Key Stats
Capital: Bogota
Population: 47 million
Average life expectancy: 76 years
Literacy rate: 94%
Population living below poverty line: 28%
Population without electricity: 1.2 million
Population without access to safe drinking water: 4 million
Most widely spoken language: Spanish
Source: The World Factbook
About Colombia
The most populous Spanish-speaking country in South America, Colombia features geography ranging from coastal lowlands to the great Andean mountain range, its population largely concentrated around the capital city of Bogota, which sits in the country’s mountainous interior. Colombia’s citizens are primarily mestizo, with minority populations of African, European, and Indian ancestry. Agriculture remains the major component of the economy, though large parts of the land remain uncultivated due to poor soil and climate conditions. Though the country has faced periods of political unrest and disruption from illegal drug trading, Colombia maintains a relatively stable democratic society.