Colombia is a South American country with land and sea borders. Its population is around 44 million, and the capital is Bogota. Colombia gained independence from Spain in 1819 and has suffered from internal conflicts, including La Violencia. The country has a government with an elected president but still faces issues with corruption, drugs, and human rights abuse. The majority of the population is mestizo, with smaller percentages of European, African, and Amerindian ancestry.
The Republic of Colombia is a country located in South America. Positioned in the northwestern part of the continent, Colombia has both land and sea on its borders. From the east, the country shares borders with Brazil and Venezuela. From the southwest, it is touched by both Ecuador and Peru. North of Colombia is the Atlantic Ocean while its western borders touch Panama and the Pacific Ocean.
Colombia’s land area covers approximately 401,042 square miles (1,038,699 square kilometers). The country is fourth in line among the largest South American countries and 26th in line worldwide. As of 2007, its population was estimated at 44,227,550. Its capital and largest city is Bogota, which means capital district. This city is not only the largest in Colombia, but it is also the most populated.
Colombia was once a Spanish colony. It gained independence from Spain in 1819, thanks to the efforts of rebel forces. However, the influence of Spain is still evident in the country, as Spanish remains its official language.
Venezuela, Panama and Quito (Ecuador) were once part of Colombia, but Venezuela and Quito separated from the country in 1830. This was due to political and territorial conflicts. After the secession, the town assumed the name of Nueva Granada. In 1856 it changed its name again, becoming Confederación Granadina. After a period of civil war, it changed its name to the United States of Colombia, finally assuming its current name in 1886.
The country suffered internal divisions throughout the 1800s, and these political struggles sometimes escalated into full-fledged wars. One of the most famous civil wars in the country was the Thousand Days Civil War which lasted from 1899 to 1902. This war led to the separation of the Department of Panama in 1903, as well as its establishment as a nation. Following this event, the country was embroiled in a year-long war with Peru and entered a period called La Violencia, which means The Violence, which lasted from the latter part of the 1940s until the early 1950s, struggling with bloody internal conflicts political struggles.
Today, Colombia has a government that includes an elected president. It is still subject, however, to bloody conflicts. Now, they tend to be less intense and involve rebel groups and militias. The country also suffers from conflicts over corruption and drugs. It has a widespread reputation for murder, kidnapping, illegal drug production and human rights abuse.
Most of the country’s population is mestizo, which is a mix of European and Amerindian races. About 20% of the population is European, while 25% is mulatto, i.e. a mix of African and European. The remainder of the population is of African descent (four percent) or Zambos (three percent), which is a mix of African and Amerindian ancestry. Pure Amerindians make up only about 100% of the country’s population. Most Colombian citizens are Roman Catholics.
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