World Factbook
Colombia
República de Colombia
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red meaning: various interpretations of the colors exist; one has yellow for the gold in Colombia's land, blue for the sea, and red for the blood spilled in attaining freedom; another describes them as representing sovereignty and justice (yellow), loyalty and vigilance (blue), and valor and generosity (red); another has the colors standing for liberty, equality, and fraternity
note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is wider and has the Ecuadorian coat of arms in the center
Capital
name
Bogotá
etymology
originally named Santa Fe de Bacatá in 1538, after the Chibcha people's nearby settlement of Bacatá; the name was later corrupted to Bogotá
time difference
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
4 36 N, 74 05 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident of Colombia
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest promulgated 4 July 1991
amendment process
proposed by the government, by Congress, by a constituent assembly, or by public petition; passage requires a majority vote by Congress in each of two consecutive sessions; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on citizen rights, guarantees, and duties also require approval in a referendum by over one half of voters and participation of over one fourth of citizens registered to vote
Country name
etymology
named after explorer Christopher COLUMBUS
local long form
República de Colombia
local short form
Colombia
conventional long form
Republic of Colombia
conventional short form
Colombia
Independence
20 July 1810 (from Spain)
Legal system
civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of the Civil-Agrarian and Labor Chambers each with 7 judges, and the Penal Chamber with 9 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 magistrates); Council of State (consists of 27 judges); Superior Judiciary Council (consists of 13 magistrates)
subordinate courts
Superior Tribunals (appellate courts for each of the judicial districts); regional courts; civil municipal courts; Superior Military Tribunal; first instance administrative courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges appointed by the Supreme Court members from candidates submitted by the Superior Judiciary Council; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Constitutional Court magistrates - nominated by the president, by the Supreme Court, and elected by the Senate; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Council of State members appointed by the State Council plenary from lists nominated by the Superior Judiciary Council
Executive branch
note
note 1: the president is both chief of state and head of government note 2: reforms in 2015 eliminated presidential reelection
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
chief of state
President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022)
election results
2022: Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (PHxC) 40.3%, Rodolfo HERNÁNDEZ Suárez (LIGA) 28.2%, Federico GUTIÉRREZ Zuluaga (Team for Colombia / CREEMOS) 23.9%, other 7.6%; percent of vote in second round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego 50.4%, Rodolfo HERNÁNDEZ Suarez 47.3%, blank 2.3% 2018: Iván DUQUE Márquez elected president in second round; percent of vote - Iván DUQUE Márquez (CD) 54%, Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (Humane Colombia) 41.8%, other/blank/invalid 4.2%
head of government
President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022)
most recent election date
29 May 2022, with a runoff held on 19 June 2022
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single 4-year term
expected date of next election
31 May 2026
National holiday
Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
National color(s)
yellow, blue, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
9 (6 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Chiribiquete National Park (m); Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia (c); Historic Center of Santa Cruz de Mompox (c); Los Katíos National Park (n); Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (n); Tierradentro National Archeological Park (c); San Agustín Archaeological Park (c); Colonial Cartagena (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)
Political parties
Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA Citizens Option (Opcion Ciudadana) or OC (formerly known as the National Integration Party or PIN) The Commons (formerly People's Alternative Revolutionary Force or FARC) Conservative Party or PC Democratic Center Party or CD Fair and Free Colombia (Colombia Justa Libres) Green Alliance Historic Pact for Colombia or PHxC (coalition composed of several left-leaning political parties and social movements) Humane Colombia Independent Movement of Absolute Renovation or MIRA League of Anti-Corruption Rulers or LIGA Liberal Party or PL People's Alternative Revolutionary Force or FARC Radical Change or CR Team for Colombia - also known as the Experience Coalition or Coalition of the Regions (coalition composed of center-right and right-wing parties) Union Party for the People or U Party We Believe Colombia or CREEMOS
note: Colombia has numerous smaller political parties and movements
Legislative branch
legislature name
Congress (Congreso)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Himno Nacional de la Republica de Colombia" (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia)
history
adopted 1920; the anthem comes from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ; the anthem always starts with the chorus
lyrics/music
Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI
National symbol(s)
Andean condor
Administrative divisions
32 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ) and 1 capital district* ( distrito capital ); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlántico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyacá, Caldas, Caquetá, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, Archipiélago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina (colloquially San Andres y Providencia), Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
187 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
3/13/2022
expected date of next election
March 2026
percentage of women in chamber
29.4%
parties elected and seats per party
Liberal Party (PL) (32); Historic Pact (27); Conservative Party (CP) (25); Democratic Centre (CD) (16); Radical Change (CR) (16); Union Party for the People “Partido de la U” (15); Green Alliance - Hope Centre coalition (11); Other (14)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Senado de la República)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
108 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
3/13/2022
expected date of next election
March 2026
percentage of women in chamber
31.4%
parties elected and seats per party
Historic Pact (20); Conservative Party (CP) (15); Liberal Party (PL) (14); Green Alliance - Hope Centre coalition (13); Democratic Centre (CD) (13); Radical Change (CR) (11); Union Party for the People “Partido de la U” (10); Other (4)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 232-8643
chancery
1724 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone
[1] (202) 387-8338
chief of mission
Ambassador Daniel GARCÍA-PEÑA JARAMILLO (since 18 September 2024)
consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark (NJ), Orlando, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
email address and website
eestadosunidos@cancilleria.gov.co https://www.colombiaemb.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[57] (601) 275-4600
embassy
Carrera 45, No. 24B-27, Bogota
telephone
[57] (601) 275-2000
mailing address
3030 Bogota Place, Washington DC 20521-3030
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires John McNAMARA (since 1 February 2025)
email address and website
ACSBogota@state.gov https://co.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACS, BCIE, BIS, CABEI, CAN, Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, PROSUR, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction