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Quick answerCali is a city in Colombia, with 2,234,400 people inside the city limits in 2023. The wider metropolitan area had about 3.4 million people in 2023. It is best known for the Salsa capital, the El Gato del Río and the Cristo Rey. Its official language is Spanish, and its currency is the Colombian peso.
Cali, officially Santiago de Cali, is Colombia's third-largest city, with about 2.23 million people (2,234,400 in 2023). It stands in the Cauca Valley of south-western Colombia and is known as the world capital of salsa.
Key facts
| Country | Colombia |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 2,234,400 (2023) |
| Population (metro) | 3,400,000 (2023) · Cali metropolitan area |
| Elevation | 1018 m above sea level |
| Time zone | America/Bogota |
| Language | Spanish |
| Currency | Colombian peso (COP, $) |
| Coordinates | 3.42056° N, 76.52222° W |
Overview
Cali, officially Santiago de Cali, is the third-largest city of Colombia, in the Cauca Valley of the south-west of the country. The city proper had 2,234,400 residents in 2023, while the metropolitan area held about 3.4 million people, and the city sits 1,018 metres above sea level. It is the capital of Valle del Cauca department.
Cali was founded in 1536 by Sebastián de Belalcázar, making it one of the oldest cities in the Americas. Its landmarks include the Cristo Rey statue, which looks over the city from a hilltop, the colonial church of La Ermita, the church of San Antonio in the old hilltop quarter of the same name, and El Gato del Río, the bronze cat sculpture by Hernando Tejada on the banks of the Cali River, surrounded by smaller painted cats. The city hosted the 1971 Pan American Games and the first World Games in 2013.
Today Cali is known around the world as the capital of salsa, with hundreds of salsa schools and clubs, and it is also a major centre of sugar cane, industry and commerce in south-western Colombia. Its festivals include the Cali Fair, held every December, and its sports venues and warm climate make it one of Colombia's main sporting cities.
What Cali is known for
- Salsa capital
- El Gato del Río
- Cristo Rey
- Cali Fair
- San Antonio quarter
- Sugar cane
Landmarks
- Cristo Rey
- El Gato del Río
- La Ermita
- San Antonio church
- Plaza de Caycedo
- Cali Zoo
- Museo La Tertulia
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Cali?
About 2.23 million people live in Cali (2,234,400 in 2023). The wider metropolitan area had about 3.4 million people. That makes Cali the third-largest city in Colombia.
What is Cali famous for?
Cali is famous as the world capital of salsa, with hundreds of salsa schools and clubs, and for the El Gato del Río sculpture, the Cristo Rey statue and the Cali Fair. It is also known as a major sporting city.
Where is Cali located?
Cali is in south-western Colombia, in the Cauca Valley. It is the capital of Valle del Cauca department. Its coordinates are 3.42° N, 76.52° W, and its time zone is Colombia Time (UTC-5).
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Colombia — the country Cali is in
- Bogotá — another city in Colombia
- Medellín — another city in Colombia
- Barranquilla — 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.