Colombia

• 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;
• 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

noun:

Colombian(s)

adjective:

Colombian

total:

33.1 years (2025 est.)

male:

31.5 years

female:

34 years

• 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

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.78 male(s)/female

total population:

0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

13.1 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

10.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

74.9 years (2024 est.)

male:

71.3 years

female:

78.7 years

total:

4.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

3.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

7.6% (2025 est.)

male:

11.2% (2025 est.)

female:

4.1% (2025 est.)

women married by age 15:

4.9% (2015)

women married by age 18:

23.4% (2015)

men married by age 18:

6.7% (2015)

• 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

urban population:

82.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

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

energy:

814.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)

agriculture:

1,791.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste:

600.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

other:

18.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

12.15 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

28.5% (2022 est.)

municipal:

3.405 billion cubic meters (2022)

industrial:

1.033 billion cubic meters (2022)

agricultural:

20.46 billion cubic meters (2022)

conventional long form:

Republic of Colombia

conventional short form:

Colombia

local long form:

República de Colombia

local short form:

Colombia

etymology:

named after explorer Christopher COLUMBUS

name:

Bogotá

geographic coordinates:

4 36 N, 74 05 W

time difference:

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

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

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

history:

several previous; latest promulgated 4 July 1991

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

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

legislature name:

Congress (Congreso)

legislative structure:

bicameral

chamber name:

House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes)

number of seats:

187 (all directly elected)

electoral system:

proportional representation

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

4 years

most recent election date:

3/13/2022

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)

percentage of women in chamber:

29.4%

expected date of next election:

March 2026

chamber name:

Senate (Senado de la República)

number of seats:

108 (all directly elected)

electoral system:

proportional representation

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

4 years

most recent election date:

3/13/2022

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)

percentage of women in chamber:

31.4%

expected date of next election:

March 2026

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

• 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

note: Colombia has numerous smaller political parties and movements

chief of mission:

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires John McNAMARA (since 1 February 2025)

embassy:

Carrera 45, No. 24B-27, Bogota

mailing address:

3030 Bogota Place, Washington DC 20521-3030

telephone:

[57] (601) 275-2000

FAX:

[57] (601) 275-4600

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://co.usembassy.gov/

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

note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is wider and has the Ecuadorian coat of arms in the center

title:

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

lyrics/music:

Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI

history:

• adopted 1920;
• the anthem comes from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ;
• the anthem always starts with the chorus

total World Heritage Sites:

9 (6 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed)

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)

• 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

agriculture:

9.3% (2024 est.)

industry:

23.1% (2024 est.)

services:

58.2% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

19.8% (2024 est.)

male:

16.5% (2024 est.)

female:

24.3% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

on food:

20.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

3.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

lowest 10%:

1.1% (2023 est.)

highest 10%:

42.7% (2023 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

production:

52.376 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption:

9.72 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports:

46.425 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports:

1,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves:

4.554 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

total petroleum production:

800,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption:

374,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves:

2.036 billion barrels (2021 est.)

production:

10.927 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption:

11.885 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports:

958.724 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves:

87.782 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

• 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)

total:

2,141 km (2019)

standard gauge:

150 km (2019) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge:

1,991 km (2019) 0.914-m gauge

total ports:

14 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

2

small:

8

very small:

3

size unknown:

1

ports with oil terminals:

10

key ports:

Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Covenas, El Bosque, Mamonal, Pozos Colorados, Puerto Bolivar, Puerto Prodeco, Santa Marta

• 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)

note: the PNC is a civilian force under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense

• 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)

• 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)

note: women comprised a little more than 3% of the active military in 2024