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Life in Colombia

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

·Colombia is one of the most extremely populated nations in South America, with the majority of the inhabitants residing in cities.

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

·The healthcare system is topic to widespread criticism, with many expats opting for private healthcare.

·The nation has made nice steps in improving its safety, nonetheless, crime charges remain excessive. Expats ought to keep away from sure areas and be safety acutely aware when out and about.

Who Are Colombians?

Colombia is residence to an estimated forty eight.5 million folks, making it the third most populous country in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico. Colombia is a highly urbanized nation: some 77% of Colombians dwell in cities, six of which have metropolitan areas with multiple million inhabitants. The population of Colombia is extremely erratically distributed across the nation, and most areas within the southern and japanese parts are solely very sparsely populated.

Ethnically, Colombia is fairly numerous, a fact that stems each from the nation’s historical past and from the rising popularity of Colombia with expats, retirees, and immigrants from Europe, Asia, the Center East, and North America. The overwhelming majority (eighty four%) of the inhabitants consists of those who are white and Mestizo — people of European and Amerindian descent — with the Afro-Colombian population making up a further 10%.

There is additionally a major variety of indigenous peoples — though they only account for a small percentage of the inhabitants, there are almost 90 distinct cultures. They principally stay 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 the earth populate its rainforests, steppes, savannas, and mountains. The nation could be divided into five distinct areas: the Andes, the Pacific Coast, the Caribbean Coast, the llanos (plains) within the east, and the Amazon Rainforest within the south. Colombia is unique because it’s the one nation in South America with access to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Given its proximity to the equator, there is fairly little seasonal selection when it comes to climate. Nevertheless, depending on which city you compromise in (we've got listed some expat favorites in our article on moving to Colombia), you is likely to be stunned by the contrast in weather all through the nation. Situated within the Andes, Bogotá is pretty cool and foggy all year with highs usually not exceeding 15°C in the hottest month of March and temperatures often dropping under freezing. In stark distinction, Cali, on the west coast of the country, enjoys high temperatures averaging 30°C or more. Before you pack your bags for Cali, needless to say it is a hotspot for violence within the nation, with 56 homicides per a hundred,000 people in 2016.

Hablas Español?

While formally there are a number of dozen languages spoken in Colombia at the moment, Spanish is kind of the one language that expats will hear in the metropolis streets. It is highly really useful to brush up your Spanish expertise earlier than you relocate. While English is likely to get you fairly far within the workplace, it's best to make an effort to talk the native language for those who plan on staying in Colombia for a longer time period. There are many regional dialects in Colombia, and “Colombian Spanish” tends to refer to the dialect spoken in Bogotá. Made well-known by Shakira, Colombian Spanish is considered the clearest Spanish to know worldwide. You clearly don't need to speak the local dialect to be understood by Colombians — any effort to speak in Spanish shall be appreciated in most conditions.

Colombian Politics: Instability and Uncertainty

The politics in Colombia are complex and there are numerous ongoing issues. Because the Sixties, the government, paramilitary groups, crime syndicates, and left-wing guerilla groups have been at conflict with each other. Most effectively-known of those guerilla teams are the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and their opponents, the Nationwide Liberation Military, who struggle to achieve territory. Although a tough-fought peace treaty was Colombia women signed with FARC at the end of 2016, it stays to be seen what affect this will have on the political way forward for Colombia.