--1.2784 (January 1990),
1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

- Communications
Ports: none; lagoon anchorage only

Airports: 1 airfield with permanent-surface runway, 2,440-3,659 m;
airport on West Island is a link in service between Australia and South Africa

Telecommunications: 250 radios (1985); linked by telephone,
telex, and facsimile communications via satellite with Australia;
stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV

- Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
----------------------------------------------------
Country: Colombia
- Geography
Total area: 1,138,910 km2; land area: 1,038,700 km2; includes Isla
de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank

Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Land boundaries: 7,408 km total; Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km,
Panama 225 km, Peru 2,900, Venezuela 2,050 km

Coastline: 3,208 km total (1,448 km North Pacific Ocean;
1,760 Caribbean Sea)

Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specified;

Extended economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the
Gulf of Venezuela; territorial dispute with Nicaragua over Archipelago
de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank

Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

Terrain: mixture of flat coastal lowlands, plains in east, central
highlands, some high mountains

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel,
gold, copper, emeralds

Land use: 4% arable land; 2% permanent crops; 29% meadows and pastures;
49% forest and woodland; 16% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

Environment: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions;
deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; periodic droughts

Note: only South American country with coastlines on both
North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

- People
Population: 33,076,188 (July 1990), growth rate 2.1% (1990)

Birth rate: 27 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Infant mortality rate: 38 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 73 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1990)

Nationality: noun--Colombian(s); adjective--Colombian

Ethnic divisions: 58% mestizo, 20%