40+ Interesting Facts About Colombia

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  1. Colombia is a transcontinental country with its major part in South America. A few of its small islands are in North America.
  2. Colombia is the only country in South America with a coastline on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
  3. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia is the highest coastal mountain range in the world. A study finds that this mountain range has moved 2,200 km in the last 170 million years. (Source)
  4. The orchid is the national flower of Colombia, and the country also contains the highest number of orchids in the world. There are around 4,000 orchid species in Colombia, including 1,500 endemic species. (Source)
  5. Colombia is the biggest producer of emeralds in the world. It also provides more than 50% of emeralds in the international market.
  6. The concept of ciclavia started in the Colombian capital Bogota in 1978. The city transforms 120 km of the highway into a bicycle route on Sundays from 7 AM to 2 PM. It is also the largest street cycle scheme in the world. Many other countries have also copied this idea on a smaller scale. (Source)
  7. Colombia is named after the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. He was the first European to discover what is now the Americas (North and South America). It is the only country in the Americas that adopted his name.
    Portrait of Christopher Columbus
    Colombia is named after Christopher Columbus

  8. Colombia is known as the oldest democracy in South America. The country became a democracy in 1958. (Source)
  9. Colombia has one of the highest public holidays in the world. It levels with the Philippines and Trinidad & Tobago with 3rd most public holidays (18) in a year. (Source)
  10. Colombia has the highest number of bird species (around 1,900), 2nd highest number of amphibian species (more than 770), and 3rd highest number of vascular plants (more than 24,000) in the world . (Source) (Source) (Source)
  11. Colombia is the 2nd largest exporter of flowers in the world. It exports more than 16% of flowers around the globe. (Source)
  12. Colombia is the largest exporter of fresh-cut flowers to the USA. The North American country imports millions of dollars of worth of this commodity every year. (Source)
  13. Cano Cristales is a river in Colombia that displays five colors of red, yellow, green, black, and blue during July and November. The river is famous around the globe for this feature. (Source)
  14. Wax palm, Colombia’s national tree, is the world’s tallest palm tree and the tallest species of monocot. The Cocora Valley in Colombia is the primary location of these trees that can grow up to 200 feet high. (Source)
  15. The Choco region of Colombia is one of the wettest places on earth. It receives more than 400 in (10,200 mm) of precipitation annually. It rains for more than 300 days every year.
  16. Colombia has the highest Spanish-speaking population in South America and the second-highest in the world after Mexico.
  17. Colombia provides the best medical facilities in Latin America and is one of the best in the world. (Source)
  18. Colombia is the largest coal producer in South America. The country is also the 3rd largest producer of oil on the continent. (Source)
  19. The two largest shopping malls in South America are in Bogota, Colombia. These are Centro Mayor and Centro Comercial Santafe. (Source)
  20. The presence of human society in Colombia has been established since 12000 BC. But there is also evidence that the first humans may have arrived here as early as 43000 BC.
  21. Colombia gained independence from Spain in 1821. However, the current Republic of Colombia was established in 1903 after the separation of Panama from Colombia.
  22. There are more than 3,000 butterfly species in Colombia, the second-highest in the world after Peru.
    A butterfly
    Colombia has the second-highest number of butterfly species

  23. Colombia has more than 56,000 species (over 9,000 endemics) of flora and fauna. It makes it the country with the second-highest biodiversity in the world after Brazil.
  24. There are 59 national parks in Colombia, the second-highest in South America after Brazil (71 national parks).
  25. Colombia is the third-largest producer of coffee after Brazil and Vietnam. It is one of the few countries that solely produce Arabica coffee.
  26. Several indigenous tribes in different parts of Colombia are known for eating various insects. These include ants, beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and termites.
  27. Colombia has the highest number of endangered animal species in South America. The country has the 2nd highest number of these species in Latin America (after Mexico). (Source)
  28. Medellin, a city in Colombia, has the highest rates of eating disorders in the world. Around 18% of adolescent girls in this city suffer from various eating disorders. (Source)
  29. It is customary in Colombia to use lilies and marigolds during funerals. Therefore, it is not appropriate to give these flowers as gift.
  30. Like many other Latin American countries, there is a tradition in Colombia to give a gift of gold to a girl on her 15th birthday.
  31. Bogota is the 3rd largest city and the 2nd largest capital city in South America. It is also one of the highest capital cities in the world, with an elevation of 2640m (8646 ft.).
  32. Medellin was once known as the “most dangerous city on earth” due to the violent activities of drug lords. Now, it is known as “the most innovative city in the world” with the fastest-growing economy. (Source)
  33. Colombia is one of few countries situated on two prominent regions: the equator and the ring of fire.
  34. The Colombian Conflict is one of the world’s longest civil wars. This asymmetrical and multi-sided dispute started in 1964 and has not ended despite a peace agreement in 2016.
  35. A law in Colombia prohibits the sale and consumption of alcohol during congressional elections. Compared to other Latin American countries where the alcohol ban is on Election Day, Colombia enforces this ban throughout the weekend. (Source)
  36. Pablo Escobar, a notorious Colombian drug dealer, was the 7th richest man in the world in 1989. He controlled 80% of the world’s cocaine market during his peak. Escobar was responsible for the murder of numerous judges and police officers and for destroying an airplane before his death in 1993. (Source)
    Pablo Escobar in prison
    Pablo Escobar, a notorious drug dealer, was Colombian 

  37. More than 65% of cocaine users are in North America and Europe. Colombia is the chief source of transporting cocaine in both these continents. (Source)
  38. Alvaro Uribe survived 15 assassination attempts before becoming president of Colombia in 2002. (Source)
  39. There are more than 300 beaches in Colombia. These beaches are famous among tourists due to adventure and abundance of animals.
  40. There are 9 UNESCO world heritage sites in Colombia. These include six cultural, two natural, and a single mixed site. (Source)
  41. Shakira (singer), Sofia Vergara (Hollywood actress), and James Rodriguez (soccer player) are some of several world-renowned Colombian celebrities.
  42. In Colombia, it is mandatory for all radio stations to play the national anthem at 6 AM and 6 PM every day. 
  43. Brazil hosts are largest part of the Amazon rainforest. However, this forest also covers around 33% area of Colombia.

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