Colombia
Land of biodiversity and cultural fusion
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country located in South America, with insular regions in North America. Colombia's mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuela to the east, Brazil to the southeast, Peru and Ecuador to the south and southwest, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and Panama to the northwest. Colombia is divided into 32 departments. The Capital District of Bogotá is the country's largest city hosting the main financial and cultural hub. Other urban areas include Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bucaramanga, Pereira, Santa Marta, Cúcuta, Ibagué, Villavicencio and Manizales. It covers an area of 1,141,748 square kilometers (440,831 sq mi) and has a population of around 52 million. Its rich cultural heritage—including language, religion, cuisine, and art—reflects its history as a colony, fusing cultural elements brought by immigration from Europe and the Middle East, with those brought by the African diaspora, as well as with those of Indigenous civilizations that predate colonization. Spanish is the official language, although Creole, English and 64 other languages are recognized regionally.
- Capital
- Bogotá
- Region
- South America
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Colombian peso
- Official Language
- Spanish
- Major Biomes
- Andes Mountains, Amazon Rainforest, Caribbean Coast, Pacific Coast, Llanos Plains
- Cultural Heritage
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites (e.g., Cartagena, San Agustín, Coffee Cultural Landscape)
- Global Significance
- One of the world's most biodiverse countries; major coffee and emerald producer
Lore & Background
Colombia has been home to many Indigenous peoples and cultures since at least 12,000 BCE. The Spanish landed in La Guajira in 1500, and by the mid-16th century had colonized much of present-day Colombia, establishing the New Kingdom of Granada. Independence from the Spanish Empire was declared in 1810, with what is now Colombia emerging as the United Provinces of New Granada. After a Spanish reconquest, Colombian independence was secured and the Gran Colombia period began in 1819. The new polity experimented with federalism as the Granadine Confederation (1858) and then the United States of Colombia (1863), before becoming a centralised republic in 1886. With the backing of the US, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903, resulting in Colombia's present borders. Beginning in the 1960s, the country has suffered from an asymmetric low-intensity armed conflict and political violence, both of which escalated in the 1990s. Since 2000, there has been improvement in security, stability, and rule of law, as well as economic growth and development.
In Their Own Story
The morning mist clings to the páramo as a coffee picker in the Eje Cafetero carefully selects the ripest red cherries. Below, the valley is a patchwork of emerald green, broken only by the silver ribbon of a river winding toward the Caribbean. In Bogotá's historic La Candelaria district, the scent of arepas and strong coffee mingles with the sound of street musicians playing accordion-driven vallenato. From the misty peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to the sun-drenched beaches of Cartagena, the land breathes a history of struggle and triumph, inviting travelers to witness its enduring spirit.
Reader's Guide
Colombia is recognized for its healthcare system, being the best healthcare in the Americas according to the World Health Organization and 22nd in the world. Its diversified economy is the third-largest in South America, with macroeconomic stability and favorable long-term growth prospects. The country has one of the widest recognitions of LGBT rights, gender equality, animal rights, and human rights, permitting same-sex adoption, same-sex marriage, legality of abortion, legality of euthanasia, and animal rights protections. Colombia is one of the world's seventeen megadiverse countries; it has the highest level of biodiversity per square mile in the world, and second-highest level overall. Its territory encompasses the Amazon rainforest, highlands, grasslands and deserts. Colombia is a member of global and regional organizations including the UN, the WTO, the OECD, the OAS, the CIVETS, the Pacific Alliance and the Andean Community; it is a NATO Global Partner and a major non-NATO ally of the United States.
Did You Know?
- The oldest pottery discovered in the Americas, found in San Jacinto, dates to 5000–4000 BCE.
- Colombia has the highest level of biodiversity per square mile in the world.
- The name 'Colombia' is derived from the last name of Christopher Columbus.
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