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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval Boliviana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana), National Police Force (Policia Nacional de Bolivia)

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $145 million; 1.9% of GDP (1996)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,685,572 males fit for military service: 1,098,948 males reach military age (19) annually: 76,035 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 129, FM 0, shortwave 68

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties; most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other cities domestic: microwave radio relay system being expanded international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

144,300 (1987 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

500,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; timber

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.75 billion expenditures: $3.75 billion, including capital expenditures of $556.2 million (1995 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 boliviano ($B) = 100 centavos

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $362 million (1993)

Economic overview [time series]

With its long history of semifeudal social controls, dependence on volatile prices for its mineral exports, and bouts of hyperinflation, Bolivia has remained one of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries. However, Bolivia has experienced generally improving economic conditions since the PAZ Estenssoro administration (1985-89) introduced market-oriented policies which reduced inflation from 11,700% in 1985 to about 20% in 1988. PAZ Estenssoro was followed as president by Jaime PAZ Zamora (1989-93) who continued the free-market policies of his predecessor, despite opposition from his own party and from Bolivia's once powerful labor movement. By maintaining fiscal discipline, PAZ Zamora helped reduce inflation to 9.3% in 1993, while GDP grew by an annual average of 3.25% during his tenure. Inaugurated in August 1993, President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA has vowed to advance the market-oriented economic reforms he helped launch as PAZ Estenssoro's planning minister. His successes so far have included the signing of a free trade agreement with Mexico and progress on his unique privatization plan. The main privatization bill was passed by the Bolivian legislature in late March 1994. Since that time, the administration has privatized the electric power generation sector, the state airline, the state telephone company, and the national railroad. The state mining and petroleum companies are expected to be privatized in 1996.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 756,200 kW production: 2.116 billion kWh consumption per capita: 367 kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

bolivianos ($B) per US$1 - 4.9137 (December 1995), 4.8003 (1995), 4.6205 (1994), 4.2651 (1993), 3.9005 (1992), 3.5806 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: metals 39%, natural gas 9%, soybeans 11%, jewelry 11%, wood 8% partners: US 26%, Argentina 15% (1993 est.)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$4.4 billion (November 1995)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $20 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$2,530 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

3.7% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Peru and Colombia) with an estimated 48,600 hectares under cultivation in 1995, a one percent increase in overall cultivation of coca over 1994 levels; Bolivia, however, is the second-largest producer of harvested coca leaf; even so, voluntary and forced eradication programs resulted in leaf production dropping from 89,800 metric tons in 1994 to 85,000 tons in 1995; government considers all but 12,000 hectares illicit; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported to or through Colombia and Brazil to the US and other international drug markets; alternative crop program aims to reduce illicit coca cultivation

Imports [time series]

$1.21 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: capital goods 48%, chemicals 11%, petroleum 5%, food 5% (1993 est.) partners: US 24%, Argentina 13%, Brazil 11%, Japan 11% (1993 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5% (1994 est.)

Industries [time series]

mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

12% (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

3.54 million by occupation: agriculture NA%, services and utilities 20%, manufacturing, mining and construction 7% (1993)

Unemployment rate [time series]

urban rate 8% (1995 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 1,098,580 sq km land area: 1,084,390 sq km comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Climate [time series]

varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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 natural hazards: cold, thin air of high plateau is obstacle to efficient fuel combustion, as well as to physical activity by those unaccustomed to it from birth; flooding in the northeast (March-April) international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection

Geographic coordinates [time series]

17 00 S, 65 00 W

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Chile over Rio Lauca water rights

Irrigated land [time series]

1,650 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 6,743 km border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 25% forest and woodland: 52% other: 20%

Location [time series]

Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Map references [time series]

South America

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural resources [time series]

tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber

Terrain [time series]

rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m highest point: Cerro Illimani 6,882 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija

Capital [time series]

La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary)

Center-Left parties [time series]

Nationalist Revolutionary Movement (MNR), Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA; Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR), Jaime PAZ Zamora, Oscar EID; Christian Democrat (PCD), Jorge AGREDA

