Colombia Facts

Fact

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: 42,310,775 (as of July 2004)

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 2004, unemployment is 14.2%, 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 Bogota*, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

Time: GMT minus 5

Electricity: 110/120 Volts AC, US 2 pin plugs are used.