GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Expansive aerial view of Bogotá, Colombia, showcasing the dense urban cityscape under a cloudy sky.A scenic view of Bogotá's skyline surrounded by greenery, showcasing urban architecture and nature.

Colombia

South America

Low safetyVery affordable cost of livingHigh development

Essential health services reach most people. It is less peaceful than most countries.

Digital NomadOffers a digital nomad visa and home internet at 210 Mbps.
vs Mexicovs Costa Ricavs Brazil
Safety

140th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.735lower is more peacefulLow safety
#140 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
24.9per 100,000 people a yearVery highUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
38.7Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$7,900national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
10.9New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
16.9years of median income to buy a median flatExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 126% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 49% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$13K$25K$22,640 PPP$8,562Inflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $3,790 a person, $9,154 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2007, $4,770 a person, $9,909 at PPP, inflation 5.5%2008, $5,542 a person, $10,307 at PPP, inflation 7%2009, $5,251 a person, $10,367 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2010, $6,398 a person, $10,841 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2011, $7,401 a person, $11,707 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2012, $8,109 a person, $12,093 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2013, $8,279 a person, $12,780 at PPP, inflation 2%2014, $8,187 a person, $13,355 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2015, $6,249 a person, $13,332 at PPP, inflation 5%2016, $5,960 a person, $14,027 at PPP, inflation 7.5%2017, $6,480 a person, $14,401 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2018, $6,817 a person, $15,239 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2019, $6,473 a person, $16,182 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2020, $5,340 a person, $15,519 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2021, $6,223 a person, $17,383 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2022, $6,680 a person, $20,854 at PPP, inflation 10.2%2023, $7,012 a person, $21,282 at PPP, inflation 11.7%2024, $7,951 a person, $22,439 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2025, $8,562 a person, $22,640 at PPP, inflation 5.1%$0$13K$25KInflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $3,790 a person, $9,154 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2007, $4,770 a person, $9,909 at PPP, inflation 5.5%2008, $5,542 a person, $10,307 at PPP, inflation 7%2009, $5,251 a person, $10,367 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2010, $6,398 a person, $10,841 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2011, $7,401 a person, $11,707 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2012, $8,109 a person, $12,093 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2013, $8,279 a person, $12,780 at PPP, inflation 2%2014, $8,187 a person, $13,355 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2015, $6,249 a person, $13,332 at PPP, inflation 5%2016, $5,960 a person, $14,027 at PPP, inflation 7.5%2017, $6,480 a person, $14,401 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2018, $6,817 a person, $15,239 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2019, $6,473 a person, $16,182 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2020, $5,340 a person, $15,519 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2021, $6,223 a person, $17,383 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2022, $6,680 a person, $20,854 at PPP, inflation 10.2%2023, $7,012 a person, $21,282 at PPP, inflation 11.7%2024, $7,951 a person, $22,439 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2025, $8,562 a person, $22,640 at PPP, inflation 5.1%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
77.9years, at birthHigh
#56 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
82WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
14.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
8.3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
210 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
480EF English Proficiency Index scoreLowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet210 MbpsVery fast
Mobile45 MbpsVery slow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
$900 a month
Duration
24 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
$232
  • Tax treatmentLocal rates apply
  • Processing timeAbout 30 days
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineYes
  • Path to residencyYes
  • NationalitiesSome are restricted
Official pageImmigration portal
A scenic view of Bogotá's skyline surrounded by greenery, showcasing urban architecture and nature.
How it changed

Colombia's Human Development Index

0.788High human development

83rd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 5th of 12 in South America.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #81Azerbaijan0.789
  2. #81Mexico0.789
  3. #83Colombia0.788
  4. #84Brazil0.786
  5. #84Palau0.786
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.623 in 1990 to 0.788 in 2023.

0.600.720.850.78819902000201020231990: 0.6231991: 0.6301992: 0.6391993: 0.6451994: 0.6501995: 0.6551996: 0.6631997: 0.6701998: 0.6761999: 0.6732000: 0.6792001: 0.6812002: 0.6842003: 0.6912004: 0.6992005: 0.7112006: 0.7122007: 0.7242008: 0.7312009: 0.7362010: 0.7412011: 0.7472012: 0.7482013: 0.7602014: 0.7632015: 0.7672016: 0.7722017: 0.7742018: 0.7752019: 0.7772020: 0.7642021: 0.7622022: 0.7822023: 0.7880.600.720.8519902000201020231990: 0.6231991: 0.6301992: 0.6391993: 0.6451994: 0.6501995: 0.6551996: 0.6631997: 0.6701998: 0.6761999: 0.6732000: 0.6792001: 0.6812002: 0.6842003: 0.6912004: 0.6992005: 0.7112006: 0.7122007: 0.7242008: 0.7312009: 0.7362010: 0.7412011: 0.7472012: 0.7482013: 0.7602014: 0.7632015: 0.7672016: 0.7722017: 0.7742018: 0.7752019: 0.7772020: 0.7642021: 0.7622022: 0.7822023: 0.788

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
77.9 years2024at birthUp 4.8 years from 73.2 years in 2005
Internet users
79%2024of people onlineUp 64 points from 15% in 2006
Urban population
79%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 3 points from 76% in 2006
Births per woman
1.632024births per womanDown 0.68 from 2.31 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
30%2021of energy usedUp 1 point from 29% in 2004
Access to electricity
99%2024of people with electricityUp 2 points from 97% in 2005
Infant mortality
112024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 8 from 19 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
1.8 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.3 t from 1.5 t in 2005
Forest area
53%2023of land under forestDown 3 points from 56% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Medellín and Bogotá are rising nomad hubs, with improving security and a warm climate. The case for living here is wide access to essential health services. The case against is a low peace ranking and little English among locals.

About Colombia

Colombia is a country that has dramatically rewritten its story over recent decades, revealing extraordinary biodiversity, a vibrant café culture, colonial cities with colourful architecture, and some of the warmest and most expressive people in Latin America. The landscape spans Caribbean and Pacific coasts, Andean highlands, coffee regions, and Amazon jungle. Urban safety has improved enormously in many areas, though awareness remains important, and those open to the country's energy will find it one of the continent's most rewarding destinations.

Practical facts

  • CapitalBogotá
  • LanguagesSpanish
  • CurrencyColombian peso (COP)
  • Area1,109,500 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Colombia's Human Development Index?

Colombia's Human Development Index is 0.788 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #83 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Colombia safe?

Colombia scores 2.73 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #140 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Colombia?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Colombia at 31.7 (New York = 100); that is #37 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Colombia?

Life expectancy at birth in Colombia is 77.9 yrs (World Bank), ranked #56 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Colombia?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Colombia at 105.9, ranked #73 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.