Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A nearly five-decade-long conflict between government forces and antigovernment insurgent groups, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) heavily funded by the drug trade, escalated during the 1990s. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia as a formal organization had ceased to function. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, emerging criminal groups arose, whose members include some former paramilitaries. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, but continue attacks against civilians. Large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. In November 2012, the Colombian Government started formal peace negotiations with the FARC aimed at reaching a definitive bilateral cease-fire and incorporating demobilized FARC members into mainstream society and politics. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its administrative departments. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.

Country name:
 

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

Government type:
 

republic; executive branch dominates government structure
 

Capital:
 

name: Bogota
geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
 

Administrative divisions:
 

32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, Archipielago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina (colloquially San Andres y Providencia), Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
 

Independence:
 

20 July 1810 (from Spain)
 

National holiday:
 

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
 

Constitution:
 

several previous; latest promulgated 5 July 1991; amended many times, last in 2011 (2013)
 

Legal system:
 

civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes
 

International law organization participation:
 

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
 

Suffrage:
 

18 years of age; universal
 

Executive branch:
 

chief of state: President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (since 7 August 2010); Vice President German VARGAS Lleras (since 7 August 2014); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (since 7 August 2010); Vice President German VARGAS Lleras (since 7 August 2014)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 25 May 2014 with a runoff election 15 on June 2014 (next to be held on 27 May 2018)
election results: Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon reelected president in runoff; percent of vote - Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon 51.0%, Oscar Ivan ZULUAGA 45.0%, other 4.0%
 

Legislative branch:
 

description: bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; 100 members elected nationally - not by district or state - and two elected on a special ballot for indigenous communities to serve 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats; members elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in March 2018); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in March 2018)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - U Party 21, CD 20, PC 18, PL 17, CR 9, PDA 5, Green Party 5, other 7; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 39, U Party 37, PC 27, CD 19, CR 16, Green Party 6, PDA 3, other 19
 

Judicial branch:
 

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of the Civil-Agrarian and Labor Chambers each with 7 judges, and the Penal Chamber with 9 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 magistrates); Council of State (consists of 31 members); Superior Judiciary Council (consists of 13 magistrates)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Supreme Court members from candidates submitted by the Superior Judiciary Council; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Constitutional Court magistrates - nominated by the president, by the Supreme Court, and elected by the Senate; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Council of State members appointed by the State Council plenary from lists nominated by the Superior Judiciary Council
subordinate courts: Superior Tribunals (appellate courts for each of the judicial districts); regional courts; civil municipal courts; Superior Military Tribunal; first instance administrative courts
 

Political parties and leaders:
 

Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Clara LOPEZ]
Conservative Party or PC [David BARGUIL]
Democratic Center Party or CD [Alvaro URIBE Velez, Oscar Ivan ZULUAGA]
Green Alliance [Jorge LONDONO, Antonio SANGUINO, Luis AVELLANEDA, Camilo ROMERO]
Liberal Party or PL [Horacio SERPA]
Citizens Option (Opcion Ciudadana) or OC (formerly known as the National Integration Party or PIN) [Angel ALIRIO Moreno]
Radical Change or CR [Carlos Fernando GALAN]
Social National Unity Party or U Party [Roy BARRERAS, Jose David NAME]
note: Colombia has eight major political parties, and numerous smaller movements
 

Political pressure groups and leaders:
 

Central Union of Workers or CUT
Colombian Confederation of Workers or CTC
General Confederation of Workers or CGT
National Liberation Army or ELN
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC
note: FARC and ELN are the two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia
 

International organization participation:
 

BCIE, BIS, CAN, Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
 

Diplomatic representation in the US:
 

chief of mission: Ambassador Juan Carlos PINZON Bueno (since 3 August 2015)
chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark (NJ), Orlando, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Boston, Chicago, San Francisco
 

Diplomatic representation from the US:
 

chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin WHITAKER (since 11 June 2014)
embassy: Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50, Bogota, D.C.
mailing address: Carrera 45 No. 24B-27, Bogota, D.C.
telephone: [57] (1) 275-2000
FAX: [57] (1) 275-4600
 

Flag description:
 

