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Life in Colombia

·Lying in the northwest of the continent and connecting with Central and North America, the country is known as the “gateway to South America”.

·Colombia is without doubt one of the most highly populated countries in South America, with nearly all of the inhabitants residing in cities.

·Colombia is among the most biologically various nations on Earth, boasting beautiful wildlife and a varying climate across the country because of its mountainous terrain.

·The healthcare system is subject to widespread criticism, with many expats opting for personal healthcare.

·The country has made great steps in enhancing its security, nonetheless, crime charges remain high. Expats ought to avoid sure areas and be safety aware when out and about.

Who Are Colombians?

Colombia is house to an estimated 48.5 million individuals, making it the third most populous country in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico. Colombia is a extremely urbanized nation: some 77% of Colombians live in cities, six of which have metropolitan areas with multiple million inhabitants. The inhabitants of Colombia is extremely inconsistently distributed across the nation, and most areas within the southern and jap components are only very sparsely populated.

Ethnically, Colombia is pretty numerous, a undeniable fact that stems both from the nation’s historical past and from the rising reputation of Colombia with expats, retirees, and immigrants from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. The vast majority (84%) of the population consists of those that are white and Mestizo — folks of European and Amerindian descent — with the Afro-Colombian inhabitants making up an additional 10%.

There may be also a major variety of indigenous peoples — although they only account for a small proportion of the inhabitants, there are nearly ninety distinct cultures. They principally reside in the south and east of the nation, primarily in Amazonía and Orinoquía.

Two Coasts, Many Climates

Colombia’s wildlife is as various as its geography: some 10% of all species on this planet populate its rainforests, steppes, savannas, and mountains. The nation may be divided into five distinct regions: the Andes, the Pacific Coast, the Caribbean Coast, the llanos (plains) within the east, and the Amazon Rainforest within the south. Colombia is unique as it’s the only nation in South America with access to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Given its proximity to the equator, there's pretty little seasonal selection by way of climate. Nevertheless, relying on which city you settle in (we've got listed some expat favorites in our article on moving to Colombia), you may be stunned by the contrast in climate throughout the nation. Located within the Andes, Bogotá is fairly cool and foggy all yr with highs often not exceeding 15°C within the hottest month of March and temperatures occasionally dropping beneath freezing. In stark contrast, Cali, on the west coast of the nation, enjoys high temperatures averaging 30°C or extra. Earlier than you pack your luggage for Cali, remember the fact that it is a hotspot for violence in the nation, with fifty six homicides per 100,000 folks in 2016.

Hablas Español?

While officially there are a number of dozen languages spoken in Colombia in the present day, Spanish is kind of the one language that expats will hear within the metropolis streets. It is extremely advisable to brush up your Spanish skills before you relocate. Whereas English is likely to get you fairly far within the office, you must make an effort to speak the local language for those who plan on staying in Living in Colombia Colombia for a longer time period. There are a lot of regional dialects in Colombia, and “Colombian Spanish” tends to refer to the dialect spoken in Bogotá. Made well-known by Shakira, Colombian Spanish is regarded as the clearest Spanish to understand worldwide. You obviously don't need to talk the local dialect to be understood by Colombians — any effort to speak in Spanish will be appreciated in most situations.

Colombian Politics: Instability and Uncertainty

The politics in Colombia are complex and there are a lot of ongoing issues. For the reason that Nineteen Sixties, the government, paramilitary teams, crime syndicates, and left-wing guerilla groups have been at battle with each other. Most effectively-recognized of those guerilla groups are the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and their opponents, the National Liberation Military, who battle to realize territory. Although a tough-fought peace treaty was signed with FARC on the finish of 2016, it stays to be seen what impact this may have on the political future of Colombia.