Map of Colombia
Colombia is a country in South America with its capital at Bogotá, home to about 53.43 million people across 1.14M km². The interactive map below plots 72 cities and towns, 13 rivers, 6 mountain summits and 11 ports recorded for Colombia in YearMaps.
- Population
- 53.43 million
- Area
- 1.14M km²
- Capital
- Bogotá
- Continent
- South America
Interactive Map of Colombia
Centred on Bogotá at 4.5984° N, 74.0853° W. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country located in South America, with insular regions in North America. Colombia's mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuela to the east, Brazil to the southeast, Peru and Ecuador to the south and southwest, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and Panama to the northwest. Colombia is divided into 32 departments. The Capital District of Bogotá is the country's largest city hosting the main financial and cultural hub. Other urban areas include Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bucaramanga, Pereira, Santa Marta, Cúcuta, Ibagué, Villavicencio and Manizales. It covers an area of 1,141,748 square kilometers (440,831 sq mi) and has a population of around 52 million. Its rich cultural heritage—including language, religion, cuisine, and art—reflects its history as a colony, fusing cultural elements brought by immigration from Europe and the Middle East, with those brought by the African diaspora, as well as with those of Indigenous civilizations that predate colonization. Spanish is the official language, although Creole, English and 64 other languages are recognized regionally.
Colombia has been home to many Indigenous peoples and cultures since at least 12,000 BCE. The Spanish landed in La Guajira in 1499, and by the mid-16th century had colonized much of present-day Colombia, establishing the New Kingdom of Granada. Independence from the Spanish Empire was declared in 1810, with what is now Colombia emerging as the United Provinces of New Granada. After a Spanish reconquest, Colombian independence was secured and the Gran Colombia period began in 1819. The new polity experimented with federalism as the Granadine Confederation (1858) and then the United States of Colombia (1863), before becoming a centralised republic in 1886. With the backing of the US and France, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903, resulting in Colombia's present borders. Beginning in the 1960s, the country has suffered from an asymmetric low-intensity armed conflict and political violence, both of which escalated in the 1990s. Since 2000, there has been improvement in security, stability, and rule of law, as well as economic growth and development.
Colombia is recognized for its healthcare system, being the best healthcare in the Americas according to the World Health Organization and 22nd in the world. Its diversified economy is the third-largest in South America, with macroeconomic stability and favorable long-term growth prospects.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Colombia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Colombia
Colombia was one of three countries that emerged after the dissolution of Gran Colombia in 1830 -- the others are Ecuador and Venezuela. A decades-long conflict among government forces, paramilitaries, and antigovernment insurgent groups heavily funded by the drug trade -- principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) -- escalated during the 1990s. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization in the 2000s, new criminal groups arose that included some former paramilitaries. After four years of formal peace negotiations, the Colombian Government signed a final accord with the FARC in 2016 that called for its members to demobilize, disarm, and reincorporate into society and politics. The accord also committed the Colombian Government to create three new institutions to form a 'comprehensive system for truth, justice, reparation, and non-repetition,' including a truth commission, a special unit to coordinate the search for those who disappeared during the conflict, and a 'Special Jurisdiction for Peace' to administer justice for conflict-related crimes. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug-trade-related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong and independent democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.
- Location
- Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama.
- Climate
- Tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands.
- Terrain
- Flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos)
- Highest point
- Pico Cristobal Colon 5,730 m.
- Lowest point
- Pacific Ocean 0 m.
- Coastline
- 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
- Land borders
- Total: 6,672 km; border countries: Brazil 1,790 km; Ecuador 708 km; Panama 339 km; Peru 1,494 km; Venezuela 2,341 km.
- Major rivers
- Rio Negro river source (shared with Venezuela and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco (shared with Venezuela [s]) - 2,101 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
- Natural resources
- Petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 36.5% (2023 est.); arable land: 2.3% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 2.2% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 32% (2023 est.); forest: 53.8% (2023 est.); other: 9.7% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts volcanism: Galeras (4,276 m) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes; it has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Nevado del Ruiz (5,321 m), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985, producing lahars (mudflows) that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted in 1991; after 500 years of dormancy, Nevado del Huila reawakened in 2007 and has experienced frequent eruptions since then; other historically active volcanoes include Cumbal, Dona Juana, Nevado del Tolima, and Purace.
