2017 Edition

Background

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 coups and countercoups, with the last coup occurring in 1978. 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, indigenous majority. In December 2009 and October 2014, President MORALES easily won reelection. His party maintained control of the legislative branch of the government, which has allowed him to continue his process of change. In February 2016, MORALES narrowly lost a referendum to approve a constitutional amendment that would have allowed him to compete in the 2019 presidential election. Despite the loss, MORALES has already been chosen by his party to run again in 2019, via a still-undetermined method for him to appear on the ballot.

Area

1,098,581 sq km 1,083,301 sq km 15,280 sq km

land

1,083,301 sq km

total

1,098,581 sq km

water

15,280 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Climate

varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

1,192 m lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m

highest point

Nevado Sajama 6,542 m

mean elevation

1,192 m

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

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 Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

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

Geographic coordinates

17 00 S, 65 00 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

3,000 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

7,252 km Argentina 942 km, Brazil 3,403 km, Chile 942 km, Paraguay 753 km, Peru 1,212 km

border countries (5)

Argentina 942 km, Brazil 3,403 km, Chile 942 km, Paraguay 753 km, Peru 1,212 km

total

7,252 km

Land use

34.3% arable land 3.6%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 30.5% 52.5% 13.2% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

34.3%

forest

52.5%

other

13.2% (2011 est.)

Location

Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

flooding in the northeast (March to April) volcanic activity in Andes Mountains on the border with Chile; historically active volcanoes in this region are Irruputuncu (5,163 m), which last erupted in 1995, and the Olca-Paruma volcanic complex (5,762 m to 5,167 m)

volcanism

volcanic activity in Andes Mountains on the border with Chile; historically active volcanoes in this region are Irruputuncu (5,163 m), which last erupted in 1995, and the Olca-Paruma volcanic complex (5,762 m to 5,167 m)

Natural resources

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

Population - distribution

a high altitude plain in the west between two cordillera of the Andes, known as the Altiplano, is the focal area for most of the population; a dense settlement pattern is also found in and around the city of Santa Cruz, located on the eastern side of the Andes

Terrain

rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin

Age structure

31.85% (male 1,807,735/female 1,739,763) 19.46% (male 1,098,097/female 1,069,950) 37.48% (male 2,041,866/female 2,133,065) 5.9% (male 303,409/female 353,598) 5.3% (male 260,424/female 330,327) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

31.85% (male 1,807,735/female 1,739,763)

15-24 years

19.46% (male 1,098,097/female 1,069,950)

25-54 years

37.48% (male 2,041,866/female 2,133,065)

55-64 years

5.9% (male 303,409/female 353,598)

65 years and over

5.3% (male 260,424/female 330,327) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

22 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.6% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

60.5% (2008)

Death rate

6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

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. Almost 7% of Bolivia's population lives abroad, primarily to work in Argentina, Brazil, Spain, and the United States. In recent years, more restrictive immigration policies in Europe and the United States have increased the flow of Bolivian emigrants to neighboring Argentina and Brazil.

Dependency ratios

63.7 53.1 10.6 9.4 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

10.6

potential support ratio

9.4 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

63.7

youth dependency ratio

53.1

Drinking water source

urban: 96.7% of population rural: 75.6% of population total: 90% of population urban: 3.3% of population rural: 24.4% of population total: 10% of population (2015 est.)

rural

24.4% of population

total

10% of population (2015 est.)

urban

3.3% of population

Education expenditures

7.3% of GDP (2014)

Ethnic groups

mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 68%, indigenous 20%, white 5%, cholo/chola 2%, black 1%, other 1%, unspecified 3% ; 44% of respondents indicated feeling part of some indigenous group, predominantly Quechua or Aymara results among surveys vary based on the wording of the ethnicity question and the available response choices; the 2001 national census did not provide "mestizo" as a response choice, resulting in a much higher proportion of respondents identifying themselves as belonging to one of the available indigenous ethnicity choices; the use of "mestizo" and "cholo" varies among response choices in surveys, with surveys using the terms interchangeably, providing one or the other as a response choice, or providing the two as separate response choices (2009 est.)

note

results among surveys vary based on the wording of the ethnicity question and the available response choices; the 2001 national census did not provide "mestizo" as a response choice, resulting in a much higher proportion of respondents identifying themselves as belonging to one of the available indigenous ethnicity choices; the use of "mestizo" and "cholo" varies among response choices in surveys, with surveys using the terms interchangeably, providing one or the other as a response choice, or providing the two as separate response choices (2009 est.)

