Official Name: Republic of Colombia
Capital: Bogotá
People: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%
Religion: Roman Catholic (90%)
Population: 45,644,023 (as of July 2009)
Language: Spanish (official)
Government: republic; executive branch dominates government structure. President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002). (The president is both the chief of state and head of government.)
Economic Facts: As of July 2009, unemployment is 11.8%, and 55% of the population live below the poverty line. External debt is an estimated 38.26 billion.
Agriculture: coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp.
Main exports: petroleum, coffee, coal, apparel, bananas, cut flowers
Main Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds.
Provinces: Colombia has 32 Provinces and one capital district(*): 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, Distrito Capital de Santa Fe de Bogotá*, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
Time: GMT minus 5
Electricity: 110/120 Volts AC, US 2 pin plugs are used.