Country Guide

Colombia Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

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 kmcountry comparison to the world: 26
land:1,038,700 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:6,672 km
border countries:Brazil 1,790 km, Ecuador 708 km, Panama 339 km, Peru 1,494 km, Venezuela 2,341 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:
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands


Terrain:
flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos)


    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:1.84%
permanent crops:1.66%
other:96.5% (2011)


Irrigated land:
10,870 sq km (2011)


Total renewable water resources:
2,132 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
2,132 cu km (2011)

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 and Society

Nationality:
noun: Colombian(s)
adjective:Colombian


Ethnic groups:
mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%


Languages:
Spanish (official)


Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%


Demographic profile:
Colombia is in the midst of a demographic transition resulting from steady declines in its fertility, mortality, and population growth rates. The birth rate has fallen from more than 6 children per woman in the 1960s to just above replacement level today as a result of increased literacy, family planning services, and urbanization. However, income inequality is among the worst in the world, and more than a third of the population lives below the poverty line.


Population:
46,245,297 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 30


Age structure:
0-14 years:25.3% (male 5,998,645/female 5,720,229)
15-24 years:18% (male 4,243,251/female 4,099,299)
25-54 years:41.6% (male 9,515,723/female 9,720,894)
55-64 years:8.3% (male 1,796,050/female 2,051,948)
65 years and over:6.5% (male 1,293,258/female 1,806,000) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:50.9 %
youth dependency ratio:41.2 %
elderly dependency ratio:9.6 %
potential support ratio:10.4 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:28.9 years
male:27.9 years
female:29.9 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.07% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 114


Birth rate:
16.73 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 117


Death rate:
5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 178


Net migration rate:
-0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 140


Urbanization:
urban population:75.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:1.65% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
BOGOTA (capital) 8.743 million; Medellin 3.694 million; Cali 2.453 million; Barranquilla 1.9 million; Bucaramanga 1.12 million; Cartagena 988,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.72 male(s)/female
total population:0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
21.4


Maternal mortality rate:
92 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:15.02 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 107
male:18.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female:11.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:75.25 yearscountry comparison to the world: 97
male:72.08 years
female:78.61 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.07 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 115


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
79.1% (2010)


Health expenditures:
6.1% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
1.47 physicians/1,000 population (2010)


Hospital bed density:
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 96.9% of population
rural: 73.6% of population
total: 91.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.1% of population
rural: 26.4% of population
total: 8.8% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 84.9% of population
rural: 65.7% of population
total: 80.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 15.1% of population
rural: 34.3% of population
total: 19.8% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 67


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
146,500 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 35


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
6,500 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 31


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
17.3% (2008)country comparison to the world: 112


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
3.4% (2010)country comparison to the world: 108


Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2012)country comparison to the world: 95

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:93.6%
male:93.5%
female:93.7% (2011 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:13 years
male:13 years
female:14 years (2012)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:21.9%country comparison to the world: 53
male:17%
female:28.9% (2011)

Government

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, Archipielago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina (colloquially 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:
several previous; latest promulgated 5 July 1991; amended many times, last in 2011 (2013)


Legal system:
civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (since 7 August 2010); Vice President Angelino GARZON (since 7 August 2010); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (since 7 August 2010); Vice President Angelino GARZON (since 7 August 2010)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president
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 on 25 May 2014)
election results:Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon 69.06%, Antanas MOCKUS 27.52%


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 Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:Senate - last held on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in March 2018); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in March 2018)
election results:Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - U Party 21, PC 19, CD 19, PL 17, CR 9, PDA 5, Green Party 5, other parties 7; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - U Party 39, PL 37, PC 27, CR 16, CD 12, Green Party 6, PDA 3, other parties 26