- Geographic note
- Only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
- Languages
- Spanish (official) 98.9%, indigenous 1%, Portuguese 0.1%; 65 indigenous languages exist (2023 est.)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 63.6%, Protestant 17.2% (Evangelical 16.7%, Adventist 0.3%, other Protestant 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 0.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 0.1%, other 0.3%, believer, 0.2%. agnostic 1%, atheist 1%, none 14.2%, unspecified 1.8% (2023 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Mestizo and White 87.6%, Afro-Colombian (includes Mulatto, Raizal, and Palenquero) 6.8%, Indigenous 4.3%, unspecified 1.4% (2018 est.)
- Economy
- Prior to COVID-19, one of the most consistent growth economies; declining poverty; large stimulus package has mitigated economic fallout, but delayed key infrastructure investments; successful inflation management; sound flexible exchange rate regime; domestic economy suffers from lack of trade integration and infrastructure.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Colombia in Numbers
- Population
- 53.43 million
- GDP
- US$457.4 billion
- GDP per person
- US$8,562
- Life expectancy
- 77.9 years
- Population growth
- 1.01% a year
- Population density
- 48 per km²
- Urban population
- 78.8%
- Surface area
- 1,140,619 km²
- Forest cover
- 53.7%
- Arable land
- 2.6%
- Access to electricity
- 98.9%
- Internet users
- 79.3%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Colombia in Depth
History
Owing to its location, the present territory of Colombia was a corridor of early human civilization from Mesoamerica and the Caribbean to the Andes and Amazon basin. The oldest archaeological finds are from the Pubenza and El Totumo sites in the Magdalena Valley 100 kilometers (62 mi) southwest of Bogotá. These sites date from the Paleoindian period (18,000–8000 BCE). At Puerto Hormiga and other sites, traces from the Archaic Period (~8000–2000 BCE) have been found. Vestiges indicate that there was also early occupation in the regions of El Abra and Tequendama in Cundinamarca. The oldest pottery discovered in the Americas, found in San Jacinto, dates to 5000–4000 BCE.
Indigenous people inhabited the territory that is now Colombia by 12,500 BCE.
Geography
The geography of Colombia is characterized by its six main natural regions that present their unique characteristics, from the Andes mountain range region; the Pacific Coastal region; the Caribbean coastal region; the Llanos (plains); the Amazon rainforest region; to the insular area, comprising islands in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It shares its maritime limits with Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
Colombia is bordered to the northwest by Panama, to the east by Venezuela and Brazil, and to the south by Ecuador and Peru; it established its maritime boundaries with neighboring countries through seven agreements on the Caribbean Sea and three on the Pacific Ocean.
Economy
Historically an agrarian economy, Colombia urbanized rapidly in the 20th century, by the end of which just 15.8% of the workforce were employed in agriculture, generating just 6.6% of GDP; 20% of the workforce were employed in industry and 65% in services, responsible for 33% and 60% of GDP respectively. The country's economic production is dominated by its strong domestic demand. Consumption expenditure by households is the largest component of GDP.
Colombia's market economy grew steadily in the latter part of the 20th century, with gross domestic product (GDP) increasing at an average rate of over 4% per year between 1970 and 1998. The country suffered a recession in 1999 (the first full year of negative growth since the Great Depression), and the recovery was long and painful.
Demographics
With an estimated 50 million people in 2020, Colombia is the third-most populous country in Latin America, after Brazil and Mexico. At the beginning of the 20th century, Colombia's population was approximately 4 million. Since the early 1970s, Colombia has experienced steady declines in its fertility, mortality, and population growth rates. The population growth rate for 2016 is estimated to be 0.9%.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Colombia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Colombia: Key Facts
| Currency | Colombian peso |
|---|---|
| Official language | Spanish |
| Head of state | Abelardo de la Espriella |
| Head of government | Abelardo de la Espriella |
| Form of government | republic |
| Calling code | +57 |
| Internet domain | .co |
| Highest point | Pico Cristóbal Colón |
| Lowest point | Pacific Ocean |
| Established | 1810 |
Facts from Wikidata Q739 (CC0).
History of Colombia: Empires and States
The atlas records 5 polities whose mapped territory included part of Colombia, from The Spanish Empire in 1526 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| The Spanish Empire | 1526–1819 CE | Nearly all |
| New Granada | 1811–1821 CE | Nearly all |
| Gran Colombia | 1822–1833 CE | Nearly all |
| Republic of New Granada | 1834–1858 CE | Nearly all |
| Republic of Colombia | 1866–2024 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Colombia
Colombia on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Colombia
Colombia occupies the northwest corner of South America. It has an area twice that of France, with long coasts on the Caribbean and the Pacific Oceans, mountainous regions, and Amazon jungle areas inland. The ethnic groups and cultures are diverse.
Pick a climate, and it's yours—if you find the light jacket weather of Bogotá cold, drive an hour down through the mountains and sunbathe next to the pool of your rented hacienda. If you don't want to sit still, head off into the Amazon or any of the country's other many inland jungles, snow-capped volcanoes, rocky deserts, endless plains, lush valleys, coffee plantations, mountain lakes, deserted beaches.
For culture, intellectual Bogotá might lead the rest of Latin America in experimental theater, indie-rock, and the number of bookstores, but you could also get a completely alien education in an Amazonian malocca, or you could delve into the huge Latin music scene of salsa and cumbia, with the most exciting dance display being the enormous Carnival of Barranquilla.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Colombia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Colombia
72 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bogota | 7.77 million | Bogota | National capital |
| 2 | Medellín | 3.30 million | Antioquia | Admin-1 capital |
| 3 | Cali | 2.25 million | Valle del Cauca | Admin-1 capital |
| 4 | Barranquilla | 1.80 million | Atlántico | Admin-1 capital |
| 5 | Bucaramanga | 1.01 million | Santander | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Cartagena | 887,000 | Bolívar | Admin-1 capital |
| 7 | Cúcuta | 722,146 | Norte de Santander | Admin-1 capital |
| 8 | Soledad | 698,852 | Atlántico | Populated place |
| 9 | Pereira | 568,750 | Risaralda | Admin-1 capital |
| 10 | Bello | 519,670 | Antioquia | Populated place |
| 11 | Santa Marta | 431,781 | Magdalena | Admin-1 capital |
| 12 | Ibagué | 421,685 | Tolima | Admin-1 capital |
| 13 | Pasto | 382,236 | Nariño | Admin-1 capital |
| 14 | Manizales | 375,848 | Caldas | Admin-1 capital |
| 15 | Villavicencio | 374,763 | Meta | Admin-1 capital |
| 16 | Neiva | 352,855 | Huila | Admin-1 capital |
| 17 | Armenia | 315,328 | Quindío | Admin-1 capital |
| 18 | Valledupar | 308,237 | Cesar | Admin-1 capital |
| 19 | Montería | 275,198 | Córdoba | Admin-1 capital |
| 20 | Sincelejo | 261,187 | Sucre | Admin-1 capital |
| 21 | Popayán | 258,750 | Cauca | Admin-1 capital |
| 22 | Buenaventura | 252,805 | Valle del Cauca | Populated place |
| 23 | Barrancabermeja | 191,403 | Santander | Populated place |
| 24 | Tuluá | 165,501 | Valle del Cauca | Populated place |
| 25 | Tunja | 161,412 | Boyacá | Admin-1 capital |
The other 47 (population, region, role)
- Cartago · 134,827 · Valle del Cauca · Populated place
- Riohacha · 133,186 · La Guajira · Admin-1 capital
- Ciénaga · 131,171 · Magdalena · Populated place
- Florencia · 130,337 · Caquetá · Admin-1 capital
- Girardot · 130,289 · Cundinamarca · Populated place
- Sogamoso · 126,551 · Boyacá · Populated place
- Ipiales · 109,618 · Nariño · Populated place
- Duitama · 101,156 · Boyacá · Populated place
- Magangué · 100,313 · Bolívar · Populated place
- Quibdó · 92,780 · Chocó · Admin-1 capital
- Tumaco · 86,713 · Nariño · Populated place
- Ocaña · 83,511 · Norte de Santander · Populated place
- Arauca · 69,264 · Arauca · Admin-1 capital
- Sabanalarga · 68,535 · Atlántico · Populated place
- Yopal · 61,029 · Casanare · Admin-1 capital
- El Carmen de Bolívar · 60,980 · Bolívar · Populated place
- Leticia · 59,575 · Amazonas · Admin-1 capital
- San Andrés · 58,257 · Admin-1 capital
- Garzón · 56,603 · Huila · Populated place
- El Banco · 54,522 · Magdalena · Populated place
- Chiquinquirá · 53,975 · Boyacá · Populated place
- Pamplona · 53,587 · Norte de Santander · Populated place
- Lorica · 52,771 · Córdoba · Populated place
- Turbo · 50,508 · Antioquia · Populated place
- Arjona · 50,405 · Bolívar · Populated place
- Honda · 35,469 · Tolima · Populated place
- Yarumal · 35,315 · Antioquia · Populated place
- Puerto Berrío · 33,983 · Antioquia · Populated place
- Túquerres · 33,979 · Nariño · Populated place
- Tame · 29,099 · Arauca · Populated place
- Tolú · 27,390 · Sucre · Populated place
- Socorro · 24,895 · Santander · Populated place
- Ayapel · 23,639 · Córdoba · Populated place
- Campoalegre · 22,568 · Huila · Populated place
- San José del Guaviare · 22,136 · Meta · Admin-1 capital
- Mocoa · 22,035 · Putumayo · Admin-1 capital
- Sonsón · 18,817 · Antioquia · Populated place
- Puerto López · 16,678 · Meta · Populated place
- San Martín · 16,273 · Meta · Populated place
- Guapi · 13,853 · Cauca · Populated place
- Puerto Carreño · 10,216 · Vichada · Admin-1 capital
- Inírida · 9,065 · Guainía · Admin-1 capital
