Statistics Bolivia 
Bolivia in the World
Bolivia - Introduction 2016
top of pageBackground:
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. In December 2009 and October 2014 President MORALES easily won reelection. His party maintained control of the legislative branch of the government which has allowed him to continue his process of change. In October 2011 the country held its first judicial elections to select judges for the four highest courts. MORALES has publicly described the elected judiciary as a failed experiment that has not resolved judicial backlogs or extended pre-trial detention. He has called for a public referendum on the judicial system.
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. In December 2009 and October 2014 President MORALES easily won reelection. His party maintained control of the legislative branch of the government which has allowed him to continue his process of change. In October 2011 the country held its first judicial elections to select judges for the four highest courts. MORALES has publicly described the elected judiciary as a failed experiment that has not resolved judicial backlogs or extended pre-trial detention. He has called for a public referendum on the judicial system.
Area
Total: 1,098,581 km²
Land: 1,083,301 km²
Water: 15,280 km²
Rank: 28
Comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries
Total: 7,252 km
Border countries: (5) Argentina 942 km; Brazil 3,403 km; Chile 942 km; Paraguay 753 km; Peru 1212 km
Terrain: rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano) hills lowland plains of the Amazon Basin
Elevation
Mean elevation: 1192 m
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m: highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m
Natural resources: tin natural gas petroleum zinc tungsten antimony silver iron lead gold timber hydropower
Land use
Agricultural land: 34.3%
arable land: 3.6%
permanent crops: 0.2%
permanent pasture: 30.5%
permanent crops: 0.2%
permanent pasture: 30.5%
Forest: 52.5%
Other: 13.2%
Natural hazards: flooding in the northeast (March to April)
Volcanism: volcanic activity in Andes Mountains on the border with Chile; historically active volcanoes in this region are Irruputuncu which last erupted in 1995 and Olca-Paruma
Geography
Note: landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m) with Peru
Bolivia - People 2016
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: a high altitude plain in the west between two cordillera of the Andes known as the Altiplano is the focal area for most of the population; a dense settlement pattern is also found in and around the city of Santa Cruz located on the eastern side of the Andes: 10,969,649 (July 2016 est.)
Rank: 82
Growth rate: 1.54% (2016 est.)
Growth rate rank: 76
Below poverty line: 45%
Below poverty line note: based on percent of population living on less than the international standard of $2/day
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 68% indigenous 20% white 5% cholo/chola 2% black 1% other 1% unspecified 3% ; 44% of respondents indicated feeling part of some indigenous group predominantly Quechua or Aymara
Note: results among surveys vary based on the wording of the ethnicity question and the available response choices; the 2001 national census did not provide 'mestizo' as a response choice resulting in a much higher proportion of respondents identifying themselves as belonging to one of the available indigenous ethnicity choices; the use of 'mestizo' and 'cholo' varies among response choices in surveys with surveys using the terms interchanageably providing one or the other as a response choice or providing the two as separate response choices
Languages: Spanish (official) 60.7% Quechua (official) 21.2% Aymara (official) 14.6% foreign languages 2.4% Guarani (official) 0.6% other native languages 0.4% none 0.1%
Note: Bolivia's 2009 constitution designates Spanish and all indigenous languages as official; 36 indigenous languages are specified including some that are extinct
Religions: Roman Catholic 76.8% Evangelical and Pentecostal 8.1% Protestant 7.9% other 1.7% none 5.5% (2012 est.)
Demographic profile:
Bolivia ranks at or near the bottom among Latin American countries in several areas of health and development including poverty education fertility malnutrition mortality and life expectancy. On the positive side more children are being vaccinated and more pregnant women are getting prenatal care and having skilled health practitioners attend their births. Bolivia's income inequality is the highest in Latin America and one of the highest in the world. Public education is of poor quality and educational opportunities are among the most unevenly distributed in Latin America with girls and indigenous and rural children less likely to be literate or to complete primary school. The lack of access to education and family planning services helps to sustain Bolivia's high fertility rate - approximately three children per woman. Bolivia's lack of clean water and basic sanitation especially in rural areas contributes to health problems.
Almost 7% of Bolivia's population lives abroad primarily to work in Argentina Brazil Spain and the United States. In recent years more restrictive immigration policies in Europe and the United States have increased the flow of Bolivian emigrants to neighboring Argentina and Brazil.
Almost 7% of Bolivia's population lives abroad primarily to work in Argentina Brazil Spain and the United States. In recent years more restrictive immigration policies in Europe and the United States have increased the flow of Bolivian emigrants to neighboring Argentina and Brazil.
