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Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence
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| page last updated on October 4, 2012 |
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(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
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Click flag or map to enlarge 
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Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A four-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. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, and violence has been decreasing since about 2002. However, insurgents continue attacks against civilians and large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) 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 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. However, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders. In January 2011, Colombia assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 term.
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Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama
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4 00 N, 72 00 W
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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
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slightly less than twice the size of Texas
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total: 6,309 km
border countries:
Brazil 1,644 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,800 km, Venezuela 2,050 km
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3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
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flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m
note:
nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation
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petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower
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arable land: 2.01%
permanent crops:
1.37%
other:
96.62% (2005)
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9,000 sq km (2003)
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2,132 cu km (2000)
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total: 10.71 cu km/yr (50%/4%/46%)
per capita:
235 cu m/yr (2000)
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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
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deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
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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
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only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
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noun: Colombian(s)
adjective:
Colombian
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mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%
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Spanish (official)
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Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
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45,239,079 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
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0-14 years: 26.2% (male 6,069,920/ female 5,793,672)
15-64 years:
67.5% (male 15,080,432/ female 15,440,517)
65 years and over:
6.3% (male 1,198,524/ female 1,656,014) (2012 est.)
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total: 28.3 years
male:
27.3 years
female:
29.2 years (2012 est.)
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1.128% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
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17.23 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
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5.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
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-0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
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urban population: 75% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:
1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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BOGOTA (capital) 8.262 million; Medellin 3.497 million; Cali 2.352 million; Barranquilla 1.836 million; Bucaramanga 1.065 million (2009)
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at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.72 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
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92 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 80
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total: 15.92 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 107
male:
19.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
12.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
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total population: 74.79 years
country comparison to the world: 98
male:
71.55 years
female:
78.23 years (2012 est.)
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2.12 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
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6.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 94
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1.35 physicians/1,000 population (2002)
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1 beds/1,000 population (2007)
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0.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
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160,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
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14,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
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degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases:
dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever
water contact disease:
leptospirosis (2009)
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13.7% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 42
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5.1% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 84
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4.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 67
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
90.4%
male:
90.1%
female:
90.7% (2005 census)
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total: 14 years
male:
13 years
female:
14 years (2009)
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total: 23%
country comparison to the world: 37
male:
18.2%
female:
29.9% (2008)
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conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form:
Colombia
local long form:
Republica de Colombia
local short form:
Colombia
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republic; executive branch dominates government structure
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name: Bogota
geographic coordinates:
4 36 N, 74 05 W
time difference:
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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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
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20 July 1810 (from Spain)
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Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
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5 July 1991; amended many times
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civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes
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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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18 years of age; universal
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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 the 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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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 in 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%
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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 14 March 2010 (next to be held in March 2014); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 14 March 2010 (next to be held in March 2014)
election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - U Party 28, PC 22, PL 16, PIN 9, CR 8, PDA 8, Green Party 5, other parties 5; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - U Party 47, PC 37, PL 36, CR 16, PIN 12, PDA 4, Green Party 3, other parties 10; note - as of 1 January 2011, the Senate currently has 101 seats after one seat became vacant due to a PL senator losing their seat for illegal collusion with the FARC; the Chamber of Representatives also has one seat vacant after only 165 of the 166 candidates were credentialed
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four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest court of criminal law; judges are selected by their peers from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Council of State (highest court of administrative law; judges are selected from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Constitutional Court (guards integrity and supremacy of the constitution; rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties); Superior Judicial Council (administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; resolves jurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members are elected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)
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Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Clara LOPEZ]; Conservative Party or PC [Efrain CEPEDA Sarabia]; Green Party [Luis GARZON; Jorge LONDONO Ulloa; Enrique PENALOSA]; Liberal Party or PL [Simon GAVIRIA]; National Integration Party or PIN [Angel ALIRIO Moreno]; Radical Change or CR [Alejandro CHAR Chaljub]; Social National Unity Party or U Party [Juan Francisco LOZANO Ramirez]
note:
Colombia has seven major political parties, and numerous smaller movements
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Central Union of Workers or CUT; Colombian Confederation of Workers or CTC; General Confederation of Workers or CGT; National Liberation Army or ELN; Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC
note:
FARC and ELN are the two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia
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BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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chief of mission: Ambassador Gabriel SILVA Lujan
chancery:
2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 387-8338
FAX:
[1] (202) 232-8643
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington, DC
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chief of mission: Ambassador Michael MCKINLEY
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
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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
note:
similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
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Andean condor
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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
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Colombia's consistently sound economic policies and aggressive promotion of free trade agreements in recent years have bolstered its ability to face external shocks. Real GDP grew 5.7% in 2011 and inflation ended 2011 at 3.7%, continuing almost a decade of strong economic performance. All three major ratings agencies have upgraded Colombia''s investment grade. Nevertheless, Colombia depends heavily on oil exports, making it vulnerable to a drop in oil prices. Economic development is stymied by inadequate infrastructure, weakened further by recent flooding. Moreover, the unemployment rate of 10.8% in 2011 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. The US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was ratified by the US Congress in October 2011 and is pending implementation in 2012. Columbia has signed or is negotiating FTAs with a number of other countries, including Canada, Chile, Mexico, Switzerland, the EU, Venezuela, South Korea, Turkey, Japan, and Israel. Foreign direct investment - notably in the oil sector - reached a record $10 billion in 2008 but dropped to $7.2 billion in 2009, before beginning to recover in 2010, and it appears to have reached a record high $13 billion in 2011. Colombia is the third largest Latin American exporter of oil to the US. Inequality, underemployment, and narcotrafficking remain significant challenges, and Colombia''s infrastructure requires major improvements to sustain economic expansion. In late 2010, Colombia experienced its most severe flooding in decades with damages estimated to exceed $6 billion. The rains resumed in 2011 causing further damages to crops and infrastructure as well as killing hundreds of Colombians and displacing millions.
