Demographics of Colombia

Last updated

Demographics of Colombia
Colombia single age population pyramid 2020.png
Population52,695,952 (2024 est.) [1]
Density46.15/km2 (119.5/sq mi) (2024 est.)
Growth rateIncrease2.svg 0.54% [2]
Birth rate9.8 births/1,000 population (2023) [3]
Death rate5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Life expectancy74.9 years [4]
  male71.3 years
  female78.7 years
Fertility rate1.7 children born/woman (2023 official) [5] [6]
Infant mortality rate11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) [4]
Net migration rateDecrease2.svg −6.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023) [7]
Age structure
0–14 years24.5%
15–64 years64.1%
65 and over11.4%
Sex ratio
Total1.03 male(s)/female
At birth1.05 male(s)/female
Under 151.02 male(s)/female
15–64 years0.95 male(s)/female
65 and over0.75 male(s)/female
Nationality
Nationality Colombian
Major ethnicUndeclared (83.61%) [8]
Minor ethnic
Language
Official Spanish
Spoken Languages of Colombia

The demographics of Colombia consist of statistics regarding Colombians' health, economic status, religious affiliations, ethnicity, population density, and other aspects of the population. Colombia is the second-most populous country in South America after Brazil, and the third-most populous in Latin America, after Brazil and Mexico.

Contents

Colombia's population has grown steadily for most of its history, although the growth rate slowed markedly in the late 20th century, due in part to emigration resulting from a sustained internal conflict. However, the economy has improved noticeably in recent decades, especially in urban areas, and living standards have risen in line with this.

Population size and structure

Population history
YearPop.±% p.a.
1500 6,000,000    
1600 750,000−2.06%
1700 800,000+0.06%
1778 891,077+0.14%
1810 1,400,000+1.42%
1820 1,300,000−0.74%
1825 1,327,000+0.41%
1835 1,687,109+2.43%
1843 1,932,279+1.71%
1851 2,243,730+1.89%
1864 2,441,300+0.65%
1870 2,681,637+1.58%
1905 4,533,777+1.51%
1912 5,472,604+2.73%
1918 5,855,077+1.13%
1928 7,851,110+2.98%
1938 8,701,816+1.03%
1951 11,548,172+2.20%
1964 17,484,508+3.24%
1973 20,785,235+1.94%
1985 27,837,932+2.46%
1993 33,109,839+2.19%
2005 41,468,384+1.89%
2018 48,258,494+1.17%
2025 53,057,212+1.36%
Source: Statoids [10] National Censuses. [11] [12]

UN estimates

According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects [13] [14] the total population was 51,516,562 in 2021, compared to only 12,342,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2015 was 24.3%, 68.7% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 7% was 65 years or older . [15]

YearTotal population
( × 1000)
Population percentage in age bracket
0–1415–6465+
195012 341
42.6%
54.0%
3.4%
195514 225
44.8%
52.0%
3.2%
196016 480
46.4%
50.4%
3.2%
196519 144
46.9%
49.9%
3.2%
197022 061
45.9%
50.7%
3.4%
197524 757
43.4%
53.0%
3.6%
198027 738
40.6%
55.7%
3.7%
198531 012
37.9%
58.2%
3.9%
199034 272
36.3%
59.6%
4.1%
199537 442
34.3%
61.3%
4.4%
200040 404
31.5%
63.8%
4.7%
200543 286
28.9%
65.9%
5.2%
201045 918
26.4%
67.8%
5.9%
201548 229
24.3%
68.7%
7.0%
202050 883
22.2%
68.8%
9.1%
The population density of Colombia. Red showing concentration of population. Densidad pop col.png
The population density of Colombia. Red showing concentration of population.
Demographics of Colombia, Data of Our World in Data, year 2022; Number of inhabitants in millions. Colombia-demography.png
Demographics of Colombia, Data of Our World in Data, year 2022; Number of inhabitants in millions.

