55% of Venezuelan migrants in Colombia are irregular

The Colombian immigration authority reported on Thursday that as of October 31 this year, 1,717,352 Venezuelans were living in the country, and that 55 percent of them had not defined their immigration status.

Juan Francisco Espinosa, director general of Migration Colombia, explained that the figure shows an increase of 0.1% compared to September.

Of the total number of Venezuelans living in Colombia, 770,246 are in regular status (45 percent), while 947,106 are in an irregular status (55 percent).

This being so, Espinosa said that after nearly six months, during which time a downward trend is being witnessed, Venezuela's migratory dynamics are beginning to change and these nationals are beginning to enter the country, even using unauthorised crossings.

In detailing the figures, Espinosa said that of the total number of Venezuelans living in Colombia, 51% are men, while the other 49% are women. Referring to the age range of this population, Espinosa said it is young people, as their ages are between 18 and 39.

She also said that there are around 412,000 Venezuelan children and adolescents in Colombia, which is equivalent to 24% of the total population of the oil-producing country that has arrived on Colombian soil in search of better opportunities.

Likewise, he said, the vast majority of these migrants continue to settle in the country's main cities or capitals, thanks in large part to the economic possibilities they represent.

According to this report, more than 333,000 Venezuelans are concentrated in Bogotá, followed by Cúcuta, capital of Norte de Santander department, with more than 100,000; Barranquilla with just over 94,000, Medellín with more than 88,000, and Cali with more than 59,000.

The department with the largest Venezuelan population is Norte de Santander with 191,484, followed by Atlántico (158,662), Antioquia (154,302), La Guajira (148,171), Santander (110,575), Cundinamarca (94,125). In Valle del Cauca (88,414), Magdalena (86,848), Bolivar (79,626), Cesar (54,602). Vaupés is the department with the lowest number of Venezuelans: 71.