Health expenditures

6.3% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

19,000 (2016 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

35.3 deaths/1,000 live births 38.7 deaths/1,000 live births 31.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

31.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

38.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

35.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official) 60.7%, Quechua (official) 21.2%, Aymara (official) 14.6%, foreign languages 2.4%, Guarani (official) 0.6%, other native languages 0.4%, none 0.1% Bolivia's 2009 constitution designates Spanish and all indigenous languages as official; 36 indigenous languages are specified, including some that are extinct (2001 est.)

note

Bolivia's 2009 constitution designates Spanish and all indigenous languages as official; 36 indigenous languages are specified, including some that are extinct (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

69.5 years 66.7 years 72.4 years (2017 est.)

female

72.4 years (2017 est.)

male

66.7 years

total population

69.5 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 92.5% 96.5% 88.6% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

88.6% (2015 est.)

male

96.5%

total population

92.5%

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A

note

active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever

Major urban areas - population

Santa Cruz 2.107 million; LA PAZ (capital) 1.816 million; Cochabamba 1.24 million; Sucre (constitutional capital) 372,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

206 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

24.3 years 23.6 years 25 years (2017 est.)

female

25 years (2017 est.)

male

23.6 years

total

24.3 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.2 years median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2008 est.)

note

median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2008 est.)

Nationality

Bolivian(s) Bolivian

adjective

Bolivian

noun

Bolivian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.2% (2016)

Physicians density

0.47 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

11,138,234 (July 2017 est.)

Population distribution

a high altitude plain in the west between two cordillera of the Andes, known as the Altiplano, is the focal area for most of the population; a dense settlement pattern is also found in and around the city of Santa Cruz, located on the eastern side of the Andes

Population growth rate

1.51% (2017 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 76.8%, Evangelical and Pentecostal 8.1%, Protestant 7.9%, other 1.7%, none 5.5% (2012 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 60.8% of population rural: 27.5% of population total: 50.3% of population urban: 39.2% of population rural: 72.5% of population total: 49.7% of population (2015 est.)

rural

72.5% of population

total

49.7% of population (2015 est.)

urban

39.2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

14 years 14 years 14 years (2007)

female

14 years (2007)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.86 male(s)/female 0.79 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.95 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.86 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.63 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

6.9% 6.4% 7.6% (2013 est.)

female

7.6% (2013 est.)

male

6.4%

total

6.9%

Urbanization

69.3% of total population (2017) 2.11% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.11% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

69.3% of total population (2017)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (constitutional [legislative and judicial] capital) 16 30 S, 68 09 W UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

16 30 S, 68 09 W

name

La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (constitutional [legislative and judicial] capital)

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

yes yes yes 3 years

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

3 years

Constitution

many previous; latest drafted 6 August 2006 - 9 December 2008, approved by referendum 25 January 2009, effective 7 February 2009; amended 2013 (2015)

Country name

Plurinational State of Bolivia Bolivia Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia Bolivia the country is named after Simon BOLIVAR, a 19th-century leader in the South American wars for independence

conventional long form

Plurinational State of Bolivia

conventional short form

Bolivia

etymology

the country is named after Simon BOLIVAR, a 19th-century leader in the South American wars for independence

local long form

Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia

local short form

Bolivia

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Peter BRENNAN (since June 2014) Avenida Arce 2780, Casilla 425, La Paz 3220 La Paz Place, Dulles, VA, 20189-3220 [591] (2) 216-8000 [591] (2) 216-8111 in September 2008, the Bolivian Government expelled the US Ambassador to Bolivia, Philip GOLDBERG, and both countries have yet to reinstate their ambassadors

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Peter BRENNAN (since June 2014)

embassy

Avenida Arce 2780, Casilla 425, La Paz

FAX

[591] (2) 216-8111

mailing address

3220 La Paz Place, Dulles, VA, 20189-3220

note

in September 2008, the Bolivian Government expelled the US Ambassador to Bolivia, Philip GOLDBERG, and both countries have yet to reinstate their ambassadors

telephone

[591] (2) 216-8000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Rafael Pablo CANEDO Daroca (since July 2017) 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 328-4155 [1] (202) 328-3712 Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington, DC in September 2008, the US expelled the Bolivian ambassador to the US in reciprocity for Bolivia expelling the US ambassador to Bolivia

chancery

3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Rafael Pablo CANEDO Daroca (since July 2017)

consulate(s) general

Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington, DC

FAX

[1] (202) 328-3712

note

in September 2008, the US expelled the Bolivian ambassador to the US in reciprocity for Bolivia expelling the US ambassador to Bolivia

telephone

[1] (202) 328-4155

Executive branch

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 President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January 2006) Cabinet appointed by the president president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 October 2014 (next to be held in 2019); note - a presidential candidate wins an election one of 3 ways Juan Evo MORALES Ayma reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (MAS) 61%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana (UN) 24.5%; Jorge QUIROGA Ramirez (POC) 9.1%; other 5.4%

