Want to learn a little more about the countries of the world and improve your chances of winning the next geography quiz? Take a look at these 17 fun facts about Colombia!
1. Colombia is a launchpad for South American adventures.
Colombia is a beautiful country on the northern tip of South America. It shares a border with Panama to the north-west, Venezuela and Brazil to the east and Ecuador and Peru to the south.
2. Colombia is surprisingly large.
This incredible country has an area of 440,831 square miles (1,141,748 square kilometres).
3. Many, many people call Colombia home.
Colombia’s population was 51.87 million in 2022.
4. Colombia’s capital is just as crammed.
The capital city is called Bogota; it covers an area of 612.7 square miles (1,587 square kilometres) and has a population of 8.7 million (2011).
5. Bogota is a lofty city!
At 8660ft (2640m) above sea level, Bogota also happens to be the 4th highest capital city in the world!
6. Colombia’s topography varies.
The terrain here is a mixture of flat coastal lowlands, with highlands and the famous Andes Mountains inland.
It’s the only country in South America to have a coastline along both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
7. Colombia is easy to spot.
The coordinates for Colombia are 4.5833° N, 74.0667°
8. Colombia is hot, hot, hot!
Colombia enjoys a tropical climate along its vast coastline and eastern plains, with the temperature dropping slightly in the highlands further inland.
9. Life in Colombia goes on.
The average life expectancy here is 74.77 years (2020).
10. Colombia is a natural marvel.
Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with 314 types of eco systems!
11. There are plenty of winged beasts in Colombia.
Bird watchers unite! Colombia is home to over 1,900 species of bird!
12. Colombia’s natural sights have to be seen.
The world’s most colourful river, Caño Cristales is in Colombia. You really must visit this incredible river to experience the vibrant colours created by its diverse flora and fauna.
13. Colombia has its own currency.
When collecting your spending money, remember the currency of Colombia is the Colombian Peso.
14. Colombia is beach city.
Colombia is home to over 300 beaches, meaning you’ll never be short of options to to relax and get a tan!
Even better, Colombia doesn’t have a winter – it’s permanently summer here so pack your sun cream!
15. Brush up on Espanol.
Spanish is the official language of Colombia.
16. Colombia produces all kinds of things.
Colombians grow coffee beans, bananas, rice and flowers, catch shrimp and produce forest products.
The country’s industry consists of textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing and oil.
Colombia exports coffee, petroleum, coal, bananas, clothing and cut flowers.
17. Want to call Colombia?
The international dialling code for this diverse country is +57.
FAQs about Colombia
Is Colombia a poor country?
Regrettably, statistics show that, yes - around 34% of Colombia is poverty-stricken.
Is Colombia safe to travel to?
Colombia is not regarded as the safest of countries to travel to as a result of crime levels - so always travel in a group if you wish to head here.
Who are Colombians descended from?
Colombians are said to descend from the original Spanish settlers landing in the Americas.
Do you know any fun facts about Colombia? Share them in the comments below!
Are you fascinated with learning more about South America? Check out these interesting facts about Bolivia
