About Colombia (The Country)

Sunset on the Amazon River.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A nearly five-decade long conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) heavily funded by the drug trade, escalated during the 1990s. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia as a formal organization had ceased to function. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, emerging criminal groups arose, whose members include some former paramilitaries. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, but continue attacks against civilians. Large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. In November 2012, the Colombian Government started formal peace negotiations with the FARC aimed at reaching a definitive bilateral ceasefire and incorporating demobilized FARC members into mainstream society and politics. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its administrative departments. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.

Geography

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

Area

Total: 1,138,910 sq km Country 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

Climate

Tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands.

Terrain

Flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos).

Natural Resources

Petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower.

Natural Hazards

Highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts

Volcanism: Galeras (elev. 4,276 m) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes, having erupted in 2009 and 2010 causing major evacuations; 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 (elev. 5,321 m), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985 producing lahars that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted in 1991; additionally, 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.

Environment - Current Issues

Deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions

People

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.)

Median Age

Total: 28.9 years Male: 27.9 years Female: 29.9 years (2014 est.)

Population Growth

1.07% (2014 est.) Country comparison to the world: 114

Urbanization

Urban population: 75.3% of total population (2011) Rate of urbanization: 1.65% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.). Major areas of urbanization: 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.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Total: 15.02 deaths/1,000 live births Country 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 years Country 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

HIV/AIDS

0.5% (2012 est.) Country comparison to the world: 67

Nationality

Noun: Colombian(s) Adjective: Colombian

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. Colombia experiences significant legal and illegal economic emigration and refugee flows. Large-scale labor emigration dates to the 1960s; Venezuela and the United States continue to be the main host countries. Colombia is the largest source of Latin American refugees in Latin America, nearly 400,000 of whom live primarily in Venezuela and Ecuador. Forced displacement remains prevalent because of violence among guerrillas, paramilitary groups, and Colombian security forces. Afro-Colombian and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected. A leading NGO estimates that 5.2 million people have been displaced since 1985, while the Colombian Government estimates 3.6 million since 2000. These estimates may undercount actual numbers because not all internally displaced persons are registered. Historically, Colombia also has one of the world's highest levels of forced disappearances. About 30,000 cases have been recorded over the last four decades - although the number is likely to be much higher - including human rights activists, trade unionists, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, and farmers in rural conflict zones.

Religion

Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%

Languages

Spanish (official)

Literacy

Definition: age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 93.6% Male: 93.5% Female: 93.7% (2011 est.)

Government

Republic; executive branch dominates government structure

Country name

Conventional long form: Republic of Colombia Conventional short form: Colombia Local long form: Republica de Colombia Local short form: Colombia

Capital

Bogota

Time Difference

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

Legal system

Civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes.

Economy

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.

Source: CIA World Factbook - Colombia

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