2012 Edition

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. 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.

Area

1,098,581 sq km 1,083,301 sq km 15,280 sq km

total

1,098,581 sq km

water

15,280 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Climate

varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

Rio Paraguay 90 m Nevado Sajama 6,542 m

highest point

Nevado Sajama 6,542 m

lowest point

Rio Paraguay 90 m

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

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 Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

1.44 cu km/yr (13%/7%/81%) 157 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

157 cu m/yr (2000)

total

1.44 cu km/yr (13%/7%/81%)

Geographic coordinates

17 00 S, 65 00 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

1,500 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

6,940 km Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,423 km, Chile 860 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 1,075 km

border countries

Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,423 km, Chile 860 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 1,075 km

total

6,940 km

Land use

2.78% 0.19% 97.03% (2005)

arable land

2.78%

other

97.03% (2005)

permanent crops

0.19%

Location

Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

flooding in the northeast (March to April) 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

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

622.5 cu km (2000)

Age structure

34.2% (male 1,793,771/ female 1,727,107) 61% (male 3,082,805/ female 3,198,657) 4.7% (male 215,700/ female 271,963) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

34.2% (male 1,793,771/ female 1,727,107)

15-64 years

61% (male 3,082,805/ female 3,198,657)

65 years and over

4.7% (male 215,700/ female 271,963) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

24.24 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.3% (2008)

Death rate

6.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

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.

Education expenditures

6.3% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

12,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

40.94 deaths/1,000 live births 44.68 deaths/1,000 live births 37.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

37.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

40.94 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official) 60.7%, Quechua (official) 21.2%, Aymara (official) 14.6%, foreign languages 2.4%, other 1.2% (2001 census)

Life expectancy at birth

67.9 years 65.16 years 70.77 years (2012 est.)

female

70.77 years (2012 est.)

total population

67.9 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 86.7% 93.1% 80.7% (2001 census)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

80.7% (2001 census)

male

93.1%

total population

86.7%

Major cities - population

LA PAZ (capital) 1.642 million; Santa Cruz 1.584 million; Sucre 281,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever leptospirosis (2009)

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever

water contact disease

leptospirosis (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

180 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

22.8 years 22.1 years 23.5 years (2012 est.)

female

23.5 years (2012 est.)

male

22.1 years

total

22.8 years

Nationality

Bolivian(s) Bolivian

adjective

Bolivian

noun

Bolivian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Physicians density

1.22 physicians/1,000 population (2001)

Population

10,290,003 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

1.664% (2012 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 34% of population rural: 9% of population total: 25% of population urban: 66% of population rural: 91% of population total: 75% of population

rural

91% of population

total

75% of population

urban

66% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

14 years 14 years 14 years (2007)

female

14 years (2007)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.79 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.93 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

9.2% 7.3% 11.8% (2002)

female

11.8% (2002)

total

9.2%

Urbanization

67% of total population (2010) 2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

67% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

La Paz (administrative capital) 16 30 S, 68 09 W UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) Sucre (constitutional capital)

geographic coordinates

16 30 S, 68 09 W

name

La Paz (administrative capital)

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

7 February 2009

Country name

Plurinational State of Bolivia Bolivia Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia Bolivia

conventional long form

Plurinational State of Bolivia

conventional short form

Bolivia

local long form

Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia

local short form

Bolivia

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Larry MEMMOTT Avenida Arce 2780, Casilla 425, La Paz P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032 [591] (2) 216-8000 [591] (2) 216-8111 in September 2008, the Bolivian Government expelled the US Ambassador to Bolivia, and the countries have yet to reinstate ambassadors

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Larry MEMMOTT

embassy

Avenida Arce 2780, Casilla 425, La Paz

FAX

[591] (2) 216-8111

mailing address

P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032

telephone

[591] (2) 216-8000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Freddy BERSATTI Tudela 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 483-4410 [1] (202) 328-3712 Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco as of September 2008, the US has expelled the Bolivian ambassador to the US

chancery

3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Freddy BERSATTI Tudela

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 328-3712

telephone

[1] (202) 483-4410

Executive branch

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 President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January 2006) Cabinet appointed by the president 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) 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%

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

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

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%

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)

head of government

President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January 2006)

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 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

Government type

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

Independence

6 August 1825 (from Spain)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (judges elected by popular vote from list of candidates pre-selected by Assembly for six-year terms); Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal (seven primary or titulares and seven alternate or suplente magistrates elected by popular vote from list of candidates pre-selected by Assembly for six-year terms; to rule on constitutional issues (at least two candidates must be indigenous)); Agro-Environmental Court (judges elected by popular vote from list of candidates pre-selected by Assembly for six-year terms; to run on agro-environmental issues); Council of the Judiciary (five judges elected by popular vote from list of candidates pre-selected by Assembly for six-year terms; to rule on ethical and administrative issues in the judiciary); Plurinational Electoral Organ (seven members elected by the Assembly and the president-one member must be of indigenous origin-to six-year terms); provincial and local courts (to try minor cases); District Courts (one in each department)

