Colombia is a country located in South America, bordered by Panama to the north, Venezuela to the east, Brazil to the southeast, Peru to the south, Ecuador to the southwest, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is the fourth-largest country in South America, covering an area of 1.1 million square kilometers.

Colombia is known for its rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and vibrant cities. Its capital city, Bogotá, is a bustling metropolis with a rich history and culture, while other major cities like Medellin and Cali are known for their vibrant nightlife and cultural offerings.

Colombia is also home to a number of iconic landmarks, such as the ancient city of Ciudad Perdida, the salt mines of Zipaquira, and the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean coast. The country is also famous for its coffee, which is widely regarded as some of the best in the world.

The Colombian economy is one of the fastest-growing in Latin America, with a focus on exports of oil, coffee, and other natural resources. The country is also a major producer of flowers and has a growing tourism industry.

Despite its many attractions, Colombia has faced a number of challenges in recent years, including political instability, corruption, and a long-running conflict with armed groups. However, the country has made significant progress in recent years, with a peace deal signed in 2016 aimed at ending the conflict, and improvements made in areas such as security and economic development.

Colombia is a vibrant and diverse country with a rich cultural heritage and many attractions for visitors. While it faces a number of challenges, it has made significant progress in recent years and remains an important player in Latin America and the world.

National holiday
Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Telephone Code
57

Local Emergency Phone
119

Vaccinations
An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.

Climate
Tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

Currency (Code)
Pesos (COP)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
110 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B

Major Languages
Spanish

Major Religions
Roman Catholic 79%, Protestant 14%

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested; additionally, if you plan to drive in Colombia, you will need an Inter-American Driving Permit issued by the AAA

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Salt Cathedral; Tayrona National Park; Monserrate; Santuario de Las Lajas; Los Nevados National Park; Cartagena; Cano Cristales; Qhapaq Nan/Andean Road System; San Agustin Archaeological Park; National Archeological Park of Tierradentro

Major Sports
Soccer, boxing, shooting sports, taekwondo, wrestling, tejo (involves throwing a disc at a small target)

Cultural Practices
Roses are well-received gifts in Colombia, but marigolds and lilies are disliked because of their association with funerals.

Tipping Guidelines
A 10% tip is common at restaurants. Taxi drivers are rarely tipped. An appropriate tip for a porter/bellboy is about $1 (USD) per bag. It is also good tipping etiquette to leave a small gratuity of about $1-2 (USD) per day for housekeeping.

Souvenirs
Crocheted mochila bags, handwoven and mola fabric items, leather goods, silver/gold filigree and precious stone jewelry, ceramics, carved wooden statues, musical instruments, Tagua plant carved items, coconut-sourced goods, coffee

Traditional Cuisine
Ajiaco — a soup made with chicken, three varieties of potatoes, and guasca (an herb); typically garnished with capers, avocado slices, corn on the cob, or cream

Geography
Area
total: 1,138,910 sq km
land: 1,038,700 sq km
water: 100,210 sq km

Climate
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower

People and Society
Population
49,336,454 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
Mestizo and White 87.6%, Afro-Colombian (includes Mulatto, Raizal, and Palenquero) 6.8%, Amerindian 4.3%, unspecified 1.4% (2018 est.)

Languages
Spanish (official) and 65 Amerindian languages

Religions
Christian 92.3% (predominantly Roman Catholic), other 1%, unspecified 6.7% (2020 est.)

Population growth rate
0.54% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Bogota

Economy
Economic overview
prior to COVID-19, one of the most consistent growth economies; declining poverty; large stimulus package has mitigated economic fallout, but delayed key infrastructure investments; successful inflation management; sound flexible exchange rate regime; domestic economy suffers from lack of trade integration and infrastructure

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$754.645 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$14,600 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
sugar cane, milk, oil palm fruit, potatoes, rice, bananas, cassava leaves, plantains, poultry, maize

Industries
textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds

Exports
$50.793 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
United States 31%, China 11%, Panama 6%, Ecuador 5% (2019)

Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, coal, refined petroleum, coffee, gold (2019)

Imports
$70.84 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
United States 27%, China 20%, Mexico 7%, Brazil 6% (2019)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicines, corn (2019)