Legend:
Definition of Term
 Arranged
by Countries Field Listing
| 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. An anti-insurgent army of paramilitaries
has grown to be several thousand strong in recent years, challenging
the insurgents for control of territory and illicit industries
such as the drug trade and the government's ability to exert its
dominion over rural areas. While Bogota continues to try to negotiate
a settlement, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling
over their borders. |
| 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: 1,138,910 sq km
land: 1,038,700 sq km
note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank,
and Serranilla Bank
water: 100,210 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly less than three times the size of Montana |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 6,004 km
border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama
225 km, Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km |
| Coastline: |
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
|
| Maritime
claims: |
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
| Climate: |
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: 1.9%
other: 96.14% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 1.96% |
| Irrigated
land: |
8,500 sq km (1998 est.) |
| 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, 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
|
| Population: |
41,008,227 (July 2002 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years: 31.6% (male 6,552,961; female 6,399,666)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 12,694,293; female 13,375,425)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 886,921; female 1,098,961)
(2002 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
1.6% (2002 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
21.99 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
5.66 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 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: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
23.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population: 70.85 years
female: 74.83 years (2002 est.)
male: 67 years |
| Total
fertility rate: |
2.64 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.31% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
71,000 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
1,700 (1999 est.) |
| 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% |
| Languages: |
Spanish |
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 91.2%
female: 91.4% (1995 est.)
|
| Country
name: |
conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
local short form: Colombia
local long form: Republica de Colombia |
| 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, Distrito Capital de 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 |
| 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 Alvaro URIBE Velez (since
7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (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 (since 7 August
2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the two dominant
parties - the PL and PSC - and independents
elections: president and vice president elected by popular
vote for a four-year term; election last held 26 May 2002 (next
to be held NA May 2006)
election results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez received
53% of the vote; Vice President Francisco SANTOS was elected on
the same ticket |
| 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
(166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections: Senate - last held 10 March 2002 (next to be
held NA March 2006); House of Representatives - last held 10 March
2002 (next to be held NA March 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - PL 28, PSC 13, independents and smaller parties
(many aligned with conservatives) 61; House of Representatives
- percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 54, PSC 21,
independents and other parties 91 |
| Judicial
branch: |
four, coequal, supreme judicial organs; 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);
Higher Council of Justice (administers and disciplines the civilian
judiciary; members of the disciplinary chamber resolve jurisdictional
conflicts arising between other courts; members are elected by
three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Conservative Party or PSC [Carlos HOLGUIN Sardi]; Liberal Party
or PL [Horatio SERPA Uribe]; Patriotic Union or UP is a legal
political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
or FARC and Colombian Communist Party or PCC [Jaime CAICEDO];
19 of April Movement or M-19 [Antonio NAVARRO Wolff]
note: Colombia has about 60 formally recognized political
parties, most of which do not have a presence in either house
of Congress |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and National Liberation Army
or ELN; largest anti-insurgent paramilitary group is United Self-Defense
Groups of Colombia or AUC |
| International
organization participation: |
BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-24,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), 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
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
FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON
embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831
mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., 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
- overview: |
Colombia's economy suffered from weak domestic demand, austere
government budgets, and a difficult security situation. A new
president takes office in 2002 and will face economic challenges
ranging from pension reform to reduction of unemployment. Two
of Colombia's leading exports, oil and coffee, face an uncertain
future; new exploration is needed to offset declining oil production,
while coffee harvests and prices are depressed. Problems in public
security are a concern for Colombian business leaders, who are
calling for progress in the government's peace negotiations with
insurgent groups. Colombia is looking for continued support from
the international community to boost economic and peace prospects.
|
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $255 billion (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
1.5% (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 19%
industry: 26%
services: 55% (2001 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
55% (2001) (2001) |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 44% (1999) (1999) |
| Distribution
of family income - Gini index: |
57 (1996) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
7.6% (2001) (2001) |
| Labor
force: |
18.3 million (1999 est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990) (1990) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
17% (2001 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $24 billion
expenditures: $25.6 billion, including capital expenditures
of $NA (2001 est.) |
| Industries: |
textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages,
chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
4% (2001 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
43.342 billion kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel: 26%
hydro: 73%
other: 1% (2000)
nuclear: 0% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
40.348 billion kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
37 million kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
77 million kWh (2000) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane,
cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp |
| Exports: |
$12.3 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
petroleum, coffee, coal, apparel, bananas, cut flowers |
| Exports
- partners: |
US 43%, Andean Community of Nations 22%, EU 14%, (2001 est.) |
| Imports: |
$12.7 billion c.i.f. (2001 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods,
chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity |
| Imports
- partners: |
US 35%, EU 16%, Andean Community of Nations 15%, Japan 5% (2001
est.) |
| Debt
- external: |
$39 billion (2001 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$NA |
| Currency: |
Colombian peso (COP) |
| Currency
code: |
COP |
| Exchange
rates: |
Colombian pesos per US dollar - 2,275.89 (January 2002), 2,299.63
(2001), 2,087.90 (2000), 1,756.23 (1999), 1,426.04 (1998), 1,140.96
(1997) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year
|
| Railways: |
total: 3,304 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon
coal mines to maritime port at Bahia de Portete)
narrow gauge: 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (major sections not
in use) (2000 est.) |
| Highways: |
total: 110,000 km
paved: 26,000 km
unpaved: 84,000 km (2000) |
| 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: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 32,438
GRT/43,126 DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 3, container 1, petroleum
tanker 2
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as
a flag of convenience: Germany 1 (2002 est.) |
| Airports: |
1,066 (2001) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 96
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 38 |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 954
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 51
under 914 m: 587 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 315 |
| Heliports: |
1 (2002)
|
|
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