Quick answerBarranquilla is a city in Colombia, with 1,327,209 people inside the city limits in 2023. The wider metropolitan area had about 2.4 million people in 2023. It is best known for the Barranquilla Carnival, the Caribbean port and the Gran Malecón. Its official language is Spanish, and its currency is the Colombian peso.
Barranquilla is Colombia's fourth-largest city, with about 1.33 million people (1,327,209 in a 2023 estimate). It stands on the Caribbean coast, near the mouth of the Magdalena River, and is famous for its carnival.
Key facts
| Country | Colombia |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,327,209 (2023) |
| Population (metro) | 2,370,000 (2023) · Barranquilla metropolitan area |
| Elevation | 18 m above sea level |
| Time zone | America/Bogota |
| Language | Spanish |
| Currency | Colombian peso (COP, $) |
| Coordinates | 10.98333° N, 74.80194° W |
Overview
Barranquilla is the fourth-largest city of Colombia, on the Caribbean coast in the north of the country, near the mouth of the Magdalena River. The city proper had 1,327,209 residents in a 2023 estimate, while the metropolitan area held about 2.37 million people, and the city sits 18 metres above sea level. It is the capital of Atlántico department and Colombia's main Caribbean port.
Barranquilla grew in the 19th century into Colombia's main port, the gateway through which the country connected with the world, and it was an early home of aviation, telephones and organised football in the country. Its landmarks include the Carnival House, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the old customs house and the Gran Malecón, the long riverfront promenade along the Magdalena. The city is also known for the writers and musicians who lived there, above all Gabriel García Márquez, who began his career as a journalist in Barranquilla.
Today Barranquilla is best known for its carnival, the second-largest in the world after Rio de Janeiro's and a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. It is a major port and industrial city, and it hosted the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games. Its culture blends Caribbean, African and European influences, above all in its music, dance and food.
What Barranquilla is known for
- Barranquilla Carnival
- Caribbean port
- Gran Malecón
- Gabriel García Márquez
- Cumbia music
- Metropolitan Cathedral
Landmarks
- Casa del Carnaval
- Gran Malecón
- Metropolitan Cathedral
- Old Customs House
- Plaza de San Nicolás
- Museo del Atlántico
- Zoo Barranquilla
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Barranquilla?
About 1.33 million people live in Barranquilla (1,327,209 in a 2023 estimate). The wider metropolitan area had about 2.37 million people. That makes Barranquilla the fourth-largest city in Colombia.
What is Barranquilla famous for?
Barranquilla is famous for its carnival, one of the largest in the world and a UNESCO heritage event, and as Colombia's main Caribbean port. Gabriel García Márquez began his career as a journalist in the city.
Where is Barranquilla located?
Barranquilla is on Colombia's Caribbean coast, near the mouth of the Magdalena River. It is the capital of Atlántico department. Its coordinates are 10.98° N, 74.80° W, and its time zone is Colombia Time (UTC-5).
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Keep exploring
- Colombia — the country Barranquilla is in
- Bogotá — another city in Colombia
- Medellín — another city in Colombia
- Cali — another city in Colombia
- All cities in Colombia
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.