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Bolivia country facts

Plurinational State of Bolivia South America La Paz (administrative capital) 10,631,486 inhabitants 1,098,581 sq km 9.68 inhabitants/sq km bolivianos (BOB) population evolution

Introduction

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 nearly 200 coups and countercoups. 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, President MORALES easily won reelection, and his party took control of the legislative branch of the government, which will allow him to continue his process of change. In October 2011, the country held its first judicial elections to select judges for the four highest courts.

Geography

Location

Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Geographic coordinates

17 00 S, 65 00 W

Area (sq km)

total: 1,098,581 sq km
land: 1,083,301 sq km
water: 15,280 sq km

Area - comparative (sq km)

slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Land boundaries (km)

total: 7,252 km
border countries: Argentina 942 km, Brazil 3,403 km, Chile 942 km, Paraguay 753 km, Peru 1,212 km

Coastline (km)

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid

Terrain

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

Elevation extremes (m)

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

Natural resources

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

Land use (%)

arable land: 3.49%
permanent crops: 0.2%
other: 96.31% (2011)

Irrigated land (sq km)

1,282 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources (cu km)

622.5 cu km (2011)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) ()

total: 2.64 cu km/yr (25%/14%/61%)
per capita: 305.8 cu m/yr (2005)

Natural hazards

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

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

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

Geography - note

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Bolivian(s)
adjective: Bolivian

Ethnic groups (%)

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

Languages (%)

Spanish (official) 60.7%, Quechua (official) 21.2%, Aymara (official) 14.6%, Guarani (official), foreign languages 2.4%, other 1.2%
note: Bolivia's 2009 constitution designates Spanish and all indigenous languages as official; 36 indigenous languages are specified, including some that are extinct (2001 census)

Religions (%)

Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%

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.

Population

10,631,486 (July 2014 est.)   evolution and prospects (1950-2100)

Age structure (%)

0-14 years: 33.3% (male 1,805,121/female 1,737,794)
15-24 years: 19.8% (male 1,063,823/female 1,037,320)
25-54 years: 36.3% (male 1,878,736/female 1,979,819)
55-64 years: 5.7% (male 280,809/female 322,057)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 232,514/female 293,493) (2014 est.)

Age structure in Bolivia

Median age (years)

total: 23.4 years
male: 22.6 years
female: 24.1 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate (%)

1.6% (2014 est.)

Birth rate (births/1,000 population)

23.28 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)

6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)

-0.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Urbanization (%)

urban population: 66.8% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 2.18% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas - population

Santa Cruz 1.719 million; LA PAZ (capital) 1.715 million; Sucre (constitutional capital) 307,000 (2011)

Sex ratio (male(s)/female)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
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: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Maternal mortality rate (deaths/100,000 live births)

190 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)

total: 38.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 42.23 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 34.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth (years)

total population: 68.55 years
male: 65.78 years
female: 71.45 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate (children born/woman)

2.8 children born/woman (2014 est.)

Health expenditures (% of GDP)

4.9% of GDP (2011)

Physicians density (physicians/1,000 population)

1.22 physicians/1,000 population (2001)

Hospital bed density (beds/1,000 population)

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Drinking water source (% of population)

improved: urban: 96% of population
rural: 71.9% of population
total: 88.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 4% of population
rural: 28.1% of population
total: 11.9% of population (2012 est.)

Sanitation facility access (% of population)

improved: urban: 57.5% of population
rural: 23.7% of population
total: 46.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 42.5% of population
rural: 76.3% of population
total: 53.6% of population (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)

0.3% (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

15,900 (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,300 (2012 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever (2013)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate (%)

17.9% (2008)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight (%)

4.5% (2008)

Education expenditures (% of GDP)

6.9% of GDP (2011)

Literacy (%)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.2%
male: 95.8%
female: 86.8% (2009 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) (years)

total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2007)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 (%)

total: 6.2%
male: 4.8%
female: 7.8% (2009)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Plurinational State of Bolivia
conventional short form: Bolivia
local long form: Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia
local short form: Bolivia

Government type

republic; note - the new constitution defines Bolivia as a "Social Unitarian State"

Capital

name: La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (constitutional capital)
geographic coordinates: 16 30 S, 68 09 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

6 August 1825 (from Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 August (1825)

Constitution

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

Legal system

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal and compulsory

Executive branch

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
head of government: President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term and are eligible for re-election once; election last held on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Juan Evo MORALES Ayma reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma 64%; Manfred REYES VILLA 26%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana 6%; Rene JOAQUINO 2%; other 2%