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the short-lived South American republic that broke up in 1830; various interpretations of the colors exist and include: yellow for the gold in Colombia's land, blue for the seas on its shores, and red for the blood spilled in attaining freedom; alternatively, the colors have been described as representing more elemental concepts such as sovereignty and justice (yellow), loyalty and vigilance (blue), and valor and generosity (red); or simply the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity
note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
 

National symbol(s):
 

Andean condor; national colors: yellow, blue, red
 

National anthem:
 

name: 'Himno Nacional de la Republica de Colombia' (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia)
lyrics/music: Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI
note: adopted 1920; the anthem was created from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ

Location:
 

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

Geographic coordinates:
 

4 00 N, 72 00 W
 

Map references:
 

South America
 

Area:
 

total: 1,138,910 sq km
land: 1,038,700 sq km
water: 100,210 sq km
note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank
country comparison to the world: 26
 

Area - comparative:
 

slightly less than twice the size of Texas
 

Land boundaries:
 

total: 6,672 km
border countries (5): Brazil 1,790 km, Ecuador 708 km, Panama 339 km, Peru 1,494 km, Venezuela 2,341 km
 

Coastline:

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

Maritime claims:
 

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

Climate:
 

tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
 

Terrain:
 

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

Elevation extremes:
 

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m
note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation
 

Natural resources:
 

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

Land use:
 

agricultural land: 37.5%
arable land 1.4%; permanent crops 1.6%; permanent pasture 34.5%
forest: 54.4%
other: 8.1% (2011 est.)
 

Irrigated land:
 

10,870 sq km (2011)
 

Total renewable water resources:
 

2,132 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 12.65 cu km/yr (55%/4%/41%)
per capita: 308 cu m/yr (2010)
 

Natural hazards:
 

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts
volcanism: Galeras (elev. 4,276 m) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes, having erupted in 2009 and 2010 causing major evacuations; it has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Nevado del Ruiz (elev. 5,321 m), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985 producing lahars (mudflows) that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted in 1991; additionally, after 500 years of dormancy, Nevado del Huila reawakened in 2007 and has experienced frequent eruptions since then; other historically active volcanoes include Cumbal, Dona Juana, Nevado del Tolima, and Purace
 

Environment - current issues:
 

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

Environment - international agreements:
 

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

Geography - note:
 

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

Nationality:
 

noun: Colombian(s)
adjective: Colombian
 

Ethnic groups:
 

mestizo and white 84.2%, Afro-Colombian (includes multatto, Raizal, and Palenquero) 10.4%, Amerindian 3.4%, Roma <.01, unspecified 2.1% (2005 est.)
 

Languages:
 

Spanish (official)
 

Religions:
 

Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
 

Demographic profile:
 

Colombia is in the midst of a demographic transition resulting from steady declines in its fertility, mortality, and population growth rates. The birth rate has fallen from more than 6 children per woman in the 1960s to just above replacement level today as a result of increased literacy, family planning services, and urbanization. However, income inequality is among the worst in the world, and more than a third of the population lives below the poverty line.
Colombia experiences significant legal and illegal economic emigration and refugee flows. Large-scale labor emigration dates to the 1960s; Venezuela and the United States continue to be the main host countries. Colombia is the largest source of Latin American refugees in Latin America, nearly 400,000 of whom live primarily in Venezuela and Ecuador. Forced displacement remains prevalent because of violence among guerrillas, paramilitary groups, and Colombian security forces. Afro-Colombian and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected. A leading NGO estimates that 5.2 million people have been displaced since 1985, while the Colombian Government estimates 3.6 million since 2000. These estimates may undercount actual numbers because not all internally displaced persons are registered. Historically, Colombia also has one of the world's highest levels of forced disappearances. About 30,000 cases have been recorded over the last four decades - although the number is likely to be much higher - including human rights activists, trade unionists, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, and farmers in rural conflict zones.
 

Population:
 

46,736,728 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
 

Age structure:
 

0-14 years: 24.94% (male 5,967,860/female 5,688,106)
15-24 years: 17.81% (male 4,234,564/female 4,087,134)
25-54 years: 41.71% (male 9,653,094/female 9,841,546)
55-64 years: 8.62% (male 1,885,481/female 2,141,618)
65 years and over: 6.93% (male 1,349,613/female 1,887,712) (2015 est.)
 

population pyramid: 
 

Dependency ratios:
 

total dependency ratio: 50.9%
youth dependency ratio: 41.2%
elderly dependency ratio: 9.6%
potential support ratio: 10.4% (2014 est.)
 

