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Bolivia
Physical.
One of the two landlocked countries in South America, Bolivia is southwest of
Brazil and north of Chile, Argentina and Paraguay and covers an area slightly
less than three times the size of Montana. Much of its terrain is dominated by
the Andes Mountains along with a highland plateau, hills and the lowland plains
of the Amazon Basin. The climate varies with altitude from tropical and humid to
cold and semiarid. Natural resources include tin, gold, natural gas, petroleum
and zinc.
People.
More than 8.7 million people live in Bolivia. The official languages include
Spanish, Quechua and Aymara. Ethnically, Indian
groups dominate, a population that includes Quechua (30%)
Aymara (25%) Mestizo
(30%) and white (5%). The country is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic (95%)
while the remainder are predominately Protestant.
Government.
Bolivia’s political instability has resulted in 80 governments over the past 80
years. Bolivia is a multiethnic culture with a large population of
Aymara and Quechua peoples who have suffered
centuries of neglect and abuse. They have organized and are taking a more active
role in society. Their organization, located principally in El Alto, succeeded
in driving President Gonzalo Sanchez from power in 2003 following his decision
to sell natural gas resources to Chile without considering the Bolivian
population’s needs for natural gas and without properly compensating owners of
the land on which the gas is located. The January 2006 election brought Evo
Morales into office as president. He is the first indigenous president of
Bolivia.
Economy.
Despite rapid and startling changes, Bolivia remains an extremely poor society
in terms of life expectancy, death rates and per capita income. The US has
demanded eradication of coca, a sacred plant of the Incas that plays a role in
the domestic, religious and social life of the people. It is the sustenance for
about 400,000 people today. Government programs have emphasized eradication as
opposed to alternate development and caused the flight to urban areas—Aymara
and Quechua miners and farmers have been driven to the cities by the thousands
in recent years by their inability to make a living in rural areas. Morales's
new party will push for modification of the laws against coca cultivation.
Areas of
Concern. One of the poorest countries, Bolivia’s economy needs to be
stimulated. Environmental concerns include the clearing of land for
agriculture or for timber, desertification, soil erosion and industrial water
pollution.
Bolivia statistics
Geography
Area: 424,162 square miles
Capital: La Paz (pop 740,000), defacto Sucre (legal)
Environmental concerns: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; loss of
biodiversity; water pollution
Geographical features: rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano);
hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin
Climate: varies with altitude from humid and tropical to semiarid and cold
People
8,989,046 people; Quechua (30%); Aymara (25%); Mestizo (30%); white (15%)
Annual growth rate: 1.56%
Major languages: Spanish; Quechua; Aymara
Religions: Roman Catholic (95%); Protestant
Health and social issues
Life expectancy: Men, 65 years; women, 67 years
Infant mortality: 60.4 deaths per 1000 live births
70% of the population lives in poverty
1 physician per 3,663 people
HIV/AIDS rate in adults: 0.1%
87.2% of adults are literate
Compulsory education: ages 6-14; free
Communication and transportation
563,900 main telephone lines
270,000 Internet users
32,4326 miles of highway
2,292 miles of railroad
1,109 airfields
432,000 motor vehicles
Government
Bolivia is a republic that gained its
independence from Spain on August 6, 1825.
President Evo Morales is both head of state and government
7 major political parties
Suffrage: universal and compulsory at 18 if married and at 21 if single
Military
Military expenditures are 1.6% of the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP)
Current disputes: dispute with Chile over water rights; seeks sovereign corridor
to the South Pacific Ocean
Economy
Currency: bolivianos
Per capita income: $2,400
GDP: $ 20.88 billion
GDP growth rate: 2.1%
Inflation rate: 2.1%
Labor force: N/A
Resources and industry
Natural resources: tin, natural gas,
petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber,
hydropower
Agriculture: soybeans; coffee; coca; cotton; corn; sugarcane; rice; potatoes;
timber
Industry: mining; smelting; petroleum; food and beverages; tobacco; handicrafts;
clothing
Exports: $1.5 billion
Imports: $1.6 billion
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