Colombia's 32 Departments: Capitals, Major Cities, and National Capital

Colombia's Administrative Divisions: Complete Guide

Colombia is divided into 32 departments (departamentos) plus the Capital District of Bogotá, which serves as both the national capital and a separate administrative entity. Each department has a capital city and varying numbers of significant municipalities.

Complete Department Directory

*Note: Some cities listed appear in multiple departments due to metropolitan areas crossing boundaries or data source variations.

National Capital: Bogotá

• Status: Capital District (Distrito Capital) — separate from Cundinamarca department
• Population: ~7.7 million (metro ~11 million)
• Role: Political, economic, cultural, and transportation hub
• Elevation: 2,640 m (8,660 ft) — third-highest capital in South America

Regional Groupings

Departments are often grouped into six natural regions: Andean, Caribbean, Pacific, Orinoquía, Amazon, and Insular — each with distinct geography, economy, and culture.