Latin America
Living in Colombia
Photo: Wax palms in the Cocora Valley · Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
A biodiverse country with Andean cities that stay spring-like all year, Caribbean coast and a growing digital-nomad scene. Editorial
The numbers
Main city climate18° to 20°CColdest and warmest month averages, Bogotá · 2020
Average temperature18.8°CBogotá (whole country 25.1°C) · 2020
Price level41%Of US prices for everyday goods and services · 2025
Average spending$1,271Per person per month (international $, PPP) · 2025
Income per person$22,600GDP per person a year (international $, PPP) · 2025
Unemployment8.3%Of the labour force · 2025
Homicides24.9Per 100,000 people a year · 2023
Life expectancy77.9 yearsAt birth · 2024
Clean air18 µg/m³Average fine-particle pollution (WHO guideline: 5) · 2023
Forest54%Of the land area · 2024
City dwellers79%Of people live in cities and towns · 2025
Tax revenue15.2%Of GDP · 2024
Language and getting around Editorial
- Languages: Spanish. Limited English in daily life.
- Public transport: Moderate: good in the main cities, a car helps elsewhere.
- Geography: Has a coastline, with mountain areas. Capital: Bogota.
Moving to Colombia
Visa and residence rules depend on your nationality, job, studies and family, and they change often. Start with the government's own website: www.migracioncolombia.gov.co.
Sources
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per person (PPP) | 22,640.42 international $ | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Unemployment | 8.29 % of labour force | 2025 | World Bank WDI (ILO estimate) |
| Intentional homicides | 24.91 per 100,000 people | 2023 | World Bank WDI (UNODC) |
| Political stability and absence of violence | -0.95 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Government effectiveness (public services) | -0.09 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Life expectancy at birth | 77.91 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Health spending per person | 644.31 US$ per person | 2024 | World Bank WDI (WHO) |
| Tax revenue | 15.22 % of GDP | 2024 | World Bank WDI (IMF) |
| People living in cities and towns | 78.78 % of population | 2025 | World Bank WDI (UN) |
| Forest area | 53.71 % of land | 2024 | World Bank WDI (FAO) |
| Fine-particle air pollution (PM2.5) | 18.36 µg/m³, annual mean | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Price level of household goods and services | 0.41 ratio, United States = 1 | 2025 | Calculated: PPP conversion factor (private consumption) / official exchange rate, World Bank WDI |
| Average household spending per person | 1,270.8 international $ per person per month | 2025 | Calculated: household consumption (PPP) / population / 12, World Bank WDI |
| Average temperature, whole country 1991-2020 | 25.1 °C | 2020 | World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CRU TS 4.08, 1991-2020) |
| Average temperature, main city | 18.8 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Coldest month average, main city | 18.2 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Warmest month average, main city | 19.5 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Rainfall, main city | 1,624 mm per year | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
Data checked 2 November 2026. National averages hide differences between cities and regions. Climate figures for Bogotá are 2001–2020 averages.
You may also like