The migrant population from Venezuela continues to grow in the country. Cut to last February of this year, the total number of Venezuelan citizens in Colombia was 2,477,588, a rise of 34%, 635,000 peoplecompared to the last known figure for August 2021.
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This was revealed this Tuesday by Migración Colombia in a general balance that they carried out on
the condition of Venezuelan migrants and the Temporary Protection Statute (PPT), the program led by the Presidency that seeks to regularize the migrant population.
This migrant population is made up of 51% women, some 1,268,669 citizens, and 49% men, that is, 1,208,367 citizens. Meanwhile, 552 people identified as another gender. 31% of Venezuelan citizens are in the age range between 18 to 29 years: 22% between 30 and 39 years old and 12% between 40 and 49 years old.
“72% are in what we call economically active age. This means that Colombia received an unparalleled demographic bonus. Here we have a supremely powerful demographic bonus, not only for work capacity, but also for pension stability and job creation”, said the director of Migration Colombia, Juan Francisco Espinosa.
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“Another important fact is that 24% are minors. A giant challenge, especially in the education sector, but also an enormous opportunity to train new people who will help us further consolidate the country”Spinoza added.
Regarding the migratory status, of the more than 2,000,000 Venezuelans in Colombia, 333,806 are on a regular basis, although outside the PPT, that is, they have work visas or some other mechanism. Secondly, 1,848,744 citizens are in the PPT process and the remaining 295,038 citizens are irregular.
Among the departments with the greatest reception of Venezuelan citizens is Bogota (20%, 495,236 people); Antioquia (14%; 344,223 people); Norte de Santander (10%, 253,911 people); Valle del Cauca (8%, 193,440 people) and Atlántico (7%; 175,265 people). In cities: Bogotá, Medellín, Cúcuta, Cali and Barranquilla.
Likewise, Migration Colombia defined that 35% of Venezuelans come from border states such as Zulia, Táchira, Apure and Amazonas; another 35% emigrate from the central states and the north coast, such as the Capital District, Miranda, Anzoátegui, among others; while the remaining 30% do so from the most distant states of Colombia, such as Delta Amacuro or Nueva Esparta.
Among the reasons for migration collected by the Colombian authority are: 1.52 million said they emigrated to improve their living conditions; 1.15 million did so to find work and more than 161 thousand arrived in Colombia due to threats or risks of political conflict.
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Now, regarding the progress of the PPT, the director of Colombian Migration He pointed out that so far 1,439,859 identifications have been approved and 1,206,520 delivered, thus exceeding the goal established by the president of Iván Duque of the delivery of more than 1,000,000 PPT cards for the year of the program.
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