Colombia

Presidential RepublicPop49.8MGDP (PPP)$978.6BCI52Beta CP0.0→Beta

Colombia

⌘K

Overview

Background: Colombia was one of three countries that emerged after the dissolution of Gran Colombia in 1830 -- the others are Ecuador and Venezuela. A decades-long conflict among government forces, paramilitaries, and antigovernment insurgent groups heavily funded by the drug trade -- principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) -- escalated during the 1990s. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization in the 2000s, new criminal groups arose that included some former paramilitaries. After four years of formal peace negotiations, the Colombian Government signed a final accord with the FARC in 2016 that called for its members to demobilize, disarm, and reincorporate into society and politics. The accord also committed the Colombian Government to create three new institutions to form a 'comprehensive system for truth, justice, reparation, and non-repetition,' including a truth commission, a special unit to coordinate the search for those who disappeared during the conflict, and a 'Special Jurisdiction for Peace' to administer justice for conflict-related crimes. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug-trade-related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong and independent democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.

Geography

Area

Land: 1,038,700 sq km
Note: note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank
Water: 100,210 sq km
Total: 1,138,910 sq km

Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Terrain: flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos)

Land Use

Other: 9.7% (2023 est.)
Forest: 53.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 36.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 32% (2023 est.)

Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama
Coastline: 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)

Elevation

Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,730 m
Mean elevation: 593 m

Irrigated land: 6,506 sq km (2013)
Major aquifers: Amazon Basin
Map references: South America

Land Boundaries

Total: 6,672 km
Border countries: Brazil 1,790 km; Ecuador 708 km; Panama 339 km; Peru 1,494 km; Venezuela 2,341 km

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards: 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
Geography note: only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower
Area comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 72 00 W
Population distribution: 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

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

Atlantic ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)

Major rivers (BY length in km): Rio Negro river source (shared with Venezuela and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco (shared with Venezuela [s]) - 2,101 km

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 95% (2024 est.)
Female: 95.7% (2024 est.)
Total population: 95.3% (2024 est.)

Languages

Languages: Spanish (official) 98.9%, indigenous 1%, Portuguese 0.1%; 65 indigenous languages exist (2023 est.)
Major language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Roman Catholic 63.6%, Protestant 17.2% (Evangelical 16.7%, Adventist 0.3%, other Protestant 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 0.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 0.1%, other 0.3%, believer, 0.2%. agnostic 1%, atheist 1%, none 14.2%, unspecified 1.8% (2023 est.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 14.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 31.5 years
Total: 33.1 years (2025 est.)
Female: 34 years

Population

Male: 24,320,959
Total: 49,842,298 (2025 est.)
Female: 25,521,339

Nationality

Noun: Colombian(s)
Adjective: Colombian

Tobacco Use

Male: 11.2% (2025 est.)
Total: 7.6% (2025 est.)
Female: 4.1% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 22.3% (male 5,643,995/female 5,394,147)
15 64 years: 66.5% (male 16,127,377/female 16,859,161)
65 years and over: 11.2% (2024 est.) (male 2,434,999/female 3,128,678)

Ethnic groups: Mestizo and White 87.6%, Afro-Colombian (includes Mulatto, Raizal, and Palenquero) 6.8%, Indigenous 4.3%, unspecified 1.4% (2018 est.)

Child Marriage

Men married BY age 18: 6.7% (2015)
Women married BY age 15: 4.9% (2015)
Women married BY age 18: 23.4% (2015)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 50.7 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 33.2 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 5.7 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 17.5 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 2.54 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 1.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 86.7% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 13.3% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure: 5.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 0.54% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.94 (2025 est.)
Population distribution: 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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 71.3 years
Female: 78.7 years
Total population: 74.9 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 59 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 88.2% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 97% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 11.8% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 3% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 3.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 4.09 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.)

Major urban areas population: 11.508 million BOGOTA (capital), 4.102 million Medellin, 2.864 million Cali, 2.349 million Barranquilla, 1.381 million Bucaramanga, 1.088 million Cartagena (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 22.3% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.7 years (2015 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 50.9% (2018 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.7% (2016 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 14 years (2022 est.)
Total: 14 years (2022 est.)
Female: 15 years (2022 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

Flag: 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

Capital

Name: Bogotá
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
Time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

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

Constitution

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

Country Name

Etymology: named after explorer Christopher COLUMBUS
Local long form: República de Colombia
Local short form: Colombia
Conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
Conventional short form: Colombia

Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain)
Legal system: civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes
Government type: presidential republic

