Colombia
Latin America & the Caribbean · 18 specs
Direct Answer
Colombia (CO / COL / 170) operates on a 110 V / 60 Hz electrical grid using NEMA 1-15 (Type A) and NEMA 5-15 (Type B) sockets. Traffic drives on the right (RHT). The official currency is the Colombian Peso (COP, $), country calling code is +57 (exit code 00), unified emergency dispatch is 123, and paper standard is Carta (US Letter) / ISO A4.
Source: RETIE (Reglamento Técnico de Instalaciones Eléctricas) / CRC / ISO 3166-1 / 4-72 · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official English Name | Republic of Colombia ISO 3166-1 |
| Local Endonym | República de Colombia |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 | CO |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 | COL |
| ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 | 170 UN M49 (Code 419) |
| Country Calling Code | +57 CRC (ITU-T E.164) |
| International Exit Code (IDD) | 00 + Carrier (005, 007, 009) Carrier prefix |
| Internet ccTLD | .co .CO Internet S.A.S. |
| Vehicle Registration Code | CO UNECE Standard |
| National Currency (ISO 4217) | Colombian Peso (COP, $) 100 Centavos (subunits obsolete) |
| Mains Electricity Standard | 110 V / 120 V (±10%), 60 Hz RETIE Standard |
| Electrical Plug Sockets | Type A (NEMA 1-15) & Type B (NEMA 5-15) 15 A / 125 V |
| Road Traffic Driving Side | Right-Hand Traffic (RHT / LHD) Código Nacional de Tránsito |
| Primary Measurement System | Metric (SI) ICONTEC Standard |
| Standard Office Paper Format | Carta (US Letter / 215.9 × 279.4 mm) & A4 NTC Standard |
| Consolidated Emergency Number | 123 Número Único de Seguridad y Emergencias |
| Postal Code Regex / Format | 6 Digits (NNNNNN, e.g. 110111 Bogotá) 4-72 Servicios Postales |
| Primary Time Zone | UTC-5 (COT) No DST observed |
Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility
- Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 110 V / 120 V (±10%), 60 Hz.
- Plug & Socket Hardware: Type A (NEMA 1-15) & Type B (NEMA 5-15). Uses North American style Type A (2-blade ungrounded) and Type B (3-prong grounded) receptacles.
- International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.
Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch
- International Dialing: The country calling code is +57. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 00 + Carrier (005, 007, 009) followed by the destination country code.
- Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 123. Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.
Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations
- Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the right (RHT) with Left-Hand Drive (LHD) vehicles.
- Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
- Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.
Commerce, Currency & Document Standards
- Official Currency: Legal tender is the Colombian Peso (COP, $).
- Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize Carta (US Letter / 215.9 × 279.4 mm) & A4. Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
- National Time Zone: Regulated under UTC-5 (COT).
Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions
- Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes 6 Digits (NNNNNN, e.g. 110111 Bogotá).
- Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → Republic of Colombia.