Bolivia

Plurinational State of BoliviaEstado Plurinacional de Bolivia

republicIndependence 6 August 1825 (from Spain)

Bolivia as the 2011 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 151 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalLa Paz (administrative capital), UTC-4
Position17 00 S, 65 00 W
Area1,098,581 sq km
LocationCentral South America, southwest of Brazil
Populationas each edition published it
10.12 million July 2011 est. · 6.71m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.694% 2011 est. · 2.31% in 1993
Median ageyears
22.5 years 2011 est. · 20.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
67.57 years 2011 est. · 62.77 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
3 children per woman 2011 est. · 4.7 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
42.16 deaths per 1,000 live births 2011 est. · 125 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$4,800 2010 est. · $670 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
4.2% 2010 est. · 3.8% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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.

Geography

Central South America, southwest of Brazil

20 fields

Land useshare of 1,098,581 sq km

arable land 2.78%permanent crops 0.19%other 97.03% (2005)irrigated 1,500 sq km (2008)
Area
1,098,581sq km
country comparison to the world: 28land: 1,083,301 sq kmwater: 15,280 sq kmslightly less than three times the size of Montana
Coastline
0km
(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Highest point
6,542m
Nevado Sajamalowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m
Land boundaries
6,940km
border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,423 km, Chile 860 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 1,075 km

Location

Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Geographic coordinates

17 00 S, 65 00 W

Map references

South America

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

Natural resources

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
1.44 cu km/yr (13%/7%/81%)
per capita:
157 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

flooding in the northeast (March-April)

volcanism:
  • Bolivia experiences 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

32 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2011 est.)

207,792
65 and over4.6%
261,904
3,014,419
15-6460.7%
3,129,942
1,785,453
0-1434.6%
1,719,173
MaleFemale
Population
10,118,683
(July 2011 est.)country comparison to the world: 83growth rate: 1.694% (2011 est.)country comparison to the world: 67

Per 1,000 population

Birth
24.71 (2011 est.)Death
6.85 (July 2011 est.)Net migration
-0.92 (2011 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2011 est.)67.57
64.84 · 70.42Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)42.16
45.95 · 38.18Literacy (2001 census)86.7%
93.1% · 80.7%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2011 est.)22.5
21.8 · 23.2School life expectancy years (2007)14
14 · 14Youth unemployment ages 15-24 (2002)9.2%
7.3% · 11.8%
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 156 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 61 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write · Youth unemployment ages 15-24 country comparison to the world: 108

Ethnic groups

Quechua 30%mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%Aymara 25%white 15%
Urban population
67%of total population
(2010)rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)Major cities - population: LA PAZ (capital) 1.642 million; Santa Cruz 1.584 million; Sucre 281,000 (2009)
Improved drinking water
86%of population
improved: urban: 96% of populationrural: 67% of populationunimproved: urban: 4% of populationrural: 33% of populationtotal: 14% of population (2008)
Improved sanitation
25%of population
improved: urban: 34% of populationrural: 9% of populationunimproved: urban: 66% of populationrural: 91% of populationtotal: 75% of population (2008)
Maternal mortality rate
180deaths/100,000 live births
(2008)country comparison to the world: 60

Nationality

noun:
Bolivian(s)
adjective:
Bolivian

Languages

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

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.79 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

3 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Health expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 143

Physicians density

1.22 physicians/1,000 population (2001) country comparison to the world: 91

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 141

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

12,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Major infectious diseases

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)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.3% (2008) country comparison to the world: 89

Education expenditures

6.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 25

Government

Republic; President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January 2006); President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January 2006)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

64%
Juan Evo MORALES Ayma 64%Manfred REYES VILLA 26%Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana 6%Rene JOAQUINO 2%other 2%election last held on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in 2014)

Chamber of Senators, 130 seatsone dot, one seat

MAS 89PPB-CN 36UN 3AS 2

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)
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

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

7 February 2009

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; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
elections:
  • president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term and are eligible for re-election;
  • 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

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);
  • District Courts (one in each department);
  • 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));
  • Plurinational Electoral Organ (seven members elected by the Assembly and the president; one member must be of indigenous origin to six-year terms);
  • 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);
  • provincial and local courts (to try minor cases)

Political parties and leaders

  • Bolivia-National Convergence or PPB-CN [Manfred REYES VILLA];
  • 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 COR;
  • 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);
  • labor unions (including the Central Bolivian Workers' Union or COB and Cooperative Miners Federation or FENCOMIN)

International organization participation

CAN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, 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, San Francisco

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 John CREAMER
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

Bolivia is one of the poorest and least developed countries in Latin America.

