The Population of Present-Day Colombia at the Time of the Spanish Conquest: A Critical Survey

Abstract

This paper studies the population estimates for the territory of present-day Colombia around 1500, on the eve of the Spanish Conquest. I review the literature and examine critically the methods and sources used in the field. I conclude that there is no consensus on the size of the population for the period, much less with respect to the methods used to estimate it. I offer arguments to show the importance of advancing in the exploration of the field and the existence of ways to do so, thanks to the availability of new methods and sources.