Judicial Branch

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)
Subordinate courts: Superior Tribunals (appellate courts for each of the judicial districts); regional courts; civil municipal courts; Superior Military Tribunal; first instance administrative courts
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

Executive Branch

Note: note 1: the president is both chief of state and head of government

note 2: reforms in 2015 eliminated presidential reelection
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Chief of state: President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022)
Election results: 2022: Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (PHxC) 40.3%, Rodolfo HERNÁNDEZ Suárez (LIGA) 28.2%, Federico GUTIÉRREZ Zuluaga (Team for Colombia / CREEMOS) 23.9%, other 7.6%; percent of vote in second round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego 50.4%, Rodolfo HERNÁNDEZ Suarez 47.3%, blank 2.3%

2018: Iván DUQUE Márquez elected president in second round; percent of vote - Iván DUQUE Márquez (CD) 54%, Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (Humane Colombia) 41.8%, other/blank/invalid 4.2%
Head of government: President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022)
Most recent election date: 29 May 2022, with a runoff held on 19 June 2022
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single 4-year term
Expected date of next election: 31 May 2026

National holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
National color(s): yellow, blue, red

National Heritage

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)

Political parties: 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

Legislative Branch

Legislature name: Congress (Congreso)
Legislative structure: bicameral

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Himno Nacional de la Republica de Colombia" (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia)
History: adopted 1920; the anthem comes from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ; the anthem always starts with the chorus
Lyrics/music: Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI

National symbol(s): Andean condor
Administrative divisions: 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

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Chamber name: House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes)
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 187 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 3/13/2022
Expected date of next election: March 2026
Percentage of women in chamber: 29.4%
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)

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Chamber name: Senate (Senado de la República)
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 108 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 3/13/2022
Expected date of next election: March 2026
Percentage of women in chamber: 31.4%
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)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 232-8643
Chancery: 1724 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
Chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel GARCÍA-PEÑA JARAMILLO (since 18 September 2024)
Consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark (NJ), Orlando, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Email address and website: eestadosunidos@cancilleria.gov.co

https://www.colombiaemb.org/

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [57] (601) 275-4600
Embassy: Carrera 45, No. 24B-27, Bogota
Telephone: [57] (601) 275-2000
Mailing address: 3030 Bogota Place, Washington DC  20521-3030
Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires John McNAMARA (since 1 February 2025)
Email address and website: ACSBogota@state.gov

https://co.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: ACS, BCIE, BIS, CABEI, CAN, Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, PROSUR, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

COLOMBIA · LOWER HOUSE

Cámara de Representantes

183 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

183

Majority line

Largest party

Others

Parties

All political parties6 parties · 183 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Upper house

COLOMBIA · UPPER HOUSE

Senado

103 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

103

Majority line

Largest party

Others

Parties

All political parties5 parties · 103 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

GP
Gustavo Petro
- Head of StateSince 2022
- Head of GovernmentSince 2022

Economy

Budget

Note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $116.49 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $123.966 billion (2023 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $67.4B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022: $73.514 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $68.674 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $68.866 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $87.6B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2022: $89.608 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $76.449 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $78.633 billion (2024 est.)

Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Labor force: 26.822 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 71.5%

Note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2023: 71.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 2.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 3,693.276 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 3,744.244 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 4,256.194 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 4,325.955 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 4,074.434 (2024 est.)

Debt External

Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Debt external 2023: $108.027 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview: 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

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 8.3%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 10.6% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 9.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 9.7% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: USA 27%, Panama 9%, India 5%, China 5%, Netherlands 4% (2023)
Imports partners: USA 26%, China 22%, Brazil 6%, Mexico 5%, Germany 4% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $22,349

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $18,500 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $18,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $18,500 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 1.6%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.7% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: sugarcane, oil palm fruit, milk, rice, plantains, potatoes, bananas, maize, chicken, avocados (2023)
Exports commodities: crude petroleum, coal, gold, coffee, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports commodities: refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): -$7.0B

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2022: -$20.879 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$8.285 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: -$7.412 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 17.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $418.542 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 73.1% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 14.7% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.6% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 16% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -20.9% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line: 33% (2023 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

On food: 20.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 3.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 6.6%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 10.2% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 11.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 6.6% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: -1.3% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $978.592 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $955.016 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $961.82 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $978.592 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 16.5% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 19.8% (2024 est.)
Female: 24.3% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $56.704 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $59.041 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $61.898 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 23.1% (2024 est.)
Services: 58.2% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 9.3% (2024 est.)

Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Highest 10%: 42.7% (2023 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2023: 53.9 (2023 est.)