Age structure
0-14 years: 32.36%
15-24 years: 19.55%
25-54 years: 37.08%
55-64 years: 5.83%
65 years and over: 5.18% (2016 est.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 63.7%
Youth dependency ratio: 53.1%
Elderly dependency ratio: 10.6%
Potential support ratio: 9.4%
Population distribution: a high altitude plain in the west between two cordillera of the Andes known as the Altiplano is the focal area for most of the population; a dense settlement pattern is also found in and around the city of Santa Cruz located on the eastern side of the Andes
Urbanization
Urban population: 68.5% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 2.26% annual rate of change
Major urban areas
Population: Santa Cruz 2.107 million; LA PAZ (capital) 1.816 million; Cochabamba 1.24 million; Sucre (constitutional capital) 372,000 (2015)
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
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Environmental Modification Marine Life Conservation
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male/female
25-54 years: 0.95 male/female
55-64 years: 0.86 male/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male/female
Total population: 0.98 male/female
Infant mortality rate
Total: 36.4 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 39.9 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 32.7 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 55
Drinking water source:
urban: 96.7% of population
rural: 75.6% of population
total: 90% of population
urban: 3.3% of population
rural: 24.4% of population
total: 10% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 75.6% of population
total: 90% of population
urban: 3.3% of population
rural: 24.4% of population
total: 10% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 60.8% of population
rural: 27.5% of population
total: 50.3% of population
urban: 39.2% of population
rural: 72.5% of population
total: 49.7% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 27.5% of population
total: 50.3% of population
urban: 39.2% of population
rural: 72.5% of population
total: 49.7% of population (2015 est.)
Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.29% (2015 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 83
People living with hivaids: 18,200 (2015 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 80
Deaths: 800 (2015 est.)
Deaths rank: 77
Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever malaria and yellow fever
Note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country ; it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex via blood transfusion or during pregnancy in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 95.7%
Male: 97.8%
Female: 93.6%
Bolivia - Government 2016
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Plurinational State of Bolivia
Conventional short form: Bolivia
Local long form: Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia
Local short form: Bolivia
Etymology: the country is named after Simon BOLIVAR a 19th-century leader in the South American wars for independence
Capital
Name: La Paz ; Sucre (constitutional [legislative and judicial] capital)
Geographic coordinates: 16 30 S 68 09 W
Time difference: UTC-4
Administrative divisions: 9 departments (departamentos singular - departamento); Beni Chuquisaca Cochabamba La Paz Oruro Pando Potosi Santa Cruz Tarija
Constitution: many previous; latest drafted 6 August 2006 - 9 December 2008 approved by referendum 25 January 2009 effective 7 February 2009; amended 2013; note - in early 2016 a proposed amendment allowing the president and vice-president to run for a third term was defeated in a referendum (2016)
Legal system: civil law system with influences from Roman Spanish canon (religious) French and indigenous law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship by descent: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years
Executive branch
Chief of state: President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma ; 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 ; Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January 2006)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Electionsappointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term ; election last held on 12 October 2014 (next to be held in 2019); note - a presidential candidate wins an election one of 3 ways
Election results: Juan Evo MORALES Ayma reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma 61%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana 24.5%; Jorge QUIROGA 9.1%; other 5.4%
Legislative branch
Description: bicameral Plurinational Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; 70 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote 53 indirectly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 7 - apportioned to non-contiguous rural areas in 7 of the 9 states - directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 12 October 2014
Election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 25 UD 9 PDC 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 88 UD 32 PDC 10
Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia ; Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal (consists of 7 primary and 7 alternate magistrates); Plurinational Electoral Organ (consists of 7 members)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal judges elected by popular vote from list of candidates pre-selected by Plurinational Legislative Assembly for 6-year terms); Plurinational Electoral Organ members - 6 judges elected by the Assembly and 1 appointed by the president; judges and members serve 6-year terms; note - the 2009 constitution reformed the procedure for selecting judicial officials for the Supreme Court Constitutional Tribunal and the Plurinational Electoral Organ by direct national vote which occurred in October 2011
Subordinate courts: Agro-Environmental Court; Council of the Judiciary; District Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez]
Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma]
United Democrats or UD [Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana]
Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma]
United Democrats or UD [Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana]
International organization participation: CAN CD CELAC FAO G-77 IADB IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (national committees) ICCt 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 UN UNAMID UNASUR UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO Union Latina UNMIL UNMISS UNOCI UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO
Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador ; Charge d'Affaires Freddy BERSATTI Tudela
In the us chancery: 3,014 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] 328-4,155
In the us FAX: [1] 328-3,712
In the us consulate general: Houston Los Angeles Miami New York WashingtonDC
In the us note: as of September 2008 the US expelled the Bolivian ambassador to the US
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador ; Charge d'Affaires Peter Brennan (since June 2014
From the us embassy: Avenida Arce 2,780 Casilla 425 La Paz
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 425 La Paz; APO AA 34,032
From the us telephone: [591] 216-8,000
From the us FAX: [591] 216-8,111
From the us 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 anthem
Name: 'Cancion Patriotica'
Lyrics and music: Jose Ignacio de SANJINES/Leopoldo Benedetto VINCENTI
Note: adopted 1852
Bolivia - Economy 2016
top of pageEconomy overview:
Bolivia is a resource rich country with strong growth attributed to captive markets for natural gas exports – to Brazil and Argentina. Gas accounts for roughly 50% of Bolivia's total exports and will fund more than half of its 2015 budget. However the country remains one of the least developed countries in Latin America because of state-oriented policies that deter investment and growth.
