Death rate: 4.65 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 25.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.81 years
male: 69.97 years
female: 75.73 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.35 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Colombian(s)
adjective: Colombian

Ethnic divisions: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%,
mixed black-Indian 3%, Indian 1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%

Languages: Spanish

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 91.3%
male: 91.2%
female: 91.4%

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
local long form: Republica de Colombia
local short form: Colombia

Data code: CO

Type of government: republic; executive branch dominates
government structure

Capital: Bogota

Administrative divisions: 32 departments (departamentos, singular
- departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital);
Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca,
Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba,
Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta,
Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres
y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes,
Vichada

Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Constitution: 5 July 1991

Legal system: based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled
after US procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of
executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Ernesto SAMPER
Pizano (since 7 August 1994) elected for a four-year term by popular
vote; election last held 29 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998)
results - no candidate received more than 50% of the total vote; a
run-off election to select a president from the two lea