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Introduction - Colombia
Background:
Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran
Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A four-decade long
conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups,
principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) heavily funded by
the drug trade, escalated during the 1990s. The insurgents lack the military or
popular support necessary to overthrow the government and violence has been
decreasing since about 2002, but insurgents continue attacks against civilians
and large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are
contested by security forces. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had
demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)
as a formal organization had ceased to function. In the wake of the paramilitary
demobilization, emerging criminal groups arose, whose members include some
former paramilitaries. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to
reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in
every one of its administrative departments. However, neighboring countries
worry about the violence spilling over their borders.
Geography - Colombia
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
Area:
total: 1,138,914 sq km
country comparison to the world: 26
land: 1,109,104 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
Land boundaries:
total: 6,309 km
border countries: Brazil 1,644 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,800 km,
Venezuela 2,050 km
Coastline:
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Current Weather
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Terrain:
flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland
plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m
note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 2.01%
permanent crops: 1.37%
other: 96.62% (2005)
Irrigated land:
9,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
2,132 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 10.71 cu km/yr (50%/4%/46%)
per capita: 235 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic
droughts
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; 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
Geography - note:
only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and
Caribbean Sea
People - Colombia
Population:
44,205,293 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.2% (male 6,150,834/female 5,876,697)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 14,562,536/female 14,967,492)
65 years and over: 6% (male 1,125,184/female 1,522,550) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.6 years
male: 26.7 years
female: 28.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.184% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Birth rate:
17.76 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Death rate:
5.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Net migration rate:
-0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Urbanization:
urban population: 74% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.87 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 114
male: 20.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.31 years
country comparison to the world: 96
male: 70.98 years
female: 77.84 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.18 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
170,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
9,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Colombian(s)
adjective: Colombian
Ethnic groups:
mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%,
Amerindian 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.4%
male: 90.1%
female: 90.7% (2005 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 79
Government - Colombia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
local long form: Republica de Colombia
local short form: Colombia
Government type:
republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Capital:
name: Bogota
geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
Independence:
20 July 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Constitution:
5 July 1991; amended many times
Legal system:
based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was
enacted into law in 2004 and reached full implementation in January 2008;
judicial review of executive and legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice
President Francisco SANTOS Calderon (since 7 August 2002); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice
President Francisco SANTOS Calderon (since 7 August 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the three largest parties that
supported President URIBE's reelection - the PSUN, PC, and CR - and independents
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year
term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 30 May 2010 with a
runoff election 20 June 2010 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results: Juan Manuel SANTOS elected president in runoff election;
percent of vote - Juan Manuel SANTOS 69.06%, Antanas MOCKUS 27.52%; note -
official results pending; SANTOS is scheduled to take office 7 August 2010
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 14 March 2010 (next to be held in March 2014);
House of Representatives - last held on 14 March 2010 (next to be held in March
2014)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - U
Party 28, PC 22, PL 17, PIN 9, CR 8, PDA 8, other parties 10; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - U Party 47, PC
38, PL 37, CR 15, PIN 12, PDA 4, other parties 11
Judicial branch:
four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice or Corte
Suprema de Justicia (highest court of criminal law; judges are selected by their
peers from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms);
Council of State (highest court of administrative law; judges are selected from
the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council 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); Superior Judicial Council (administers and disciplines the civilian
judiciary; resolves jurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts;
members are elected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:
Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Jaime DUSSAN]; Colombian Conservative Party
or PC [Fernando ARAUJO]; Liberal Party or PL [Rafael PARDO]; National
Integration Party or PIN [leader NA]; Radical Change or CR [German VARGAS Lleras];
Social National Unity Party or U Party [Juan Manuel SANTOS]
note: Colombia has five major political parties, and numerous smaller movements
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Liberation Army or ELN; Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC
note: two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia
International organization participation:
BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carolina BARCO Isakson
chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William R. BROWNFIELD
embassy: Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50, Bogota, D.C.
mailing address: Carrera 45 No. 24B-27, Bogota, D.C.
telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811
FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197
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 Columbia, 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 valour 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
Economy - Colombia
Economy - overview:
Colombia experienced accelerating growth between 2002 and 2007, chiefly due to
improvements in domestic security, rising commodity prices, and to President
URIBE's promarket economic policies. Foreign direct investment reached a record
$10 billion in 2008. A series of policies enhanced Colombia's investment
climate: President URIBE's pro-market measures; pro-business reforms in the oil
and gas sectors; and export-led growth fueled mainly by the Andean Trade
Promotion and Drug Eradication Act. Inequality, underemployment, and
narcotrafficking remain significant challenges, and Colombia's infrastructure
requires major improvements to sustain economic expansion. Because of the global
financial crisis and weakening demand for Colombia's exports, Colombia's economy
grew only 2.6% in 2008, and contracted slightly in 2009. In response, the URIBE
administration cut capital controls, arranged for emergency credit lines from
multilateral institutions, and promoted investment incentives, such as
Colombia's modernized free trade zone mechanism, legal stability contracts, and
new bilateral investment treaties and trade agreements. The government also
encouraged exporters to diversify their customer base beyond the United States
and Venezuela, traditionally Colombia's largest trading partners. The government
is pursuing free trade agreements with European and Asian partners and awaits
the approval of a Canadian trade accord by Canada's parliament. In 2009, China
replaced Venezuela as Colombia's number two trading partner, largely because of
Venezuela's decision to limit the entry of Colombian products. The business
sector remains concerned about the impact of the global recession on Colombia's
economy, Venezuela's trade restrictions on Colombian exports, an appreciating
domestic currency, and the pending US Congressional approval of the US-Colombia
Trade Promotion Agreement.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$401 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$400.6 billion (2008 est.)