Median age:
 

total: 28.9 years
male: 27.9 years
female: 29.9 years (2014 est.)
 

Population growth rate:
 

1.04% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
 

Birth rate:
 

16.47 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
 

Death rate:
 

5.4 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
 

Net migration rate:
 

-0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
 

Urbanization:
 

urban population: 76.4% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 1.66% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
 

Major urban areas - population:
 

BOGOTA (capital) 9.765 million; Medellin 3.911 million; Cali 2.646 million; Barranquilla 1.991 million; Bucaramanga 1.215 million; Cartagena 1.092 million (2015)
 

Sex ratio:
 

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
 

Infant mortality rate:
 

total: 14.58 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
 

Life expectancy at birth:
 

total population: 75.48 years
male: 72.34 years
female: 78.8 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
 

Total fertility rate:
 

2.04 children born/woman (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
 

Contraceptive prevalence rate:
 

79.1% (2009/10)
 

Health expenditures:
 

6.8% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 85
 

Physicians density:
 

1.47 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
 

Hospital bed density:
 

1.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)
 

Drinking water source:
 

improved:
urban: 96.9% of population
rural: 73.6% of population
total: 91.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.1% of population
rural: 26.4% of population
total: 8.8% of population (2012 est.)
 

Sanitation facility access:
 

improved:
urban: 84.9% of population
rural: 65.7% of population
total: 80.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 15.1% of population
rural: 34.3% of population
total: 19.8% of population (2012 est.)
 

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
 

0.45% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
 

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
 

136,500 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
 

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
 

6,500 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
 

Major infectious diseases:
 

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever (2013)
 

Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
 

20.7% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 112
 

Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
 

3.4% (2010)
country comparison to the world: 108
 

Education expenditures:
 

4.9% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 95
 

Literacy:
 

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.7%
male: 94.6%
female: 94.8% (2015 est.)
 

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
 

total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2010)
 

Child labor - children ages 5-14:
 

total number: 988,362
percentage: 9%
note: data represents children ages 5-17 (2009 est.)
 

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
 

total: 21.9%
male: 17%
female: 28.9% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

Colombia's consistently sound economic policies and aggressive promotion of free trade agreements in recent years have bolstered its ability to weather external shocks. Real GDP has grown more than 4% per year for the past four years, continuing almost a decade of strong economic performance. All three major ratings agencies have upgraded Colombia's government debt to investment grade, which helped to attract record levels of investment in 2013 and 2014, mostly in the hydrocarbons sector. Colombia depends heavily on energy and mining exports, making it vulnerable to a drop in commodity prices. Colombia is the world's fourth largest coal exporter and Latin America's fourth largest oil producer. Economic development is stymied by inadequate infrastructure, inequality, poverty, narco-trafficking and an uncertain security situation. Moreover, the unemployment rate of 9.2% in 2014 is still one of Latin America's highest. The SANTOS Administration's foreign policy has focused on bolstering Colombia's commercial ties and boosting investment at home. Colombia has signed or is negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with more than a dozen countries; the US-Colombia FTA went into force on May 2012. Colombia is also a founding member of the Pacific Alliance - a regional grouping formed in 2012 by Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru to promote regional trade and economic integration. In 2013, Colombia began its ascension process to the OECD. In 2014, Colombia passed a tax reform bill to offset the lost revenue from the global drop in oil prices. The SANTOS administration is also using tax reform to help finance implementation of a peace deal, in the event FARC and the government reach an agreement in 2015. Colombian officials estimate a peace deal may bolster economic growth by almost 2%.
 

GDP (purchasing power parity):
 

$640.1 billion (2014 est.)
$612.2 billion (2013 est.)
$583.4 billion (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 32
 

GDP (official exchange rate):
 

$384.9 billion (2014 est.)
 

