República de Colombia

Political Status: Independent Gran Colombia proclaimed 1819; separate state of New Granada established 1831; republican constitution adopted 1886; bipartisan National Front regime instituted in 1958 but substantially terminated in 1974; current constitution promulgated July 5, 1991.

Area: 439,734 sq. mi. (1,138,914 sq. km.).

Population: 37,664,711 (1993C); 46,844,000 (2006E). The 1993 figure includes an adjustment for underenumeration.

Major Urban Centers (urban areas, 2005E): SANTAFÉ DE BOGOTÁ (formerly Bogotá, 8,350,000), Medellín (3,450,000), Cali (2,700,000), Barranquilla (1,925,000), Cartagena (1,075,000).

Official Language: Spanish.

Monetary Unit: Peso (principal rate November 2, 2007: 2,017.90 pesos = $1US).

President:

Álvaro URIBE Vélez (Independent); elected May 26, 2002, and inaugurated August 7 for a four-year term, succeeding Andrés PASTRANA Arango (Conservative Party); reelected May 28, 2006, and inaugurated August 7, 2006, for a second four-year term.

Vice ...