title

Republic of Bolivia

Geography

South America, landlocked and mountainous.

Government

Independence from Spain in 1825. Since then, according to the Factbook, "nearly 200 coups and counter-coups. Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in 1982."

Presidents elected by popular vote to five-year terms. Bicameral legislature.

Economy

Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.

Estimated per capita GDP:
2007 $4,400 (Ranks 142nd)

GDP annual growth rate estimated for 2007: 4.0 percent. (Ranks again 142nd)

One of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries.

2007: Some inhabited areas have no safe drinking water and no light.

Military expenditures as a percentage of GDP: 1.9 (estimated for 2006).

Estimated Deaths and Births per 1,000 persons

For 2008: deaths 7.35; births 22.31, down from 27.76 in 2005

Population

Estimate for July 2008: 9.248 million, up from 8.86 million in 2005. Growth rate estimated for 2008: 1.383 percent per year.

Migration estimated for 2008

More people leaving than arriving, a net loss of 1.14 persons per 1,000 population.

Health

Infant mortality estimated for 2008: 49.09, down from 53.11 (deaths before the age of one year, per 1,000 live births)

Average life expectancy estimated for 2008: 66.53 years, up from 65.5 in 2005

Living with HIV/AIDS, ages 15 to 49: 0.1 percent (2003)

Ethnicity

Quechua (Indian) 30 percent, Aymara (Indian) 25 percent, Mixed Indian and white 30 percent, white 15 percent. 

SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

Copyright © 2008 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.