2018 Census

According to the 2018 census, Colombia has 48,258,494 inhabitants within its territory. [16] All the data below is available in the DANE Census results.

population (million)year102030405060194019601980200020202040populationColombia Population
See or edit source data.

[17]

TFRyear1234567195019601970198019902000201020202030Total Fertility RateTotal Fertility Rate
See or edit source data.
RankDepartmentCensus populationChange, 2005–2018Percent of the total Colombia population, 2018 [note 1] Population density2025 population projection
Current200520182005Percent
[note 2]
AbsoluteExtension km2Population density 2025Rank2025 population
11 Bogotá 7,412,5666,840,1168.4%+572,45015.36%1,5875,005.017,942,867
22 Antioquia 6,407,1025,696,18312.5%+710,91913.27%63,612108.926,928,372
33 Valle del Cauca 4,475,8864,161,4257.6%+314,4619.27%22,140212.734,708,393
44 Cundinamarca 2,919,0602,280,03728.0%+639,0236.05%24,210146.043,535,067
55 Atlántico 2,535,5172,166,15617.1%+369,3615.25%3,388845.652,865,034
66 Santander 2,184,8371,957,78911.6%+227,0484.53%30,53778.562,398,303
77 Bolívar 2,070,1101,878,99310.2%+191,9174.29%25,97886.372,241,282
89 Córdoba 1,784,7831,467,92921.6%+316,8543.70%25,02079.781,992,907
98 Nariño 1,630,5921,541,9565.7%+88,6363.38%33,26851.591,713,586
1013 Norte de Santander 1,491,6891,243,97519.9%+247,7143.09%21,65878.9101,709,289
1111 Cauca 1,464,4881,268,93715.4%+195,5513.03%29,30854.6111,599,148
1214 Magdalena 1,341,7461,149,91716.7%+191,8292.78%23,18866.6121,544,507
1310 Tolima 1,330,1871,365,342−2.6%−35,1552.76%23,56258.8141,386,410
1412 Boyacá 1,217,3761,255,311−3.0%−37,9352.52%23,18955.6151,290,393
1517 Cesar 1,200,574903,27932.9%+297,2952.49%22,90564.1131,469,159
1615 Huila 1,100,3861,011,4188.8%+88,9682.28%19,89060.8161,208,728
1719 Meta 1,039,722783,16832.8%+256,5542.15%85,63513.5171,156,405
1816 Caldas 998,255968,7403.0%+29,5152.07%7,888133.7191,054,450
1918 Risaralda 943,401897,5095.1%+45,8921.95%4,140242.3211,003,225
2020 Sucre 904,863772,01017.2%+132,8531.88%10,91794.7201,034,102
2121 La Guajira 880,560681,57529.2%+198,9851.82%20,84851.2181,066,679
2222 Quindío 539,904534,5521.0%+5,3521.12%1,845302.423557,884
2323 Chocó 534,826440,12321.6%+94,7031.11%46,53012.722593,106
2426 Casanare 420,504293,25343.4%+127,2510.87%44,64010.624473,165
2524 Caquetá 401,489420,337−4.5%−18,8480.83%88,9654.825429,041
2625 Putumayo 348,182310,13212.3%+38,0500.72%24,88515.726390,742
2727 Arauca 262,174232,11812.9%+30,0560.54%23,81811.727279,191
2831 Vichada 107,80855,87293.0%+51,9360.22%100,2421.528148,738
2928 Guaviare 82,76795,551−13.4%−12,8740.17%53,4601.62984,696
3030 Amazonas 76,58967,72613.1%+8,8630.16%109,6650.83085,087
3129 San Andrés y Providencia 61,28070,554−13.1%−9,2740.13%521,220.03163,438
3233 Guainía 48,11435,23036.6%+12,8840.10%72,2380.83259,706
3332 Vaupés 40,79739,2793.9%+1,5180.08%54,1350.83344,142
Colombia 48,258,49442,888,59212.5%+5,369,9021,141,74846.553,057,212

Structure of the population

Structure of the population according to the 2018 census results: [18]
Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total23 550 07224 708 42248 258 494100
0–41 698 6991 621 4853 320 1846.88
5–91 862 7781 780 7383 643 5167.55
10–142 017 2051 925 5133 942 7188.17
15–192 152 3282 055 8124 208 1408.72
20–242 166 8062 137 8514 304 6578.92
25–292 007 5532 026 8574 034 4108.36
30–341 804 8671 857 9523 662 8197.59
35–391 703 5241 809 6933 513 2177.28
40–441 428 4511 568 4012 996 8526.21
45–491 360 8891 529 7942 890 6835.99
50–541 327 1081 510 4912 837 5995.88
55–591 153 3781 336 7602 490 1385.16
60–64916 9111 076 1641 993 0754.13
65–69699 748820 3941 520 1423.15
70–74501 888598 4051 100 2932.28
75–79357 112443 978801 0901.66
80+415 967582 994998 9612.07
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–145 578 6825 327 73610 906 41822.60
15–6416 021 81516 909 77532 931 59068.24
65+1 974 7152 445 7714 420 4869.16

Urbanization

Movement from rural to urban areas was very heavy in the middle of the twentieth century, but has since tapered off. The urban population increased from 29% of the total population in 1938, to 52% in 1964 and about 70% by 1990. Currently the figure is about 77%. The list of the most populated cities in the country only contains the population living in the urban area of the municipalities, according to the results of the 2018 population census. [19]

RankPlace name2025 projections2018 Census2005 CensusChange since 2018
1 Bogotá 7,912,3597,412,5666,776,6916.7%
2 Medellín 2,479,6832,427,1292,223,0782.2%
3 Cali 2,224,5622,227,6422,083,102-0.1%
4 Barranquilla 1,278,6511,205,2841,142,4516.1%
5 Cartagena 903,881876,885842,6323.1%
6 Soacha 862,705655,025396,54431.7%
7 Cúcuta 762,256685,445567,55911.2%
8 Soledad 721,770602,644460,74519.8%
9 Bucaramanga 607,060570,752509,1356.2%
10 Bello 580,365495,483358,16717.1%
12 Villavicencio 537,605492,052356,4619.3%
14 Ibagué 514,685492,554468,3784.5%
13 Santa Marta 521,985455,299385,18614.6%
11 Valledupar 540,530431,794299,11225.2%
16 Manizales 445,953405,234353,13810.0%
15 Montería 450,188388,499286,63115.9%
17 Pereira 408,608385,838371,4395.9%
18 Neiva 376,767335,994295,84712.1%
20 Floridablanca 301,466280,025243,7737.7%
19 Pasto 315,662308,095312,4802.5%
21 Armenia 298,425287,245273,0763.9%
22 Palmira 295,944275,254228,0567.5%
24 Popayán 289,308266,561226,8678.5%
23 Sincelejo 289,318249,323219,65516.0%
25 Itagüí 275,129247,918213,18711.0%
26 Buenaventura 259,000235,064292,88910.2%
27 Envigado 253,737215,766165,46217.6%
28 Dosquebradas 231,932204,280169,82013.5%
30 Tuluá 186,263174,951160,9166.5%
29 Barrancabermeja 201,086177,272170,82113.4%

Vital statistics

Registered births and deaths

Year [20] PopulationLive

births [21]

DeathsNatural

increase

Crude rateNatural

change

(per 1000)

TFRLife expectancyMother's

mean age

at first birth

birthdeathtotalmalefemale
199837,792,164720,984175,363545,62118.94.614.32.1770.166.174.226.27
199938,454,863746,194183,553562,64119.34.714.52.2270.566.674.626.25
200039,140,080752,834187,432565,40219.24.714.42.2271.067.175.026.25
200139,674,811724,319191,513532,80618.24.813.42.1271.467.675.426.26
200240,190,679700,455192,262508,19317.44.712.62.0471.868.075.726.27
200340,693,254710,702192,121518,58117.44.712.72.0572.268.576.126.23
200441,188,093723,099188,933534,16617.54.512.92.0772.668.976.526.23
200541,671,878719,968189,022530,94617.24.512.72.0573.069.376.826.22
200642,170,126714,450192,814521,63616.94.512.32.0273.369.677.026.16
200742,658,630709,253193,936515,31716.64.512.01.9873.569.977.326.11
200843,134,017715,453196,943518,51016.54.512.01.9773.870.277.526.10
200943,608,630699,775196,933502,84216.04.511.51.9174.070.577.726.08
201044,086,292654,627200,524454,10314.84.510.31.7874.370.877.926.11
201144,553,416665,499195,823469,67614.94.310.51.7974.571.178.126.14
201245,001,571676,835199,756477,07915.04.410.61.8174.771.478.326.03
201345,434,942658,835203,071455,76414.54.410.01.7575.071.778.526.08
201445,866,010669,137210,051459,08614.54.510.01.7775.271.978.726.20
201546,313,898660,999219,472441,52714.24.79.51.7475.472.278.926.35
201646,830,116647,521223,078424,44313.84.79.01.6975.772.579.126.35
201747,419,200656,704227,624429,08013.84.89.01.6975.972.779.326.41
201848,258,494649,115236,932412,18313.54.98.61.6575.472.778.126.48
201949,266,526642,660244,355398,30513.15.08.11.5975.572.978.326.49
202050,390,790629,402300,853328,54912.86.16.71.5374.471.577.426.54
202151,115,637616,914363,089253,82512.47.35.11.5074.271.377.426.55
202251,643,565573,625287,251286,37411.35.75.61.3874.972.077.926.76
202352,117,067515,549268,411247,13810.25.34.91.2376.373.878.926.93
202452,613,753445,011273,772171,2398.55.23.31.0676.473.979.0
202553,057,212

Current vital statistics

PeriodLive birthsDeathsNatural increase
January–October 2023434,253224,080+210,173
January–October 2024371,777227,641+144,136
DifferenceDecrease2.svg −62,476 (−14.4%)Increase Negative.svg +3,561 (+1.6%)Decrease2.svg −66,037
Source: [22]

UN estimates

The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates. [23]

