Bolivia is located in Central South America, southwest of
Brazil. The climate varies with altitude; humid and tropical to
cold and semiarid. A natural hazard is flooding in the northeast
which usually occurs from March to April. Natural resources include
tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver,
iron, lead, gold, timber, and hydropower. The government is a
republic but has been redefined as a Social Unitarian State.
Bolivia declared independence from Spain on August 6, 1825. Bolivia
has a population of 9,775,246 people and is ranked 84 in comparison
with the world according to July 2009 estimates. The languages are
broken down in the following manner: Spanish 60.7% (official),
Quechua 21.2% (official), Aymara 14.6% (official), foreign
languages 2.4%, and other 1.2% according to a 2001 census. The most
popular industries are mining, smelting, petroleum, food and
beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, and clothing. According to a 2006
estimate, 60% of the population is below the poverty line.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
$43.27 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - per capita (PPP): $4,500
(2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
Currency: 1 United States Dollar
= 7.10 Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)
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
Infant Mortality Rate
total: 44.66 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 58
male: 48.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth
total population: 66.89 years
country comparison to the world: 156
male: 64.2 years
female: 69.72 years (2009 est.)
Total Fertility Rate
3.17 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.7%
male: 93.1%
female: 80.7% (2001 census)
Unemployment Rate
7.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
7.5% (2007 est.)
note: data are for urban areas; widespread underemployment