Page last updated on January 31, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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. However, since taking office, his controversial strategies have exacerbated racial and economic tensions between the Amerindian populations of the Andean west and the non-indigenous communities of the eastern lowlands. 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 appoint judges to the four highest courts.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Central South America, southwest of Brazil
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17 00 S, 65 00 W
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
South America
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,098,581 sq km
country comparison to the world: 28
land: 1,083,301 sq km
water: 15,280 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 6,940 km
border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,423 km, Chile 860 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 1,075 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m
highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 3.49%
permanent crops: 0.2%
other: 96.31% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,282 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
622.5 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2.64 cu km/yr (25%/14%/61%)
per capita: 305.8 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Bolivian(s)
adjective: Bolivian
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, Aymara 25%, white 15%
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Spanish (official) 60.7%, Quechua (official) 21.2%, Aymara (official) 14.6%, foreign languages 2.4%, other 1.2% (2001 census)
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%
Demographic profile:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10,461,053 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 33.8% (male 1,800,381/female 1,733,366)
15-24 years: 19.9% (male 1,053,952/female 1,028,169)
25-54 years: 35.9% (male 1,825,535/female 1,928,945)
55-64 years: 5.6% (male 272,980/female 311,312)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 223,933/female 282,480) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 66 %
youth dependency ratio: 57.9 %
elderly dependency ratio: 8.1 %
potential support ratio: 12.3 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 23.1 years
male: 22.3 years
female: 23.8 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.63% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
23.77 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.67 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 67% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
LA PAZ (capital) 1.715 million; Santa Cruz 1.584 million; Sucre 307,000 (2011)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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: 0.94 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
21.2
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2008 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
180 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 60
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 39.76 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 58
male: 43.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 68.22 years
country comparison to the world: 161
male: 65.47 years
female: 71.11 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.87 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
60.5% (2008)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.9% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 144
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.22 physicians/1,000 population (2001)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17.9% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 109
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.5% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 92
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.6% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 16
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 13 years (2007)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 553,323
percentage: 26 %
note: data represents children ages 5-13 (2008 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 6.2%
country comparison to the world: 132
male: 4.8%
female: 7.8% (2009)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Plurinational State of Bolivia
conventional short form: Bolivia
local long form: Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia
local short form: Bolivia
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
republic; note - the new constitution defines Bolivia as a "Social Unitarian State"
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: La Paz (administrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 16 30 S, 68 09 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note: Sucre (constitutional capital)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6 August 1825 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
civil law system with influences from Roman, Spanish, canon (religious), French, and indigenous law
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age, universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 current composition of the Chamber of Deputies is: MAS 88, PPB-CN 37, UN 3, AS 2
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
subordinate courts: Agro-Environmental Court; Council of the Judiciary; District Courts (in each of the 9 administrative departments)
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Bacada Indigena or BI
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Bolivian Workers Central or COB
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Larry L. MEMMOTT (since 14 July 2012)
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
llama; Andean condor
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Cancion Patriotica" (Patriotic Song)
lyrics/music: Jose Ignacio de SANJINES/Leopoldo Benedetto VINCENTI
note: adopted 1852
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Bolivia is one of the poorest and least developed countries in Latin America. 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. During 2010-12 high world commodity prices sustained rapid growth and large trade surpluses. However, a lack of foreign investment in the key sectors of mining and hydrocarbons, along with growing conflict among social groups pose challenges for the Bolivian economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$54.6 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$26.86 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$5,000 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 59.5%
government consumption: 13.5%
investment in fixed capital: 18.2%
investment in inventories: -0.6%
exports of goods and services: 47.3%
imports of goods and services: -37.9%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 13.8%
industry: 38.8%
services: 52.5% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; Brazil nuts; timber
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing, jewelry
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.724 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 32%
industry: 20%
services: 48% (2010 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
note: data are for urban areas; widespread underemployment
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
49.6%
note: based on percent of population living on less than the international standard of $2/day (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 45.4% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
53 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 14
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $12.64 billion
expenditures: $12.17 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
47.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
34% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
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
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.14% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$7.32 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$17.13 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$9.044 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$7.69 billion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 81
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.127 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$11.11 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
natural gas, soybeans and soy products, crude petroleum, zinc ore, tin
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Brazil 41.8%, US 18.4%, Argentina 7.3%, Peru 4.9% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$7.694 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
petroleum products, plastics, paper, aircraft and aircraft parts, prepared foods, automobiles, insecticides
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$13.93 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$6.89 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$8.81 billion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 84
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$8 million (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 97
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.94 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.301 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.655 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
58.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
39.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
56,570 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
209.8 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 58
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
314,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
45,840 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
864.7 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14,150 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
48.97 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.59 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
40.28 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
281.5 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 42
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13.98 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
880,600 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 80
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.494 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 82
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.bo
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
180,988 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 75
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.103 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 95
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
855 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 7
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gas 5,457 km; liquid petroleum gas 51 km; oil 2,511 km; refined products 1,627 km (2013)
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3,652 km
country comparison to the world: 47
narrow gauge: 3,652 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 80,488 km
country comparison to the world: 60
paved: 11,993 km
unpaved: 68,495 km (2010)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10,000 km (commercially navigable almost exclusively in the northern and eastern parts of the country) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 13
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 18
country comparison to the world: 98
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 2,472,490
females age 16-49: 2,535,768 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,762,260
females age 16-49: 2,013,281 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 108,334
female: 104,945 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.47% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 200
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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