01
Physical geography
Flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos).
Local timeBogotá ·
South America · Card 005
Colombia
Colombia is a country in South America. Its capital is Bogotá.
Find Colombia
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Bogotá
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Colombian peso (COP)
- Population
- 53.4 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 1,141,748 km²440,831.19 square miles
- Independence
- 1810–1819The 1810 independence movement was followed by the decisive 1819 victory at Boyacá.
Colombia in context
South America and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Bogotá; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Spanish is the official national language. Indigenous and other ethnic-community languages are also official in their territories.
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Location
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama.
Flag
Three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red
History & independence
Indigenous societies preceded Spanish colonial rule in what became New Granada. Independence movements began in 1810, and the victory at Boyacá in 1819 was decisive in ending Spanish control of the interior. The region formed part of Gran Colombia before that union dissolved in 1830. Colombia’s long internal armed conflict involved insurgents, state forces and paramilitary groups. The 2016 peace agreement with the FARC was a major transition, although it did not end all armed violence.
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Independence movements establish local governing juntas
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The Battle of Boyacá marks a decisive independence victory
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A new constitution is adopted
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The government and FARC sign a final peace agreement
Economy
Main activities
Services, manufacturing, agriculture and extractive industries contribute to Colombia’s economy. Petroleum and coal are important exports, alongside coffee, flowers and other agricultural goods. Industrial activities include food processing, chemicals and textiles. Transport across mountainous terrain, regional inequality and security conditions affect economic opportunities.
Industry and production
Petroleum, coal, food processing, textiles, chemicals and agricultural production.
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people53.42025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 20,811,782 | 20.812 |
| 1980 | 26,104,498 | 26.104 |
| 1990 | 32,440,069 | 32.440 |
| 2000 | 39,089,934 | 39.090 |
| 2010 | 44,777,319 | 44.777 |
| 2020 | 50,629,997 | 50.630 |
| 2025 | 53,425,635 | 53.426 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars372.72025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 120,488,417,446 | 120.488 |
| 1991 | 122,900,122,762 | 122.900 |
| 1992 | 127,871,346,008 | 127.871 |
| 1993 | 134,757,742,185 | 134.758 |
| 1994 | 142,593,449,287 | 142.593 |
| 1995 | 150,011,784,498 | 150.012 |
| 1996 | 153,095,808,839 | 153.096 |
| 1997 | 158,347,444,691 | 158.347 |
| 1998 | 159,249,683,235 | 159.250 |
| 1999 | 152,554,802,278 | 152.555 |
| 2000 | 157,016,818,929 | 157.017 |
| 2001 | 159,651,401,477 | 159.651 |
| 2002 | 163,649,041,384 | 163.649 |
| 2003 | 170,061,255,793 | 170.061 |
| 2004 | 179,130,660,093 | 179.131 |
| 2005 | 187,780,451,739 | 187.780 |
| 2006 | 200,393,418,124 | 200.393 |
| 2007 | 213,896,316,785 | 213.896 |
| 2008 | 220,919,487,241 | 220.919 |
| 2009 | 223,437,193,185 | 223.437 |
| 2010 | 233,479,933,032 | 233.480 |
| 2011 | 249,701,866,578 | 249.702 |
| 2012 | 259,471,791,121 | 259.472 |
| 2013 | 272,793,056,064 | 272.793 |
| 2014 | 285,066,097,497 | 285.066 |
| 2015 | 293,492,370,193 | 293.492 |
| 2016 | 299,618,678,572 | 299.619 |
| 2017 | 303,691,577,642 | 303.692 |
| 2018 | 311,479,214,512 | 311.479 |
| 2019 | 321,405,606,656 | 321.406 |
| 2020 | 298,309,675,728 | 298.310 |
| 2021 | 330,530,695,025 | 330.531 |
| 2022 | 354,752,900,899 | 354.753 |
| 2023 | 357,739,280,193 | 357.739 |
| 2024 | 363,081,426,936 | 363.081 |
| 2025 | 372,674,094,476 | 372.674 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.788High human developmentRank 83 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.623
20000.679
20100.741
20200.764
20230.788
77.7 yearsLife expectancy at birth
9.0 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
A presidential republic. An elected President heads the executive. Congress has a Senate and House of Representatives. Departments and municipalities have elected governments.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Colombia.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which organization signed the 2016 final peace agreement with Colombia’s government?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.