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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.

At a glance

Capital: Bogotá
Language guide: Languages spoken & official status
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 map

Geography & environment

Landscape

Colombia combines Andean mountains with Caribbean and Pacific coasts, eastern plains and Amazon forest. The Andes divide into several ranges, creating valleys and high basins. Lowland regions beyond the mountains have very different climates and land use.

The Cocora Valley represents a humid mountain setting, while Caribbean coasts contain beaches, wetlands and drier areas. Eastern savannas and southern forests add further landscapes. Elevation allows cool highland environments close to tropical lowlands.

Climate & seasons

Lowlands are generally tropical, while the Andes become cooler with elevation. Rainfall differs between the coasts, mountain valleys and eastern plains.

Rainfall & biodiversity

Mountain barriers and ocean exposure produce strong rainfall contrasts. Forest, páramo highlands, savanna and coastal habitats support exceptional biodiversity. Rivers connect these regions, carrying water from uplands into large lowland basins.

Flag

Three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Landscapes & nature

Languages

Public and official use

Spanish is the official language nationwide. Indigenous languages are also official in the territories where their communities live.

Community and regional languages

Wayuunaiki, Nasa Yuwe, Emberá languages and many others are spoken. Palenquero and the English-based Creole of San Andrés and Providencia add distinct Afro-Colombian language traditions.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Culture & everyday life

Vallenato storytelling

Traditional vallenato developed in northern Colombia from several musical and poetic traditions. Accordion, percussion and sung narratives are central features. Songs can recount local events, relationships and imagined stories, preserving memories through performance and community gatherings.

Sources: UNESCO · Vallenato

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.

1810
Independence movements establish local governing juntas
1819
The Battle of Boyacá marks a decisive independence victory
1991
A new constitution is adopted
2016
The government and FARC sign a final peace agreement

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

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.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Population & economic trends

Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.

Population, 1970–2025

Millions of people

53.42025 · millions of people

Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.

Sources: World Bank · Population

View data table

Population: source values and plotted units
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 dollars

372.72025 · 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

Real GDP: source values and plotted units
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.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

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.