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Choco is one of the richest provinces in Colombia in terms of biodiversity, natural resources and precious metals. Economically speaking, however, it is the poorest in the country.
It is located along the Pacific coast of Colombia and stretches up to the border with Panama.
Choco is home to some 500,000 people, predominantly descendants of slaves and indigenous communities that lived in the region before the Spanish conquest. ‘Choco’ was actually the name given to these groups by the Spanish colonizers.
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Region: Pacific
Capital: Quibdo
Governor: Jhoany Carlos Alberto Palacios
Territory: 17,970 sq mi
Represents: 3.91%
Population: 510,076
Population density: 28.83/sq mi
Represents: 4.07%
GDP: $1.56 billion
Represents: 0.53%
Poverty rate: 62.8%
GINI coefficient: 59.8.
Skip to
Top | Summary | Map | History | Socio-economic statistics
Skip to
Top | Summary | Map | History | Socio-economic statistics
Pre-colonization
Before the Spanish invasion, the land that is now known as the Choco department was inhabited by several indigenous groups who lived in circular settlements along the three main rivers of the Choco:
In the gulf of Uraba and along the Atrato River live the Kuna or Tule people. River San Juan was inhabited by the Wounaan or Noanamaes. The areas around the Atrata and the Baudo rivers was home to the Embera, Baudoes and Citararaes.
When the colonizers arrived, many of the Embera people fled to the Darien jungle in Panama when the colonizers arrived. Today, indigenous communities make up just 12.7% of Choco’s population.
Spanish invasion: Slavery and exploitation of natural resources
After the Spanish discovered the extent of natural resources and minerals in the region, they needed a way of extracting these riches but were hindered by the dense jungles and difficult weather conditions. Their solution was slavery.
Up to 7 thousand slaves were taken from Africa and brought to Choco from 1700 to 1800. They were used to work in gold mines and on banana plantations.
As the colonial economy relied almost solely on gold, which Choco has in abundance, the valuable mineral was extracted and transported to Europe.
Until today, local descendants of slaves continue to be active in mining, pretty much in the same way their salve ancestors did.
Territorial disputes with Antioquia
Ever since the Spanish discovery of Colombia, the territory that is now Choco has been long fought over and the province was only officially established in 1947.
Choco has been unfortunate with its aggressive and greedy neighbors. Instead of acting as allies to the province, Antioquia, Valle de Cauca and Caldas wanted to split it up and divide its riches.
Between 1904 to 1947, Choco lost 27.470 km2 to its three neighboring provinces.
Even after being officially recognized as a province under Law 13 of 1947, attempts to sabotage the region continued under General Gustavo Rojas’ military dictatorship.
The dictator ordered Choco to be eliminated as a province and divided between Antioquia and Valle del Cauca, but Pinilla’s intentions were thwarted by the 1957 coup d’état of General Gabriel París Gordillo, who reinstated civilian rule in Colombia.