Discover Fascinating Colombia Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Colombia.
Colombia
Background
Colombia has a fascinating history! ๐จ๐ด It was one of the three countries that came to life after Gran Colombia broke apart in 1830, along with Ecuador and Venezuela. ๐ Despite facing many challenges like internal conflicts and issues related to drug trade, Colombia is proud to have strong democratic institutions. ๐ณ๏ธ This means that the people can vote in peaceful and transparent elections while their civil liberties are protected. Isn't that great?
Year Gran Colombia Dissolved
1830
Number of countries that emerged from Gran Colombia
3
Exports - commodities
Colombia is known for its diverse and vibrant export landscape! ๐ In 2022, the country exported various key commodities that are essential to its economy. Here's a fun look at some of those main exports:
- Crude Petroleum: This is one of Colombia's top exports, playing a huge role in international trade.
- Coal: Another important commodity, Colombia is among the leading coal exporters in the world. โ๏ธ
- Coffee: Everyone loves a good cup of coffee! โ Colombia is famous for its high-quality coffee beans.
- Refined Petroleum: After crude petroleum, the refined version is also significant in Colombia's export portfolio.
- Gold: Shiny and valuable, gold is a key export that adds sparkle to Colombia's economy! โจ
Each of these commodities contributes to Colombia's rich tapestry of trade. Let's visualize the importance of these exports in a cool chart!
Colombia's Top Exports in 2022
Exports - partners
Colombia has some exciting trade partners! ๐ Hereโs how their exports are divided among different countries in 2022:
- United States: 26% ๐
- Panama: 10% ๐ต๐ฆ
- Netherlands: 6% ๐ณ๐ฑ
- India: 4% ๐ฎ๐ณ
- Brazil: 4% ๐ง๐ท
Do you know what that means? The USA is the biggest share of Colombia's exports! ๐คฉ Imagine all the amazing products flowing across borders! Let's take a closer look at these export numbers in a pie chart to see just how much each country gets! ๐ฐ
Percentage of Total Exports to the US
26%
Percentage of Total Exports to Panama
10%
Percentage of Total Exports to the Netherlands
6%
Percentage of Total Exports to India
4%
Percentage of Total Exports to Brazil
4%
Colombia's Export Partners in 2022
Capital
๐ Welcome to Bogotรก! ๐ The bustling capital city of Colombia, where you can experience a vibrant culture and rich history. Did you know that Bogotรก is not just the political and economic center of Colombia, but it's also known for its stunning architecture and diverse neighborhoods? ๐จ๐ด
Capital City
Bogotรก
Imports - commodities
Colombia imports a variety of important commodities that help keep the economy thriving! ๐จ๐ด Here's a look at some of the key imports in 2022:
- Refined Petroleum: This is crucial for powering vehicles and industries across the nation. ๐โฝ
- Cars: Having a reliable transportation system is vital, and imports of cars support this need. ๐
- Broadcasting Equipment: Essential for media and communication, this category helps keep Colombians connected and informed. ๐บ๐ป
- Corn: A staple food in Colombia, corn is important for both human consumption and animal feed. ๐ฝ๐
- Packaged Medicine: Health is wealth! Packaged medicine is key to maintaining the well-being of the population. ๐
These commodities play a significant role in Colombiaโs economy and day-to-day life! ๐โจ
Key Imports in 2022
Refined Petroleum, Cars, Broadcasting Equipment, Corn, Packaged Medicine
Climate
Colombia has a diverse climate! ๐ On the coast and eastern plains, the weather is tropical, which means it's warm and humid most of the time. ๐๏ธ But if you head into the highlands, you'll find cooler temperatures. ๐๏ธ The variety in climate allows for different plants, animals, and even activities depending on where you are in the country!
Executive branch
๐ค The Executive Branch of Colombia is led by President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego! ๐ He has been serving as both the chief of state and head of government since August 7, 2022. This means that he holds the top position in the country's executive power and is responsible for guiding the nation's direction. ๐
Current President in Office
Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego
Date of Tenure Begins
August 7, 2022
Legislative branch
๐จ๐ด Legislative Branch of Colombia
Colombia has a bicameral Congress that consists of two important chambers ๐ฝ๏ธ: the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives.
- Senate: 108 seats
- Chamber of Representatives: 188 seats
This setup ensures that the people of Colombia have representation in both chambers, allowing for diverse voices in the legislative process! ๐ณ๏ธ Let's dive into some interesting statistics about the composition of Congress!
Total number of seats in Congress
296
Composition of Colombia's Congress
Natural resources
๐ Colombia is rich in natural resources! Here's what can be found beneath the surface and in the breathtaking landscapes of this beautiful country:
- Petroleum ๐ข๏ธ
- Natural Gas ๐จ
- Coal โ๏ธ
- Iron Ore ๐๏ธ
- Nickel ๐
- Gold โ๏ธโจ
- Copper ๐ช
- Emeralds ๐๐
- Hydropower โก
These resources are not only vital for Colombia's economy but also play a significant role in its energy production and global trade. ๐
Economic overview
Colombia has been one of the shining stars in growth economies ๐ before the COVID-19 pandemic hit! The country has seen declining poverty rates, which is wonderful news for everyone! ๐ However, despite a large stimulus package that has helped soften the economic blows, some critical infrastructure investments have been postponed. ๐๏ธ On the bright side, Colombia has been very successful in managing inflation, and it has a flexible exchange rate regime to help stabilize the economy. ๐ต But it's important to note that the domestic economy is still facing challenges due to a lack of trade integration and infrastructure. ๐ง๐
Prior to COVID-19
Consistent growth economy
Poverty trend
Declining
Economic stimulus impact
Mitigated economic fallout
Inflation management
Successful
Exchange rate regime
Sound flexible
Domestic economy challenge
Lack of trade integration and infrastructure
Government type
Colombia has a Presidential Republic government system. This means that the President is both the head of state and the head of government! ๐๏ธ The President is elected by the citizens and has a significant amount of power in running the country. It's a system that brings together democracy and leadership, making it a crucial part of Colombian politics. ๐จ๐ด
Ethnic groups
In Colombia, the ethnic tapestry is quite colorful! ๐จ According to estimates from 2018, here's how the population is divided among different ethnic groups:
- Mestizo and White: 87.6%
- Afro-Colombian (including Mulatto, Raizal, and Palenquero): 6.8%
- Indigenous: 4.3%
- Unspecified: 1.4%
This shows a rich cultural mixture, with the Mestizo and White population making up the vast majority. ๐จ๐ด
Percentage of Mestizo and White population
87.6%
Percentage of Afro-Colombian population
6.8%
Percentage of Indigenous population
4.3%
Percentage of unspecified ethnic groups
1.4%
Ethnic Composition of Colombia (2018)
Religions
In Colombia, the religious landscape is diverse and colorful! ๐จ Hereโs a breakdown of the population by their beliefs:
- Roman Catholic: 63.6% - The majority!
- Protestant: 17.2%
- Evangelical: 16.7%
- Adventist: 0.3%
- Other Protestant: 0.2%
- Jehovah's Witness: 0.6%
- Church of Jesus Christ: 0.1%
- Other religions: 0.3%
- Believers: 0.2%
- Agnostics: 1%
- Atheists: 1%
- No Religion: 14.2%
- Unspecified beliefs: 1.8%
These percentages show how people in Colombia identify with different religions! ๐ To visualize this data, a pie chart can help show the proportions clearly, especially for understanding how things add up to 100%! ๐ฐ
Percentage of Roman Catholics
63.6%
Percentage of Protestants
17.2%
Percentage of Jehovah's Witnesses
0.6%
Percentage of Atheists
1%
Percentage of People with No Religion
14.2%
Religious Distribution in Colombia (2023)
Languages
In Colombia, the rich tapestry of languages showcases its diverse culture! ๐จ๐ด The majority of people speak Spanish with a whopping 98.9% of the population using it as their official language. ๐ Additionally, 1% of the population speaks various indigenous languages, showing the country's commitment to its native heritage. Even more fascinating is that there are 65 indigenous languages existing throughout Colombia! ๐
If we look at the percentages of the languages spoken in Colombia, we can see that Spanish truly dominates the linguistic landscape!
Total Number of Indigenous Languages
65
Language Distribution in Colombia
Imports - partners
๐ Let's explore where Colombia gets its goods from! In 2022, Colombia's top import partners were quite fascinating. The United States and China were neck and neck, with the US leading at 26% of imports, closely followed by China at 25%! ๐บ๐ธ๐จ๐ณ Brazil contributed 7%, while Mexico and Germany had smaller shares of 5% and 3%, respectively. ๐ Importing from these countries helps Colombia thrive and enjoy a variety of products!
Top import partner: United States
26%
Second top import partner: China
25%
Third top import partner: Brazil
7%
Fourth top import partner: Mexico
5%
Fifth top import partner: Germany
3%
Colombia's Import Partners (2022)
Population
Colombia is buzzing with life! ๐ The total population of Colombia is 49,588,357 people. Thatโs a lot of folks enjoying the beautiful landscapes, amazing culture, and delicious food! ๐จ๐ด
Total Population
49,588,357
Area
๐ Area of Colombia ๐
Colombia is a vast country with a total area of 1,138,910 sq km! Let's break it down:
- Land Area: This is where the majority of activities happen! Colombia boasts 1,038,700 sq km of land. ๐จ๐ด
- Water Area: With beautiful rivers and lakes, Colombia has 100,210 sq km of water. ๐ง
This country truly has a great mix of land and water, making it a rich and diverse environment to explore!
Total Area
1,138,910 sq km
Land Area
1,038,700 sq km
Water Area
100,210 sq km
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
๐ Let's take a look at Colombia's Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), measured in purchasing power parity (PPP)! This figure tells us how much stuff Colombians can buy with their money compared to other countries. ๐ฐ Hereโs a quick look at how Colombia's economy has been doing:
- 2021: $906.034 billion
- 2022: $972.073 billion
- 2023: $978.024 billion
As you can see, thereโs been a steady increase over the past few years, showing that Colombia's economy is growing and getting stronger! ๐
Imagine what that means for the people and their lives in Colombia! More money usually means better services, jobs, and opportunities. ๐
GDP in 2021
$906.034 billion
GDP in 2022
$972.073 billion
GDP in 2023
$978.024 billion
Colombia's GDP (PPP) Over Time
Real GDP per capita
๐ Let's talk about Colombia's Real GDP per capita! This number shows how much money, on average, each person in Colombia would have if all the countryโs wealth was spread out evenly. Itโs a fun way to see how the economy is doing! ๐ค
Over the past few years, this value has been changing:
- In 2021, it was $17,600.
- In 2022, it went up to $18,700! ๐
- And in 2023, it increased a bit more to $18,800! ๐
Isn't it great to see steady growth? Let's visualize this data!
Real GDP per Capita in 2021
17,600
Real GDP per Capita in 2022
18,700
Real GDP per Capita in 2023
18,800
Real GDP per Capita in Colombia (2021 - 2023)
Imports
๐ Colombia is a vibrant economy that thrives on trade! In 2023, the total imports were a whopping $75.983 billion! Let's take a look at how this number stacks up over the past few years:
- 2021: $70.914 billion
- 2022: $89.649 billion
- 2023: $75.983 billion
You can see that Colombia's imports grew from 2021 to 2022, but there was a dip in 2023. ๐ This fluctuation shows the dynamic nature of trade! ๐
Import Value in 2023
75.983 billion
Import Value in 2022
89.649 billion
Import Value in 2021
70.914 billion
Colombia's Imports Over the Years
Exports
๐ Colombia's exports have seen some significant changes over the years! In 2021, the total exports were $50.907 billion. The exports increased to $73.06 billion in 2022, showcasing a promising trend! ๐ And in the latest estimate for 2023, exports are projected to reach $67.762 billion. Itโs fascinating to see how Colombia is boosting its trade in the global market! ๐
Exports in 2021
$50.907 billion
Exports in 2022
$73.06 billion
2023 Estimated Exports
$67.762 billion
Colombia's Exports Over Time
Population growth rate
๐ฑ Colombia's population is growing at a rate of 0.48% in 2024! This means more people are joining the vibrant culture of this beautiful country every year. As the population increases, it brings new opportunities and challenges that shape the future of Colombia. ๐จ๐ด
Estimated Population Growth Rate for 2024
0.48%