GDP - real growth rate:
 

4.6% (2014 est.)
4.9% (2013 est.)
4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
 

GDP - per capita (PPP):
 

$13,400 (2014 est.)
$12,800 (2013 est.)
$12,200 (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 111
 

Gross national saving:
 

19.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
21.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
20.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
 

GDP - composition, by end use:
 

household consumption: 59.8%
government consumption: 17%
investment in fixed capital: 25.5%
investment in inventories: 0.1%
exports of goods and services: 18.5%
imports of goods and services: -20.8%
(2014 est.)
 

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
 

agriculture: 6.1%
industry: 37.3%
services: 56.6% (2014 est.)
 

Agriculture - products:
 

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

Industries:
 

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

Industrial production growth rate:
 

4.2% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
 

Labor force:
 

23.67 million (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
 

Labor force - by occupation:
 

agriculture: 17%
industry: 21%
services: 62% (2011 est.)
 

Unemployment rate:
 

9.1% (2014 est.)
9.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
 

Population below poverty line:
 

32.7% (2012 est.)
 

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
 

lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 42% (2012 est.)
 

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
 

53.5 (2012)
56.9 (1996)
country comparison to the world: 12
 

Budget:

revenues: $114.1 billion
expenditures: $120.2 billion (2014 est.)
 

Taxes and other revenues:
 

28.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
 

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
 

-1.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 67
 

Public debt:
 

41.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
43.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities
country comparison to the world: 90
 

Fiscal year:
 

calendar year
 

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
 

2.9% (2014 est.)
2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
 

Central bank discount rate:
 

4.75% (31 December 2011)
5% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 79
 

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
 

10.9% (31 December 2014 est.)
11% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
 

Stock of narrow money:
 

$47.31 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$44.55 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
 

Stock of broad money:
 

$177.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$161.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
 

Stock of domestic credit:
 

$177.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$166.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
 

Market value of publicly traded shares:
 

$262.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$201.3 billion (31 December 2011)
$208.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
 

Current account balance:
 

-$19.29 billion (2014 est.)
-$12.28 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
 

Exports:
 

$55 billion (2014 est.)
$58.03 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
 

Exports - commodities:
 

petroleum, coal, emeralds, coffee, nickel, cut flowers, bananas, apparel
 

Exports - partners:
 

US 31.8%, China 8.7%, Panama 5.7%, India 5.1%, Spain 4.9% (2013)
 

Imports:
 

$56.75 billion (2014 est.)
$55.03 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
 

Imports - commodities:
 

industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity
 

Imports - partners:
 

US 27.7%, China 17.5%, Mexico 9.3%, Brazil 4.4% (2013)
 

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
 

$47.74 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$43.16 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
 

Debt - external:
 

$84 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$80.63 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
 

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
 

$144.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$127.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
 

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
 

$44 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$39 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
 

Exchange rates:
 

Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar -
1,992 (2014 est.)
1,868.9 (2013 est.)
1,798 (2012 est.)
1,848 (2011 est.)
1,898.6 (2010 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines:
 

total subscriptions: 7.2 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
 

Telephones - mobile cellular:
 

total: 55.3 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
 

Telephone system:
 

general assessment: modern system in many respects with a nationwide microwave radio relay system, a domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations, and a fiber-optic network linking 50 cities; telecommunications sector liberalized during the 1990s; multiple providers of both fixed-line and mobile-cellular services
domestic: fixed-line connections stand at about 15 per 100 persons; mobile cellular telephone subscribership is about 100 per 100 persons; competition among cellular service providers is resulting in falling local and international calling rates and contributing to the steep decline in the market share of fixed-line services
international: country code - 57; multiple submarine cable systems provide links to the US, parts of the Caribbean, and Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 10 (6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 3 fully digitalized international switching centers) (2011)
 

Broadcast media:
 

combination of state-owned and privately owned broadcast media provide service; more than 500 radio stations and many national, regional, and local TV stations (2007)
 

Radio broadcast stations:
 

AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)
 

Television broadcast stations:
 

60 (1997)
 

Internet country code:
 

.co
 

Internet users:
 

total: 24.3 million
percent of population: 52.4% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Airports:
 

836 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 8
 

Airports - with paved runways:
 

total: 121
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
914 to 1,523 m: 53
under 914 m: 18 (2013)
 

Airports - with unpaved runways:
 

total: 715
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 201
 

under 914 m:
 

488 (2013)
 

