Departments of Colombia explained
Colombia is a unitary republic conformed by thirty-two departments (Spanish: departamentos, sing. departamento) and a Capital District (Distrito Capital). Each department has a Governor (gobernador) and a Department Assembly (Asamblea Departamental), elected by popular vote for a four-year period. The governor cannot be re-elected consecutively.
Departments are formed by a grouping of municipalities (Spanish: municipios, sing. municipio). Municipal government is composed by a mayor (alcalde) and a Municipal Council (concejo municipal), both of them elected by the people for a four-year period.
The Capital District is the country's capital, Bogotá. It is partially dependent on the Department of Cundinamarca that surrounds it.
Chart of departments
| Department | Capital | Area (km²) | Population | Date of establishment |
|---|
| 1 | Amazonas | Leticia | | | October 5, 1991 |
| 2 | Antioquia | Medellín | | | 1826 |
| 3 | Arauca | Arauca | | | July 4, 1991 |
| 4 | Atlántico | Barranquilla | | | 1910 |
| 5 | Bolívar | Cartagena | | | June 15, 1857 |
| 6 | Boyacá | Tunja | | | 1858 |
| 7 | Caldas | Manizales | | | 1905 |
| 8 | Caquetá | Florencia | | | 1982 |
| 9 | Casanare | Yopal | | | July 4, 1991 |
| 10 | Cauca | Popayán | | | June 15, 1857 |
| 11 | Cesar | Valledupar | | | December, 1967 |
| 12 | Chocó | Quibdó | | | November 3, 1947 |
| 13 | Córdoba | Montería | | | June 18, 1952 |
| 14 | Cundinamarca | Bogotá | | * | June 15, 1857 |
| 15 | Guainía | Inirida | | | 1963? |
| 16 | Guaviare | San José del Guaviare | | | July 4, 1991 |
| 17 | Huila | Neiva | | | 1905 |
| 18 | La Guajira | Riohacha | | | July 1, 1965 |
| 19 | Magdalena | Santa Marta | | | July 25, 1824 |
| 20 | Meta | Villavicencio | | | July 1, 1960 |
| 21 | Nariño | Pasto | | | August 6, 1904 |
| 22 | Norte de Santander | Cúcuta | | | July 25, 1910 |
| 23 | Putumayo | Mocoa | | | 1991 |
| 24 | Quindío | Armenia | | | July 1, 1966 |
| 25 | Risaralda | Pereira | | | July 1, 1966 |
| 26 | San Andrés and Providencia | San Andrés | | | July 4, 1991 |
| 27 | Santander | Bucaramanga | | | May 13, 1857 |
| 28 | Sucre | Sincelejo | | | August 18, 1966 |
| 29 | Tolima | Ibagué | | | August 4, 1886 |
| 30 | Valle del Cauca | Cali | | | April 16, 1910 |
| 31 | Vaupés | Mitú | | | July 4, 1991 |
| 32 | Vichada | Puerto Carreño | | | July 5, 1991 |
| 33 | Bogotá, Distrito Capital | | | ? |
- Estimate includes the country's capital, Bogotá.
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See also
External links
