Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simón BOLÍVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825. Much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of coups and countercoups, with the last coup occurring in 1980. Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have faced problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and illegal drug production.
- Capital
- La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (constitutional [legislative and judicial] capital)
- Government
- presidential republic
- Population
- 12,436,103
- Area
- 1,098,581 sq km
- Location
- Central South America, southwest of Brazil
- Climate
- varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
- Natural resources
- lithium; tin; natural gas; petroleum; zinc; tungsten…
- Languages
- Spanish (official) 68.1%; Quechua (official) 17.2%; Aymara (official) 10.5%; Guarani (official) 0.6%…
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 65%; Protestant 19.6% (Evangelical (non-specific) 11.9%; Evangelical Baptist 2.1%; Evangelical Pentecostal 1.8%…
- Independence
- 6 August 1825 (from Spain)
- Administrative divisions
- 9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Sant…
- Currency
- bolivianos (BOB)
- Export partners
- Brazil 15%; India 13%; China 11%; Argentina 11%…
- Import partners
- China 22%; Brazil 18%; Chile 13%; USA 7%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain