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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 413 (licensed), FM 217 (licensed), shortwave 28

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

modern system in many respects domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

1.89 million (1986 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

5.5 million (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp farming

Budget [time series]

revenues: $27 billion expenditures: $30 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos

Debt - external [time series]

$16.5 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $30 million (1993)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Boasting a diversified and stable economy, Colombia has enjoyed Latin America's most consistent record of growth over the last several decades. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has expanded every year for more than 25 years, and unlike many other Latin American countries, Colombia did not default on any of its official debts during the "lost decade" of the 1980s. Since 1990, when Bogota introduced a comprehensive reform program that opened the economy to foreign trade and investment, GDP growth has averaged more than 4% annually. Growth has been fueled in recent years by the rapid expansion of the oil sector, progress in the construction and financial service industries, and an influx of foreign capital. Direct foreign investment, especially in the oil industry, is rising at a rapid rate. In 1996, oil overtook coffee as Colombia's main export. Non-petroleum economic growth slowed, however, due mostly to high interest rates - the result of high government spending and a tight monetary policy - and a real appreciation of the exchange rate. Business confidence was also damaged by a political crisis stemming from allegations President SAMPER solicited contributions from drug traffickers during the 1994 campaign. The slowdown in the growth of labor-intensive industries such as manufacturing has caused unemployment to rise to 11.5% by the end of 1996 and interfered with President SAMPER'S plans to lower the country's poverty rate, which has remained at about 40% despite the expanding economy.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

10,583,700 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

963 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

45.361 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 1,027.87 (January 1997), 1,036.69 (1996), 912.83 (1995), 844.84 (1994), 863.06 (1993), 759.28 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value: $10.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: petroleum, coffee, coal, bananas, fresh cut flowers partners : US 39%, EC 25.7%, Japan 2.9%, Venezuela 8.5% (1992)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $201.4 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture : 20% industry: 27% services: 53% (1995 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $5,400 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.1% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $12.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products partners : US 36%, EC 18%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 6.5%, Japan 8.7% (1992)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.5% (1995 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

21.6% (1996)

Labor force [time series]

total: 12 million (1990) by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)

Unemployment rate [time series]

11.5% (yearend 1996)

Geography

Area [time series]

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 [time series]

slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Climate [time series]

tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

Coastline [time series]

3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado del Huila 5,750 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to : Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geographic coordinates [time series]

4 00 N, 72 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

only South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

Irrigated land [time series]

5,300 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total : 7,408 km border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures : 39% forests and woodland: 48% other: 8% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama

Map references [time series]

South America

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds

Terrain [time series]

flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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, Santa Fe de Bogota*, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

Constitution [time series]

5 July 1991

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Colombia conventional short form: Colombia local long form: Republica de Colombia local short form : Colombia

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Myles R. R. FRECHETTE embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, No. 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 mailing address : APO AA 34038 telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Juan Carlos ESGUERRA Portocarrero chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state : President Ernesto SAMPER Pizano (since 7 August 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ernesto SAMPER Pizano (since 7 August 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections : president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 29 May 1994 (next to be held May 1998); 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 results : Ernesto SAMPER Pizano elected president; percent of vote - 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 19 June 1994; percent of vote - Ernesto SAMPER Pizano (Liberal Party) 50.4%, Andres PASTRANA Arango (Conservative Party) 48.6%, blank votes 1%; Humberto de la CALLE Lombana elected vice president; percent of vote - NA

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[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 and Tampa

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[57] (1) 315-2197

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic; executive branch dominates government structure

Independence [time series]

20 July 1810 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

AG, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice (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

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

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 (161 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held March 1998); House of Representatives - last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held March 1998) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Party 59, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF) 31, other 12; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Party 89, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF) 53, AD/M-19 2, other 17

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Bogota

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Liberal Party or PL [Emilio LEBOLO Castellanos]; Conservative Party or PC [Fabio VALENCIA Cossio]; New Democratic Force or NDF [Andres PASTRANA Arango]; Democratic Alliance M-19 or AD/M-19 is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident liberals and conservatives; Patriotic Union (UP) is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and Colombian Communist Party (PCC); National Salvation Movement or MSN [Dr. Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC; and National Liberation Army or ELN

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Introduction

Historical perspective [time series]

Comoros has had difficulty in achieving political stability, having endured 18 coups or attempted coups since receiving independence from France in 1975.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$2 billion (1995)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

2.8% (1995)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 10,285,806 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males : 6,909,846 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 348,802 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years : 31% (male 5,959,141; female 5,816,751) 15-64 years: 64% (male 11,756,893; female 12,146,103) 65 years and over: 5% (male 769,724; female 969,678) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

20.78 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.62 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.14 years male: 70.28 years female : 76.09 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.3% male: 91.2% female: 91.4% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Colombian(s) adjective: Colombian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

37,418,290 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.61% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years : 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.31 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial dispute with Nicaragua over Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis; about 50,900 hectares of coca under cultivation in 1995; the world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of cocaine to the US and other international drug markets; active aerial eradication program seeks to virtually eliminate coca and opium crops COMOROS

Transportation

Airports [time series]

913 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 606 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m : 32 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 527 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 307 2,438 to 3,047 m : 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 272 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 106,600 km paved: 12,685 km unpaved : 93,915 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 72,388 GRT/97,576 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 6, container 1, multi-function large load carrier 2, oil tanker 3 (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo

Railways [time series]

total: 3,386 km standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines to maritime port at Bahia Portete) narrow gauge: 3,236 km 0.914-m gauge (1830 km in use) (1995)

Waterways [time series]

14,300 km, navigable by river boats