Colombia

Republic of ColombiaRepublica de Colombia

republicIndependence 20 July 1810 (from Spain)

Colombia as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 110 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

Position4 00 N, 72 00 W

Area1,138,910 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

39.69 million July 2000 est. · 33.08m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.68% 2000 est. · 1.83% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 25.6 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

70.28 years 2000 est. · 71.72 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.69 children per woman 2000 est. · 2.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

24.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 38 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$6,200 1999 est. · $1,500 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-5% 1999 est. · 3.3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian Government escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by funds from the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, the movement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary to overthrow the government. While Bogota continues to try to negotiate a settlement, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 1,138,910 sq km

arable land 4%permanent crops 1%permanent pastures 39%forests and woodland 48%other 8% (1993 est.)irrigated 5,300 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

1,138,910sq km

land: 1,038,700 sq kmwater: 100,210 sq kmnote: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bankslightly less than three times the size of Montana

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

Highest point

5,750m

Nevado del Huilalowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

6,004km

border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,496 km (est.), 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

Geographic coordinates

4 00 N, 72 00 W

Map references

South America, Central America and the Caribbean

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, hydropower

Natural hazards

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions;
occasional earthquakes;
periodic droughts

Environment - current issues

deforestation;
soil damage from overuse of pesticides;
air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geography - note

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

People

15 fields

Population

39,685,655

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 1.68% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

22.85Death

5.73Net migration

-0.33

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)70.28

66.43 · 74.27

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)91.3%

91.2% · 91.4%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 32% (male 6,463,195; female 6,310,723)
15-64 years:: 63% (male 12,206,095; female 12,854,682)
65 years and over:: 5% (male 832,986; female 1,017,974) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.69 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Colombian(s)
adjective:: Colombian

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%

Languages

Spanish

Government

Republic; President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998); President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998)

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

50%

PL 50%PSC 24%smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 26%Senate - last held NA March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2002); House of Representatives - last held NA March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2002)

Senate, 163 seats, elected NA March 1998one dot, one seat

PL 98PSC 52indigenous parties 2others 11

Percent of vote

PL 50%PSC 24%smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 26%

Country name

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

Data code

Government type

republic; executive branch dominates government structure

Capital

Bogota

Administrative divisions

32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital);
Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, 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, Distrito Capital de Santa fe de Bogota*, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

Independence

20 July 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Constitution

5 July 1991

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

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998);
Vice President Gustavo BELL Lemus (since 7 August 1998);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998);
Vice President Gustavo BELL Lemus (since 7 August 1998);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Cabinet
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002);
vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term in a new procedure that replaces the traditional designation of vice presidents by newly elected presidents;
election last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002)
election results:: no candidate received more than 50% of the total vote, therefore, a run-off election to select a president from the two leading candidates was held 21 June 1998;
Andres PASTRANA elected president;
percent of vote - 50.3%;
Gustavo BELL elected vice president;
percent of vote - 50.3%

Legislative branch

Bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (163 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:: Senate - last held NA March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2002); House of Representatives - last held NA March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2002)
election results:: Senate - percent of vote by party - PL 50%, PSC 24%, smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 26%;
seats by party - PL 58, PSC 28, smaller parties 16;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PL 52%, PSC 17%, other 31%;
seats by party - PL 98, PSC 52, indigenous parties 2, others 11

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justical, highest court of criminal law, judges are selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms;
Council of State, highest court of administrative law, judges are selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms;
Constitutional Court, guards integrity and supremacy of the constitution, rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Alliance-April 19 Movement or AD/M-19 is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident liberals and conservatives [Carlos Franco ECHAVARRIA, Antonio NAVARRO Wolff, Otty PATINO, Carlos Alonso LUCIO];
Liberal Party or PL [Jose Fernando BAUTISTA];
New Democratic Force or NDF [leader NA];
Patriotic Union or UP is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and Colombian Communist Party or PCC [Aida ABELLA];
Social Conservative Party or PSC [Dr. Eugenio MERLANO de la Ossa]

Political pressure groups and leaders

two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - National Liberation Army or ELN; and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC

International organization participation

BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejia
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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Curtis Warren KAMMAN
embassy:: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831
mailing address:: APO AA 34038
telephone:: [57] (1) 315-0811
FAX:: [57] (1) 315-2197

Flag description

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

31 fields

Real growth rate

-5%

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: -7% (1999 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

9.2%

(1999)

Unemployment rate

20%

(1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

17.7%

(1992 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1999 est.)

agriculture 19%industry 26%services 55% (1999 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

39%

35%

24%

20%

15%

Andean Community

15%

Japan

Exports $11.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)Imports $10 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)(1998)

Budget

Revenues

$22 billionExpenditures

$24 billion (2000 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 30.11%hydro 69.25%other 0.64% (1998)nuclear 0%

Electricity production

45.02 billion (1998)Electricity consumption

41.963 billion (1998)Electricity imports

94 million (1998)

Economy - overview

Colombia is poised for moderate growth in the next several years, marking an end to the severe 1999 recession when GDP fell by about 5%. President PASTRANA's well-respected economic team is taking steps to keep the recovery on track, such as lowering interest rates and shoring up the financial system.

In its loan agreement with the IMF, the administration has pledged to take additional steps to restore growth, reduce inflation, and improve the public sector's fiscal health. Many challenges to sustainable growth remain, however. Unemployment reached a record 20% in 1999 and may remain high, contributing to the extreme inequality in income distribution.

Colombia's leading exports, oil and coffee, face an uncertain future: new exploration is needed to offset a pending decline in oil production, and the coffee harvest has dropped off because of aging plantations and natural disasters. The lack of public security is a key concern for investors, making progress in the government's peace negotiations with insurgent groups an important driver of economic performance. Colombia is looking for international financial assistance to boost economic recovery and peace prospects.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $245.1 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,200 (1999 est.)

Labor force

16.8 million (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$11.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, coffee, coal, gold, bananas, cut flowers

Imports

$10 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Debt - external

$35 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$40.7 million (1995)

Currency

1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 1,925.63 (January 2000), 1,756.23 (1999), 1,426.04 (1998), 1,140.96 (1997), 1,036.69 (1996), 912.83 (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

1,800,229

(December 1998)

Internet users

(1999)

Fixed lines

5,433,565

(December 1997)

Telephone system

modern system in many respects

domestic:: nationwide microwave radio relay system;
domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations;
fiber-optic network linking 50 cities
international:: satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat;
3 fully digitalized international switching centers;
8 submarine cables

Radio broadcast stations

AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)

Radios

21 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations

60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997)

Televisions

4.59 million (1997)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

330

under 914 m

618

Paved 90Unpaved 1,011

Networkskm

Highways

115,564Railways

3,380Waterways

18,140 (April 1996)

Highways: paved: 13,868 km · unpaved: 101,696 km (1997 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines to maritime port at Bahia de Portete) · narrow gauge: 3,230 km 0.914-m gauge (1,830 km in use) (1995) · Waterways: , navigable by river boats

Railways

total:: 3,380 km
standard gauge:: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines to maritime port at Bahia de Portete)
narrow gauge:: 3,230 km 0.914-m gauge (1,830 km in use) (1995)

Highways

total:: 115,564 km
paved:: 13,868 km
unpaved:: 101,696 km (1997 est.)

Waterways

18,140 km, navigable by river boats (April 1996)

Pipelines

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

Ports and harbors

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

Merchant marine

total:: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 51,343 GRT/67,168 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 4, cargo 5, container 1, multi-functional large load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 2 (1999 est.)

Airports

1,101 (1999 est.)

Military

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

7 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.7%

(FY99)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

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

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis;
world's leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 1998 - 101,500 hectares, a 28% increase over 1997);
cultivation of opium in 1998 remained steady at 6,600 hectares;
potential production of opium in 1997 - 66 metric tons, a 5% increase over 1996;
the world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine;
supplier of cocaine to the US and other international drug markets, and an important supplier of heroin to the US market;
active aerial eradication program [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Central Intelligence Agency. “Colombia.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/colombia/2000.

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