Quick answerColombia is a country in South America, with a population of 52,695,952 (2024). Its capital is Bogotá, its official language is Spanish, and its currency is the Colombian peso (COP). It covers 1,141,748 square kilometres (440,831 square miles), and its time zone is America/Bogota.
Colombia is a country in north-western South America, home to about 53 million people. Its capital and largest city is Bogotá, and its official language is Spanish.
Key facts
| Capital | Bogotá |
|---|---|
| Population | 52,695,952 (2024) · 52.7 million |
| Population density | 50.7 people per km² (land area) |
| Area | 1,141,748 km² (440,831 sq mi) total · 1,038,700 km² (401,044 sq mi) land |
| Official language | Spanish (official) |
| Currency | Colombian peso (COP, $) |
| Time zone | America/Bogota |
| Government | Unitary presidential republic |
| Coastline | 3,208 km |
| Highest point | Pico Cristóbal Colón, 5,775 m |
| Life expectancy | 77.9 years (2024) |
| Calling code | +57 |
| Driving side | Right |
| Internet domain | .co |
Overview
Colombia sits in north-western South America, the only country on the continent with coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It covers 1,141,748 square kilometres, with 3,208 kilometres of coastline - 1,760 on the Caribbean and 1,448 on the Pacific. The Andes split into three ranges as they cross the country, rising to Pico Cristóbal Colón at 5,775 metres in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the world's highest coastal mountain range. The east is lowland plains and Amazon rainforest, and the country is drained by the Magdalena River, which runs north to the Caribbean.
About 52.7 million people lived in Colombia in the 2024 estimate from DANE, the national statistics office, making it the third-most populous country in Latin America. Around 78.5 per cent live in towns and cities, above all in Bogotá, the capital, with about 8 million people, and Medellín, Cali and Barranquilla. Spanish is the official language, and life expectancy at birth was 77.9 years in 2024. Colombia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the region, with mestizo, white, Afro-Colombian and Indigenous peoples.
Colombia's history begins with Indigenous peoples such as the Muisca, famous for the legend of El Dorado, and the Spanish founded Cartagena in 1533 and Bogotá in 1538. The country won independence from Spain in 1819 under Simón Bolívar, as part of Gran Colombia, and became a separate republic in 1831. The 20th century brought political violence, and from the 1960s an armed conflict with guerrilla groups and drug cartels that lasted more than fifty years; a peace agreement with the FARC was signed in 2016.
Today Colombia is a unitary presidential republic with 32 departments. Its economy rests on oil, coal, coffee, flowers and emeralds - it is the world's largest emerald producer - and tourism has grown rapidly since the peace agreement. Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, with more bird species than any other country, and its culture is known for the novels of Gabriel García Márquez, for salsa in Cali and vallenato music, and for the colonial streets of Cartagena.
Notable facts
- Colombia had an estimated population of 52,695,952 in 2024, making it the third-most populous country in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico.
- Pico Cristóbal Colón, at 5,775 metres in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, is Colombia's highest point, in the world's highest coastal mountain range.
- Colombia is the only country in South America with coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
- Colombia is one of the world's most biodiverse countries, home to around a tenth of the world's species, and it has more bird species than any other country.
- Colombia is the world's largest producer of emeralds and one of the largest producers of coffee.
How Colombia compares
Comparison table — Colombia next to 3 similar countries (neighbours first, then the same subregion).
| Country | Population | Area | Density | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia ★ | 52,695,952 (2024) | 1,141,748 km² | 50.7 people per km² | Bogotá |
| Brazil | 213,421,037 (2025) | 8,515,767 km² | 25.2 people per km² | Brasília |
| Argentina | 46,735,004 (2025) | 2,780,085 km² | 17.1 people per km² | Buenos Aires |
| Afghanistan | 41,454,761 (2023) | 652,864 km² | 63.6 people per km² | Kabul |
Cities in Colombia
See all 4 cities in Colombia →
- Bogotá Known for Gold Museum
- Medellín Known for Plaza Botero
- Cali Known for Salsa capital
- Barranquilla Known for Barranquilla Carnival
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Colombia?
The capital of Colombia is Bogotá. About 8.03 million people live there (8,034,649 in 2022), on a high plateau in the eastern Andes, 2,640 metres above sea level, making it one of the highest capitals in the world. Bogotá was founded in 1538 and is home to the Gold Museum and the Monserrate sanctuary.
What is the population of Colombia?
Colombia had an estimated population of 52,695,952 in 2024, according to DANE, the national statistics office. That makes it the third-most populous country in Latin America, after Brazil and Mexico. About 78.5 per cent of Colombians live in towns and cities, above all in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Barranquilla.
What language is spoken in Colombia?
Spanish is the official language of Colombia. It is spoken across the country, and many Indigenous languages are also spoken, along with Creole English on the Caribbean islands, which are recognised regionally. Colombian Spanish is known for its clear pronunciation, above all in Bogotá.
What currency is used in Colombia?
Colombia uses the Colombian peso (COP, symbol $). One peso is divided into 100 centavos, though centavo coins are rarely used. Cash is still common in markets and small shops, but cards and mobile payments are widely accepted in the cities.
Where is Colombia?
Colombia is in north-western South America, on the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Panama to the north-west, Venezuela to the east, Brazil to the south-east, and Peru and Ecuador to the south. The Andes cross the country from south to north, and the east is lowland plains and Amazon rainforest.
What time zone is Colombia in?
Colombia uses a single time zone, Colombia Time (UTC-5), across the whole country. The IANA time zone name is America/Bogota. There is no daylight saving time, so the clocks stay the same all year.
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Bogotá — capital of Colombia
- Medellín — city in Colombia
- Cali — city in Colombia
- Barranquilla — city in Colombia
- Brazil — neighbouring country
- Ecuador — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Panama — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Peru — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Venezuela — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Argentina — another country in South America
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Wikipedia — Colombia
- DANE (Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística), population estimate 2024 (via Wikipedia — Colombia)
- Wikipedia — List of countries and dependencies by length of coastline (CIA World Factbook figures)
- Wikipedia — List of countries by median age (CIA World Factbook 2024 estimates)
- World Bank, World Development Indicators (life expectancy SP.DYN.LE00.IN; urban population % SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS)
- mledoze/countries (skeleton: borders, capital, languages, tld, coordinates, subregion)
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.