Center-Right party [time series]

Nationalist Democratic Action (ADN), Jorge LANDIVAR, Hugo BANZER

Legislative branch (Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)) [time series]

elections last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held NA May 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (130 total) MNR 52, UCS 20, ADN 17, MIR 17, CONDEPA 13, MBL 7, ARBOL 1, ASD 1, EJE 1, PCD 1

Legislative branch (Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores)) [time series]

elections last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held NA May 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (27 total) MNR 17, ADN 4, MIR 4, CONDEPA 1, UCS 1

Constitution [time series]

2 February 1967

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Fernando Alvaro COSSIO chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410 through 4412

Evangelical [time series]

Bolivian Renovating Alliance (ARBOL), Hugo VILLEGAS indigenous: Tupac Katari Revolutionary Liberation Movement (MRTK-L), Victor Hugo CARDENAS Conde; Patriotic Axis of Convergence (EJE-P), Ramiro BARRANCHEA; National Katarista Movement (MKN), Fernando UNTOJA

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: President Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA Bustamente (since 6 August 1993) and Vice President Victor Hugo CARDENAS Conde (since 6 August 1993) were elected for four-year terms by popular vote; election last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held NA May 1997); results - Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA (MNR) 34%, Hugo BANZER Suarez (ADN/MIR alliance) 20%, Carlos PALENQUE Aviles (CONDEPA) 14%, Max FERNANDEZ Rojas (UCS) 13%, Antonio ARANIBAR Quiroga (MBL) 5%; no candidate received a majority of the popular vote; Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA won a congressional runoff election on 4 August 1993 after forming a coalition with Max FERNANDEZ and Antonio ARANIBAR; FERNANDEZ died in a plane crash 26 November 1995 cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president from panel of candidates proposed by the Senate

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 328-3712 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[591] (2) 433900

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

6 August 1825 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges appointed for a 10-year term by National Congress

Left parties [time series]

Free Bolivia Movement (MBL), Antonio ARANIBAR; April 9 Revolutionary Vanguard (VR-9), Carlos SERRATE; Alternative of Democratic Socialism (ASD), Jerjes JUSTINIANO; Revolutionary Front of the Left (FRI), Oscar ZAMORA; Bolivian Socialist Falange (FSB); Socialist Unzaguista Movement (MAS); Socialist Party One (PS-1); Bolivian Communist Party (PCB)

Legal system [time series]

based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia conventional short form: Bolivia local long form: Republica de Bolivia local short form: Bolivia

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 6 August (1825)

Populist parties [time series]

Civic Solidarity Union (UCS), Johnny FERNANDEZ; Conscience of the Fatherland (CONDEPA), Carlos PALENQUE Aviles; Popular Patriotic Movement (MPP), Julio MANTILLA; Unity and Progress Movement (MUP), Ivo KULJIS

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years of age, universal and compulsory (single)

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Curtis Warren KAMMAN embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032 telephone: [591] (2) 430251

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 39% (male 1,422,313; female 1,390,885) 15-64 years: 56% (male 1,959,989; female 2,042,135) 65 years and over: 5% (male 153,111; female 196,824) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

32.37 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.75 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mestizo (mixed European and Indian ancestry) 25%-30%, European 5%-15%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

67.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 59.81 years male: 56.94 years female: 62.82 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 83.1% male: 90.5% female: 76%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bolivian(s) adjective: Bolivian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

7,165,257 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.82% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.25 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 1,017 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 750 with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 69 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 186 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 46,311 km paved: 1,940 km (including 27 km of expressways) unpaved: 44,371 km (1991 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,214 GRT/6,390 DWT (1995 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 1,800 km; petroleum products 580 km; natural gas 1,495 km

Ports [time series]

none; however, Bolivia has free port privileges in the maritime ports of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay

Railways [time series]

total: 3,691 km (single track) narrow gauge: 3,652 km 1.000-m gauge; 39 km 0.760-m gauge (13 km electrified) (1995)

Waterways [time series]

10,000 km of commercially navigable waterways