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$478 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$451.3 billion (2010 est.)
$433.9 billion (2009 est.)
note:
data are in 2011 US dollars
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$328.4 billion (2011 est.)
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5.9% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
4% (2010 est.)
1.7% (2009 est.)
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$10,400 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$9,900 (2010 est.)
$9,600 (2009 est.)
note:
data are in 2011 US dollars
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agriculture: 7%
industry:
37.6%
services:
55.5% (2011 est.)
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22.45 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
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agriculture: 18%
industry:
13%
services:
68% (2011 est.)
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10.8% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
11.8% (2010 est.)
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37.2% (2010 est.)
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lowest 10%: 0.9%
highest 10%:
44.4% (2010 est.)
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56 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 10
53.8 (1996)
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23% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
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revenues: $89.94 billion
expenditures:
$97.79 billion (2011 est.)
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27.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
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-2.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
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44.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
46.2% of GDP (2010 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
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3.4% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
2.3% (2010 est.)
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4.75% (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 71
5% (31 December 2010)
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11.22% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
9.383% (31 December 2010 est.)
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$34.25 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$32.42 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$126.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$102.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$168.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$120.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$201.3 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 34
$208.5 billion (31 December 2010)
$133.3 billion (31 December 2009)
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coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; shrimp; forest products
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textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
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4.8% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
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-$9.98 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
-$8.76 billion (2010 est.)
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$56.22 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$39.55 billion (2010 est.)
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petroleum, coal, emeralds, coffee, nickel, cut flowers, bananas, apparel
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US 38%, EU 15%, China 3.5%, Ecuador 3.4% (2011 est.)
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$54.7 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$37.51 billion (2010 est.)
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industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity
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US 25%, China 15%, Mexico 11%, Brazil 5%, Germany 4.1% (2011 est.)
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$31.01 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$28.08 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$68.76 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$63.06 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$95.81 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$82.58 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$25.83 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$22.83 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar -
1,848.1 (2011 est.)
1,898.6 (2010 est.)
2,157.6 (2009)
2,243.6 (2008)
2,013.8 (2007)
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calendar year
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56.28 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
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46.39 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
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1.294 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
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8.22 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
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13.54 million kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
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32.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
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66.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
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0.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
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932,100 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
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361,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
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0.11 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
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1.988 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
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316,500 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
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287,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
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52,680 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
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6,045 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
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11.26 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
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|
9.08 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
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|
2.18 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
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|
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
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134.1 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
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72.31 million Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
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| Communications ::Colombia |
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7.127 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 25
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|
46.2 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 29
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|
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 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)
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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)
|
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|
.co
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|
4.281 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 24
|
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|
22.538 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 18
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| Transportation ::Colombia |
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862 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 8
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|
total: 121
over 3,047 m:
2
2,438 to 3,047 m:
7
1,524 to 2,437 m:
41
914 to 1,523 m:
55
under 914 m:
16 (2012)
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total: 741
over 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
25
914 to 1,523 m:
178
under 914 m:
537 (2012)
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2 (2012)
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gas 4,801 km; oil 6,334 km; refined products 3,309 km (2010)
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total: 874 km
country 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)
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total: 141,374 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 34
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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: 5
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|
total: 12
country comparison to the world: 105
by type:
cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2
registered in other countries:
4 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Panama 2, Portugal 1) (2010)
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Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Puerto Bolivar, Santa Marta, Turbo
oil terminals:
Covenas offshore terminal
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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) (2011)
|
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|
18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; service obligation - 18 months (2004)
|
|
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|
|
|
males age 16-49: 11,692,647
females age 16-49:
11,727,625 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
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|
|
males age 16-49: 9,150,400
females age 16-49:
9,861,760 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
male: 430,634
female:
413,974 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
|
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| Transnational Issues ::Colombia |
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|
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
|
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IDPs: 3.6-5.2 million (conflict between government and illegal armed groups and drug traffickers since 1985) (2011)
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illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator with 116,000 hectares in coca cultivation in 2009, a 3% decrease over 2008, producing a potential of 270 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 2010, aerial eradication dispensed herbicide to treat over 101,000 hectares combined with manual eradication of 61,000 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 (2008)
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