YearAverage populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)Total fertility rate
195011,770551,064205,952345,11246.717.429.36.41
195112,090565,988205,240360,74846.717.029.76.44
195212,420583,360202,559380,80146.916.330.66.49
195312,770600,964199,936401,02847.015.631.46.54
195413,130618,002198,066419,93647.015.131.96.58
195513,510635,597196,985438,61247.014.532.56.63
195613,910653,149196,894456,25546.914.132.86.66
195714,330671,025190,300480,72546.713.333.46.70
195814,760688,958191,205497,75346.612.933.76.72
195915,210705,451187,724517,72746.312.334.06.74
196015,690722,255186,589535,66646.011.934.16.74
196116,180738,333186,049552,28445.611.534.16.71
196216,690752,124185,533566,59145.011.133.96.71
196317,210763,468184,487578,98144.310.733.66.58
196417,740772,893184,027588,86643.510.433.16.47
196518,280776,098183,487592,61142.410.032.46.33
196618,810776,398182,973593,92541.29.731.56.16
196719,340774,512182,646591,86640.09.430.65.96
196819,870769,229181,980587,24938.69.129.55.74
196920,390762,378180,816581,56237.38.928.45.51
197020,910756,293179,623576,67036.18.627.55.28
197121,410751,603177,215574,38835.08.326.75.06
197221,910747,867174,530573,33734.18.026.14.86
197322,400749,007172,407576,60033.47.725.74.68
197422,900752,841169,838583,00332.87.425.44.53
197523,400761,181167,106594,07532.57.125.44.40
197623,910772,388165,226607,16232.26.925.34.28
197724,440783,971163,447620,52432.06.725.34.18
197825,000796,756162,378634,37831.86.525.34.07
197925,580811,077162,475648,60231.76.325.43.97
198026,180819,818161,752658,06631.36.225.13.86
198126,790829,626162,670666,95630.96.124.83.74
198227,410837,994163,482674,51230.56.024.53.63
198328,040842,011165,467676,54430.05.924.13.53
198428,690849,133167,428681,70529.65.823.83.43
198529,330855,217191,701663,51629.16.522.63.34
198629,960861,901173,581688,32028.75.822.93.27
198730,600868,789178,536690,25328.45.822.63.21
198831,260876,126182,343693,78328.05.822.23.16
198931,920884,747186,089698,65827.75.821.93.12
199032,600892,755190,271702,48427.45.821.63.08
199133,270899,439193,733705,70627.05.821.23.05
199233,940901,828196,248705,58026.65.820.83.01
199334,610903,555197,750705,80526.15.720.42.97
199435,300901,290199,584701,70625.55.719.82.92
199535,970897,429200,808696,62124.95.619.32.86
199636,630892,339202,580689,75924.45.518.92.80
199737,290885,195204,267680,92823.75.518.22.74
199837,940879,217206,553672,66423.25.417.82.68
199938,590874,245209,686664,55922.65.417.22.63
200039,220867,516209,911657,60522.15.416.72.57
200139,840859,788213,177646,61121.65.416.22.52
200240,450850,588212,844637,74421.05.315.72.46
200341,060839,623212,707626,91620.45.215.22.40
200441,650827,013213,860613,15319.95.114.82.33
200542,220813,688214,241599,44719.35.114.22.26
200642,770799,623214,631584,99218.75.013.72.20
200743,310787,414216,353571,06118.25.013.22.14
200843,820776,110216,895559,21517.74.912.82.08
200944,310765,905217,753548,15217.34.912.42.03
201044,820758,072220,750537,32216.94.912.01.99
201145,310752,881224,162528,71916.64.911.71.96
201245,780748,734228,230520,50416.35.011.31.93
201346,240744,381233,264511,11716.15.011.11.90
201446,680739,615238,498501,11715.85.110.71.88
201547,120734,664243,633491,03115.65.210.41.86
201647,630730,565248,057482,50815.45.210.21.84
201748,350726,008252,689473,31915.15.29.91.82
201849,280727,649260,364467,28514.85.39.51.79
201950,190733,940270,504463,43614.75.49.31.76
202050,930733,491335,656397,83514.46.67.81.74
202151,520730,233397,649332,58414.27.76.51.72
202251,874723,264384,947338,31713.97.46.51.69

From January to October 2021, 9.5% of the babies were given birth by Venezuelan mothers. According to the entity during that period, there were 505,114 births and 48,075 were to Venezuelan mothers. In 2017, the birth rate of migrant mothers from Venezuela was 0%, but it has been increasing since 2020, when it was 9.1%. [24]

The births in Colombia have decreased, from 2015 to 2020, a 12.5% lower birth rate. In 2021 there were 12 births for every 1,000 people. [24]

Bogotá and San Andrés are the places with the greatest reduction in births, while the departments of Guainía, Vichada and La Guajira had the highest increases, Guainía had an increase of 108.1%. [25]

[26] [27] [28] [29]

Current vital statistics by department

Total Fertility Rates (number of children born per mother).