$391.2 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$231.3 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
2.6% (2008 est.)
7.7% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$9,300 (2008 est.)
$9,200 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.7%
industry: 37.4%
services: 52.9% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
21.53 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 18.9%
services: 63.1% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
10.6% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line:
46.8% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 45% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
58.5 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 9
53.8 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
24.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Budget:
revenues: $72.55 billion
expenditures: $74.6 billion (2009 est.)
Public debt:
45.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
42.8% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
7% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3.5% (31 November 2009)
country comparison to the world: 30
11.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.57% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 31
17.18% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:
$25.01 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 40
$21.58 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of quasi money:
$26.57 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 48
$27.25 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$89.69 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 41
$85.34 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$140.5 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 40
$87.03 billion (31 December 2008)
$102 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans,
oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp
Industries:
textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals,
cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Industrial production growth rate:
-5.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Electricity - production:
50.58 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Electricity - consumption:
38.59 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Electricity - exports:
876.7 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
39.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
686,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Oil - consumption:
288,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Oil - exports:
294,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Oil - imports:
16,540 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Oil - proved reserves:
1.668 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Natural gas - production:
9 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Natural gas - consumption:
8.1 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - exports:
900 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - proved reserves:
105.9 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Current account balance:
-$5.146 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
-$6.882 billion (2008 est.)
Exports:
$34.03 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$38.53 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, coffee, coal, nickel, emeralds, apparel, bananas, cut flowers
Exports - partners:
US 32.45%, Venezuela 17.16%, Netherlands 4.22% (2009)
Imports:
$31.47 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$37.56 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper
products, fuels, electricity
Imports - partners:
US 30.61%, China 10.02%, Mexico 8.05%, Brazil 5.92%, France 3.99%, Germany 3.96%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$24.99 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$23.67 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$47.33 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$46.38 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$74.47 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$67.27 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$15.68 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$13.18 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar - 1,990 (2009), 2,243.6 (2008), 2,013.8
(2007), 2,358.6 (2006), 2,320.75 (2005)
Communications - Colombia
Telephones - main lines in use:
6.82 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 27
Telephones - mobile cellular:
41.365 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 28
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system in many respects with a nationwide microwave
radio relay system, a domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations, and a
fiber-optic network linking 50 cities; telecommunications sector liberalized
during the 1990s; multiple providers of both fixed-line and mobile-cellular
services
domestic: fixed-line connections stand at about 15 per 100 persons; mobile
cellular telephone subscribership is about 90 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
international: country code - 57; landing points for the ARCOS, Colombia-Florida
Subsea Fiber (CFX-1), Maya-1, Pan American, and the South America-1 submarine
cables 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) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
60 (1997)
Internet country code:
.co
Internet hosts:
2.217 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 30
Internet users:
17.117 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 21
Transportation - Colombia
Airports:
992 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 7
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 116
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 40
914 to 1,523 m: 50
under 914 m: 15 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 876
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 35
914 to 1,523 m: 228
under 914 m: 612 (2009)
Heliports:
2 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 4,567 km; oil 6,097 km; refined products 3,382 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 3,802 km
country comparison to the world: 45
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 3,652 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 164,257 km (2005)
country comparison to the world: 31
Waterways:
18,000 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 6
Merchant marine:
total: 17
country comparison to the world: 100
by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 3, specialized tanker 1
registered in other countries: 6 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Panama 4) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Turbo
Military - Colombia
Military branches:
National Army (Ejercito Nacional), National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes
Naval Aviation, Naval Infantry (Infanteria de Marina, IM), and Coast Guard),
Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia, FAC) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; service
obligation - 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 11,556,939
females age 16-49: 11,609,122 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,957,960
females age 16-49: 9,763,655 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 432,280
female: 416,051 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Transnational Issues - Colombia
Disputes - international:
in December 2007, ICJ allocates San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina
islands to Colombia under 1928 Treaty but does 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
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 1.8-3.5 million (conflict between government and illegal armed groups and
drug traffickers) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading coca
cultivator with 167,000 hectares in coca cultivation in 2007, a 6% increase over
2006, producing a potential of 535 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 2005, aerial
eradication dispensed herbicide to treat over 130,000 hectares but aggressive
replanting on the part of coca growers means Colombia remains a key producer; a
significant portion of narcotics proceeds are either laundered or invested in
Colombia through the black market peso exchange; important supplier of heroin to
the US market; opium poppy cultivation is estimated to have fallen 25% between
2006 and 2007; most Colombian heroin is destined for the US market (2008)
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