Country Profile: Bolivia

Last reviewed: 28 January 2008

Country information

Map of Bolivia

BOLIVIA TODAY

Country Facts

Area: 1.28 million sq km (425,000 sq miles)
Population: 9.4 million (2006)
Legal Capital: Sucre (population: 132,000)
Political Capital: La Paz (population 0.8 million; conurbation 1.5 million)
People: Indigenous, primarily Aymara, Quechua, and Guarani (65%), Mestizo (35%)
Language(s): Spanish, Quechua, Aymara (all official) plus numerous other indigenous languages
Religion(s): Roman Catholic (95%), Protestant (Evangelical Methodist)
Currency: Boliviano
Major political organisations: Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS); PODEMOS (Poder Democratico Social)
Government: Democracy with elections held every 5 years. The 1964 constitution (revised in 1994 and 2004) provides for an executive and a legislature consisting of a 27-member Senate and 130-member Chamber of Deputies.
Head of State: Juan Evo Morales Aima
Foreign Minister: David Choquehuanca
Membership of international groupings/organisations: Bolivia holds membership of the UN; WTO; G-11; G77; Organisation of American States (OAS); Andean Community (CAN); Latin American Integration Association (ALADI); Rio Group; MERCOSUR (associate membership); Inter-American Developmental Bank (IADB); IMF.

DID YOU KNOW?

Bolivia has not only has the highest capital city in the world La Paz (3,640m), but also the highest navigable lake, Titicaca (3,805m). British construction workers brought soccer to Bolivia in the 19th century. One of the clubs they founded, Always Ready, still exists today.

HEALTH

Bolivia’s annual population growth rate was 2.1% (1990-2004), with an average life expectancy of 64 years. The total adult literacy rate was 87%. Infant mortality rate was 54 deaths per 1,000 births, with an under-5 mortality rate of 69 (all the mortality rates have improved significantly in the last few years – 45% since 1990 in case of under-5 mortality). In 2003, 14% of the population lived on less than $1 per day.

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