Country Profile: Colombia

Colombia, located in the northern region of South America, is bordered by the Caribbean Sea and features a diverse geography that includes coastal lowlands, highlands, and the Andes Mountains. With a population of approximately 49.8 million in 2025, the nation has a rich cultural tapestry influenced primarily by Mestizo and Afro-Colombian ethnicities. The economy has shown resilience, marked by consistent growth prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, although challenges remain in trade integration and infrastructure development. Governed as a presidential republic, Colombia boasts a vibrant democracy characterized by civil liberties and regular elections.

Geography

Colombia is the only South American country with coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. The country features diverse terrain, from flat coastal lowlands to the high Andes Mountains, and boasts rich natural resources including petroleum, coal, and gold. The climate varies, with tropical conditions along the coast and cooler temperatures in the highlands.

Total area: 1,138,910 sq km (2023)
Coastline length: 3,208 km
Highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon at 5,730 m
Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, coal, nickel, and gold
Agricultural land: 36.5% of total area (2023)

People and Society

Colombia has a diverse population of approximately 49.8 million, predominantly composed of Mestizo and White ethnic groups. The capital, Bogotá, is the largest urban area, with over 11.5 million residents. The official language is Spanish, and the majority of the population practices Roman Catholicism. The country features a relatively young population, with a median age of 33.1 years.

Population (2025 estimate): 49,842,298
Urbanization rate: 82.4% of the population lives in urban areas (2023)
Literacy rate: 95.3% (2024 estimate)
Life expectancy: 74.9 years (2024 estimate)
Infant mortality rate: 11.6 deaths per 1,000 live births (2025 estimate)

Economy

Colombia’s economy, traditionally robust, is characterized by a diverse range of industries including textiles, food processing, and mining. Despite challenges from the pandemic, the country has demonstrated effective inflation management and has a flexible exchange rate regime. The economic structure is primarily dominated by the service sector.

GDP (PPP) 2024 estimate: $978.592 billion
Real GDP growth rate (2024 estimate): 1.7%
Unemployment rate (2024 estimate): 9.7%
Poverty rate: 33% of the population is below the national poverty line (2023)
Exports: $68.866 billion (2024 estimate)

Government

Colombia is a presidential republic with a strong history of democratic governance. The President serves as both the head of state and government, directly elected for a four-year term. The country comprises 32 departments and a capital district, Bogotá, with a bicameral Congress responsible for legislative duties.

Current President: Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since August 2022)
Last election date: May 29, 2022
Suffrage: Universal at age 18
Constitution promulgated: July 4, 1991

Military and Security

Colombia maintains a robust military and security force primarily focused on counter-insurgency and counter-narcotics operations. The military includes the National Army, Navy, and Aerospace Force, alongside the National Police. The country faces significant security challenges due to internal armed conflict and drug trafficking.

Military personnel: Approximately 260,000 active military members (2025)
Military expenditure (2024 estimate): 3.4% of GDP
Mandatory military service age: 18-24 years for men
Military deployments: 275 personnel in international peacekeeping (2025)

Energy

Colombia has made strides in energy production, primarily relying on hydroelectric sources. The country boasts 100% electrification, with a significant portion of its energy generated from renewable sources.

Total electricity generation capacity: 21.053 million kW (2023 estimate)
Electricity consumption: 82.309 billion kWh (2023)
Proportion from hydroelectric sources: 62.1%
Total petroleum production: 800,000 barrels per day (2023)

Environment

Colombia faces various environmental challenges including deforestation, soil erosion, and air pollution, particularly in urban areas like Bogotá. The country is party to numerous international environmental agreements aimed at protecting biodiversity and addressing climate change.

Forest cover: 53.8% of land area (2023)
Annual CO2 emissions: 85.878 million metric tonnes (2023)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 12.15 million tons (2024)

Transportation

Colombia's transportation infrastructure includes extensive air, road, and port facilities, enabling connectivity throughout the region. The country has a growing number of airports and a developed network of railways and ports.

Total airports: 661 (2025)
Railways: 2,141 km (2019)
Major ports: 14 operational ports (2024)

Communications

The communications sector in Colombia is expanding rapidly, with high mobile cellular subscription rates and a growing number of internet users. The country benefits from a mix of state-owned and private media.

Mobile cellular subscriptions: 92.1 million (2024)
Internet usage: 77% of the population (2023)
Broadband fixed subscriptions: 8.91 million (2023)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	49,842,298	Estimated for 2025
Area	1,138,910 sq km	Total area
GDP (PPP)	$978.592 billion	Estimated for 2024
Unemployment Rate	9.7%	Estimated for 2024
Energy Consumption per Capita	29.305 million Btu/person	Estimated for 2023
Birth Rate	14.73 births/1,000 population	Estimated for 2025
Life Expectancy	74.9 years	Estimated for 2024
Literacy Rate	95.3%	Estimated for 2024
Forest Cover	53.8%	Estimated for 2023