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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 177, FM 68, shortwave 112 (1998)

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]

48 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

500,000 (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.7 billion expenditures: $2.7 billion (1998)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 boliviano ($B) = 100 centavos

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$4.1 billion (1998)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$588 million (1997)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

With its long history of semifeudal social controls, dependence on 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. President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA (1993-1997) vowed to advance the market-oriented economic reforms he helped launch as PAZ Estenssoro's planning minister. His successes included the signing of a free trade agreement with Mexico and the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) as well as the privatization of the state airline, telephone company, railroad, electric power company, and oil company. Hugo BANZER Suarez has tried to further improve the country's investment climate with an anticorruption campaign. With the scheduled completion of a $2 billion natural gas pipeline to Brazil in 1999, Bolivia hopes to become an energy hub in the region.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

2.948 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

2 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

2.95 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 40.68% hydro: 59.32% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

bolivianos ($B) per US$1--5.6491 (January 1999), 5.5101 (1998), 5.2543 (1997), 5.0746 (1996), 4.8003 (1995), 4.6205 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

metals 34%, natural gas 9.4%, soybeans 8.4%, jewelry 11%, wood 6.9%

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

US 22%, UK 9.3%, Colombia 8.7%, Peru 7.4%, Argentina 7.2%

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$23.4 billion (1998 est.)

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

agriculture: 17% industry: 26% services: 57% (1995 est.)

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

purchasing power parity?$3,000 (1998 est.)

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

4.7% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.7% (1990)

Imports [time series]

$1.7 billion (c.i.f. 1998)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

capital goods 48%, chemicals 11%, petroleum 5%, food 5% (1993 est.)

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

US 20%, Japan 13%, Brazil 12, Chile 7.5% (1996)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4% (1995 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.4% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.5 million

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture NA%, services and utilities NA%, manufacturing, mining and construction NA%

Population below poverty line [time series]

66%

Unemployment rate [time series]

11.4% (1997) with widespread underemployment

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1,098,580 sq km land: 1,084,390 sq km water: 14,190 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

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)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection

Geographic coordinates [time series]

17 00 S, 65 00 W

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

1,750 sq km (1993 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: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 53% other: 21% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Map references [time series]

South America

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

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)

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

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]

Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR SANCHEZ DE LOZADA] FERNANDEZ, Hugo VILLEGAS]

Constitution [time series]

2 February 1967; revised in August 1994

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Donna Jean HRINAK embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Marcelo PEREZ Monasterios chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Hugo BANZER Suarez (since 6 August 1997); Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since 6 August 1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Hugo BANZER Suarez (since 6 August 1997); Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since 6 August 1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from a panel of candidates proposed by the Senate elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 1 June 1997 (next to be held June 2002) election results: Hugo BANZER Suarez elected president; percent of vote--Hugo BANZER Suarez (ADN) 22%; Jaime PAZ Zamora (MIR) 17%, Juan Carlos DURAN (MNR) 18%, Ivo KULJIS (UCS) 16%, Remedios LOZA (CONDEPA) 17%; no candidate received a majority of the popular vote; Hugo BANZER Suarez won a congressional runoff election on 5 August 1997 after forming a "megacoalition" with MIR, UCS, CONDEPA, NFR and PDC

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

6 August 1825 (from Spain)

Indigenous Parties [time series]

Tupac Katari Revolutionary Liberation Movement

International organization participation [time series]

CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, 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

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

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) elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies--last held 1 June 1997 (next to be held June 2002) election results: Chamber of Senators--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--ADN 11, MIR 7, MNR 4, CONDEPA 3, UCS 2; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--ADN 32, MNR 26, MIR 23, UCS 21, CONDEPA 19, MBL 5, IU 4

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 6 August (1825)

Suffrage [time series]

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

Introduction

Background [time series]

Bolivia broke away from Spanish rule in 1825. Its subsequent history has been marked by a seemingly endless series of coups, counter-coups, and abrupt changes in leaders and policies. Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in the 1980s, but the leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, strikes, and drug dealing. Current issues include encouraging and negotiating the terms for foreign investment; strengthening the educational system; continuing the privatization program; pursuing judicial reform and an anti-corruption campaign.

Military

Military and security forces (Military 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 - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$154 million (1998)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

1.8% (1998)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,908,454 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,241,311 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 84,481 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 39% (male 1,573,391; female 1,540,123) 15-64 years: 56% (male 2,199,077; female 2,307,490) 65 years and over: 5% (male 164,213; female 198,556) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

30.72 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.61 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, white 15%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

62.02 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 61.43 years male: 58.51 years female: 64.51 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bolivian(s) adjective: Bolivian

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

7,982,850 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.96% (1999 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: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.93 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [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

Illicit drugs [time series]

world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Peru and Colombia) with an estimated 46,900 hectares under cultivation in 1997, a 2.5% decrease in overall cultivation of coca from 1996 levels; Bolivia, however, is the second-largest producer of coca leaf; even so, farmer abandonment and voluntary and forced eradication programs resulted in leaf production dropping from 75,100 metric tons in 1996 to 73,000 tons in 1997, a 3% decrease from 1996; government considers all but 12,000 hectares illicit; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported to or through Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to the US and other international drug markets; alternative crop program aims to reduce illicit coca cultivation

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1,130 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 12 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 1,118 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 70 914 to 1,523 m: 224 under 914 m: 821 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 52,216 km paved: 2,872 km (including 27 km of expressways) unpaved: 49,344 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 34,948 GRT/58,472 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 5 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [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