created a reverse flow, consisting largely of Colombians returning 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. Between 1985 and September 2017, nearly 7.6 million persons have been internally displaced, the highest total in the world. These estimates 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. About 30,000 cases have been recorded over the last four decades—although the number is likely to be much higher—including human rights activists, trade unionists, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, and farmers in rural conflict zones. 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.

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 45.4 | youth dependency ratio: 32.3 | elderly dependency ratio: 13.2 | potential support ratio: 7.6 (2020 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population | rural: 86.4% of population | total: 97.3% of population | unimproved: urban: 0% of population | rural: 13.6% of population | total: 2.7% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2018)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2019 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

4,100 (2019 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

200,000 (2019 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

total: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 14.9 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 9.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.6 years | male: 73.5 years | female: 80 years (2020 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 95.1% | male: 94.9% | female: 95.3% (2018)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high (2020) | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea | vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever | note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Colombia; as of 8 December 2020, Colombia has reported a total of 1,352,607 cases of COVID-19 or 26,583 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 1 million population with 736 cumulative deaths per 1 million population

Major urban areas - population

10.978 million BOGOTA (capital), 4.000 million Medellin, 2.782 million Cali, 2.273 million Barranquilla, 1.331 million Bucaramanga, 1.063 million Cartagena (2020)

Maternal mortality rate

83 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

total: 31.2 years | male: 30.2 years | female: 32.2 years (2020 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.7 years (2015 est.) | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

noun: Colombian(s) | adjective: Colombian

Net migration rate

-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.3% (2016)

Physicians density

2.11 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

49,084,841 (July 2020 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

0.93% (2020 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 79%, Protestant 14% (includes Pentecostal 6%, mainline Protestant 2%, other 6%), other 2%, unspecified 5% (2014 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 98.3% of population | rural: 80.1% of population | total: 94.7% of population | unimproved: urban: 1.7% of population | rural: 19.9% of population | total: 5.3% of population (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years | male: 14 years | female: 15 years (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female | total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.94 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 18.5% | male: 14.4% | female: 24% (2018 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 81.4% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 1.22% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

Terrorist group(s)

National Liberation Army; Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (2020) | 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

Disputes - international

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

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator with 188,000 hectares in coca cultivation in 2016, a 18% increase over 2015, producing a potential of 710 mt of pure cocaine; the world's largest producer of coca derivatives; supplies cocaine to nearly all of the US market and the great majority of other international drug markets; in 2016, the Colombian government reported manual eradication of 17,642 hectares; Colombia suspended aerial eradication in October 2015 making 2016 the first full year without aerial eradication; a significant portion of narcotics proceeds are either laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market peso exchange; Colombia probably remains the second largest supplier of heroin to the US market; opium poppy cultivation was estimated to be 1,100 hectares in 2015, sufficient to potentially produce three metric tons of pure heroin

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 768,714 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay)(2020) | IDPs: 7,967,965 (conflict between government and illegal armed groups and drug traffickers since 1985; about 300,000 new IDPs each year since 2000) (2020) | stateless persons: 11 (2019)

Airports

836 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 121 (2017) | over 3,047 m: 2 (2017) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39 (2017) | 914 to 1,523 m: 53 (2017) | under 914 m: 18 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 715 (2013) | over 3,047 m: 1 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 201 (2013) | under 914 m: 488 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

HJ, HK (2016)

Heliports

3 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 115 | by type: general cargo 21, oil tanker 9, other 85 (2019)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 12 (2020) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 157 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 33,704,037 (2018) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,349,450,000 mt-km (2018)

Pipelines

4991 km gas, 6796 km oil, 3429 km refined products (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Cartagena, Santa Marta, Turbo | oil terminal(s): Covenas offshore terminal | container port(s) (TEUs): Cartagena (2,663,415) (2017) | river port(s): Barranquilla (Rio Magdalena) | dry bulk cargo port(s): Puerto Bolivar (coal) | Pacific Ocean - Buenaventura

Railways

total: 2,141 km (2015) | standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (2015) | narrow gauge: 1,991 km 0.914-m gauge (2015)

Roadways

total: 206,500 km (2016)

Waterways

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