Background—about Colombia
Maps
Statistics
The country
- The country is four times the size of UK
- 40 million people live there
- Spanish conquest was in 1525; Colombia declared its independence in 1810
- Main exports are petroleum, coffee, fruit and natural gas
- Export percentages—50% to USA, 14% Europe, 16% S America
- The capital city is Bogotá; other main cities are Medellín,
Cali, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga
- Currency: 1 Colombian peso = 100 centavos
- Language spoken is Spanish, along with over 100 Indian dialects
Social statistics
- 60% Mestizos, 20% of European descent
- 20% unemployed (2000)
- 55% below poverty line (1999)
- 44% of income earned by highest 10% of earners
Drugs
- Has been a problem since 1975
- World’s leading cocaine cultivator—122,500 hectares
- Also cultivates opium (7,500 hectares) & cannabis
- Supplies 90% of USA cocaine consumption
- Produced 75 tonnes opium and 8 tonnes heroin in 1999
Religion
- 95% are Roman Catholic
- The church is very influential in government