Legend:  Definition
 Field
Listing  Rank
Order
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Background:
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Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke away
from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history has consisted
of a series of nearly 200 coups and counter-coups. Comparatively
democratic civilian rule was established in the 1980s, but leaders
have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest,
and drug production. Current goals include attracting foreign investment,
strengthening the educational system, resolving disputes with coca
growers over Bolivia's counterdrug efforts, continuing the privatization
program, and waging an anticorruption campaign. |
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Location:
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Central South America, southwest of Brazil |
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Geographic coordinates:
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17 00 S, 65 00 W |
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Map references:
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South
America |
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Area:
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total: 1,098,580 sq km
water: 14,190 sq km
land: 1,084,390 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than three times the size of Montana |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 6,743 km
border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile
861 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid |
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Terrain:
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rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills,
lowland plains of the Amazon Basin |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m
highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m |
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Natural resources:
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tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron,
lead, gold, timber, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land: 1.73%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 98.06% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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1,280 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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flooding in the northeast (March-April) |
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Environment - current issues:
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the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international
demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil
erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including
slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity;
industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable
lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru
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Population:
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8,586,443 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 37.1% (male 1,624,366; female 1,562,501)
15-64 years: 58.4% (male 2,452,892; female 2,561,873)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 172,292; female 212,519) (2003
est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 20.8 years
male: 20.1 years
female: 21.5 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.63% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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25.53 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.91 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 56.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 52.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 59.75 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 64.78 years
male: 62.2 years
female: 67.48 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.23 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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4,600 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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290 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Bolivian(s)
adjective: Bolivian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%,
Aymara 25%, white 15% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) |
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Languages:
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Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.2%
male: 93.1%
female: 81.6% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia
conventional short form: Bolivia
local short form: Bolivia
local long form: Republica de Bolivia |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary)
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Administrative divisions:
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9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Chuquisaca,
Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
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Independence:
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6 August 1825 (from Spain) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 6 August (1825) |
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Constitution:
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2 February 1967; revised in August 1994 |
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Legal system:
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based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years of
age, universal and compulsory (single) |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert (since
17 October 2003); Vice President (vacant); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert (since
17 October 2003); Vice President (vacant); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same
ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 30
June 2002 (next to be held NA June 2007)
election results: as a result of no candidate winning a majority
in the 30 June 2002 election, Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA Bustamante
was chosen president by Congress; Congressional votes - Gonzalo
SANCHEZ DE LOZADA Bustamante 84, Evo MORALES 43; note - following
the resignation of the elected president on 17 October 2003, Vice
President Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert assumed the presidency |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of Chamber
of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27 seats; members are directly
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of
Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; members are directly
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - some members
are drawn from party lists, thus not directly elected)
elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies -
last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held NA June 2007)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - MNR 11, MAS 8, MIR 5, NFR 2, other
1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - MNR 36, MAS 27, MIR 26, NFR 25, others 16 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges appointed for 10-year terms
by National Congress); District Courts (one in each department);
provincial and local courts (to try minor cases) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Bolivian Socialist Falange or FSB [Romel PANTOJA]; Civic Solidarity
Union or UCS [Johnny FERNANDEZ]; Free Bolivia Movement or MBL [Franz
BARRIOS]; Marshal of Ayacucho Institutional Vanguard or VIMA [Freddy
ZABALA]; Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR [Jaime PAZ Zamora];
Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Evo MORALES]; Movement Without
Fear or MSM [Juan DEL GRANADO]; Nationalist Democratic Action or
ADN [Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez]; Nationalist Revolutionary
Movement or MNR [Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA]; New Republican Force
or NFR [Manfred REYES-VILLA]; Pachakuti Indigenous Movement or MIP
[Felipe QUISPE]; Socialist Party or PS [Jeres JUSTINIANO]
note: the MNR, MIR, and UCS comprise the ruling coalition
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Cocalero Groups; indigenous organizations; labor unions; Sole Confederation
of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB [Felipe QUISPE] |
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International organization participation:
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ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime APARICIO Otero
chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s): Washington, DC
FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador David N. GREENLEE
embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz
mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
telephone: [591] (2) 2430120, 2430251
FAX: [591] (2) 2433900 |
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with
the coat of arms centered on the yellow band; similar to the flag
of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in
the yellow band
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Economy - overview:
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Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin American
countries, made considerable progress in the 1990s toward the development
of a market-oriented economy. Successes under President SANCHEZ
DE LOZADA (1993-97) included the signing of a free trade agreement
with Mexico and becoming an associate member of the Southern Cone
Common Market (Mercosur), as well as the privatization of the state
airline, telephone company, railroad, electric power company, and
oil company. Growth slowed in 1999, in part due to tight government
budget policies, which limited needed appropriations for anti-poverty
programs, and the fallout from the Asian financial crisis. In 2000,
major civil disturbances held down growth to 2.5%. Bolivia's GDP
failed to grow in 2001 due to the global slowdown and laggard domestic
activity. Growth picked up slightly in 2002, but the first quarter
of 2003 saw extensive civil riots and looting and loss of confidence
in the government. Bolivia will remain highly dependent on foreign
aid unless and until it can develop its substantial natural resources.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $21.15 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.8% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 20%
industry: 20%
services: 60% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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70% (1999 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 32% (1999) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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58.9 (1997) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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2.5 million |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% |
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Unemployment rate:
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7.6%
note: widespread underemployment (2000) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $4 billion
expenditures: $4 billion, including capital expenditures
of $NA (2002 est.) |
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Industries:
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mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts,
clothing |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3.9% (1998) |
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Electricity - production:
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3.901 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 44.4%
hydro: 54%
other: 1.5% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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3.634 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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3 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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9 million kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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44,340 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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458.8 million bbl (37257) |
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Natural gas - production:
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4.05 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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1.15 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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2.9 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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727.2 billion cu m (37257) |
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Agriculture - products:
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soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes;
timber |
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Exports:
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$1.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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soybeans, natural gas, zinc, gold, wood (2000) |
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Exports - partners:
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Brazil 24.3%, Switzerland 15.7%, US 14.1%, Venezuela 12.8%, Colombia
10.2%, Peru 5.4% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$1.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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capital goods, raw materials and semi-manufactures, chemicals, petroleum,
food |
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Imports - partners:
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Brazil 22%, Argentina 17.4%, US 15.6%, Chile 7%, Japan 5.5%, Peru
5.4%, China 4.8% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$5.9 billion (2002 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$588 million (1997) |
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Currency:
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boliviano (BOB) |
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Currency code:
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BOB |
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Exchange rates:
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bolivianos per US dollar - 7.17 (2002), 6.61 (2001), 6.18 (2000),
5.81 (1999), 5.51 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Railways:
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total: 3,519 km
narrow gauge: 3,519 km 1.000-m gauge (2002) |
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Highways:
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total: 53,790 km
paved: 3,496 km (including 13 km of expressways)
unpaved: 50,294 km (2000 est.) |
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Waterways:
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10,000 km (commercially navigable) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 4,860 km; liquid petroleum gas 47 km; oil 2,460 km; refined
products 1,589 km; unknown (oil/water) 247 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Puerto Aguirre (on the Paraguay/Parana waterway, at the Bolivia/Brazil
border); also, Bolivia has free port privileges in maritime ports
in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 347,535 GRT/591,113 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 25, chemical tanker 4, container
4, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 1,
short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as
a flag of Belize 2, China 2, Cuba 1, Cyprus 1, Egypt 1, Honduras
1, Latvia 2, Liberia 2, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 1, South Korea 3, Switzerland 1, Ukraine
1, UAE 5, US 1 (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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1,081 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 12
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1,069
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 64
914 to 1,523 m: 225
under 914 m: 776 (2002)
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This page was last updated on 18 December,
2003
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