Total Fertility Rate by region, 2023 Isf regiones 2023.png
Total Fertility Rate by region, 2023
Total fertility rate by department 2023. Isf departamental 2023.png
Total fertility rate by department 2023.
Department (2024)Fertility Rate Crude birth rate Crude death rate Rate of natural increase Registered births Registered deaths Natural increase Life expectancy 2024 [30]
Total

(2024)

Rural

(2023)

Urban

(2023)

Flag of Antioquia Department.svg Antioquia 0.951.70.97.65.62.052,13838,25313,88577.3
Flag of Atlantico.svg Atlántico 1.150.81.49.45.44.026,23815,03111,20776.5
Flag of Bogota.svg Bogotá 0.840.50.97.24.72.556,55736,96819,58979.3
Flag of Bolivar State.svg Bolívar 1.351.31.711.04.86.224,55510,63413,92177.3
Flag of Boyaca Department.svg Boyacá 1.091.51.17.85.52.310,2577,2563,00179.8
Flag of Caldas.svg Caldas 0.771.40.75.76.6–0.95,8956,841–94678.3
Flag of Caqueta.svg Caquetá 1.371.71.411.34.56.84,8191,8982,92174.9
Flag of Cauca.svg Cauca 0.981.11.08.04.33.712,5886,7585,83078.9
Flag of Cesar.svg Cesar 1.281.51.610.64.16.514,8025,7809,02276.7
Bandera de la Provincia de Cordoba 2014.svg Córdoba 1.181.31.59.34.44.917,6258,2919,33478.7
Flag of Cundinamarca.svg Cundinamarca 0.961.50.97.54.53.027,04016,39810,64279.8
Flag of Choco.svg Chocó 1.120.91.79.43.26.25,7251,9353,79077.2
Flag of Huila.svg Huila 1.401.91.510.95.65.312,9796,6696,31076.6
Flag of La Guajira.svg La Guajira 1.872.42.116.63.013.617,3003,12014,18068.8
Flag of Magdalena.svg Magdalena 1.291.41.710.64.66.015,8496,9288,92176.9
Flag of Meta.svg Meta 1.271.41.410.14.85.311,5975,5696,02875.4
Flag of Narino.svg Nariño 0.840.81.16.74.62.111,3797,8074,89278.1
Flag of Norte de Santander.svg Norte de Santander 1.151.61.39.35.14.215,7648,6537,11175.8
Flag of Quindio.svg Quindío 0.891.01.06.77.9–1.23,7284,444–71676.6
Flag of Risaralda.svg Risaralda 1.021.61.07.77.60.17,5097,38712277.0
Santander.svg Santander 1.021.51.17.95.42.518,65912,7015,95878.7
Flag of Sucre State.svg Sucre 1.201.31.69.54.64.99,5354,6544,88177.5
Flag of Tolima.svg Tolima 1.091.51.28.06.81.211,0949,3841,71076.8
Flag of Valle del Cauca.svg Valle del Cauca 0.921.01.07.16.70.433,05531,2041,85176.8
Flag of Arauca.svg Arauca 1.111.61.29.34.27.22,9411,3091,63274.6
Flag of Casanare Department.svg Casanare 1.171.61.39.83.95.94,6421,8552,78775.9
Flag of Putumayo.svg Putumayo 1.061.21.28.93.75.23,4861,4452,04177.7
Flag of San Andres y Providencia.svg San Andrés 1.321.51.29.74.84.960130030171.7
Flag of Amazonas (Colombia).svg Amazonas 1.071.31.28.52.95.673725448369.3
Flag of Guainia.svg Guainía 1.501.81.412.12.79.471516055563.9
Flag of Guaviare.svg Guaviare 1.252.01.19.73.56.299335863570.7
Flag of Vaupes.svg Vaupés 1.592.61.210.82.58.352812140761.6
Flag of Vichada.svg Vichada 1.171.22.39.91.88.11,2412291,01271.1
No information2,4402,328
Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia 1.068.55.23.3445,011273,772171,23977.46

Life expectancy

Life expectancy in Colombia since 1900 Life expectancy development in Colombia.svg
Life expectancy in Colombia since 1900
Life expectancy in Colombia since 1960 by gender Life expectancy by WBG -Colombia -diff.png
Life expectancy in Colombia since 1960 by gender