Energy

Coal

Exports: 46.425 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 1,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Production: 52.376 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 9.72 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 4.554 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Total petroleum production: 800,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 2.036 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 374,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Exports: 1.293 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 407.788 million kWh (2023 est.)
Consumption: 82.309 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 21.053 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 7.232 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Imports: 958.724 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Production: 10.927 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 11.885 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 87.782 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 29.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 34% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 62.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Biomass and waste: 2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 77% (2023 est.)

Broadcast media: 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)
Internet country code: .co

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 6.32 million (2024 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2024 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 92.1 million (2024 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 174 (2024 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 8.91 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 8
Medium: 2
Key ports: Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Covenas, El Bosque, Mamonal, Pozos Colorados, Puerto Bolivar, Puerto Prodeco, Santa Marta
Very small: 3
Total ports: 14 (2024)
Size unknown: 1
Ports with oil terminals: 10

Airports: 661 (2025)

Railways

Total: 2,141 km (2019)
Narrow gauge: 1,991 km (2019) 0.914-m gauge
Standard gauge: 150 km (2019) 1.435-m gauge

Heliports: 57 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 153 (2023)
BY type: general cargo 28, oil tanker 13, other 112

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HJ, HK

Environment

Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

Land Use

Other: 9.7% (2023 est.)
Forest: 53.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 36.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 32% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Methane Emissions

Other: 18.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste: 600.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy: 814.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Agriculture: 1,791.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 12.15 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.5% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: 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

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 3.405 billion cubic meters (2022)
Industrial: 1.033 billion cubic meters (2022)
Agricultural: 20.46 billion cubic meters (2022)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 85.878 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 20.688 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 15.463 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 49.727 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 13.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 2.36 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International Environmental Agreements

Party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
Signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Military & Security

Military note: the Colombian military is responsible for defending and maintaining the country’s independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity but also has a considerable internal security role, which includes protecting the civilian population, as well as private and state-owned assets, and ensuring a secure environment; the military’s primary focus is the conduct of counterinsurgency and counter-narcotics operations against domestic illegal armed groups, including drug traffickers, several factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist group, and the insurgent/terrorist group National Liberation Army (ELN)

border security is also a focus, particularly with Venezuela where economic and political instability has brought refugees and attracted narcotics trafficking and other cross-border crime; both the ELN and FARC dissidents operate openly in the border region; ELN and FARC insurgents have also used neighboring Ecuador to rest, resupply, and shelter

Colombia has close security ties with the US, including joint training, military assistance, and designation in 2022 as a Major Non-NATO Ally, which provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense, trade, and security cooperation; it also has close security ties with regional neighbors, such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru; Colombian military and security forces have training programs with their counterparts from a variety of countries, mostly those from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (2025)
Military deployments: 275 Egypt (MFO) (2025)

Military Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 3.4%

Military expenditures 2020: 3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures 2021: 3.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022: 3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures 2023: 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures 2024: 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military and security forces: Military Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Militares de Colombia<em lang="es">): 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)
Military service age and obligation: 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)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: 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)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 260,000 active Military Forces; approximately 150,000 National Police (2025)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s): National Liberation Army (ELN); Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP); Segunda Marquetalia (SM); Tren de Aragua (TdA)

Space

Space agency/agencies: Colombian Space Commission (Comision Colombiana Del Espacio, CCE; established 2006) (2025)
Space program overview: has a small program focused on acquiring satellites, particularly remote sensing (RS) satellites; operates satellites and produces nanosatellites; researches other space technologies, including astronautics, satellite navigation, and telecommunications; works with a variety of foreign space agencies or commercial space industries, including those of Denmark, India, Russia, Sweden, the US, and some members of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)
Key space program milestones: 2007 - first domestically produced technology-demonstration/remote-sensing (RS) nanosatellite (Libertad I) launched by Russia

2014 - second experimental RS nanosatellite (UAPSAT) launched by US

2018 - first RS satellite (FACSAT-1) for military use purchased from Denmark and launched by India

2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration

2023 - second RS satellite (FACSAT-2 or Chibiriquete) launched by US

Transnational Issues

Illicit Drugs

Usg identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country

major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps: 7,264,767 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 30,611 (2024 est.)
Stateless persons: 5 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index52.0 / 100as of 2024-Q483 / 190−8.02024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.56as of 2024-Q451 / 170+0.042024-Q4

Freedom House StatusPartly Free (75/100)as of 2024-Q4—−1.52024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (55/100)as of 2024—2024

Human Development Index0.758as of 2022—2022

Corruption Perceptions Index40 / 100as of 202387 / 1802023

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Colombia — vintage 2026-Q1: Colombia factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/colombia

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), OECD.Stat, UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Colombia

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