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

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

election results

Juan Evo MORALES Ayma reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (MAS) 61%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana (UN) 24.5%; Jorge QUIROGA Ramirez (POC) 9.1%; other 5.4%

elections/appointments

president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 October 2014 (next to be held in 2019); note - a presidential candidate wins an election one of 3 ways

head of government

President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January 2006)

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 similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; in 2009, a presidential decree made it mandatory for a so-called wiphala - a square, multi-colored flag representing the country's indigenous peoples - to be used alongside the traditional flag

note

similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; in 2009, a presidential decree made it mandatory for a so-called wiphala - a square, multi-colored flag representing the country's indigenous peoples - to be used alongside the traditional flag

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

6 August 1825 (from Spain)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (consists of 12 judges or ministros organized into civil, penal, social, and administrative chambers); Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal (consists of 7 primary and 7 alternate magistrates); Plurinational Electoral Organ (consists of 7 members and 6 alternates); National Agro-Environment Court (consists of 5 primary and 5 alternate judges; Council of the Judiciary (consists of 3 primary and 3 alternate judges) Supreme Court, Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal, National Agro-Environmental Court, and Council of the Judiciary candidates pre-selected by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly and elected by direct popular vote; judges elected for 6-year terms; Plurinational Electoral Organ judges appointed - 6 by the Legislative Assembly and 1 by the president of the republic; members serve single 6-year terms National Electoral Court; District Courts (in each of the 9 administrative departments); Agro-Environmental lower courts

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (consists of 12 judges or ministros organized into civil, penal, social, and administrative chambers); Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal (consists of 7 primary and 7 alternate magistrates); Plurinational Electoral Organ (consists of 7 members and 6 alternates); National Agro-Environment Court (consists of 5 primary and 5 alternate judges; Council of the Judiciary (consists of 3 primary and 3 alternate judges)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court, Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal, National Agro-Environmental Court, and Council of the Judiciary candidates pre-selected by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly and elected by direct popular vote; judges elected for 6-year terms; Plurinational Electoral Organ judges appointed - 6 by the Legislative Assembly and 1 by the president of the republic; members serve single 6-year terms

subordinate courts

National Electoral Court; District Courts (in each of the 9 administrative departments); Agro-Environmental lower courts

Legal system

civil law system with influences from Roman, Spanish, canon (religious), French, and indigenous law

Legislative branch

bicameral Plurinational Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (36 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; 70 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 53 indirectly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote, and 7 - apportioned to non-contiguous, rural areas in 7 of the 9 states - directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 12 October 2014 (next to be held in 2019) Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 25, UD 9, PDC 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 88, UD 32, PDC 10

description

bicameral Plurinational Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (36 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; 70 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 53 indirectly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote, and 7 - apportioned to non-contiguous, rural areas in 7 of the 9 states - directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 25, UD 9, PDC 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 88, UD 32, PDC 10

elections

Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 12 October 2014 (next to be held in 2019)

National anthem

"Cancion Patriotica" (Patriotic Song) Jose Ignacio de SANJINES/Leopoldo Benedetto VINCENTI adopted 1852

lyrics/music

Jose Ignacio de SANJINES/Leopoldo Benedetto VINCENTI

name

"Cancion Patriotica" (Patriotic Song)

note

adopted 1852

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 August (1825)

National symbol(s)

llama, Andean condor; national colors: red, yellow, green

llama, Andean condor; national colors

red, yellow, green

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez] Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma] National Unity or UN [Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Bolivian Workers Central or COB Central Bolivian Workers' Union or COB Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Eastern Bolivia or CIDOB Federation of Neighborhood Councils of El Alto or FEJUVE-El Alto Landless Movement or MST National Confederation of Native Rural Indigenous Women of Bolivia or Bartolina Sisa National Coordination for Change or CONALCAM National Council of Ayullus and Markas of Quollasuyu or CONAMAQ Sole Confederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB [Jacinto HERRARA] Cocalero unions Interculturales union or CSCIB various federations of neighborhood councils or FEJUVEs (including the national organization)

other

Cocalero unions

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

soybeans, quinoa, Brazil nuts, sugarcane, coffee, corn, rice, potatoes, chia, coca

Budget

$14.58 billion $16.81 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

$16.81 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$14.58 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.5% (31 December 2016 est.) 2.5% (31 December 2015 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.95% (31 December 2016 est.) 8.07% (31 December 2015 est.)