Ethnicity

Ethnic groups in Colombia [31]
Ethnic grouppercent
Unclassified (Mostly White and Mestizo)
87.58%
Black (includes Mulatto, Raizal, and Palenquero)
6.76%
Amerindian
4.31%
Romani
0.006%

Colombia is ethnically diverse, its original people descending from the original native inhabitants, Spanish and European colonists, Africans originally brought to the country as slaves, and 20th-century immigrants from Europe and the Middle East, all contributing to a diverse cultural heritage. [32] The demographic distribution reflects a pattern that is influenced by colonial history. Whites tend to live mainly in urban centers, like Bogotá, Medellín or Cali, and the burgeoning highland cities. The populations of the major cities also include mestizos. Mestizos include artisans and small tradesmen that have played a major part in the urban expansion of recent decades. [33]

The 2005 census (outdated) reported that the "non-ethnic population", consisting of whites and mestizos (those of majority Indigenous American ancestry), constituted 86% of the national population. 10.6% is of black ancestry. Indigenous Colombians comprise 3.4% of the population. Less than 0.01% of the population is Roma. An extraofficial estimate considers that the 49% of the Colombian population is Mestizo or of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry, and that approximately 19–37% is White, mainly of Spanish lineage, but there is also a large population of Middle East descent; among the upper class there is a considerable input of Italian ancestry. [34]

Many of the Indigenous peoples experienced a reduction in population during the Spanish rule [35] and many others were absorbed into the mestizo population, but the remainder currently represents over eighty distinct cultures. Reserves (resguardos) established for indigenous peoples occupy 30,571,640 hectares (305,716.4 km2) (27% of the country's total) and are inhabited by more than 800,000 people. [36] Some of the largest indigenous groups are the Wayuu, [37] the Paez, the Pastos, the Emberá and the Zenú. [38] The departments of La Guajira, Cauca, Nariño, Córdoba and Sucre have the largest indigenous populations. [39]

The Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia (ONIC), founded at the first National Indigenous Congress in 1982, is an organization representing the indigenous peoples of Colombia. In 1991, Colombia signed and ratified the current international law concerning indigenous peoples, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989. [40]

Black Africans were brought as slaves, mostly to the coastal lowlands, beginning early in the 16th century and continuing into the 19th century. Large Afro-Colombian communities are found today on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. The population of the department of Chocó, running along the northern portion of Colombia's Pacific coast, is over 70% black. [41] Britons and Jamaicans migrated mainly to the islands of San Andres and Providencia Islands. A number of other Europeans and North Americans migrated to the country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including people from the former USSR during and after the Second World War. [42] [43]

Many immigrant communities have settled on the Caribbean coast, in particular recent immigrants from the Middle East. Barranquilla (the largest city of the Colombian Caribbean) and other Caribbean cities have the largest populations of Phoenician (Lebanese), Palestinian and other Middle Easterners. [44] [45] There are also important communities of Romanis and Jews. [32] There is a major migration trend of Venezuelans, due to the political crisis and economic collapse in Venezuela. [46]

Ethnic groups in Colombia (Estimation)
Ethnic groupPopulation
Mestizo
50.3%
White
26.4%
Indigenous
9.5%
Black
9.0%
Mulatto
4.4%
Asian
0.4%

[47]

Languages

Spanish (of which Colombia has the third-largest population of speakers in the world after Mexico and the United States) is the official language, with 99.2% of Colombians speaking Spanish, and there are small communities in urban areas speaking other European languages such as German, French, English, Italian, and Portuguese. There are 65 indigenous languages and two Creole languages, one Creole in San Basilio de Palenque and one in San Andrés; and also San Andrés is the only place of Colombia where there are three official languages: Spanish, English and a creole language. [48] [49] [50]

Religion

Religion in Colombia (2014) – Pew Research Center [51]
  1. Catholicism (79.0%)
  2. Protestantism (13.0%)
  3. Unaffiliated (6.00%)
  4. Other (2.00%)

Migration

Immigration

Venezuelans as a proportion of total population in departments of Colombia in January 2024,Own elaboration based on data from Migracion Colombia Proportion of venezuelans in every department of colombia.png
Venezuelans as a proportion of total population in departments of Colombia in January 2024,Own elaboration based on data from Migración Colombia

Due to the political situation in Venezuela many of its residents left the country. At the 2018 census, almost 3 million Venezuelans lived in Colombia. They mainly live in the provinces along the border of Venezuela.

