Colombia Population 2024

> > Home >> South America > > Colombia

Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America. It’s the second-largest populated country in South America. It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuela to the east, Brazil to the southeast, Ecuador, and Peru to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and Panama to the northwest. According to the National Population and Housing Census, the population of Colombia in 2023 is 52,215,503 (52 million).

Estimated Population of Colombia in 2024 – 52.5 million

Colombia	2024 Estimates
Total Population	52,215,503
South America Rank	2nd
Urban Population	80.4%
Land Area	1,038,700 sq.km (401,000 sq. mi)
Area Rank	4th
Pop. Density	50 per Km²
Capital City	Bogota

Religion in Colombia

Christianity is the largest religion in Colombia and Colombian constitution guarantees freedom of religion and all religious faiths and churches are equally free before the law.

Among Christians in Colombia Catholics have the most adherents. According to the 2020 report by the Latino barometer, 68.9% of the population followed Roman Catholicism; 16.8% Protestantism; 0.7% Jehovah’s Witnesses, and 0.2% other Christians

Other Non-Christian-based faiths population is at 0.8% other religions which include 0.1% Jewish population. About 10.9% of the Colombians follow No religion and another 2% don’t know or have no answer about religious choices

There is a small population professing the Baháʼí Faith, Islam, Buddhism, Mormonism, Hinduism, and Indigenous religions.

According to a 2020 report by the Latino barometer religion percentage in Brazil is as follows

Religion/Affiliations	Percent
Christians
Catholic	68.9%
Evangelical (no specific)	15.7%
Evangelical Pentecostal	0.7%
Adventist	0.2%
Jehovah’s Witnesses	0.7%
Other Protestant	0.2%
Other Faiths
Jewish	0.1%
Other	0.7%
None/Agnostic/Atheist
None	10.3%
Agnostic	0.3%
Atheist	0.3%
Don´t know	1.1%
No answer	0.6%

Source: https://www.latinobarometro.org/

Race and Ethnicity in Colombia

Colombia is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different races, ethnicity, and national backgrounds.

The 2018 census reported that the “non-ethnic population”, consisting of whites and mestizos (those of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry), constituted 87.58% of the national population. 6.68% is of African ancestry. Indigenous Amerindians constitute 4.31% of the population. Raizal people constitute 0.06% of the population. Palenquero people constitute 0.02% of the population. 0.01% of the population are Roma.

White Colombians are mainly of Spanish descent, Italians, Irish, Germans, and French. West Asian Ancestry of Lebanese, Palestinians, and Syrians are also present.

Some of the largest indigenous groups are the Wayuu, the Paez, the Pastos, the Emberá, and the Zenú.

PLOS genetic research determined that the average Colombian (of all races) has a mixture of European 62.5%, native Amerindian 27.4% , African 9.2% and East Asian 0.9%

The racial composition is as follows

Race and Ethnicity	Percentage
White and Mestizo	87.58%
Afro-Colombian (includes Mixed)	6.68%
Amerindian (Indigenous)	4.31%
Not Stated	1.35%
Raizal	0.06%
Palenquero	0.02%
Romani	0.01%

Source: 2018 Coloumbian Census

Top States in Colombia by Population

Colombia’s demographic tapestry unfolds across its departments, revealing a diverse distribution of its total population of 36,424,653. Leading the list is Bogotá, the capital, and a separate department, with a population of 7,412,566. Antioquia follows closely with 6,407,102 residents, showcasing its significant contribution to the country’s population. Valle del Cauca, Cundinamarca, and Atlántico round out the top five departments, each with distinctive characteristics and totaling 4,475,886, 2,919,060, and 2,535,517 residents, respectively. The provinces encapsulate Colombia’s rich cultural and geographical variations, from Santander and Bolívar to the lesser-known yet equally significant departments like Vichada and Guaviare. This comprehensive overview highlights the vast and varied population distribution that defines Colombia’s regional diversity.

#	Department	Total Population
1	Bogotá	7,412,566
2	Antioquia	6,407,102
3	Valle del Cauca	4,475,886
4	Cundinamarca	2,919,060
5	Atlántico	2,535,517
6	Santander	2,184,837
7	Bolívar	2,070,110
8	Córdoba	1,784,783
9	Nariño	1,630,592
10	Norte de Santander	1,491,689
11	Cauca	1,464,488
12	Magdalena	1,341,746
13	Tolima	1,330,187
14	Boyacá	1,217,376
15	Cesar	1,200,574
16	Huila	1,100,386
17	Meta	1,039,722
18	Caldas	998,255
19	Risaralda	943,401
20	Sucre	904,863
21	La Guajira	880,560
22	Quindío	539,904
23	Chocó	534,826
24	Casanare	420,504
25	Caquetá	401,849
26	Putumayo	348,182
27	Arauca	262,174
28	Vichada	107,808
29	Guaviare	82,767
30	Amazonas	76,589
31	San Andrés y Providencia	61,280
32	Guainía	48,114
33	Vaupés	40,797
	Colombia	36,424,653

Source: Census 2018

Top Cities in Colombia by Population

Colombia’s urban landscape is marked by vibrant cities, each with its unique character and significance. At the forefront is Bogotá, the capital and largest city, boasting a bustling population of 7,387,400. Medellín in the Antioquia province follows closely, with 2,382,399 residents, contributing to the cultural and economic dynamism of the region. Cali, situated in Valle del Cauca, claims the third spot with a population of 2,172,527, while Barranquilla in Atlántico and Cartagena in Bolívar round out the top five with populations of 1,205,284 and 876,885, respectively. These cities, including Cúcuta, Soacha, Soledad, Bucaramanga, and Bello, reflect the diversity and urban vibrancy that characterize Colombia’s provinces.

#	City	Province	Population
1	Bogotá	Bogotá	73,87,400
2	Medellín	Antioquia	23,82,399
3	Cali	Valle del Cauca	21,72,527
4	Barranquilla	Atlántico	12,05,284
5	Cartagena	Bolívar	8,76,885
6	Cúcuta	Norte de Santander	6,85,445
7	Soacha	Cundinamarca	6,55,025
8	Soledad	Atlántico	6,02,644
9	Bucaramanga	Santander	5,70,752
10	Bello	Antioquia	4,95,483
11	Ibagué	Tolima	4,92,554
12	Villavicencio	Meta	4,92,052
13	Santa Marta	Magdalena	4,55,299
14	Valledupar	Cesar	4,31,794
15	Manizales	Caldas	4,05,234
16	Montería	Córdoba	3,88,499
17	Pereira	Risaralda	3,85,838
18	Neiva	Huila	3,35,994
19	Pasto	Nariño	3,08,095
20	Armenia	Quindío	2,87,245

Colombia Population 2024 | Religion in Colombia

Tagged on: Population of Colombia 2022 Top Cities in Colombia