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 magistrates)
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court judges appointed by the Congress from candidates submitted by the president; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court magistrates - 3 nominated by the president, 3 by the Supreme Court, and 3 elected by the Senate; judges elected for individual 2-8 year terms
subordinate courts:Superior Tribunals (appellate courts for each of the judicial districts); regional courts; civil municipal courts; Superior Military Tribunal; first instance administrative courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Clara LOPEZ]
Conservative Party or PC [Omar YEPES Alzate]
Democratic Center Party or CD [Alvaro URIBE Velez]
Green Party [Alfonso PRADA]
Liberal Party or PL [Simon GAVIRIA Munoz]
National Integration Party or PIN [Angel ALIRIO Moreno]
Radical Change or CR [Carlos Fernando GALAN]
Social National Unity Party or U Party [Sergio Diaz GANADOS]
note:Colombia has seven major political parties, and numerous smaller movements


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Central Union of Workers or CUT


International organization participation:
BCIE, BIS, CAN, Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Luis Carlos VILLEGAS Echeverri (since 3 December 2013)
chancery:2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 387-8338
FAX:[1] (202) 232-8643
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Beverly Hills (CA), Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s):Newark (NJ)


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Benjamin ZIFF
embassy:Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50, Bogota, D.C.
mailing address:Carrera 45 No. 24B-27, Bogota, D.C.
telephone:[57] (1) 275-2000
FAX:[57] (1) 275-4600


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 Colombia, 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 valor and generosity (red); or simply the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity


National symbol(s):
Andean condor


National anthem:
name:'Himno Nacional de la Republica de Colombia' (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia)

lyrics/music:Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI
note:adopted 1920; the anthem was created from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ

Economy

Economy - overview:
Colombia's consistently sound economic policies and aggressive promotion of free trade agreements in recent years have bolstered its ability to weather external shocks. Real GDP has grown more than 4% per year for the past three years, continuing almost a decade of strong economic performance. All three major ratings agencies have upgraded Colombia's government debt to investment grade. Nevertheless, Colombia depends heavily on energy and mining exports, making it vulnerable to a drop in commodity prices. Colombia is the world's fourth largest coal exporter and Latin America’s fourth largest oil producer. Economic development is stymied by inadequate infrastructure and an uncertain security situation. Moreover, the unemployment rate of 9.7% in 2013 is still one of Latin America's highest. The SANTOS Administration's foreign policy has focused on bolstering Colombia's commercial ties and boosting investment at home. Colombia has signed or is negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with more than a dozen countries; the US-Colombia FTA went into force on May 2012. Colombia is also a founding member of the Pacific Alliance - a regional grouping formed in 2012 by Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru to promote regional trade and economic integration. In 2013, Colombia began its ascension process to the OECD. The annual level of foreign direct investment - notably in the oil and gas sectors - reached a record high of $16.8 billion in 2013, an increase of 7% over 2012. Inequality, poverty, and narcotrafficking remain significant challenges, and Colombia's infrastructure requires major improvements to sustain economic expansion.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$526.5 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$505.2 billion (2012 est.)
$484.9 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$369.2 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
4.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
4.2% (2012 est.)
6.6% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$10,800 (2012 est.)
$10,500 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
21.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
22.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
20.3% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:61.7%
government consumption:16.7%
investment in fixed capital:23.8%
investment in inventories:-0.3%
exports of goods and services:17.3%
imports of goods and services:-19.3%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:6.6%
industry:37.8%
services:55.6% (2013 est.)


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


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


Industrial production growth rate:
2.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Labor force:
23.75 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:17%
industry:21%
services:62% (2011 est.)


Unemployment rate:
9.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
10.4% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
32.7% (2012 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:0.9%
highest 10%:44.4% (2010 est.)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
55.9 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 10
56.9 (1996)


Budget:
revenues:$107.4 billion
expenditures:$106 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
29.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
0.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37


Public debt:
39.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
40.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
3.4% (2011 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
4.75% (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 72
5% (31 December 2010)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11% (31 December 2013 est.)
$NA (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$42.28 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$41.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$163.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$153.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$192.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$180.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$262.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$11.02 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
-$12.17 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$58.7 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$59.85 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
petroleum, coal, emeralds, coffee, nickel, cut flowers, bananas, apparel


