| |
The republic of Bolivia named after the independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR achieved freedom from Spanish rule in 1825. Bolivia is located in the Central South America. It is a landlocked country surrounded by Paraguay, Argentina on the South, Chile and Peru on the west and Brazil in the north and east. Bolivia is the 23rd largest country in the world. Geologically Bolivia has diverse zones, the western highlands of the country are situated in the Andes Mountains and include the Bolivian Altiplano.
Amazonian rainforest and Chaco is a larger part of the eastern. The highest peak is Bolivia is Nevado Sajama at 6542 Mt located in the department of Oruro. Between Bolivia and Peru is the Lake Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake. Towards the southwest corner of the country, in the department of Potosi lies the world's largest salt flat, The Salar de Uyuni.
Chief cities are cities are La Paz, El Alto, Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Cochabamba. Natural resources to be found in Bolivia are tin, natural gas, zinc, antimony, silver, lead, gold, timber, hydropower, petroleum, tungsten and iron.
Largest city: Santa Cruz de la Sierra |
| |
| People |
| |
Total population of Bolivia is 9,119,152. The ethnic groups can be classified as Quechua with 30% of the population, mestizo a mixed white and Amerindian ancestry with 30%, Aymara comprises 25% and white 15%. The white population is mostly the Criollos, who basically consist of families of essentially unmixed Spanish ancestry, the descent of early Spanish colonists.
95% of the population are Roman Catholic and only 5% protestant basically Evangelical Methodist. The official languages are Spanish, Quechua and Aymara.
Bolivia is one of the least developed countries in South America. Approximately two-thirds of its people, many of whom are livelihood farmers, live in poverty.
The Bolivian culture is highly influenced by the Aymara, the Quechua along with the popular cultures of Latin America.
The most popular of all the festivals celebrated in the country is the "Carnaval de Oruro", which was among the first 19 "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity," as announced by the UNESCO in May of 2001. |
| |
| Government |
| |
Bolivia operates under the framework of a Republic government. The constitution was amended on 2 February 1967 and revised in August 1994. The president is both the chief of the state and head of the government. The cabinet is appointed by the president. The president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term.
Bolivia is administratively divided into 9 departments Beni, Cochabamba, La Paz, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija, Chuquisaca and Oruro.
Capital: La Paz (administrative)
Sucre (Constitutional, Judicial)
Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma
Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera
Currency: Boliviano |
| |
| Economy |
| |
Bolivia is the least developed and the poorest country in the Latin America. The reason being the economy was rested on one single commodity, without shifting focus to other opportunities. Political corruption and intervention has hampered and slowed the economic growth and development.
43% of labor force is into the service sector, 40% into the agricultural sector and only 17% into the industrial sector. The chief agricultural products are soybeans, coffee, cotton, sugarcane, potatoes, timber, coca, corn and rice.
The dominant industrial products are mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing.Bolivia has large reserves for both oil and natural gas. There was a significant change in the energy sector since the government has allowed privatization. Various international countries have hugely invested in these energy reserves and have elevated Bolivia in the world energy market.
Banking in Bolivia has suffered immensely due to corruption and weak regulations. The privatization of social security program has supported and backed the stock market. |
| |
| |
| | |
