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 coups and countercoups, with the last coup occurring in 1978. Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982.
Geography
Area
total : 1,098,581 sq km
land: 1,083,301 sq km
water: 15,280 sq km
Climate
varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
Natural resources
lithium, tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower
People and Society
Population
total: 12,311,974
Ethnic groups
Mestizo (mixed White and Indigenous ancestry) 68%, Indigenous 20%, White 5%, Cholo/Chola 2%, African descent 1%, other 1%, unspecified 3%; 44% other Indigenous group, predominantly Quechua or Aymara (2009 est.)
Languages
Spanish (official) 68.1%, Quechua (official) 17.2%, Aymara (official) 10.5%, Guarani (official) 0.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.1%; note - Spanish and all Indigenous languages are official (2012 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 19.6% (Evangelical (non-specific) 11.9%, Evangelical Baptist 2.1%, Evangelical Pentecostal 1.8%, Evangelical Methodist 0.7%, Adventist 2.8%, Protestant (non-specific) 0.3%), Believer (not belonging to the church) 0.9%, other 4.8%, atheist 1.7%, agnostic 0.6%, none 6.1%, unspecified 1.3% (2023 est.)
Population growth rate
1% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (constitutional [legislative and judicial] capital)
Executive branch
chief of state: President Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (since 8 November 2020)
head of government: President Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (since 8 November 2020)
Legislative branch
summary: bicameral Plurinational Legislative Assembly consists of the Chamber of Senators (36 seats) and the Chamber of Deputies (130 seats)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Henry BALDELOMAR CHÁVEZ (since 11 October 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Debra HEVIA (since September 2023)
Economy
Economic overview
resource-rich economy benefits during commodity booms; has bestowed juridical rights to Mother Earth, impacting extraction industries; increasing Chinese lithium mining trade relations; hard hit by COVID-19; increased fiscal spending amid poverty increases; rampant banking and finance corruption
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$119.785 billion (2023 est.)
$116.927 billion (2022 est.)
$112.858 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$9,700 (2023 est.)
$9,600 (2022 est.)
$9,300 (2021 est.)
Exports
$11.975 billion (2023 est.)
$14.465 billion (2022 est.)
$11.596 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
India 16%, Brazil 14%, Argentina 13%, Colombia 8%, Japan 7% (2022)
Exports - commodities
natural gas, gold, zinc ore, soybean meal, soybean oil (2022)
Imports
$13.13 billion (2023 est.)
$13.462 billion (2022 est.)
$10.187 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
Brazil 20%, China 19%, Chile 13%, Peru 9%, Argentina 6% (2022)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, pesticides, plastic products, trucks (2022)
Page last updated: Thursday, August 29, 2024