Legal system

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

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) Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in 2014) 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 19 January 2012, the current composition of the Chamber of Deputies is: MAS 86, PPB-CN 36, UN 3, BI 3, AS 2

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 19 January 2012, the current composition of the Chamber of Deputies is: MAS 86, PPB-CN 36, UN 3, BI 3, AS 2

elections

Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in 2014)

National anthem

"Cancion Patriotica" (Patriotic Song) Jose Ignacio de SANJINES/Leopoldo Benedetto VINCENTI adopted 1852

lyrics/music

Jose Ignacio de SANJINES/Leopoldo Benedetto VINCENTI

name

"Cancion Patriotica" (Patriotic Song)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 August (1825)

National symbol(s)

llama; Andean condor

Political parties and leaders

Bacada Indigena or BI; Bolivia-National Convergence or PPB-CN [vacant]; 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]

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 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)

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)

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$12.94 billion $12.42 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$12.42 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$12.94 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4% (31 December 2011 est.) 3% (31 December 2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.1% (31 December 2012 est.) 10.92% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$1.095 billion (2012 est.) $537.2 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$5.604 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $5.451 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

58.2 (2009) 57.9 (1999)

Economy - overview

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.

Exchange rates

bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar - 6.96 (2012 est.) 6.9875 (2011 est.) 7.0167 (2010 est.) 7.07 (2009) 7.253 (2008)

Exports

$10.97 billion (2012 est.) $9.039 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Brazil 41.8%, US 12.2%, South Korea 6.4%, Peru 5.7%, Argentina 5.2%, Japan 4.7% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

13.6% 38.1% 52% (2012 est.)

agriculture

13.6%

industry

38.1%

services

52% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,000 (2012 est.) $4,900 (2011 est.) $4,700 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2012 est.) 5.2% (2011 est.) 4.1% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$26.75 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$54.36 billion (2012 est.) $51.77 billion (2011 est.) $49.23 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

1% 45.4% (2007)

highest 10%

45.4% (2007)

lowest 10%

1%

Imports

$8.14 billion (2012 est.) $7.126 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Chile 23.5%, Brazil 23%, Argentina 10.3%, US 10.1%, Peru 6.9%, China 5.8% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

3.6% (2010 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.7% (2012 est.) 9.9% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

21% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

4.718 million (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

32% 20% 48% (2010 est.)

agriculture

32%

industry

20%

services

48% (2010 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$6.089 billion (31 December 2011) $3.915 billion (31 December 2010) $3.159 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

51.3% based on percent of population living on less than the international standard of $2/day (2009 est.)

Public debt

34.2% of GDP (2011 est.) 38.6% of GDP (2010 est.) 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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$13.62 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $12.02 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$16.52 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $13.33 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$21 million (31 December 2010) $63.8 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$7.37 billion (31 December 2011) $6.869 billion (31 December 2010)

Stock of domestic credit

$8.702 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $7.633 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$6.263 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $5.329 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

48.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.5% (2012 est.) 7.6% (2011 est.) data are for urban areas; widespread underemployment

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

13.29 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0.07 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

48,570 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

209.8 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

6.301 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

67.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

31.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.539 million kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

6.611 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

2.72 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

11.72 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

14.37 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

281.5 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

62,050 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

865 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

17,330 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

42,640 bbl/day (2008 est.)

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)

Telephone system

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. 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 country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

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

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.

international

country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

879,000 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

8.355 million (2011)

Airports

865 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

6 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

6

2,438 to 3,047 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

6 (2012)

over 3,047 m

4

total

21

Airports - with unpaved runways

631 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

51

2,438 to 3,047 m

4

914 to 1,523 m

157

over 3,047 m

1

total

844

under 914 m

631 (2012)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 1, cargo 14, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 5 (Syria 4, UK 1, (2010)

foreign-owned

5 (Syria 4, UK 1, (2010)

total

18

Pipelines

gas 5,330 km; liquid petroleum gas 51 km; oil 2,510 km; refined products 1,627 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Puerto Aguirre (inland port on the Paraguay/Parana waterway at the Bolivia/Brazil border); Bolivia has free port privileges in maritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay

Railways

3,652 km 3,652 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)

total

3,652 km

Roadways

80,488 km 11,993 km 68,495 km (2010)

total

80,488 km

unpaved

68,495 km (2010)

Waterways

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

Manpower available for military service

2,472,490 2,535,768 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

2,535,768 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,472,490

Manpower fit for military service

1,762,260 2,013,281 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

2,013,281 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,762,260

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

108,334 104,945 (2010 est.)

female

104,945 (2010 est.)

male

108,334

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) (2011)

Bolivian Armed Forces

Bolivian Army (Ejercito Boliviano, EB), Bolivian Naval Force (Fuerza Naval Boliviana, FNB; includes Marines), Bolivian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, FAB) (2011)

Military expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2009)

Military service age and obligation

18-49 years of age for 12-month compulsory male and female military 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 (2011)

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 35,000 hectares under cultivation in 2009, an increase of ten percent over 2008; third largest producer of cocaine, estimated at 195 metric tons potential pure cocaine in 2009, a 70 percent increase over 2006; 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 (2008)