Current account balance

$-1.928 billion (2016 est.) $-1.879 billion (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$11.65 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $9.849 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

47 (2016 est.) 57.9 (1999)

Economy - overview

Bolivia is a resource rich country with strong growth attributed to captive markets for natural gas exports to Brazil and Argentina. 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. High commodity prices between 2010 and 2014 sustained rapid growth and large trade surpluses with GDP growing 6.8% in 2013 and 5.4% in 2014. The global decline in oil prices that began in late 2014 exerted downward pressure on the price Bolivia receives for exported gas and resulted in lower GDP growth rates - 4.9% in 2015 and 4.3% in 2016 - and losses in government revenue as well as fiscal and trade deficits. 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. In 2015, President Evo MORALES expanded efforts to court international investment and boost Bolivia’s energy production capacity. MORALES passed an investment law and promised not to nationalize additional industries in an effort to improve the investment climate. In early 2016, the Government of Bolivia approved the 2016-20 National Economic and Social Development Plan aimed at maintaining growth of 5% and reducing poverty.

Exchange rates

bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar - 6.91 (2016 est.) 6.91 (2015 est.) 6.91 (2014 est.) 6.91 (2013 est.) 6.94 (2012 est.)

Exports

$7 billion (2016 est.) $8.673 billion (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

natural gas, silver, zinc, lead, tin, gold, quinoa, soybeans and soy products

Exports - partners

Brazil 19.3%, US 13.6%, Argentina 11.4%, Colombia 8.8%, China 6.8%, Japan 5.9%, South Korea 5.4%, Peru 4.8%, Belgium 4.6% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

69.1% 17.5% 20.8% 0% 24.6% -32% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

24.6%

government consumption

17.5%

household consumption

69.1%

imports of goods and services

-32% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

20.8%

investment in inventories

0%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

13.4% 38.5% 53.8% (2016 est.)

agriculture

13.4%

industry

38.5%

services

53.8% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,200 (2016 est.) $7,000 (2015 est.) $6,800 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.3% (2016 est.) 4.9% (2015 est.) 5.5% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$34.05 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$78.77 billion (2016 est.) $74.59 billion (2015 est.) $70.37 billion (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Gross national saving

15.1% of GDP (2016 est.) 14.2% of GDP (2015 est.) 20.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

0.9% 36.1% (2014 est.)

highest 10%

36.1% (2014 est.)

lowest 10%

0.9%

Imports

$7.888 billion (2016 est.) $9.004 billion (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, petroleum products, vehicles, iron and steel, plastics

Imports - partners

China 19.9%, Brazil 17.5%, Argentina 10.5%, US 9.8%, Peru 6.9%, Japan 4.9%, Chile 4.1% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2016 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.6% (2016 est.) 4.1% (2015 est.)

Labor force

4.992 million (2016 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

29.4% 22% 48.6% (2015 est.)

agriculture

29.4%

industry

22%

services

48.6% (2015 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$12.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $11.11 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $9.833 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Population below poverty line

38.6% based on percent of population living on less than the international standard of $2/day (2011 est.)

note

based on percent of population living on less than the international standard of $2/day (2011 est.)

Public debt

44.8% of GDP (2016 est.) 39.1% of GDP (2015 est.) 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

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$10.08 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $13.06 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money

$14.85 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $15.45 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$0 (31 December 2016 est.) $0 (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$1.059 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $1.084 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$22.39 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $18.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$9.09 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $8.946 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

41.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

4% (2016 est.) 7.4% (2015 est.) data are for urban areas; widespread underemployment

note

data are for urban areas; widespread underemployment

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

16 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

59,330 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

211.5 million bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

7.332 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

71.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

21% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.362 million kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

8.147 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity access

1,200,000 90% 99% 72% (2013)

electrification - rural areas

72% (2013)

electrification - total population

90%

electrification - urban areas

99%

population without electricity

1,200,000

Natural gas - consumption

5.366 billion cu m (2016 est.)

Natural gas - exports

15.73 billion cu m (2016 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - production

21.1 billion cu m (2016 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

295.9 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

86,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

8,642 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

22,340 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

59,050 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Broadcast media

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 users

4,354,678 39.7% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

39.7% (July 2016 est.)

total

4,354,678

Telephone system

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 most telephones are concentrated in La Paz, Santa Cruz, and other capital cities; mobile-cellular telephone use expanding rapidly and, in 2016, teledensity stood at 93 per 100 persons country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)

domestic

most telephones are concentrated in La Paz, Santa Cruz, and other capital cities; mobile-cellular telephone use expanding rapidly and, in 2016, teledensity stood at 93 per 100 persons

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

international

country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

867,302 8 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

867,302

Telephones - mobile cellular

10,165,308 93 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

93 (July 2016 est.)

total

10,165,308

Airports

855 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

6 (2017)

1,524 to 2,437 m

6

2,438 to 3,047 m

4

914 to 1,523 m

6 (2017)

over 3,047 m

5

total

21

Airports - with unpaved runways

631 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

47

2,438 to 3,047 m

4

914 to 1,523 m

151

over 3,047 m

1

total

834

under 914 m

631 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

CP (2016)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 1, cargo 14, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 5 (Syria 4, UK 1, (2010)

by type

bulk carrier 1, cargo 14, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2

foreign-owned

5 (Syria 4, UK 1, (2010)

total

18

National air transport system

2,578,959 9,456,548 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

9,456,548 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

2,578,959

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

39

number of registered air carriers

7

Pipelines

gas 5,457 km; liquid petroleum gas 51 km; oil 2,511 km; refined products 1,627 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

Puerto Aguirre (Paraguay/Parana) Bolivia has free port privileges in maritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay

note

Bolivia has free port privileges in maritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay

river port(s)

Puerto Aguirre (Paraguay/Parana)

Railways

3,504 km 3,504 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)

narrow gauge

3,504 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)

total

3,504 km

Roadways

90,568 km 9,792 km 80,776 km (2017)

paved

9,792 km

total

90,568 km

unpaved

80,776 km (2017)

Waterways

10,000 km (commercially navigable almost exclusively in the northern and eastern parts of the country) (2012)

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) (2017)

Bolivian Armed Forces

Bolivian Army (Ejercito Boliviano, EB), Bolivian Naval Force (Fuerza Naval Boliviana, FNB, includes Marines), Bolivian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, FAB) (2017)

Military expenditures

1.68% of GDP (2016) 1.74% of GDP (2015) 1.9% of GDP (2014) 1.84% of GDP (2013) 1.85% of GDP (2012)

Military service age and obligation

16-49 years of age for 12-month voluntary male and female military service; Bolivian citizenship required; minimum age of combat is 18; 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 (2017)

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 products; contraband smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotic trafficking are problems in the porous areas of its border regions with all of its neighbors (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru)

Illicit drugs

world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru) with an estimated 36,500 hectares under cultivation in 2015, a 3 percent increase over 2014; third largest producer of cocaine, estimated at 255 metric tons potential pure cocaine in 2015; 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

Trafficking in persons

Bolivia is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking domestically and abroad; indigenous children are particularly vulnerable; Bolivia is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking domestically and abroad; rural and poor Bolivians, most of whom are indigenous, and LGBT youth are particularly vulnerable; Bolivians perform forced labor domestically in mining, ranching, agriculture, and domestic service, and a significant number are in forced labor abroad in sweatshops, agriculture, domestic service, and the informal sector; women and girls are sex trafficked within Bolivia and in neighboring countries, such as Argentina, Peru, and Chile; a limited number of women from nearby countries are sex trafficked in Bolivia Tier 2 Watch List – Bolivia does not comply fully with the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government did not demonstrate overall increasing anti-trafficking efforts, and poor data collection made it difficult to assess the number of investigations, prosecutions, and victim identifications and referrals to care services; authorities did not adequately differentiate between human trafficking and other crimes, such as domestic violence and child abuse; law enforcement failed to implement an early detection protocol for identifying trafficking cases and lacked a formal process for identifying trafficking victims among vulnerable populations; specialized victim services were inadequately funded and virtually non-existent for adult women and male victims (2015)

current situation

Bolivia is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking domestically and abroad; indigenous children are particularly vulnerable; Bolivia is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking domestically and abroad; rural and poor Bolivians, most of whom are indigenous, and LGBT youth are particularly vulnerable; Bolivians perform forced labor domestically in mining, ranching, agriculture, and domestic service, and a significant number are in forced labor abroad in sweatshops, agriculture, domestic service, and the informal sector; women and girls are sex trafficked within Bolivia and in neighboring countries, such as Argentina, Peru, and Chile; a limited number of women from nearby countries are sex trafficked in Bolivia

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Bolivia does not comply fully with the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government did not demonstrate overall increasing anti-trafficking efforts, and poor data collection made it difficult to assess the number of investigations, prosecutions, and victim identifications and referrals to care services; authorities did not adequately differentiate between human trafficking and other crimes, such as domestic violence and child abuse; law enforcement failed to implement an early detection protocol for identifying trafficking cases and lacked a formal process for identifying trafficking victims among vulnerable populations; specialized victim services were inadequately funded and virtually non-existent for adult women and male victims (2015)