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Life in Colombia

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

·Colombia is one of the most highly populated countries in South America, with nearly all of the population residing in cities.

·Colombia is likely one of the most biologically numerous nations on Earth, boasting beautiful wildlife and a various climate across the nation because of its mountainous terrain.

·The healthcare system is subject to widespread criticism, with many expats choosing private healthcare.

·The nation has made nice steps in bettering its security, nonetheless, crime rates remain high. Expats should avoid certain areas and be security acutely aware when out and about.

Who Are Colombians?

Colombia is home to an estimated forty eight.5 million individuals, making it the third most populous country in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico. Colombia is a extremely urbanized nation: some seventy seven% of Colombians stay in cities, six of which have metropolitan areas with a couple of million inhabitants. The inhabitants of Colombia is extremely inconsistently distributed throughout the nation, and most areas in the southern and jap components are solely very sparsely populated.

Ethnically, Colombia is fairly 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 (eighty four%) of the inhabitants consists of those who are white and Mestizo — individuals of European and Amerindian descent — with the Afro-Colombian inhabitants making up an extra 10%.

There is additionally a big variety of indigenous peoples — although they only account for a small proportion of the inhabitants, there are nearly ninety distinct cultures. They largely dwell within the south and east of the nation, primarily in Amazonía and Orinoquía.

Two Coasts, Many Climates

Colombia’s wildlife is as numerous as its geography: some 10% of all species on this planet populate its rainforests, steppes, savannas, and mountains. The country may be divided into 5 distinct regions: the Andes, the Pacific Coast, the Caribbean Coast, the llanos (plains) within the east, and the Amazon Rainforest in the south. Colombia is exclusive as it’s the one nation in South America with access to each the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Given its proximity to the equator, there is pretty little seasonal variety in terms of weather. Nevertheless, relying on which metropolis you compromise website in (we've got listed some expat favorites in our article on transferring to Colombia), you may be stunned by the distinction in weather all through the country. Positioned within the Andes, Bogotá is fairly cool and foggy all 12 months with highs usually not exceeding 15°C within the hottest month of March and temperatures often dropping below freezing. In stark contrast, Cali, on the west coast of the nation, enjoys excessive temperatures averaging 30°C or extra. Earlier than you pack your baggage for Cali, remember the fact that it is a hotspot for violence within the country, with 56 homicides per one hundred,000 individuals in 2016.

Hablas Español?

While formally there are several dozen languages spoken in Colombia as we speak, Spanish is kind of the only language that expats will hear within the city streets. It is extremely recommended to brush up your Spanish abilities earlier than you relocate. Whereas English is likely to get you fairly far within the office, it's best to make an effort to speak the local language should you plan on staying in Colombia for an extended time frame. There are a lot of regional dialects in Colombia, and “Colombian Spanish” tends to consult with the dialect spoken in Bogotá. Made famous by Shakira, Colombian Spanish is thought to be the clearest Spanish to grasp worldwide. You obviously don't need to speak the local dialect to be understood by Colombians — any effort to speak in Spanish might be appreciated in most situations.

Colombian Politics: Instability and Uncertainty

The politics in Colombia are complex and there are lots of ongoing problems. Because the 1960s, the federal government, paramilitary teams, crime syndicates, and left-wing guerilla teams have been at struggle with one another. Most nicely-recognized of those guerilla teams are the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and their opponents, the Nationwide Liberation Army, who combat to gain territory. Although a hard-fought peace treaty was signed with FARC on the end of 2016, it stays to be seen what impression this can have on the political way forward for Colombia.