Definition of Youth
Colombia’s national youth policy (2005) defines youth as individuals between 14-26 years.
Marriageable Age
- Opposite Sex
- Same Sex
- Without parental consent
- with parental consent
- Male
- 18
- 14
- ++
Candidacy Age
- Lower House
- 25 Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
- Upper House
- 30
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
Situation of Young People
Literacy Rates
- 98.23% Male (15-24) %
- 99.10% Female (15-24) %
- Year: 2015
- Source: UNESCO
Net Enrolment Rate
Secondary School- 70.77%Male %
- 76.56% Female %
- Year: 2012
- Source: UNESCO
Situation of Young People
Tobacco Use
Consumed any smokeless or smoking tobacco product at least once 30 days prior to the survey.- 27.00% Male (13-15) %
- 27.80% Female (13-15) %
- Year: 2010
- Source: WHO
Policy & Legislation
The national youth policy (2005) is the basis for a Ten-Year Plan for Youth (2005-2015). While the policy “sets out the commitments and tasks of the National Government”, the Ten-Year Plan reflects current priorities. The national youth policy (2005) has three main objectives:
- Youth participation in public life;
- Access to good public services;
- Broadening of social, economic and cultural opportunities.
Public Institutions
(ministry, department or office) that is primarily responsible for youth?
Youth and Representation
Budget & Spending
- % of GDP
- % of gov. expenditure
Source: World Bank
Gaps indicate missing data from the original data source. (Accessed August 2013).
Additional Background
Colombia 's total population increased from 34.9 million in the year 1990 to 45,300,000 in 2004 and projected to be 53.1 million in 2015. In the same years, the youth population - of between 10 and 29 years – grew from 14.5 million in 1990 to 16,800,000 in 2004 and projected to be 18.4 million in 2005. This shows that, although the trend is towards population growth, their relative weight with respect to the total population is going to gradually decrease: 41.47 % in 1990, 37.17% in 2004 and 34.6 % 2015.