Colombia

Leftist rebels have been waging guerrilla warfare against the Colombian government for more than three decades. At the same time, violence linked to Colombia's thriving drug trade has also fettered the South American nation.

The rebels have rejected peace overtures from President Ernesto Samper's government, accusing it of trying to bring them to the peace table by force.

Between the leftist insurgency and the drug trade, violence has claimed 35,000 civilian lives over the last decade.

Land and People | History |
| Financial | Weather

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population:
37,418,290
Average life span:
70 male, 76 female
Average income ($US):
$1,500 (does not include drug trafficking, which would increase this figure by 25%)
GDP per capita ($US):
$5,300
Literacy rate:
91%

THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE

Capital:
Bogota
Size:
440,831 square miles
(1,141,748 sq. km)(Between the size of Texas and Alaska)
Government type:
Republic
Political leaders:
President Ernesto Samper Pizano
Religions:
Roman Catholic (95%)
Languages:
Spanish (official)

HISTORY

FINANCIAL

Monetary unit:
Peso

CNN currency converter

CNN WEATHER INFORMATION

Forecasts:
--Bogota
--Cali
--Cartagena
--Medellin
Forecast and satellite maps:
--South America forecast map
--South America satellite image