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Guide
Introduction
| |
| Background: |
Colombia was one of the three
countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the
others being Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to
overthrow the Colombian Government escalated during the 1990s,
undergirded in part by funds from the drug trade. Although the violence
is deadly and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla
influence, the movement lacks the military strength or popular support
necessary to overthrow the government. While Bogota continues to try to
negotiate a settlement, neighboring countries worry about the violence
spilling over their borders. |
| 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, Central
America and the Caribbean |
| 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, Serrana Bank,
and Serranilla Bank |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly less than three
times the size of Montana |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 6,004 km
border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama
225 km, Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km |
| Coastline: |
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760
km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km) |
| Maritime
claims: |
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
tropical along coast and
eastern plains; cooler in highlands |
| Terrain: |
flat coastal lowlands,
central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m
note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation |
| Natural
resources: |
petroleum, natural gas, coal,
iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 39%
forests and woodland: 48%
other: 8% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
5,300 sq km (1993 est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
highlands subject to volcanic
eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts |
| Environment
- current issues: |
deforestation; soil damage
from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from
vehicle emissions |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to:
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping |
| Geography
- note: |
only South American country
with coastlines on both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea |
| Population: |
40,349,388 (July 2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
31.88% (male 6,507,282; female 6,354,454)
15-64 years: 63.37% (male 12,452,182; female 13,117,707)
65 years and over: 4.75% (male 859,967; female 1,057,796)
(2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
1.64% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
22.41 births/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
5.69 deaths/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-0.33 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth: 1.03
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
23.96 deaths/1,000 live
births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
70.57 years
male: 66.71 years
female: 74.55 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
2.66 children born/woman
(2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.31% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
71,000 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
1,700 (1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Colombian(s)
adjective: Colombian |
| Ethnic
groups: |
mestizo 58%, white 20%,
mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1% |
| Religions: |
Roman Catholic 90% |
| Literacy: |
definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 91.2%
female: 91.4% (1995 est.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
local long form: Republica de Colombia
local short form: Colombia |
| Government
type: |
republic; executive branch
dominates government structure |
| Administrative
divisions: |
32 departments (departamentos,
singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital);
Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta,
Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare,
Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo,
Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Distrito Capital de Santa
Fe de Bogota*, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes,
Vichada |
| Independence: |
20 July 1810 (from Spain) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day, 20 July
(1810) |
| Constitution: |
5 July 1991 |
| Legal
system: |
based on Spanish law; a new
criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted in 1992-93;
judicial review of executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998); Vice President Gustavo
BELL Lemus (since 7 August 1998); note - the president is both the chief
of state and head of government
head of government: President Andres PASTRANA (since 7
August 1998); Vice President Gustavo BELL Lemus (since 7 August 1998);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet Cabinet consists of a coalition of the two
dominant parties - the PL and PSC - and independents
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
four-year term; election last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May
2002); vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term in a
new procedure that replaces the traditional designation of vice
presidents by newly elected presidents; election last held 31 May 1998
(next to be held NA May 2002)
election results: no candidate received more than 50% of
the total vote, therefore, a run-off election to select a president from
the two leading candidates was held 21 June 1998; Andres PASTRANA
elected president; percent of vote - 50.3%; Gustavo BELL elected vice
president; percent of vote - 50.3% |
| Legislative
branch: |
bicameral Congress or
Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Camara de Representantes (163 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 8 March 1998 (next to be held
NA March 2002); House of Representatives - last held 8 March 1998 (next
to be held NA March 2002)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PL
50%, PSC 24%, smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 26%;
seats by party - PL 58, PSC 28, smaller parties 16; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - PL 52%, PSC 17%, other 31%;
seats by party - PL 98, PSC 52, indigenous parties 2, others 11 |
| Judicial
branch: |
four, coequal, supreme
judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justical
(highest court of criminal law; judges are selected from the nominees of
the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms); Council of State
(highest court of administrative law, judges are selected from the
nominees of the Higher Council of Justice 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); Higher Council of Justice
(administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; members of the
disciplinary chamber resolve jurisdictional conflicts arising between
other courts; members are elected by three sister courts and Congress
for eight-year terms) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Conservative Party or PSC [Ciro
RAMIREZ Anzon]; Liberal Party or PL [Luis Guillermo VELEZ]; Patriotic
Union or UP is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia or FARC and Colombian Communist Party or PCC [Jaime
CAICEDO]; 19 of April Movement or M-19 [Antonio NAVARRO Wolff] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
two largest insurgent groups
active in Colombia - National Liberation Army or ELN and Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC; largest paramilitary group is United
Self-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUC |
| International
organization participation: |
BCIE, CAN, Caricom
(observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejia
chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto
Rico), and Washington, DC
consulate(s): Atlanta |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON
embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831
mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA
34038
telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811
FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197 |
| Flag
description: |
three horizontal bands of
yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; similar to the flag of
Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms
superimposed in the center |
| Economy
- overview: |
Colombia is poised for muted
growth in the next several years, marking continued recovery from the
severe 1999 recession when GDP fell by about 4%. President PASTRANA's
well-respected economic team is working to keep the economy on track,
maintaining low interest rates, for example. In accordance with its IMF
loan agreement, the administration also is taking steps to improve the
public sector's fiscal health. However, many challenges to improved
prosperity remain. Unemployment was stuck at a record 20% in 2000,
contributing to the extreme inequality in income distribution. Two of
Colombia's leading exports, oil and coffee, face an uncertain future;
new exploration is needed to offset declining oil production, while
coffee harvests and prices are depressed. The lack of public security is
a key concern for investors, making progress in the government's peace
negotiations with insurgent groups an important driver of economic
performance. Colombia is looking for continued support from the
international community to boost economic and peace prospects. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity -
$250 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
3% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity -
$6,200 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 19%
industry: 26%
services: 55% (1999 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
55% (1999) |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 44% (1999) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
9% (2000) |
| Labor
force: |
18.3 million (1999 est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
services 46%, agriculture
30%, industry 24% (1990) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
20% (2000 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $22
billion
expenditures: $24 billion, including capital expenditures
of $NA (2000 est.) |
| Industries: |
textiles, food processing,
oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal,
emeralds |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
11% (2000 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
43.574 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
22.27%
hydro: 76.19%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.54% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
40.532 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
27 million kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
35 million kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
coffee, cut flowers, bananas,
rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest
products; shrimp |
| Exports: |
$14.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000
est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
petroleum, coffee, coal,
apparel, bananas, cut flowers |
| Exports
- partners: |
US 50%, EU 14%, Andean
Community of Nations 16%, Japan 2% (2000 est.) |
| Imports: |
$12.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000
est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
industrial equipment,
transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products,
fuels, electricity |
| Imports
- partners: |
US 35%, EU 16%, Andean
Community of Nations 15%, Japan 5% (2000 est.) |
| Debt
- external: |
$34 billion (2000 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$40.7 million (1995) |
| Currency: |
Colombian peso (COP) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Colombian pesos per US dollar
- 2,241.43 (January 2001), 2087.90 (2000), 1,756.23 (1999), 1,426.04
(1998), 1,140.96 (1997), 1,036.69 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
5,433,565 (December 1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
1,800,229 (December 1998) |
| Telephone
system: |
general assessment:
modern system in many respects
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic
satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking 50
cities
international: satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 1
Inmarsat; 3 fully digitalized international switching centers; 8
submarine cables |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27
(1999) |
| Radios: |
21 million (1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
60 (includes seven low-power
stations) (1997) |
| Televisions: |
4.59 million (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.co |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
18 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
600,000 (2000) |
| Railways: |
total: 3,304 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon
coal mines to maritime port at Bahia de Portete)
narrow gauge: 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (major sections not in
use) (2000) |
| Highways: |
total: 110,000
km
paved: 26,000 km
unpaved: 84,000 km (2000) |
| Waterways: |
18,140 km (navigable by river
boats) (April 1996) |
| Pipelines: |
crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum
products 1,350 km; natural gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Bahia de Portete,
Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar, San
Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo |
| Merchant
marine: |
total: 13 ships
(1,000 GRT or over) totaling 53,322 GRT/69,444 DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 4, container 1,
multi-functional large-load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 2 (2000 est.) |
| Airports: |
1,091 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 92
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 38
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 8 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 999
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 64
914 to 1,523 m: 321
under 914 m: 613 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army (Ejercito Nacional),
Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza
Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional) |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
18 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49:
10,779,148 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49:
7,205,211 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 379,295
(2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$3 billion (FY00) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
3.4% (FY00) |
| Disputes
- international: |
maritime boundary dispute
with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial disputes with
Nicaragua over Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno
Bank |
| Illicit
drugs: |
illicit producer of coca,
opium poppies, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator
(cultivation of coca in 1999 - 122,500 hectares, a 20.3% increase over
1998); cultivation of opium in 1999 increased to 7,500 hectares from
6,100 hectares in 1998; potential production of opium in 1999 - 75
metric tons, a 25% increase over 1998; potential production of heroin in
1999 - nearly 8 metric tons, as compared with 6 tons in 1998; the
world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of
about 90% of the cocaine to the US and the great majority of cocaine to
other international drug markets, and an important supplier of heroin to
the US market; active aerial eradication program |
|