Heliports:
 

3 (2013)
 

Pipelines:
 

gas 4,991 km; oil 6,796 km; refined products 3,429 km (2013)
 

Railways:
 

total: 874 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 724 km 0.914-m gauge (2014)
country comparison to the world: 95
 

Roadways:
 

total: 141,374 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 34
 

Waterways:
 

24,725 km (18,300 km navigable; the most important waterway, the River Magdalena, of which 1,488 km is navigable, is dredged regularly to ensure safe passage of cargo vessels and container barges) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 6
 

Merchant marine:
 

total: 12
by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2
registered in other countries: 4 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Panama 2, Portugal 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 105
 

Ports and terminals:
 

major seaport(s): Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Cartagena, Santa Marta, Turbo; Pacific Ocean - Buenaventura
river port(s): Barranquilla (Rio Magdalena)
oil terminal(s): Covenas offshore terminal
dry bulk cargo port(s): Puerto Bolivar (coal)
container port(s) (TEUs): Cartagena (1,853,342)

Electricity - production:
 

59.22 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
 

Electricity - consumption:
 

50.25 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
 

Electricity - exports:
 

236 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
 

Electricity - imports:
 

8.22 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
 

Electricity - installed generating capacity:
 

14.47 million kW (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
 

Electricity - from fossil fuels:
 

32.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
 

Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
 

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
 

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
 

67.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
 

Electricity - from other renewable sources:
 

0.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
 

Crude oil - production:
 

1.022 million bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
 

Crude oil - exports:
 

777,900 bbl/day (2009)
country comparison to the world: 18
 

Crude oil - imports:
 

10 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
 

Crude oil - proved reserves:
 

2.377 billion bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
 

Refined petroleum products - production:
 

313,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
 

Refined petroleum products - consumption:
 

306,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
 

Refined petroleum products - exports:
 

92,410 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
 

Refined petroleum products - imports:
 

49,790 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
 

Natural gas - production:
 

11.93 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
 

Natural gas - consumption:
 

9.39 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
 

Natural gas - exports:
 

2.54 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
 

Natural gas - imports:
 

0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
 

Natural gas - proved reserves:
 

198.4 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
 

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
 

74.9 million Mt (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49

A total of 192 Realistic Export Opportunities (REOs) from South Africa to Colombia are identified based on the North-West University’s (South Africa) TRADE Decision Support Model (DSM).

The methodology is a very useful instrument to identify market opportunities globally for one’s product and also provides a good reference for one to be able to prioritise marketing efforts based on the value and size of these opportunities.

The TRADE-DSM Navigator provides sound information that companies are able to use in developing their export marketing strategy and forms the basis and guidance for further research should this be required.

In total 192 of the products associated with import demand are identified as realistic export opportunities. The relative 'untapped' potential of the market opportunity is shown in the chart below:

A total 'untapped' potential from South Africa's perspective of approximately 0.23 (in million US dollar terms) based on the average value of the top 6 supplying countries (excluding South Africa) are associated with these specific product export opportunities.

The highest number of identified opportunities are associated with the economic sector of

Basic iron & steel (351) .

Not all sectors will be present, as not all economic sectors (some of which are based on economic activity while the REOs are based on traded products) are relevant for all products. However, various other sectors also do exhibit potential.

While the above examples are based on high level economic sectors, the information is available at a much more granular level on the HS 6-digit tariff code level. To demonstrate the following example of a product description is provided:

HS CHAPTER 84:
NUCLEAR REACTORS, BOILERS, MACHINERY AND MECHANICAL APPLIANCES; PARTS THEREOF
Sub-heading 84.27:
Fork-lift trucks; other works trucks fitted with lifting or handling equipment:
HS 6-digit product code 8427.10:
Self-propelled trucks powered by an electric motor.

Research reports containing more detailed information related to these realistic export opportunities (down to product level as illustrated with the above product description) for each country are available from TIKZN.

Please contact us if you are interested in more detail by clicking here.

For an example of a more detailed country report please click here.

Please note that a more up-to-date version for the specific country report used in this example is available from TIKZN. This report is provided for demonstration purposes only and should not be used for any decision-making.

For more in-depth research you can also contact our NWU knowledge partners at
TRADE Research Advisory.

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