Colombia Departments and Capitals - Departments in Colombia

Written and Fact-checked by | Last Updated On: May 27, 2026

Colombia is divided into 32 Departments (departamentos) and one capital district. Here is a list of the Departments in Colombia:

Colombia is a country in northwestern South America bordered by Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, the Caribbean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. The country is divided into 32 departments along with the Capital District of Bogotá. Bogotá is the national capital and also the largest city in Colombia.

Colombia has Caribbean beaches, Andes mountains, Amazon rainforest, grasslands, and Pacific coastal regions all within one country. Different departments have very different climates, foods, music styles, and local traditions, which gives Colombia a strong regional identity across the country.

Key Facts

  • National capital: Bogotá
  • Total population: 53,425,635 (Official estimate 2024)
  • Total area: 1,141,748 km² (440,831 sq miles)
  • Currency: Colombian Peso ($, COP)
  • Bordering countries: Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Panama
  • Total Departments: 32
  • Total Capital Districts: 1

List of Departments and Capitals of Colombia

Total administrative divisions shown: 33 | Combined population: 53,425,635 | Combined area: 1,141,748 km²

#Department NameCapital CityRegionArea (km²)Population (Latest Census)
1AmazonasLeticiaAmazon Region109,66586,000
2AntioquiaMedellínAndean Region63,6127,120,000
3AraucaAraucaOrinoquía Region23,818310,000
4AtlánticoBarranquillaCaribbean Region3,3882,900,000
5Bogotá D.C.BogotáCapital Region1,7758,181,000
6BolívarCartagenaCaribbean Region25,9782,250,000
7BoyacáTunjaAndean Region23,1891,350,000
8CaldasManizalesAndean Region7,888998,000
9CaquetáFlorenciaAmazon Region88,965420,000
10CasanareYopalOrinoquía Region44,640460,000
11CaucaPopayánPacific Region29,3081,550,000
12CesarValleduparCaribbean Region22,9051,350,000
13ChocóQuibdóPacific Region46,530560,000
14CórdobaMonteríaCaribbean Region25,0201,950,000
15CundinamarcaBogotáAndean Region24,2103,500,000
16GuainíaIníridaAmazon Region72,23853,000
17GuaviareSan José del GuaviareAmazon Region53,460118,000
18HuilaNeivaAndean Region19,8901,180,000
19La GuajiraRiohachaCaribbean Region20,8481,130,000
20MagdalenaSanta MartaCaribbean Region23,1881,450,000
21MetaVillavicencioOrinoquía Region85,6351,120,000
22NariñoPastoPacific Region33,2681,700,000
23Norte de SantanderCúcutaAndean Region21,6581,650,000
24PutumayoMocoaAmazon Region24,885370,000
25QuindíoArmeniaAndean Region1,845570,000
26RisaraldaPereiraAndean Region4,140990,000
27San Andrés y ProvidenciaSan AndrésCaribbean Islands5282,000
28SantanderBucaramangaAndean Region30,5372,400,000
29SucreSincelejoCaribbean Region10,917980,000
30TolimaIbaguéAndean Region23,5621,420,000
31Valle del CaucaCaliPacific Region22,1404,750,000
32VaupésMitúAmazon Region54,13548,000
33VichadaPuerto CarreñoOrinoquía Region100,24265,635

Largest Departments by Area

  • Amazonas - 42,342 sq mi (109,665 km²)
  • Vichada - 38,704 sq mi (100,242 km²)
  • Caquetá - 34,350 sq mi (88,965 km²)
  • Meta - 33,064 sq mi (85,635 km²)
  • Guainía - 27,891 sq mi (72,238 km²)
  • Antioquia - 24,561 sq mi (63,612 km²)
  • Vaupés - 20,902 sq mi (54,135 km²)
  • Guaviare - 20,641 sq mi (53,460 km²)

Most Populous Departments

  • Bogotá D.C. - Population: 8,181,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
  • Antioquia - Population: 7,120,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
  • Valle del Cauca - Population: 4,750,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
  • Cundinamarca - Population: 3,500,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
  • Atlántico - Population: 2,900,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
  • Santander - Population: 2,400,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
  • Bolívar - Population: 2,250,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
  • Córdoba - Population: 1,950,000 (Official Estimate 2024)

Smallest Departments by Area

  • San Andrés y Providencia - 20 sq mi (52 km²)
  • Bogotá D.C. - 685 sq mi (1,775 km²)
  • Quindío - 712 sq mi (1,845 km²)
  • Atlántico - 1,308 sq mi (3,388 km²)
  • Risaralda - 1,598 sq mi (4,140 km²)
  • Caldas - 3,046 sq mi (7,888 km²)

Departments by Regional Grouping

  • Capital Region: Bogotá D.C.
  • Andean Region: Antioquia, Boyacá, Caldas, Cundinamarca, Huila, Norte de Santander, Quindío, Risaralda, Santander, Tolima
  • Caribbean Region: Atlántico, Bolívar, Cesar, Córdoba, La Guajira, Magdalena, Sucre
  • Caribbean Islands: San Andrés y Providencia
  • Pacific Region: Cauca, Chocó, Nariño, Valle del Cauca
  • Amazon Region: Amazonas, Caquetá, Guainía, Guaviare, Putumayo, Vaupés
  • Orinoquía Region: Arauca, Casanare, Meta, Vichada

Landlocked Departments

  • Amazonas
  • Antioquia
  • Arauca
  • Bogotá D.C.
  • Boyacá
  • Caldas
  • Caquetá
  • Casanare
  • Cesar
  • Cundinamarca
  • Guainía
  • Guaviare
  • Huila
  • Meta
  • Norte de Santander
  • Putumayo
  • Quindío
  • Risaralda
  • Santander
  • Tolima
  • Vaupés
  • Vichada

Departments with Coastline

  • Atlántico
  • Bolívar
  • Cauca
  • Chocó
  • Córdoba
  • La Guajira
  • Magdalena
  • Nariño
  • San Andrés y Providencia
  • Sucre
  • Valle del Cauca

Departments Sharing Borders with Other Countries

  • Venezuela: Arauca, Cesar, La Guajira, Norte de Santander, Vichada
  • Brazil: Amazonas, Guainía, Vaupés
  • Peru: Amazonas, Putumayo
  • Ecuador: Nariño, Putumayo
  • Panama: Chocó

Sources