| Key Demographic
Features of Colombia* |
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Location: Northern South America, bordering the
Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the
North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama
Map references: South America
People
Population: 36,813,161 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 5,948,599; female 5,806,450)
15-64 years: 64% (male 11,496,931; female 11,890,875)
65 years and over: 4% (male 741,788; female 928,518)
(July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.66% (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.8 deaths/1,000 live births
(1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.81 years
male: 69.97 years
female: 75.73 years (1996 est.)
Ethnic divisions: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%,
black 4%, mixed black-Indian 3%, Indian 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995
est.)
total population: 91.3%
male: 91.2%
female: 91.4%
Government
Country Abbreviation: CO
Type of government: republic; executive branch
dominates government structure
Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Constitution: 5 July 1991
Legal system: 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
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
International organization participation: AG, CCC, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
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
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos LLERAS de la Fuente
chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
FAX: [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
US diplomatic representation:
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
FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197
consulate(s): Barranquilla
Flag: 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
Economy
Economic overview:
GDP: purchasing power parity - $192.5 billion (1995
est.)
GDP real growth rate: 5.3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $5,300 (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.5% (1995)
Communications
Telephones: 1.89 million (1986 est.)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 413 (licensed), FM 217
(licensed), shortwave 28
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 33
Televisions: 5.5 million (1993 est.)
*Source: World Factbook 1996, U.S.
Central Intelligence Agency
The World Factbook contains many additional demographic
variables that may be of interest to persons who wish to
examine a particular country in more depth. To access the
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