53 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$47.88billion
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 93$45.96 billion (2009 est.) · $44.47 billion (2008 est.)note: data are in 2010 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $19.37 billion (2010 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$4,800
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 151$4,700 (2009 est.) · $4,600 (2008 est.)note: data are in 2010 US dollars
Real growth rate
4.2%
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 893.4% (2009 est.) · 6.1% (2008 est.)industrial production growth: 4% (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 103
Inflation, consumer prices
2.5%
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 833.3% (2009 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)

agriculture 12%industry 38%services 50% (2010 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

43.5%
Brazil
27.4%
4.8%
Argentina
17.3%
12.3%
US
11.9%
6.8%
Peru
9.6%
Chile
7.8%
5.5%
Colombia
5.1%
Japan
China
4.1%
Exports $6.179 billion (2010 est.)Imports $4.922 billion (2010 est.)(2010)

Budget

Revenues
$8.623 billionExpenditures
$8.239 billion (2010 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production
6.085 billion (2010 est.)Electricity consumption
5.814 billion (2010 est.)

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. After higher prices for mining and hydrocarbons exports produced a fiscal surplus in 2008, the global recession in 2009 slowed growth.

Nevertheless, Bolivia recorded the highest growth rate in South America that year. During 2010 an increase in world commodity prices resulted in the biggest trade surplus in history. However, a lack of foreign investment in the key sectors of mining and hydrocarbons and higher food prices pose challenges for the Bolivian economy.

Labor force

4.614 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
40%
industry:
17%
services:
43% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.8% (2010 est.) · 7.9% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 note: data are for urban areas; widespread underemployment

Population below poverty line

30.3% note: based on percent of population living on less than the international standard of $2/day (2009 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
1%
highest 10%:
45.4% (2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

58.2 (2009) · 57.9 (1999) country comparison to the world: 10

Investment (gross fixed)

16.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Taxes and other revenues

44.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Public debt

38.1% of GDP (2010 est.) · 42.5% of GDP (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Central bank discount rate

3% (31 December 2010 est.) · 3% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.911% (31 December 2010 est.) · 12.36% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Stock of narrow money

$4.511 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $3.524 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Stock of broad money

$13.75 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $12.16 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Stock of domestic credit

$6.05 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $5.695 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Market value of publicly traded shares

$3.388 billion (31 December 2010) · $2.792 billion (31 December 2009) · $2.672 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 89

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Oil - production

53,740 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Oil - consumption

62,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Oil - exports

5,621 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Oil - imports

17,330 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Oil - proved reserves

465 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Natural gas - production

14.73 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Natural gas - consumption

3.01 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Natural gas - exports

11.72 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Natural gas - proved reserves

750.4 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Current account balance

$902.1 million (2010 est.) · $813.2 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Exports

$6.179 billion (2010 est.) · $4.918 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$4.922 billion (2010 est.) · $4.144 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$9.73 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $8.581 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Debt - external

$6.164 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $5.812 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$7.257 billion (31 December 2010) · $6.876 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 84

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$21 million (31 December 2010) · $63.8 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 85

Exchange rates

bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar - 7.04 (2010) · 7.07 (2009) · 7.253 (2008) · 7.8616 (2007) · 8.0159 (2006)

Communications

7 fields
Mobile cellular
7.179 million
(2010)
Internet users
125,462
(2010)
Fixed lines
848,200
(2010) · country code .bo

Telephone system

general assessment:
  • Bolivian National Telecommunications Company (ENTEL) 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 2010, teledensity reached about 75 per 100 persons
international:
country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2010)

Broadcast media

  • large number of radio and television broadcasting stations with private media outlets dominating;
  • state-owned and private radio and television stations generally operating freely, although both pro-government and anti-government groups have attacked media outlets in response to their reporting (2010)

Internet users

1.103 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 95

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 22 ships by typeone square, one ship

bulk carrier 3cargo 11carrier 1passenger/cargo 1petroleum tanker 2roll on/roll off 3specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: 7 (Bahamas 1, Ecuador 1, Iran 1, Syria 4) (2010)

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m
3
5 (2010)

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

over 3,047 m
1under 914 m
615

Networkskm

Roadways
13,602Railways
3,652Waterways
10,000 (2010)
Roadways: (does not include urban roads) · paved: 4,990 km · unpaved: 8,612 km (2004) · Railways: narrow gauge: 3,652 km 1.000-m gauge (2010) · Waterways: (commercially navigable almost exclusively in the northern and eastern parts of the country)

Airports

881 (2010) country comparison to the world: 8

Pipelines

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

Railways

total:
3,652 km

country comparison to the world: 46

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

Roadways

total:
13,602 km (does not include urban roads)

country comparison to the world: 127

paved:
4,990 km
unpaved:
8,612 km (2004)

Waterways

10,000 km (commercially navigable almost exclusively in the northern and eastern parts of the country) (2010) country comparison to the world: 13

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

Military

Bolivian Armed Forces: Bolivian Army (Ejercito Boliviano, EB), Bolivian Navy (Fuerza Naval Boliviana, FNB; includes marines), Bolivian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, FAB) (2011)

6 fields
Military expenditures
1.3%of GDP
(2009)country comparison to the world: 115

Military branches

Bolivian Armed Forces: Bolivian Army (Ejercito Boliviano, EB), Bolivian Navy (Fuerza Naval Boliviana, FNB; includes marines), Bolivian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, FAB) (2011)

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)

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.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

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 (2011)

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Bolivia.” The World Factbook 2011. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bolivia/2011.