Legislative branch

bicameral Plurinational Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (36 seats; members are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats total; 70 uninominal deputies directly elected from a single district, 7 "special" indigenous deputies directly elected from non-contiguous indigenous districts, and 53 plurinominal deputies elected by proportional representation from party lists; all deputies serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 26, PPB-CN 10; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 89, PPB-CN 36, UN 3, AS 2; note - as of 15 February 2013, the composition of the Chamber of Deputies was: MAS 88, PPB-CN 37, UN 3, AS 2

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (consists of 12 judges); Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal (consists of 7 primary and 7 alternate magistrates); Plurinational Electoral Organ (consists of 7 members);
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal judges elected by popular vote from list of candidates pre-selected by Plurinational Legislative Assembly for 6-year terms); Plurinational Electoral Organ members - 6 judges elected by the Assembly and 1 appointed by the president; judges and members serve 6-year terms
note: the 2009 constitution reformed the procedure for selecting judicial officials for the Supreme Court, Constitutional Tribunal, and the Plurinational Electoral Organ by direct national vote, which occurred in October 2011
subordinate courts: Agro-Environmental Court; Council of the Judiciary; District Courts (in each of the 9 administrative departments)

Political parties and leaders

Bacada Indigena or BI
Bolivia-National Convergence or PPB-CN [Adrian OLIVA]
Fearless Movement or MSM [Juan DE GRANADO Cosio]
Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma]
National Unity or UN [Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana]
People or Gente [Roman LOAYZA]
Social Alliance or AS [Rene JOAQUINO]
Social Democratic Movement or MDS [Ruben COSTAS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Bolivian Workers Central or COB
Federation of Neighborhood Councils of El Alto or FEJUVE
Landless Movement or MST
National Coordinator for Change or CONALCAM
Sole Confederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB
other: Cocalero groups; indigenous organizations (including Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Eastern Bolivia or CIDOB and National Council of Ayullus and Markas of Quollasuyu or CONAMAQ); Interculturales union or CSCIB; labor unions (including the Central Bolivian Workers' Union or COB and Cooperative Miners Federation or FENCOMIN)

International organization participation

CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Freddy BERSATTI Tudela
chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410
FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York
note: as of September 2008, the US has expelled the Bolivian ambassador to the US

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Aruna AMIRTHANAYAGAM (since 28 February 2014)
embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, Casilla 425, La Paz
mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
telephone: [591] (2) 216-8000
FAX: [591] (2) 216-8111
note: in September 2008, the Bolivian Government expelled the US Ambassador to Bolivia, and the countries have yet to reinstate ambassadors

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
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

National symbol(s)

llama; Andean condor

National anthem

name: "Cancion Patriotica" (Patriotic Song)
lyrics/music: Jose Ignacio de SANJINES/Leopoldo Benedetto VINCENTI
note: adopted 1852

Economy

Economy - overview

Bolivia is a resource rich country with strong growth attributed to captive markets for natural gas exports. 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. The global recession slowed growth, but Bolivia recorded the highest growth rate in South America during 2009. High commodity prices since 2010 sustained rapid growth and large trade surpluses. However, 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$59.11 billion (2013 est.)
$55.35 billion (2012 est.)
$52.63 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$30.79 billion (2013 est.)

GDP - real growth rate (%)

6.8% (2013 est.)
5.2% (2012 est.)
5.2% (2011 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,500 (2013 est.)
$5,200 (2012 est.)
$4,900 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (%)

agriculture: 9.2%
industry: 38.5%
services: 52.3% (2013 est.)

Labor force

4.922 million (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation (%)

agriculture: 32%
industry: 27.4%
services: 40.6% (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate (%)

7.4% (2013 est.)
7.5% (2012 est.)
note: data are for urban areas; widespread underemployment

Population below poverty line (%)

45%
note: based on percent of population living on less than the international standard of $2/day (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)

lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 46% (2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

47 (2011)
57.9 (1999)

Budget

revenues: $15.16 billion
expenditures: $15.13 billion (2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP)

48.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) (% of GDP)

0.1% of GDP (2013 est.)

Public debt (% of GDP)

36% of GDP (2013 est.)
32.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)

6.5% (2013 est.)
4.5% (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate (%)

4.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
4% (31 december 2012 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate (%)

11.41% (31 December 2013 est.)
10.6% (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$8.429 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$7.434 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$20.19 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$17.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$12.45 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$10.49 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$9.684 billion (31 December 2013)
$7.689 billion (31 December 2012)
$6.089 billion (31 December 2011)

Agriculture - products

quinoa, soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; Brazil nuts; timber

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate (%)

5.6% (2013 est.)

Current account balance

$1.012 billion (2013 est.)
$2.259 billion (2012 est.)

