Colombia

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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

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 km

land: 1,038,700 sq km

water: 100,210 sq km

note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank

comparison ranking: total 27

Area – comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 6,672 km

border countries (5): 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

highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,730 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 593 m

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower

Land use

agricultural land: 37.6% (2022 est.)

arable land: 2.2% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 2.2% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 33.2% (2022 est.)

forest: 52.9% (2022 est.)

other: 9.4% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

6,506 sq km (2013)

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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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

Major aquifers

Amazon Basin

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

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

People and Society

Population

total: 49,588,357 (2024 est.)

male: 24,206,371

female: 25,381,986

comparison rankings: total 30; female 29; male 30

Nationality

noun: Colombian(s)

adjective: Colombian

Ethnic groups

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

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.

Spanish audio sample:

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.)

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)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 50.3 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 33.5 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 16.9 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 5.9 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 32.7 years (2024 est.)

male: 31.5 years

female: 34 years

comparison ranking: total 114

Population growth rate

0.48% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 152

Birth rate

14.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 112

Death rate

8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 91

Net migration rate

-2.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 168

Population distribution

Urbanization

urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)

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

65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

21.7 years (2015 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Maternal mortality ratio

59 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 88

Infant mortality rate

total: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 114

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 71.3 years

female: 78.7 years

comparison ranking: total population 134

Total fertility rate

1.94 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 114

Gross reproduction rate

0.95 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 86.7% of population (2022 est.)

total: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 13.3% of population (2022 est.)

total: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

9% of GDP (2021)

15.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

2.54 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 88.2% of population (2022 est.)

total: 97% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 11.8% of population (2022 est.)

total: 3% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

22.3% (2016)

comparison ranking: 78

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 4.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 3.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.06 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.)

comparison ranking: total 93

Tobacco use

total: 7.6% (2025 est.)

male: 11.2% (2025 est.)

female: 4.1% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 146

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.7% (2015/16)

comparison ranking: 72

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

55.3% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 4.9% (2015)

women married by age 18: 23.4% (2015)

men married by age 18: 6.7% (2015)

Education expenditure

5.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 51

Literacy

total population: 96% (2020 est.)

male: 95% (2020 est.)

female: 96% (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years (2022 est.)

male: 14 years (2022 est.)

female: 15 years (2022 est.)

Environment

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

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

Climate

tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

85.878 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.)

from consumed natural gas: 20.688 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 44

Particulate matter emissions

13.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 12,150,120 tons (2011 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,089,821 tons (2013 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.2% (2013 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 3.72 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 360 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 25.04 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

2.36 trillion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Colombia

conventional short form: Colombia

local long form: República de Colombia

local short form: Colombia

etymology: named after explorer Christopher COLUMBUS

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

name: Bogotá

geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W

time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

Administrative divisions

32 departments (departamentos, singular – departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlántico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyacá, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, Archipielago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina (colloquially San Andres y Providencia), Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

Legal system

civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022)

head of government: President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single 4-year term

most recent election date: 29 May 2022, with a runoff held on 19 June 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%

expected date of next election: 31 May 2026

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

note 2: reforms in 2015 eliminated presidential reelection

Legislative branch

legislature name: Congress (Congreso)

legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch – lower chamber

chamber name: House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes)

number of seats: 187 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 3/13/2022

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); Seats reserved for victims of the armed conflict (Citrep) (16); Other (28)

percentage of women in chamber: 29.4%

expected date of next election: March 2026

Legislative branch – upper chamber

chamber name: Senate (Senado de la República)

number of seats: 108 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 3/13/2022

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)

percentage of women in chamber: 31.4%

expected date of next election: March 2026

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)

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

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

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

note: Colombia has numerous smaller political parties and movements

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel GARCÍA-PEÑA JARAMILLO (since 18 September 2024)

chancery: 1724 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338

FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://www.colombiaemb.org/

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark (NJ), Orlando, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires John McNAMARA (since 1 February 2025)

embassy: Carrera 45, No. 24B-27, Bogota

mailing address: 3030 Bogota Place, Washington DC 20521-3030

telephone: [57] (601) 275-2000

FAX: [57] (601) 275-4600

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://co.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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

Independence

20 July 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Flag description

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; various interpretations of the colors exist; one interpretation has yellow for the gold in Colombia’s land, blue for the sea, and red for the blood spilled in attaining freedom; alternatively, the colors have been described as representing sovereignty and justice (yellow), loyalty and vigilance (blue), and valor and generosity (red); another interpretation has the colors standing for liberty, equality, and fraternity

note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and has the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

National symbol(s)

