Colombia: 51 Interesting Facts for Kids

By Deborah Halls Last updated May 4, 2022 0

There are so many rich cultures to uncover and new sites to visit from far up north to the southernmost corner of the continent. If you have youngsters who are interested in geography or who are simply amazed by the world around them, check out these fascinating Nicaragua and Mexico City facts.

Or, with this comprehensive collection of data, take a vacation to South America and learn everything there is to know about the Republic of Colombia.

Colombia Facts and Figures

With these fascinating facts about Colombia, you’ll learn everything you need to know in a single glance.

1. Colombia’s formal name is the Republic of Colombia.

2. Colombia’s capital city, and largest city, is Bogotá.

3. A country in South America, is home to nearly 50 million inhabitants.

4. Columbia is home to a diverse range of ecosystems, including the Amazon rainforest, mountains, deserts, and grasslands.

5. Colombia’s urban population is 5. 77.1 percent of the country’s total population.

6. The majority of Colombians, almost 99 percent, speak Spanish.

7. Colombia is extremely ethnically diverse, with individuals derived from indigenous peoples, Spanish colonists, people imported from Africa as slaves, and 20th-century immigrants from Europe and the Middle East.

8. Colombia produces some of the world’s best coffee, which is prized for its quality and flavor.

9. Colombia’s national flag has three horizontal color stripes or tricolor. The top half is yellow, while the lower half is divided into two blue and red stripes. Colombian independence from Spain is symbolized by the flag.

Geographical Facts of Colombia

Discover more about Colombia’s geography with these fascinating facts about the Andes Mountains and the Amazon Rainforest.

10. Colombia is a transcontinental country, which means it covers more than one continent; it is mostly located in northern South America, but it also possesses territory in northern North America.

11. Colombia’s northern coast is 1,000 miles long and is bordered by the Caribbean Sea.

12. Colombia’s west coast is 800 miles long and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean.

13. Colombia is bordered on five sides by five separate countries: Panama to the north, Venezuela to the east, Ecuador and Peru to the south, and Brazil to the east.

14. Colombia is the only country in South America with coastlines and islands on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

15. Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, has a population of nearly 7 million people.

16. Colombia is Latin America’s third most populous country, after Brazil and Mexico.

17. Colombia’s geography is divided into six natural areas, each with its own distinct qualities.

18. Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela are all part of the Andes mountain range.

19. Colombia’s Cordillera Central is the highest of the Andean mountain ranges.

20. Colombia’s lowlands, which include the Llanos savanna and Amazon rainforest, cover more than half of the country’s total land area yet are home to less than 6% of the people.

21. Because of its proximity to the equator, Colombia’s climate is classified as tropical and isothermal (it doesn’t actually have seasons).

22. However, Colombia’s natural regions contain five distinct climate zones: tropical rainforests, savannas, steppes, deserts, and mountain climates.

23. The climate of Colombia’s mountains is further split into five categories: Tierra Caliente (hot land), Tierra template (temperate land), Tierra fra (cold land), Tierra helada (frozen land), and Páramo (alpine tundra).

24. The Magdalena River System is Colombia’s most important river system, covering roughly a quarter of the country’s surface.

25. Bogotá is one of the tallest cities in South America, at an elevation of 8,675 feet above sea level.

26. The Cao Cristales, which translates to “Crystal Channel” in English, is a well-known river in Meta’s Serrania de la Macarena region. Because of the bright and dramatic colors formed by endemic plants on the riverbed between July and November, it is known as the “River of Five Colors” or the “Liquid Rainbow.”

Facts About Colombia’s Biodiversity

Colombia is home to some of the most incredible plants and animals on the planet; learn more about it with these fascinating Colombia facts.

27. Colombia is one of 17 megadiverse countries in the globe (nations that house the majority of Earth’s species as well as a large number of endemic species).

28. Columbia has the world’s second-largest biodiversity, behind Brazil, which has the highest.

29. Colombia has the most bird species in the world, with over 1,900 species, more than Europe and North America combined.

30. Colombia boasts between 40,000 and 45,000 plant species, accounting for 10 to 20% of all species on the planet.

31. Colombia is home to approximately 10% of all species on the planet.

32. Colombia has the world’s second-largest variety of freshwater fish.

33. Colombia has the highest number of endemic, or native, butterfly species in the world.

Facts About Colombia’s Economy and Politics

These crucial Colombia facts will teach you everything you need to know about the country’s administration and economy.

34. Colombia is Latin America’s only NATO Global Partner.

35. Colombia has the third-largest economy in South America.

36. Colombia, together with Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, and South Africa, is a member of the CIVETS group of leading emerging markets.

37. Colombia’s government is divided into three branches: the executive, which is led by the President, the legislative, which is led by Congress, and the judicial, which is led by four high courts.

38. Colombia was one of the Pacific Alliance’s four founding members, which encourages the free movement of products and services among its members.

39. Agriculture, particularly coffee and citrus, has long been the backbone of Colombia’s economy.

Colombia’s urban population accounts for 77.1 percent of the country’s total population.

Colombia’s Historical Background

With these amazing historical facts about Colombia, you may learn about the country’s lengthy and rich history.

40. The name “Colombia” is taken from the surname of Christopher Columbus, an Italian navigator and explorer who helped settle the Americas and found the current Western world.

41. A variety of indigenous tribes, including the Muisca, Quimbaya, and Tairona, once lived in the area that is now known as Colombia.

42. The region was colonized by the Spanish in 1499, and they named it New Granada.

43. Colombia’s economy was built on gold mining throughout the colonial era.

44. On July 20, 1810, Colombia declared independence from Spain.

Facts about Colombian culture

These fascinating facts about Colombian culture are likely to pique your attention.

45. Tejo is Colombia’s traditional national sport, a team activity in which players fire gunpowder-filled items at a target, which explode on impact.

46. Soccer is Colombia’s most popular sport, with the national team being ranked 10th in the FIFA World Rankings.

47. Colombia has around 180 indigenous languages and dialects, including Arawakan, Chibchan, Cariban, Tupi-Guaran, and Yurumangu, among others.

48. Because of Colombia’s colonial Spanish roots, the majority of the country is Roman Catholic, but the country’s constitution guarantees religious freedom.

49. The Carnaval de Negros y Blancos, or Festival of Blacks and Whites, is a major festival in Southern Colombia that is recognized by UNESCO. It takes place over a week in early January.

50. The town of Rio Sucio has the Carnaval del Diablo, or Devil Festival, on odd-numbered years. It incorporates feasts, costumes, dance, music, and poetry to ward off evil spirits, and it combines local pagan traditions with Catholic beliefs.

51. Easter is the most important religious festival in Catholic Colombia, and Papaya, widely regarded as the country’s religious capital, hosts a parade in which people carry large wooden platforms depicting scenes from the Bible through the streets, which is widely regarded as the best in South America.