| Global Cost of Living Rank |
| CIA Background Information |
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 countercoups. Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and illegal drug production. In December 2005, Bolivians elected Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo MORALES president - by the widest margin of any leader since the restoration of civilian rule in 1982 - after he ran on a promise to change the country's traditional political class and empower the nation's poor majority. However, since taking office, his controversial strategies have exacerbated racial and economic tensions between the Amerindian populations of the Andean west and the non-indigenous communities of the eastern lowlands.
| U.S. State Department Description |
Country Description:
Bolivia is a constitutional democracy and one of the least-developed countries in South America. Tourist facilities are generally adequate, but vary greatly in quality. The capital is La Paz, accessible by Bolivia’s international airport in El Alto. Read the Department of State Background Notes
on Bolivia for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A U.S. passport valid for at least six months from the date of proposed entry into Bolivia is required to enter and depart Bolivia.
Effective December 1, 2007, U.S. citizens seeking to enter Bolivia as tourists must have an entry visa. Bolivian tourist ... Read this Article
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective—Bolivian(s).
Population (July 2008 estimated): 9,247,816
Annual population growth rate: 1.39%
Religions: Predominantly Roman Catholic; minority Protestant.
Languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, Guarani.
Education (2001): Years compulsory—ages 7-14. Literacy—86.7%
Health (2008): Infant mortality rate—49.1 per 1,000 births.
Work force (2007, 4.4 million): Nonagricultural employment—2.48 million; services, including ... Read this Article
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Location: Bolivia is Central South America, southwest of Brazil See Map
Capital: name: La Paz (administrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 16 30 S, 68 09 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note: Sucre (constitutional capital)
Currency (Code): boliviano (BOB) ...More
Area: total: 1,098,580 sq km , land: 1,084,390 sq km , water: 14,190 sq km ( 1 sq km is approximately 0.4 sq miles or 250 acres)
Area Comparison: slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Elevation Extremes: lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m , highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m (1 meter = 3.28 feet)
Population: 9,247,816 (July 2008 est.)
Unemployment: 7.5% in urban areas; widespread underemployment (2007 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, Aymara 25%, white 15%
Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%
Languages: Spanish 60.7% (official), Quechua 21.2% (official), Aymara 14.6% (official), foreign languages 2.4%, other 1.2% (2001 census)
More Statistics
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| History AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
The Andean region has probably been inhabited for some 20,000 years. Beginning around the 2nd century B.C., the Tiwanakan culture developed at the southern end of Lake Titicaca. This culture, centered around and named for the great city of Tiwanaku, developed advanced architectural and agricultural techniques ... Read this Article
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| Geographic Info for Bolivia : |
Geography
Area: 1.1 million sq. km. (425,000 sq. mi.); about the size of Texas and California combined.
Cities: Capital—La Paz (administrative—pop. 800,385); Sucre (constitutional—292,080). Other major cities—Santa Cruz (1,486,115), Cochabamba (587,220), El Alto (858,716). (Population estimates 2004).
Terrain: High plateau (altiplano), temperate and semitropical valleys, and tropical lowlands.
Climate: Varies ... Read this Article
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