- Mitú · 5,917 · Vaupés · Admin-1 capital
- Orocue · 2,835 · Casanare · Populated place
- Nuquí · 2,741 · Chocó · Populated place
- Juradó · 2,351 · Chocó · Populated place
- San Vicente del Caguán · 1,500 · Caqueti · Populated place
Highest Mountains in Colombia
6 mountains recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pico Cristóbol Colón | 5,775 m | 18,947 ft | South America |
| 2 | Ritacuba Blanco | 5,410 m | 17,749 ft | South America |
| 3 | Nevado del Ruiz | 5,311 m | 17,425 ft | South America |
| 4 | Volcán Galeras | 4,276 m | 14,029 ft | South America |
| 5 | Alto de Buey | 1,810 m | 5,938 ft | South America |
| 6 | Cerro Maine Hanari | 860 m | 2,822 ft | South America |
Rivers in Colombia
13 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
Ports in Colombia
11 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barranquilla | 42.1 m | Minor | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 2 | Buenaventura | 42.1 m | Small | Pacific Coast of South America | large vessels |
| 3 | Mamonal | 38.4 m | Small | Caribbean Sea | medium vessels |
| 4 | Puerto Bolivar | 38.4 m | Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 5 | el Bosque | 31.1 m | Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 6 | Turbo | 31.1 m | Very Small | Caribbean Sea | medium vessels |
| 7 | Covenas | 5.5 m | Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 8 | Covenas Offshore Term | 5.5 m | Very Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 9 | Santa Marta | 5.5 m | Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 10 | Puerto Prodeco | — | Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
The other 1 (channel depth, class, sea, max vessel)
- Pozos Colorados · Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Colombia
8 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena | 1984 | Cultural | (iv) (vi) |
| 2 | Los Katíos National Park | 1994 | Natural | (ix) (x) |
| 3 | San Agustin archeological park | 1995 | Cultural | (iii) |
| 4 | Santa Cruz de Mompós | 1995 | Cultural | (iv) (v) |
| 5 | Tierradentro | 1995 | Cultural | (iii) |
| 6 | Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary | 2006 | Natural | (vii) (ix) |
| 7 | Inca road system | 2014 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) (iv) (vi) |
| 8 | Chiribiquete National Park | 2018 | Mixed | (iii) (ix) (x) |
Largest Islands of Colombia
1 island recorded. Ranked by mapped area. An island divided between countries is listed under each, with the area of the whole island.
| # | Name | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darien Gap | 8,704 km² | Island |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Colombia
10 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South America | 17.91M km² | Continent | South America |
| 2 | Amazon Basin | 4.65M km² | Basin | South America |
| 3 | Andes | 549,211 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
| 4 | Llanos | 383,090 km² | Plain | South America |
| 5 | Guiana Shield | 348,461 km² | Plateau | South America |
| 6 | Cord. Central | 120,066 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
| 7 | Cordillera Oriental | 15,082 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
| 8 | Selvas | 4,808 km² | Foothills | South America |
| 9 | Pen. de la Guajira | 4,114 km² | Pen/cape | South America |
| 10 | Cord. Occidental | 1,321 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
States and Provinces of Colombia
6 first-level divisions with their own map.
Countries Bordering Colombia
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in South America
Colombia: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Colombia?
- The capital of Colombia is Bogotá.
- What is the population of Colombia?
- Colombia has a population of about 53.43 million, the #28 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Colombia?
- Colombia covers 1.14M km², ranking #27 by area, with about 47 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Colombia in?
- Colombia is in South America.
- Which countries border Colombia?
- Colombia shares a land or maritime border with Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, Nicaragua.
- What is the largest city in Colombia?
- Bogota is the largest city in Colombia, with a metropolitan population of about 7.77 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Colombia?
- The highest summit recorded for Colombia in YearMaps is Pico Cristóbol Colón at 5,775 m (18,947 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.