Colombia

Republic of ColombiaRepublica de Colombia

republicIndependence 20 July 1810 (from Spain)

Colombia as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 84 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBogota

Area1,138,910 sq km

LocationNorthern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between

Populationas each edition published it

36.2 million July 1995 est. · 33.08m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.7% 1995 est. · 1.83% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 25.6 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

72.48 years 1995 est. · 71.72 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.4 children per woman 1995 est. · 2.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

26.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 38 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$4,850 1994 est. · $1,500 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5.7% 1994 est. · 3.3% in 1993

Geography

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

14 fields

Land useshare of 1,138,910 sq km

arable land 4%permanent crops 2%meadows and pastures 29%forest and woodland 49%other 16%irrigated 5,150 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

1,138,910sq km

land area: 1,038,700 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Montananote: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank

Coastline

3,208km

(Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

7,408km

total · Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km

Location

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

International disputes

maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela;
territorial dispute with Nicaragua over Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank

Climate

tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

Terrain

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

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds

Environment

current issues:: deforestation;
soil damage from overuse of pesticides;
air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
natural hazards:: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions;
occasional earthquakes;
periodic droughts
international agreements:: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83;
signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Note

only South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

People

15 fields

Population

36,200,251

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 1.7% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

21.89Death

4.69Net migration

-0.17

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years72.48

69.68 · 75.38

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy88%

88% · 88%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1985)

Ethnic divisions

mestizo 58%white 20%mulatto 14%black 4%mixed black-Indian 3%Indian 1%

Labor force

12million

(1990)by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 32% (female 5,784,010; male 5,925,600)
15-64 years:: 63% (female 11,642,870; male 11,245,235)
65 years and over:: 5% (female 888,358; male 714,178) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

26.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Colombian(s)
adjective:: Colombian

Government

Republic

23 fields

Legislature, 102 seatsone dot, one seat

Liberal Party 59conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF) 31other 12

Legislature, 161 seatsone dot, one seat

Liberal Party 89conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF) 53AD/M-19 2other 17

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form:: Colombia
local long form:: Republica de Colombia
local short form:: Colombia

Type

republic; executive branch dominates government structure

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, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

Legal system

based on Spanish law;
a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted in 1992-93;
judicial review of executive and legislative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:: President Ernesto SAMPER Pizano (since 7 August 1994);
election last held 29 May 1994 (next to be held May 1998) and resulted in no candidate receiving more than 50% of the total vote;
a run-off election to select a president from the two leading candidates was held on 19 June 1994;
results - Ernesto SAMPER Pizano (Liberal Party) 50.4%, Andres PASTRANA Arango (Conservative Party) 48.6%, blank votes 1%;
Humberto de la CALLE was elected vice president in a new proceedure that replaces the traditional designation of vice presidents by newly elected presidents.
cabinet:: Cabinet

Senate (Senado)

elections last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998);
preliminary results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (102 total) Liberal Party 59, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF) 31, other 12

House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes)

elections last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998);
preliminary results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (161 total) Liberal Party 89, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF) 53, AD/M-19 2, other 17

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justical), Constitutional Court, Council of State

Political parties and leaders

Liberal Party (PL), Juan Guillermo ANGEL;
Conservative Party (PC), Fabio VALENCIA Cossio;
National Salvation Movement (MSN), Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado;
New Democratic Force (NDF), Andres PASTRANA Arango;
Democratic Alliance M-19 (AD/M-19) is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident liberals and conservatives;
Patriotic Union (UP) is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and Colombian Communist Party (PCC), Carlos ROMERO

Other political or pressure groups

three insurgent groups are active in Colombia - Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Manuel MARULANDA and Alfonso CANO;
National Liberation Army (ELN), Manuel PEREZ;
and dissidents of the recently demobilized People's Liberation Army (EPL), Francisco CARABALLO;
Francisco CARABALLO was captured by the government in June 1994

AG, CCC, CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Carlos LLERAS de la Fuente
chancery:: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 387-8338

FAX

[1] (202) 232-8643

consulate(s) general:: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Washington, DC
consulate(s):: Atlanta and Tampa

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Myles R. R. FRECHETTE
embassy:: Calle 38, No. 8-61, Bogota
mailing address:: Apartado Aereo 3831, Bogota; APO AA 34038
telephone:: [57] (1) 320-1300

FAX

[57] (1) 288-5687; consulate(s): Barranquilla

Flag

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red;
similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

Economy

Colombia's economy has grown steadily since 1991, when the | government implemented sweeping economic reform measures.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$4,850

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

5.7%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 5% (1994 est.); accounts for about 20% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

22.6%

(1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.9%

(1994 est.)

Budget(1995 est.)

Revenues

$16 billionExpenditures

$21 billion

Installed generating capacity, 10,220,000 kW

Electricity production

33 billionElectricity consumption per capita

890 (1993)

Overview

Colombia's economy has grown steadily since 1991, when the government implemented sweeping economic reform measures. President SAMPER, who took office in August 1994, has pledged to maintain those reforms while expanding government assistance for poor Colombians, who continue to make up about 40% of the population.

In an effort to bring down inflation, SAMPER has arranged a "social pact" with business and labor to curtail price hikes and trim inflation to 18%. The rapid development of oil, coal, and other nontraditional industries, along with copious inflows of capital and strengthening of prices for coffee, have helped keep growth at 5%-6%. Development of the massive Cusiana oilfield provides the means to sustain this level over the next several years.

Exporters say, however, that their sales have been hampered by the appreciation of the Colombian peso, and farmers have sought government help in adjusting to greater foreign competition. Moreover, increased foreign investment and even greater domestic growth have been hindered by an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure and by violence stemming from drug trafficking and persistent rural insurgency.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $172.4 billion (1994 est.)

Exports

$8.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities:: petroleum, coffee, coal, bananas, fresh cut flowers
partners:: US 39%, EC 25.7%, Japan 2.9%, Venezuela 8.5% (1992)

Imports

$10.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)

commodities:: industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products
partners:: US 36%, EC 18%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 6.5%, Japan 8.7% (1992)

External debt

$12.6 billion (1994 est.)

Industries

textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, metal products, cement; mining - gold, coal, emeralds, iron, nickel, silver, salt

Agriculture

growth rate 3.8% (1994 est.);
accounts for about 15% of GDP;
crops make up two-thirds and livestock one-third of agricultural output;
climate and soils permit a wide variety of crops, such as coffee, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseeds, vegetables;
forest products and shrimp farming are becoming more important

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis;
about 45,000 hectares of coca under cultivation;
the world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine;
supplier of cocaine to the US and other international drug markets;
active eradication program against narcotics crop

Economic aid

recipient:: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.6 billion;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.3 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $399 million

Currency

1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 846.67 (January 1995), 844.84 (1994), 863.06 (1993), 759.28 (1992), 633.05 (1991), 502.26 (1990)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 1,307 in all

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

419

734

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

107,377 (1991)Railroads

3,386Inland waterways

14,300

Highways: paved: 12,778 km · unpaved: gravel/earth 94,599 km · Railroads: standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 3,236 km 0.914-m gauge (2,611 km in use) · Inland waterways: , navigable by river boats

Railroads

total:: 3,386 km
standard gauge:: 150 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:: 3,236 km 0.914-m gauge (2,611 km in use)

Highways

total:: 107,377 km (1991)
paved:: 12,778 km
unpaved:: gravel/earth 94,599 km

Inland waterways

14,300 km, navigable by river boats

Pipelines

crude oil 3,585 km;
petroleum products 1,350 km;
natural gas 830 km;
natural gas liquids 125 km

Ports

Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo

Merchant marine

total:: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 104,577 GRT/142,617 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 6, cargo 9, container 4, oil tanker 3

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

1,890,000 telephones; modern system in many respects

local:: NA
intercity:: nationwide microwave radio relay system; 11 domestic earth stations
international:: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations

Radio

broadcast stations:: AM 413, FM 0, shortwave 28
radios:: NA

Television

broadcast stations:: 33
televisions:: NA

Defense Forces

Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, includes | Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), | National Police (Policia Nacional)

3 fields

Branches

Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 9,851,980;
males fit for military service 6,640,348;
males reach military age (18) annually 349,599 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $1.2 billion (1992 est.) COMOROS

Central Intelligence Agency. “Colombia.” The World Factbook 1995. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/colombia/1995.

How to cite ← 1994 edition 1996 edition →

Geography

People

Government

Economy

Transportation

Communications

Defense Forces

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