Foreign-born population 2018 census
Country of birth2018 [55]
Number%
Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela 2,837,900
86.96%
Flag of the United States.svg USA 150,124
2.09%
Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador 58,111
1.88%
Flag of Spain.svg Spain 44,954
1.55%
Flag of Peru.svg Peru 5,481
0.57%
Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina 5,220
0.54%
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico 5,088
0.53%
Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil 4,218
0.44%
Flag of Chile.svg Chile 4,182
0.43%
Flag of Italy.svg Italy 3,104
0.32%
Flag of France.svg France 2,954
0.31%
Flag of Panama.svg Panama 2,909
0.30%
Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba 2,383
0.25%
Flag of Germany.svg Germany 2,133
0.22%
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica 1,675
0.17%
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 1,591
0.17%
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada 1,570
0.16%

Emigration

Historically, a sizable percentage of Colombian emigration has also been motivated by the need to escape from political persecution and bipartisan violence during the periods of "La Violencia" (1948–1958), and later due to the effects of the nation's current conflict (since 1964). This has resulted in numerous applications for political asylum abroad.

Colombians have emigrated in comparably high rates to the United States. Other Colombians migrated to Canada and Europe (most to Spain, but also to France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Sweden). Among other locations.[ citation needed ]

Colombian population living abroad
Country of residency2020 [56]
Number%
Flag of the United States.svg USA 1,557,000
40.91%
Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela 1,000,000
28.31%
Flag of Spain.svg Spain 481,000
8.75%
Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador 279,000
5.07%
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico 198,500
3.61%
Flag of Chile.svg Chile 135,000
2.45%
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada 86,000
1.56%
Flag of Panama.svg Panama 58,350
1.07%
Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina 50,000
0.91%
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 48,000
0.87%
Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil 43,500
0.79%
Flag of Peru.svg Peru 40,500
0.73%
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica 40,000
0.72%
Flag of France.svg France 40,000
0.72%
Flag of Germany.svg Germany 24,000
0.44%
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 22,000
0.40%
Flag of Italy.svg Italy 20,000
0.36%
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands 18,000
0.33%
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 15,000
0.27%
Flag of Bolivia.svg Bolivia 13,000
0.24%
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 12,000
0.22%
Flag of Aruba.svg Aruba 8,000
0.15%
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic 8,000
0.15%
Flag of Curacao.svg Curacao 4,500
0.08%
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China 4,000
0.07%
Flag of Norway.svg Norway 4,000
0.07%
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium 3,500
0.06%
Flag of Israel.svg Israel 3,500
0.06%
Flag of Japan.svg Japan 3,000
0.05%
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg UAE 2,500
0.04%
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 2,500
0.04%
Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal 2,500
0.04%
Flag of Austria.svg Austria 2,000
0.03%
Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba 2,000
0.03%
Flag of Russia.svg Russia 2,000
0.03%
Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay 2,000
0.03%
Flag of Guatemala.svg Guatemala 1,500
0.02%
Flag of Paraguay.svg Paraguay 1,500
0.02%
Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Honduras 1,300
0.02%
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua 1,200
0.02%
Flag of Lebanon.svg Lebanon 1,000
0.01%
Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey 1,000
0.01%

Notes

  1. Because of rounding of the individual percentages, the entries in this column may not sum to 100%.
  2. This figure for each department compares to a national increase of 12.5%.

References

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