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Life in Colombia

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

·Colombia is without doubt one of the most extremely populated countries in South America, with the vast majority of the population residing in cities.

·Colombia is without doubt one of the most biologically numerous nations on Earth, boasting stunning wildlife and a various local weather across the nation due to its mountainous terrain.

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

·The nation has made nice steps in improving its security, however, crime rates remain high. Expats should keep away from certain areas and be safety conscious when out and about.

Who Are Colombians?

Colombia is house to an estimated 48.5 million individuals, making it the third most populous nation in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico. Colombia is a highly urbanized nation: some 77% of Colombians stay in cities, six of which have metropolitan areas with more than one million inhabitants. The population of Colombia is incredibly inconsistently distributed across the nation, and most areas in the southern and jap parts are only very sparsely populated.

Ethnically, Colombia is pretty various, a indisputable fact that stems each from the nation’s history and from the rising recognition of Colombia with expats, retirees, and immigrants from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. The overwhelming majority (eighty four%) of the inhabitants consists of those that are white and Mestizo — individuals of European and Amerindian descent — with the Afro-Colombian population making up an extra 10%.

There is also a significant variety of indigenous peoples — although they solely account for a small share of the inhabitants, there are almost 90 distinct cultures. They mostly stay within 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 planet populate its rainforests, steppes, savannas, and mountains. The nation might be divided into five distinct regions: the Andes, the Pacific Coast, the Caribbean Coast, the llanos (plains) in the east, and the Amazon Rainforest in the south. Colombia is unique because it’s the only nation in South America with entry to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Given its proximity to the equator, there may be fairly little seasonal selection by way of climate. However, relying on which metropolis you agree in (we've got listed some expat favorites in our article on moving to Colombia), you may be stunned by the contrast in climate all through the country. Positioned in the Andes, Bogotá is pretty cool and foggy all 12 months with highs Living in Colombia usually not exceeding 15°C within the hottest month of March and temperatures often dropping under freezing. In stark contrast, Cali, on the west coast of the nation, enjoys high temperatures averaging 30°C or more. Earlier than you pack your luggage for Cali, keep in mind that it is a hotspot for violence within the nation, with fifty six homicides per one hundred,000 individuals in 2016.

Hablas Español?

While formally there are a number of dozen languages spoken in Colombia at present, Spanish is more or less the only language that expats will hear within the metropolis streets. It is extremely really helpful to brush up your Spanish expertise earlier than you relocate. While English is more likely to get you fairly far in the office, it is best to make an effort to talk the native language should you plan on staying in Colombia for an extended period of time. There are various regional dialects in Colombia, and “Colombian Spanish” tends to confer with the dialect spoken in Bogotá. Made famous by Shakira, Colombian Spanish is regarded as the clearest Spanish to grasp worldwide. You obviously don't need to talk the native dialect to be understood by Colombians — any effort to speak in Spanish might be appreciated in most conditions.

Colombian Politics: Instability and Uncertainty

The politics in Colombia are complicated and there are numerous ongoing problems. Because the 1960s, the federal government, paramilitary groups, crime syndicates, and left-wing guerilla groups have been at warfare with one another. Most well-identified of those guerilla groups are the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and their opponents, the Nationwide Liberation Army, who fight to achieve territory. Although a hard-fought peace treaty was signed with FARC at the end of 2016, it stays to be seen what affect this may have on the political way forward for Colombia.