COLOMBIA: DRUGS AND POVERTY

Illicit drugs: world's leading coca cultivator, supplying about 90 per cent
of US cocaine. Cultivation of opium in 1999 increased to 18,500 acres from
15,000 in 1998. Also important supplier of heroin to US market and producer
of cannabis.

Armed groups: two of largest insurgent groups active in Colombia are
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (about 18,000 guerrillas), and
National Liberation Army (about 2,500); largest paramilitary group is United
Self-Defence Groups of Colombia (about 11,000) Armed forces: 120,000 (55,000
professional soldiers), 75,000 police.

Population: 40,349,388

GDP: UKP172 billion

GDP per capita: UKP4,256

Area: 439,736 square miles

Literacy: 92 per cent of those aged over 15

Population below poverty line: 55 per cent

Debt: UKP23.3 billion

Source: CIA World Factbook 2001