Colombia profile

Demography and Health

Colombia is a middle‑income country with a large and still growing population—about 52.9 million people in 2024—placing it among the more populous nations in its region. The population has a youthful rhythm but is steadily aging as life expectancy rises. Life expectancy at birth stands at about 77.7 years (2023), reflecting improvements in health services and living conditions, while crude birth and death rates are 13.5 and 5.4 per 1,000 people respectively (2023). The under‑5 mortality rate is 12 per 1,000 live births (2023), indicating substantial gains in child health relative to many peers, though still leaving room for targeted interventions. Poverty affects roughly one‑third of the population (33.0% in 2023), signaling persistent inequality and social vulnerability that can shape health outcomes and access to care. Net migration is positive, with about 142,000 people moving to Colombia in 2024, which can influence labor markets, urban dynamics, and demand for health and social services. Health expenditure is relatively robust, with current health expenditure at 7.69% of GDP (2023) and domestic general government health expenditure per capita, PPP, of about 1,176 international dollars (2023), suggesting substantial public investment in health alongside private and out‑of‑pocket spending. The health system benefits from a broad reach of services, including a high level of health spending per capita, but indicators such as unemployment at 9.6% and ongoing social disparities imply uneven access to care and health outcomes across population groups. Internet access—77.3% of the population in 2023—helps support telemedicine and health information dissemination, though digital divides may still leave gaps in rural or poorer communities. Overall, Colombia faces a tension between improving health outcomes and reducing persistent poverty and inequality, with public health funding playing a critical role in sustaining progress.

Economy

Colombia’s economy shows a mix of resilience and structural challenges. GDP per capita stands at about 7,914 current US dollars in 2024, with a GDP‑per‑capita PPP of 21,495 international dollars, signaling significant purchasing power when cost of living differences are accounted for. Inflation is elevated at 6.61% in 2024, reflecting macroeconomic adjustment pressures that affect household purchasing power and business investment costs. The unemployment rate is 9.6% in 2023, indicating slack in the labor market despite growth and formalization efforts in various sectors. The country maintains a moderate openness to trade and investment: exports of goods and services are about 16.0% of GDP in 2024, while imports are roughly 20.9% of GDP, pointing to a relatively open but still domestically oriented economy in many segments. Foreign direct investment net inflows are 3.4% of GDP in 2024, signaling continued external financing and confidence from investors, though the level is below leading regional peers. The current account balance is negative at about −1.77% of GDP in 2024, suggesting a small external gap that is manageable with ongoing capital inflows and structural reforms. The country’s high‑technology exports reach about 873 million US dollars (2023) and patent activity (432 resident applications in 2021) underscore a developing but growing tech‑intensive sector, though reliance on traditional exports remains a feature of the economy. In terms of competitiveness, regulatory quality registers a modest positive stance (0.101 in 2023), yet rule of law and control of corruption present more challenging signals (−0.458 and −0.309 respectively), underscoring governance vulnerabilities that can influence investment quality and business risk. The large workforce, improving connectivity, and ongoing public and private investment create opportunities for diversification, productivity gains, and social inclusion if policy frameworks and governance deepen.

Trade and Investment

Colombia’s trade profile reflects a balance between integration into global markets and domestic constraints. Exports of goods and services are 16.0% of GDP in 2024, while imports account for 20.9% of GDP, signaling a reasonably open economy with a substantial import footprint for capital goods, inputs, and consumer products. The current account deficit of about 1.8% of GDP in 2024 is modest by international standards, indicating manageable external financing needs. Net foreign direct investment inflows amount to about 3.4% of GDP in 2024, reflecting continued investor interest but leaving room for improvement to reach higher levels that could spur productivity, technology transfer, and job creation. The logistics performance index—measuring the quality of trade and transport infrastructure—registers a solid 2.9 (out of 5) in 2022, with a high rank of 17, illustrating relatively efficient cross‑border logistics that support competitiveness and export performance. The country’s innovation indicators show activity in intellectual property and tech products: patent applications by residents reached 432 in 2021, and high‑technology exports were about 873 million USD in 2023, suggesting ongoing yet uneven modernization of the export base. The combination of substantial internet penetration (77.3% in 2023) and a relatively strong logistics footprint can support e‑commerce, digital services, and foreign market access, while the notable poverty rate and unemployment present domestic demand and social risk considerations that policy must address to sustain inclusive growth.

Governance and Institutions

Colombia faces a mixed governance picture. Political stability and absence of violence/terrorism score −0.717 (2023), indicating continued exposure to political and security risks that can affect investor confidence and policy continuity. Regulatory quality is modestly positive at 0.101, suggesting some capacity to implement and enforce rules, streamline procedures, and foster business conditions, though more ambitious reforms would be needed to accelerate competitiveness. The rule of law indicator sits at −0.458, and control of corruption at −0.309, highlighting ongoing challenges in judiciary independence, contract enforcement, and anti‑corruption effectiveness. Government effectiveness is close to neutral at −0.076, implying that state performance fluctuates across ministries and programs. Despite these governance gaps, Colombia benefits from a favorable logistics environment (logistics index 2.9, rank 17), which helps reduce transaction costs for trade and services and supports foreign exchange and investment flows. Intellectual property activity—resident patent applications (432 in 2021) and a niche in high‑tech exports—points to a developing innovation ecosystem, but the broader governance constraints call for continued reforms to improve transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. In sum, Colombia possesses a capable administrative core and strategic openness, but sustained progress hinges on reducing violence, strengthening institutions, and delivering predictable, fair regulatory outcomes.

Infrastructure and Technology

Infrastructure and technology indicators show Colombia bridging into the information age while still facing gaps. Internet usage is high, with 77.3% of the population online in 2023, enabling digital services, education, and e‑commerce. The logistics performance index of 2.9 (2022) and rank 17 reflect relatively well‑developed trade and transport networks compared with many peers, supporting efficient cargo movement and regional integration. Human capital infrastructure is evident in health and education spending: current health expenditure is 7.69% of GDP (2023), and domestic general government health expenditure per capita, PPP, is 1,176 international dollars (2023), underscoring a strong commitment to public health inputs. The availability of physicians—2.45 per 1,000 people (2021)—points to adequate core healthcare capacity in many areas, albeit with regional disparities that require targeted investment. Innovation capacity is evident in patent activity (432 resident filings in 2021) and export sophistication in high‑tech products (approximately 873 million USD in 2023), signaling a gradual shift toward knowledge‑intensive sectors. The country’s energy profile shows renewable energy contributing nearly 30% of total final energy consumption (2021), suggesting a meaningful, though not dominant, role for clean energy in the mix. Taken together, Colombia demonstrates solid digital connectivity, improving but uneven infrastructure, and a growing but still incremental technology ecosystem that can be scaled with targeted public and private investment.

Environment and Sustainability

Colombia’s environmental indicators reveal a country with meaningful progress on sustainability alongside ongoing pressures. The per‑capita greenhouse gas emissions exclude LULUCF at about 4.28 tonnes CO2e (2023), indicating moderate emissions intensity relative to income levels and a potential for further decarbonization through energy, transport, and land‑use policies. Renewable energy constitutes roughly 29.7% of total final energy consumption (2021), signaling a substantial role for renewables in the energy mix and a pathway toward lower‑emission growth if policy and investment continue to expand clean energy and efficiency gains. Water resources stress, measured by freshwater withdrawal as a share of available freshwater, stands at 4.39% (2021), suggesting manageable water stress in aggregate terms, though regional variations could be more pronounced due to uneven rainfall, urban demand, and agricultural use. The prevalence of undernourishment is relatively low at 4.2% (2022), and the country supports social programs to address food security and resilience. Natural resilience is complemented by notable biodiversity and ecosystems, though those assets require continued protection against expansion of agriculture, mining, and infrastructure. While poverty remains high and inequality persists, Colombia’s environmental trajectory shows potential for green growth through efficiency improvements, cleaner energy, and sustainable land management, aligned with social objectives and inclusive development.