Andean condor

National color(s)

yellow, blue, red

National anthem(s)

title: “Himno Nacional de la Republica de Colombia” (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia)

lyrics/music: Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI

history: adopted 1920; the anthem comes from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ; the anthem always starts with the chorus

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)

Economy

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$978.592 billion (2024 est.)
$961.82 billion (2023 est.)
$955.016 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 32

Real GDP growth rate

1.7% (2024 est.)
0.7% (2023 est.)
7.3% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 159

Real GDP per capita

$18,500 (2024 est.)
$18,400 (2023 est.)
$18,500 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 110

GDP (official exchange rate)

$418.542 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.6% (2024 est.)
11.7% (2023 est.)
10.2% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 160

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 9.3% (2024 est.)

industry: 23.1% (2024 est.)

services: 58.2% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 105; industry 108; agriculture 78

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 73.1% (2024 est.)

government consumption: 14.7% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.6% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services: 16% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services: -20.9% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

sugarcane, oil palm fruit, milk, rice, plantains, potatoes, bananas, maize, chicken, avocados (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

-1.3% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 154

Labor force

26.822 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 26

Unemployment rate

9.7% (2024 est.)
9.6% (2023 est.)
10.6% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 146

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 19.8% (2024 est.)

male: 16.5% (2024 est.)

female: 24.3% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 56

Population below poverty line

33% (2023 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

53.9 (2023 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

comparison ranking: 5

Average household expenditures

on food: 20.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 3.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.1% (2023 est.)

highest 10%: 42.7% (2023 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

2.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $98.462 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $113.035 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

71.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 56

Taxes and other revenues

17.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 71

Current account balance

-$7.412 billion (2024 est.)
-$8.285 billion (2023 est.)
-$20.879 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 180

Exports

$68.866 billion (2024 est.)
$68.674 billion (2023 est.)
$73.514 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 55

Exports – partners

USA 27%, Panama 9%, India 5%, China 5%, Netherlands 4% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

crude petroleum, coal, gold, coffee, refined petroleum (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$78.633 billion (2024 est.)
$76.449 billion (2023 est.)
$89.608 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 52

Imports – partners

USA 26%, China 22%, Brazil 6%, Mexico 5%, Germany 4% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$61.898 billion (2024 est.)
$59.041 billion (2023 est.)
$56.704 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking: 39

Debt – external

$108.027 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 9

Exchange rates

Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
4,074.434 (2024 est.)
4,325.955 (2023 est.)
4,256.194 (2022 est.)
3,744.244 (2021 est.)
3,693.276 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 21.053 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 82.309 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 1.293 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 407.788 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 7.232 billion kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 172; imports 98; exports 65; consumption 39; installed generating capacity 49

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 34% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 0.1% 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.)

Coal

production: 52.376 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 9.72 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 46.425 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 1,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 4.554 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 800,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 374,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 2.036 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

production: 10.927 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 11.885 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 958.724 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 87.782 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

29.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 118

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 7.277 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 21

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 87.4 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 20

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

Internet users

percent of population: 77% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 8.91 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 27

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

HJ, HK

Airports

661 (2025)

comparison ranking: 11

Heliports

57 (2025)

comparison ranking: 35

Railways

total: 2,141 km (2019)

standard gauge: 150 km (2019) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 1,991 km (2019) 0.914-m gauge

Merchant marine

total: 153 (2023)

by type: general cargo 28, oil tanker 13, other 112

comparison ranking: total 74

Ports

total ports: 14 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 2

small: 8

very small: 3

size unknown: 1

ports with oil terminals: 10

key ports: Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Covenas, El Bosque, Mamonal, Pozos Colorados, Puerto Bolivar, Puerto Prodeco, Santa Marta

Military and Security

Military and security forces

Military Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Militares de Colombia): 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)

note: the PNC is a civilian force under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense

Military expenditures

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

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 260,000 active Military Forces; approximately 150,000 National Police (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military’s inventory includes a wide mix of equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Canada, Germany, Israel, South Korea, and especially the US; Colombia’s defense industry is active in producing air, land, and naval platforms (2024)

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 (2024)

note: the Colombian military first incorporated women in 1976 in administrative positions; women were incorporated as non-commissioned officers in 1983 and officers in 2009; as of 2023, about 6,000 women served in the uniformed military while more than 30,000 served in the National Police

Military deployments

275 Egypt (MFO) (2025)

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)

Space

Space agency/agencies

Colombian Space Commission (Comision Colombiana Del Espacio, CCE; established 2006); Air and Space Operations Command (Colombian military); note – the Colombian Space Agency (Agencia Espacial Del Colombia, AEC) is a private, non-profit agency established in 2017 (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; has relations 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 (ALCE) (2025)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

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

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide