Total renewable water resources: 622.5 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): 622.5 cu km (2011) Natural hazards: flooding in the northeast (March to April)
Environment - current issues: 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
Environment - international agreements: party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru
People and Society
Nationality: noun: Bolivian(s)
adjective:Bolivian
Ethnic groups: Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, Aymara 25%, white 15%
Languages: Spanish (official) 60.7%, Quechua (official) 21.2%, Aymara (official) 14.6%, Guarani (official), foreign languages 2.4%, other 1.2%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%
Demographic profile: Bolivia ranks at or near the bottom among Latin American countries in several areas of health and development, including poverty, education, fertility, malnutrition, mortality, and life expectancy. On the positive side, more children are being vaccinated and more pregnant women are getting prenatal care and having skilled health practitioners attend their births. Bolivia's income inequality is the highest in Latin America and one of the highest in the world. Public education is of poor quality, and educational opportunities are among the most unevenly distributed in Latin America, with girls and indigenous and rural children less likely to be literate or to complete primary school. The lack of access to education and family planning services helps to sustain Bolivia's high fertility rate - approximately three children per woman. Bolivia's lack of clean water and basic sanitation, especially in rural areas, contributes to health problems.
Population: 10,631,486 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 82
Age structure: 0-14 years:33.3% (male 1,805,121/female 1,737,794)
time difference:UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Independence: 6 August 1825 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
Constitution: many previous; latest drafted 6 August 2006 - 9 December 2008, approved by referendum 25 January 2009, effective 7 February 2009; amended 2013 (2013)
Legal system: civil law system with influences from Roman, Spanish, canon (religious), French, and indigenous law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state:President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January 2006); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January 2006)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term and are eligible for re-election once; election last held on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results:Juan Evo MORALES Ayma reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma 64%; Manfred REYES VILLA 26%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana 6%; Rene JOAQUINO 2%; other 2%
Legislative branch: bicameral Plurinational Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (36 seats; members are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats total; 70 uninominal deputies directly elected from a single district, 7 'special' indigenous deputies directly elected from non-contiguous indigenous districts, and 53 plurinominal deputies elected by proportional representation from party lists; all deputies serve five-year terms)
elections:Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results:Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 26, PPB-CN 10; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 89, PPB-CN 36, UN 3, AS 2; note - as of 15 February 2013, the composition of the Chamber of Deputies was: MAS 88, PPB-CN 37, UN 3, AS 2
Judicial branch: highest court(s):Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (consists of 12 judges); Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal (consists of 7 primary and 7 alternate magistrates); Plurinational Electoral Organ (consists of 7 members);
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court and Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal judges elected by popular vote from list of candidates pre-selected by Plurinational Legislative Assembly for 6-year terms); Plurinational Electoral Organ members - 6 judges elected by the Assembly and 1 appointed by the president; judges and members serve 6-year terms
note:the 2009 constitution reformed the procedure for selecting judicial officials for the Supreme Court, Constitutional Tribunal, and the Plurinational Electoral Organ by direct national vote, which occurred in October 2011
subordinate courts:Agro-Environmental Court; Council of the Judiciary; District Courts (in each of the 9 administrative departments)
Political parties and leaders: Bacada Indigena or BI
Bolivia-National Convergence or PPB-CN [Adrian OLIVA]
Fearless Movement or MSM [Juan DE GRANADO Cosio]
Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma]
National Unity or UN [Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana]
People or Gente [Roman LOAYZA]
Social Alliance or AS [Rene JOAQUINO]
Social Democratic Movement or MDS [Ruben COSTAS]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Bolivian Workers Central or COB
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Freddy BERSATTI Tudela
chancery:3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 483-4410
FAX:[1] (202) 328-3712
consulate(s) general:Los Angeles, Miami, New York
note:as of September 2008, the US has expelled the Bolivian ambassador to the US
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Aruna AMIRTHANAYAGAM (since 28 February 2014)
embassy:Avenida Arce 2780, Casilla 425, La Paz
mailing address:P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
telephone:[591] (2) 216-8000
FAX:[591] (2) 216-8111
note:in September 2008, the Bolivian Government expelled the US Ambassador to Bolivia, and the countries have yet to reinstate ambassadors
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band; red stands for bravery and the blood of national heroes, yellow for the nation's mineral resources, and green for the fertility of the land
National symbol(s): llama; Andean condor
National anthem: name:'Cancion Patriotica' (Patriotic Song)
lyrics/music:Jose Ignacio de SANJINES/Leopoldo Benedetto VINCENTI
note:adopted 1852
Economy
Economy - overview:
Bolivia is a resource rich country with strong growth attributed to captive markets for natural gas exports. However, the country remains one of the least developed countries in Latin America because of state-oriented policies that deter investment and growth. Following a disastrous economic crisis during the early 1980s, reforms spurred private investment, stimulated economic growth, and cut poverty rates in the 1990s. The period 2003-05 was characterized by political instability, racial tensions, and violent protests against plans - subsequently abandoned - to export Bolivia's newly discovered natural gas reserves to large Northern Hemisphere markets. In 2005, the government passed a controversial hydrocarbons law that imposed significantly higher royalties and required foreign firms then operating under risk-sharing contracts to surrender all production to the state energy company in exchange for a predetermined service fee. The global recession slowed growth, but Bolivia recorded the highest growth rate in South America during 2009. High commodity prices since 2010 sustained rapid growth and large trade surpluses. However, a lack of foreign investment in the key sectors of mining and hydrocarbons, along with conflict among social groups pose challenges for the Bolivian economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$59.11 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$55.35 billion (2012 est.)
$52.63 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$30.79 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
5.2% (2012 est.)
5.2% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,500 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
$5,200 (2012 est.)