Exports - partners:
US 36.6%, China 5.5%, Spain 4.8%, Panama 4.7%, Venezuela 4.4%, Netherlands 4.1% (2012)


Imports:
$53.5 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$54.64 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity


Imports - partners:
US 24.2%, China 16.3%, Mexico 10.9%, Brazil 4.8% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$43.74 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$37 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$85.83 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$80.72 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$128.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$111.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$33.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$31.65 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar -
1,865.8 (2013 est.)
1,798 (2012 est.)
1,898.6 (2010 est.)
2,157.6 (2009)
2,243.6 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
61.82 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45


Electricity - consumption:
45.35 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50


Electricity - exports:
1.294 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54


Electricity - imports:
8.22 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
13.54 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
32.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
66.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88


Crude oil - production:
969,100 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23


Crude oil - exports:
777,900 bbl/day (2009)
country comparison to the world: 18


Crude oil - imports:
10 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
2.2 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35


Refined petroleum products - production:
313,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
287,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44


Refined petroleum products - exports:
92,410 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45


Refined petroleum products - imports:
49,790 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70


Natural gas - production:
10.95 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40


Natural gas - consumption:
9.08 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50


Natural gas - exports:
2.11 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43


Natural gas - imports:
40,290 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76


Natural gas - proved reserves:
169.9 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
71.15 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
6.291 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 27


Telephones - mobile cellular:
49.066 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 29


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 100 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; multiple submarine cable systems provide 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) (2011)



    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 (2007)


Internet country code:
.co


Internet hosts:
4.41 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 24


Internet users:
22.538 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 18

Transportation

Airports
836 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 8


Airports - with paved runways
total:121
over 3,047 m:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:9
1,524 to 2,437 m:39
914 to 1,523 m:53
under 914 m:18 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:715
over 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:25
914 to 1,523 m:201
under 914 m:
488 (2013)


Heliports
3 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 4,991 km; oil 6,796 km; refined products 3,429 km (2013)


Railways
total:874 kmcountry comparison to the world: 95
standard gauge:150 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:498 km 0.950-m gauge; 226 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)


    Roadways
total:141,374 km (2010)country comparison to the world: 34

Waterways
24,725 km (18,300 km navigable; the most important waterway, the River Magdalena, of which 1,488 km is navigable, is dredged regularly to ensure the safe passage of cargo vessels and container barges) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 6


Merchant marine
total:12country comparison to the world: 106
by type:cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2
registered in other countries:4 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Panama 2, Portugal 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Cartagena, Santa Marta, Turbo; Pacific Ocean - Buenaventura
river port(s):Barranquilla (Rio Magdalena)
oil/gas terminal(s):Covenas offshore terminal
dry bulk cargo port(s):Puerto Bolivar (coal)
container port(s) (TEUs):Cartagena (1,853,342)

Military

Military branches
National Army (Ejercito Nacional), Republic of Colombia Navy (Armada Republica de Colombia, ARC, includes Naval Aviation, Naval Infantry (Infanteria de Marina, IM), and Coast Guard), Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia, FAC) (2012)


Military service age and obligation
18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; service obligation is 18 months (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:11,692,647
females age 16-49:11,727,625 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:9,150,400
females age 16-49:9,861,760 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:430,634
female:413,974 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
3.28% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 16
3.06% of GDP (2011)
3.28% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
in December 2007, ICJ allocated San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina islands to Colombia under 1928 Treaty but did 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:5.5 - 5.7 million (conflict between government and illegal armed groups and drug traffickers since 1985; about 300,000 new IDPs each year since 2000) (2013)
stateless persons:12 (2012)



Illicit drugs
illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator with 83,000 hectares in coca cultivation in 2011, a 17% decrease over 2010, producing a potential of 195 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 2012, aerial eradication dispensed herbicide to treat over 100,549 hectares combined with manual eradication of 30,486 hectares; 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 to 1,100 hectares in 2009 while pure heroin production declined to 2.1 mt; most Colombian heroin is destined for the US market (2013)
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook