Colombia

Colombia is a country in South America with its capital in Bogota and about 53.4 million people. Colombia is known for its coffee and for the legend of El Dorado, inspired by Muisca rulers covered in gold dust.

Colombia in purple, with Bogota marked. Outline from the same detailed coastlines the games use.

Capital: Bogota
Continent: South America
Population (2025): 53.4 million
Land area: 1,109,500 km² (428,380 sq mi)

Find it among 12 South America countries →Explore Colombia on the map

The story of Colombia

Where the name comes from

Colombia means “land of Columbus”; independence leaders first used the name for a proposed union of Spanish America.

First people

Muisca and other Indigenous societies lived here for thousands of years.¹

Known for

Colombia is known for its coffee and for the legend of El Dorado, inspired by Muisca rulers covered in gold dust.²

Outside contact

Spain founded Santa Marta in 1525 and Bogotá in 1538.¹

The modern country

Independence was declared in 1810 and won on the battlefield in 1819. Colombia was first part of Gran Colombia, which broke apart in 1830–1831; Panama split away in 1903 with US support.^3,4,5