Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Colombia: Bogotá — Facts & 5-Question Quiz

The capital of Colombia is Bogotá. Colombia sits in South America, has a population of 51,874,024, and uses the COP. Official languages include Spanish.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Bogotá
  • Continent: South America
  • Population: ~51,874,024
  • Area: 1,141,748 km²
  • Population density: 45.4 people per km²
  • Official language: Spanish
  • Currency: COP
  • ISO code: CO

How big is Colombia?

By population, Colombia ranks 28th in the world, holding roughly 0.65% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 25th.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Colombia has 45.4 people per square kilometre, which is about 1.3 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.

Within South America, Colombia is the 2nd most populous country of 12.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Colombia in population are South Korea (51,815,810) and Kenya (54,027,487).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Ethiopia (1,104,300 km²) and Bolivia (1,098,581 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Spanish is spoken officially in 20 countries in this dataset, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica and Cuba, and 14 others.

Colombia uses the COP, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

How to remember Colombia

Bogotá stands about 2,640 m above sea level, so the capital is a city in the mountains. For the flag, remember 'big yellow': the top half is all yellow, and blue and red share the rest.

The flag of Colombia: yellow, blue and red

🇨🇴 The flag is three horizontal stripes of yellow, blue and red, with the yellow stripe twice as wide as the other two. There are several readings of the colours. One is yellow for the gold in Colombia's land, blue for the sea and red for the blood spilled for freedom.

Region and neighbours

Colombia is a country in the northwest of South America, with the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It shares land borders with 5 countries: Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador.

Three facts about Colombia

  1. Colombia is divided into 32 departments plus the Capital District of Bogotá.
  2. The name Colombia comes from the last name of the navigator Christopher Columbus.
  3. Colombia is one of the world's seventeen megadiverse countries.

Sources: Wikipedia: Colombia, Wikipedia: Flag of Colombia, Wikipedia: Bogotá, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Colombia

Colombia capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Colombia 🇨🇴?

    • Caracas
    • Sucre
    • Bogotá
    • Lima
    Show answer

    Bogotá

  2. What is the capital of Argentina 🇦🇷?

    • Buenos Aires
    • Bogotá
    • Quito
    • Georgetown
    Show answer

    Buenos Aires

  3. What is the capital of Peru 🇵🇪?

    • Brasília
    • Asunción
    • Montevideo
    • Lima
    Show answer

    Lima

  4. What is the capital of Venezuela 🇻🇪?

    • Paramaribo
    • Buenos Aires
    • Caracas
    • Quito
    Show answer

    Caracas

  5. What is the capital of Chile 🇨🇱?

    • Paramaribo
    • Georgetown
    • Santiago
    • Asunción
    Show answer

    Santiago

Colombia in South America

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Venezuela.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — South America is the block Colombia belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Colombia.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Colombia?

The capital of Colombia is Bogotá.

What is the population of Colombia?

About 51,874,024, making it the 28th most populous country in the world.

How big is Colombia?

1,141,748 square kilometres, ranking 25th by land area, at a density of 45.4 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Colombia use?

The COP, which no other country uses.

What are the colours of the Colombia flag?

The flag of Colombia is three horizontal stripes of yellow, blue and red, with the yellow stripe twice as wide as the other two. There are several readings of the colours. One is yellow for the gold in Colombia's land, blue for the sea and red for the blood spilled for freedom.

Which countries border Colombia?

Colombia shares land borders with Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador.

How can I remember the capital of Colombia?

Bogotá stands about 2,640 m above sea level, so the capital is a city in the mountains. For the flag, remember 'big yellow': the top half is all yellow, and blue and red share the rest.

More capitals to learn

Get the free Mind Skills Arcade app

Brain games for memory, logic, math and focus, free and offline: Get it on Google Play · Download on the App Store