Colombia: Basic Facts & Profile

Known as the fourth largest country in South America, Colombia is among the continent's most populated oountries, with abundant oil reserves for exporting in addition to being a leading producer of precious metals such as gold, silver, emeralds, platinum and coal.

Colombia is situated in the north west part of the continent. It is primarily within the Andes mountain range in the north and west, and the Amazon and Orinoco river basins to the south and east.

Violent crime and kidnappings, although still not low, has been reduced substantially since 2002. This is one reason tourism and economic conditions have improved.

map of Colombia

Capital:	Bogotá; (largest city)
Leader:	President: Juan Manuel Santos Calderon
Leader:	Vice President: German Vargas Lleras
Government type:	Federal Republic
Population:	46,245,297 million .est (source: CIA 2014)
Languages:	Spanish 90%, Other 10% includes 68 ethnic languages and dialects. English is also recognized as official language in the San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina Islands.[.
Ethnic Diversity:	Mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%
Life Expectancy:	72 years (men), 78 years (women) (source: CIA)
Official Currency:	Colombian Peso (COP) How much is your currency against the Peso
Climate:	Tropical on coast and eastern plains, cooler in higher elevations
National Holiday:	20 July 1810 Independence Day
Religion:	Roman Catholic 68%, Calvinist 21%, Lutheran 4%, Jewish 1%, others, including Baptist Adventist, Pentecostal, Unitarian 3%
Area:	total: 1,134 million sq km (440,000 sq miles)
Country Dialing Code:	+57