$4,900 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars
Gross national saving:
25.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
26% of GDP (2012 est.)
24.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption:58.9%
government consumption:13.4%
investment in fixed capital:18%
investment in inventories:0.3%
exports of goods and services:47.8%
imports of goods and services:-38.4%
(2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture:9.2%
mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing, jewelry
Industrial production growth rate:
5.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46 Labor force:
4.922 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture:32%
industry:27.4%
services:40.6% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
7.5% (2012 est.)
note:data are for urban areas; widespread underemployment
Population below poverty line:
45%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%:1.8%
highest 10%:46% (2012 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 29
57.9 (1999)
Budget: revenues:$15.16 billion
expenditures:$15.13 billion (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
48.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14 Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
0.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Public debt:
36% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
32.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
4.5% (2012 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
4% (31 december 2012 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.41% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
10.6% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$8.429 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$7.434 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money:
$20.19 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$17.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$12.45 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$10.49 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$9.684 billion (31 December 2013)
Current account balance:
$1.012 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$2.259 billion (2012 est.)
Exports:
$12.16 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$11.77 billion (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities:
natural gas, soybeans and soy products, crude petroleum, zinc ore, tin
Exports - partners:
Brazil 41.8%, US 18.4%, Argentina 7.3%, Peru 4.9% (2012)
Chile 21.3%, Brazil 20.3%, Argentina 10.9%, US 10.1%, Peru 6.5%, Venezuela 6.2%, China 4.9% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$14.43 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$13.93 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Debt - external:
$5.265 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$4.196 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$10.56 billion (31 December 2013)
country comparison to the world: 85
$8.809 billion (31 December 2012)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$0 (31 december 2013)
country comparison to the world: 93
$0 (31 December 2012)
Exchange rates:
bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar -
6.91 (2013 est.)
6.94 (2012 est.)
7.0167 (2010 est.)
7.07 (2009)
7.253 (2008)
Energy
Electricity - production:
7.375 billion kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:103
Electricity - consumption:
6.944 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
1.365 million kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
63.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
34.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
1.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Crude oil - production:
51,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Crude oil - exports:
60.71 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Crude oil - proved reserves:
209.8 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Refined petroleum products - production:
40,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
55,560 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Refined petroleum products - imports:
15,560 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - production:
54.37 billion cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Natural gas - consumption:
9.432 billion cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - exports:
44.94 billion cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - proved reserves:
281.5 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
13.98 million Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use:
880,600 (2012)
country comparison to the world:80
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.494 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 82
Telephone system:
general assessment:Bolivian National Telecommunications Company was privatized in 1995 but re-nationalized in 2007; the primary trunk system is being expanded and employs digital microwave radio relay; some areas are served by fiber-optic cable; system operations, reliability, and coverage have steadily improved.
domestic:most telephones are concentrated in La Paz, Santa Cruz, and other capital cities; mobile-cellular telephone use expanding rapidly and, in 2011, teledensity reached about 80 per 100 persons
large number of radio and TV stations broadcasting with private media outlets dominating; state-owned and private radio and TV stations generally operating freely, although both pro-government and anti-government groups have attacked media outlets in response to their reporting (2010)
Internet country code:
.bo
Internet hosts:
180,988 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 75
Internet users:
1.103 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 95
Transportation
Airports
855 (2013)
country comparison to the world:7
Airports - with paved runways total:21
over 3,047 m:5
2,438 to 3,047 m:4
1,524 to 2,437 m:6
914 to 1,523 m:6 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:834
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:4
1,524 to 2,437 m:47
914 to 1,523 m:151
under 914 m:
631 (2013)
Pipelines gas 5,457 km; liquid petroleum gas 51 km; oil 2,511 km; refined products 1,627 km (2013)
Railways total:3,652 kmcountry comparison to the world: 48
narrow gauge:3,652 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)
Roadways total:80,488 kmcountry comparison to the world: 59
paved:11,993 km
unpaved:68,495 km (2010)
Waterways
10,000 km (commercially navigable almost exclusively in the northern and eastern parts of the country) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 13
Merchant marine total:18country comparison to the world: 98
by type:bulk carrier 1, cargo 14, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned:5 (Syria 4, UK 1, (2010)
Ports and terminals river port(s):Puerto Aguirre (Paraguay/Parana)
note:Bolivia has free port privileges in maritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay
Military
Military branches Bolivian Armed Forces: Bolivian Army (Ejercito Boliviano, EB), Bolivian Naval Force (Fuerza Naval Boliviana, FNB; includes Marines), Bolivian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, FAB) (2013)
Military service age and obligation 18-49 years of age for 12-month compulsory male and female military service; Bolivian citizenship required; 17 years of age for voluntary service; when annual number of volunteers falls short of goal, compulsory recruitment is effected, including conscription of boys as young as 14; 15-19 years of age for voluntary premilitary service, provides exemption from further military service (2013)
Manpower available for military service males age 16-49:2,472,490
females age 16-49:2,535,768 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service males age 16-49:1,762,260
females age 16-49:2,013,281 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually male:108,334
female:104,945 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures
1.47% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 66
1.47% of GDP (2011)
1.47% of GDP (2010)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international Chile and Peru rebuff Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, but Chile offers instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile for Bolivian natural gas; contraband smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotic trafficking are problems in the porous areas of the border with Argentina
Illicit drugs world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru) with an estimated 30,000 hectares under cultivation in 2011, a decrease of 13 percent over 2010; third largest producer of cocaine, estimated at 265 metric tons potential pure cocaine in 2011, a 29 percent increase over 2010; transit country for Peruvian and Colombian cocaine destined for Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Europe; weak border controls; some money-laundering activity related to narcotics trade; major cocaine consumption (2013)