Exports

$12.16 billion (2013 est.)
$11.77 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities (%)

natural gas, soybeans and soy products, crude petroleum, zinc ore, tin

Exports - partners (%)

Brazil 41.8%, US 18.4%, Argentina 7.3%, Peru 4.9% (2012)

Imports

$9.282 billion (2013 est.)
$8.18 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities (%)

petroleum products, plastics, paper, aircraft and aircraft parts, prepared foods, automobiles, insecticides

Imports - partners (%)

Chile 21.3%, Brazil 20.3%, Argentina 10.9%, US 10.1%, Peru 6.5%, Venezuela 6.2%, China 4.9% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$14.43 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$13.93 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

External debt ($)

$5.265 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$4.196 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$10.56 billion (31 December 2013)
$8.809 billion (31 December 2012)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$0 (31 december 2013)
$0 (31 December 2012)

Exchange rates

Currency converter
bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar -
6.91 (2013 est.)
6.94 (2012 est.)
7.0167 (2010 est.)
7.07 (2009)
7.253 (2008)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Energy

Electricity - production (kWh)

7.375 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - consumption (kWh)

6.944 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports (kWh)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - imports (kWh)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity (kW)

1.365 million kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels (% of total installed capacity)

63.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels (% of total installed capacity)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants (% of total installed capacity)

34.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources (% of total installed capacity)

1.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production (bbl/day)

51,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports (bbl/day)

60.71 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports (bbl/day)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves (bbl)

209.8 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production (bbl/day)

40,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption (bbl/day)

55,560 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports (bbl/day)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports (bbl/day)

15,560 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production (cu m)

54.37 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption (cu m)

9.432 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports (cu m)

44.94 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports (cu m)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m)

281.5 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy (Mt)

13.98 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use

880,600 (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

9.494 million (2012)

Telephone system

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.
domestic: most telephones are concentrated in La Paz, Santa Cruz, and other capital cities; mobile-cellular telephone use expanding rapidly and, in 2011, teledensity reached about 80 per 100 persons
international: country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

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 hosts

180,988 (2012)

Internet users

1.103 million (2009)

Transportation

Airports

855 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 21
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 834
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 47
914 to 1,523 m: 151
under 914 m: 631 (2013)

Pipelines (km)

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

Railways (km)

total: 3,652 km
narrow gauge: 3,652 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)

Roadways (km)

total: 80,488 km
paved: 11,993 km
unpaved: 68,495 km (2010)

Waterways (km)

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

Merchant marine

total: 18
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 14, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 5 (Syria 4, UK 1, (2010)

Ports and terminals

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

Military

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) (2013)

Military service age and obligation (years of age)

18-49 years of age for 12-month compulsory male and female military service; Bolivian citizenship required; 17 years of age for voluntary service; 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 (2013)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,472,490
females age 16-49: 2,535,768 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,762,260
females age 16-49: 2,013,281 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 108,334
female: 104,945 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures (% of GDP)

1.47% of GDP (2012)
1.47% of GDP (2011)
1.47% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

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 natural gas; contraband smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotic trafficking are problems in the porous areas of the border with Argentina

Illicit drugs

world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru) with an estimated 30,000 hectares under cultivation in 2011, a decrease of 13 percent over 2010; third largest producer of cocaine, estimated at 265 metric tons potential pure cocaine in 2011, a 29 percent increase over 2010; 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 (2013)

Largest cities of Bolivia

These are the 50 largest cities of Bolivia ordered based on their number of inhabitants.

# City Population
1 Cochabamba 900,440
2 La Paz 812,819
3 Sucre 224,846
4 Oruro 208,687
5 Tarija 159,275
6 Potosí 141,254
7 Montero 88,623
8 Trinidad 84,264
9 Yacuiba 82,808
10 Riberalta 74,018
11 Guayaramerín 36,010
12 Villazón 30,254
13 Bermejo 28,287
14 Llallagua 28,070
15 Camiri 27,971
16 Cobija 26,583
17 San Ignacio 23,570
18 Tupiza 22,234
19 Warnes 22,038
20 San Borja 19,641
21 Villamontes 18,762
22 Cotoca 18,349
23 El Torno 15,544
24 Huanuni 15,492
25 Punata 15,195
26 Caranavi 14,915
27 Ascensión 14,431
28 Mineros 14,386
29 El Carmen 14,297
30 Patacamaya 12,261
31 Puerto Suárez 12,254
32 Rurrenabaque 11,750
33 Portachuelo 11,486
34 Puerto Quijarro 10,393
35 Uyuni 10,294
36 La Guardia 10,259
37 Roboré 9,883
38 San José 9,749
39 Pailón 9,304
40 Cliza 8,655
41 Achacachi 8,447
42 Monteagudo 8,290
43 Aiquile 8,225
44 Tarata 8,045
45 Challapata 8,016
46 San Julian 7,706
47 Reyes 7,376
48 San Javier 7,025
49 Concepción 6,901
50 San Ramón 6,422