Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is located in northwestern South America

The territory now known as Colombia was originally inhabited by various indigenous nations, including the Muisca, Quimbaya, and Tairona. Spanish explorers arrived in 1499, initiating a period of conquest and colonization that resulted in the death or enslavement of nearly 90% of the native population. The Spanish established the Viceroyalty of New Granada - comprising present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama - with its capital in Bogotá.

Colombia gained independence from Spain in 1819, but by 1830 the union known as "Gran Colombia" had dissolved following the secession of Venezuela and Ecuador. The remaining territory formed a new nation - the Republic of New Granada. In 1858, the country officially became the Grenadine Confederation, then changed its name in 1863 to the United States of Colombia, before finally adopting its current name, the Republic of Colombia, in 1886.

In 1903, Panama seceded from Colombia

The name "Colombia" is derived from Christopher Columbus and was proposed by Venezuelan revolutionary Francisco de Miranda as a symbolic name for the New World.

Colombia has a long-standing tradition of constitutional government

The Liberal and Conservative parties, founded in 1848 and 1849 respectively, are among the oldest surviving political parties in the Americas.

Today, Colombia is a recognized middle power and has the fourth largest economy in South America. It is an ethnically diverse nation, shaped by the blending of indigenous peoples, Spanish colonists, African slaves, and immigrants from Europe and the Middle East during the 20th century - resulting in a rich and varied cultural heritage.

This cultural diversity is also influenced by the country’s geography. While most major urban centers are located in the Andean highlands, Colombia’s territory includes the Amazon rainforest, tropical grasslands, and both Caribbean and Pacific coastlines.

With a population of over 52 million, Colombia is the 29th most populous country in the world and the second most populous in South America after Brazil. It also has the second-largest Spanish-speaking population globally, after Mexico.

Ecologically, Colombia is one of the world’s 18 megadiverse countries, home to an extraordinary range of flora and fauna.