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. The global recession slowed growth but Bolivia recorded the highest growth rate in South America during 2009 and has averaged 5.3% growth each year since 2009. High commodity prices between 2010 and 2013 sustained rapid growth and large trade surpluses. The global decline in oil prices in late 2014 exerted downward pressure on the price Bolivia receives for exported gas and resulted in lower GDP growth rates and losses in government revenue in 2015.
A lack of foreign investment in the key sectors of mining and hydrocarbons along with conflict among social groups pose challenges for the Bolivian economy. In 2015 President Evo MORALES expanded efforts to court international investment and boost Bolivia’s energy production capacity. MORALES passed an investment law and promised not to nationalize additional industries in an effort to improve the investment climate.
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. The global recession slowed growth but Bolivia recorded the highest growth rate in South America during 2009 and has averaged 5.3% growth each year since 2009. High commodity prices between 2010 and 2013 sustained rapid growth and large trade surpluses. The global decline in oil prices in late 2014 exerted downward pressure on the price Bolivia receives for exported gas and resulted in lower GDP growth rates and losses in government revenue in 2015.
A lack of foreign investment in the key sectors of mining and hydrocarbons along with conflict among social groups pose challenges for the Bolivian economy. In 2015 President Evo MORALES expanded efforts to court international investment and boost Bolivia’s energy production capacity. MORALES passed an investment law and promised not to nationalize additional industries in an effort to improve the investment climate.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$74.39 billion (2015 est.)
$70.98 billion (2014 est.)
$67.31 billion (2013 est.)
$70.98 billion (2014 est.)
$67.31 billion (2013 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 95
Real gdp per capita:
$6,500 (2015 est.)
$6,300 (2014 est.)
$6,100 (2013 est.)
$6,300 (2014 est.)
$6,100 (2013 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 154
Gross national saving:
12.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
21% of GDP (2014 est.)
22.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
21% of GDP (2014 est.)
22.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 131
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 69.3%
Government consumption: 17.5%
Investment in fixed capital: 21.3%
Investment in inventories: -2.1%
Exports of goods and services: 30.9%
Imports of goods and services: -36.9%
Labor force: 4.915 million (2015 est.)
Rank: 83
By occupation agriculture: 32%
By occupation industry: 20%
By occupation services: 47.9%
Unemployment rate:
7.4% (2015 est.)
7.3% (2014 est.)
7.3% (2014 est.)
Note: data are for urban areas; widespread underemployment
Rank: 86
Population below poverty line: 45%
Note: based on percent of population living on less than the international standard of $2/day
Budget
Revenues: $15.78 billion
Expenditures: $18.05 billion
Surplus or deficit: -6.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 190
Public debt:
38.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
35.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
35.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
Note: data cover general government debt and includes debt instruments issued by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities
Rank: 120
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.07% (31 December 2015 est.)
9.69% (31 December 2014 est.)
9.69% (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 105
Stock of narrow money:
$8.946 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$8.386 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$8.386 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 83
Stock of broad money:
$20.19 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$17.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$17.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 89
Stock of domestic credit:
$18.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$14.55 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$14.55 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 86
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$9.684 billion (31 December 2013)
$7.689 billion (31 December 2012)
$6.089 billion (31 December 2011)
$7.689 billion (31 December 2012)
$6.089 billion (31 December 2011)
Rank: 75
Exports:
$8.197 billion (2015 est.)
$12.15 billion (2014 est.)
$12.15 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 97
Commodities: natural gas mineral ores gold soybeans and soy products tin
Partners: Brazil 28.1% Argentina 16.9% US 12.1% Colombia 6.3% China 5.3% Japan 4.7% South Korea 4.3% (2015)
Imports:
$9.069 billion (2015 est.)
$9.935 billion (2014 est.)
$9.935 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 101
Commodities: machinery petroleum products vehicles iron and steel plastics
Partners: China 17.9% Brazil 16.5% Argentina 11.8% US 10.6% Peru 6.2% Japan 5.2% Chile 4.6% (2015)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$13.06 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$15.12 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$15.12 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 72
Stock of direct foreign investment at home:
$10.56 billion (31 December 2013)
$8.809 billion (31 December 2012)
$8.809 billion (31 December 2012)
Rank: 92
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:
$0 (31 December 2013 est.)
$0 (31 December 2012 est.)
$0 (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 104
Exchange rates:
bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar -
6.91 (2015 est.)
6.91 (2014 est.)
6.91 (2013 est.)
6.94 (2012 est.)
6.9875 (2011 est.)
6.91 (2015 est.)
6.91 (2014 est.)
6.91 (2013 est.)
6.94 (2012 est.)
6.9875 (2011 est.)
Bolivia - Energy 2016
top of pageElectricity
Access population without electricity: 1,200,000
Access electrification total population: 90%
Access electrification urban areas: 99%
Access electrification rural areas: 72%
Production: 8.4 billion kWh (2014 est.)
Production rank: 106
Consumption: 7.5 billion kWh (2014 est.)
Consumption rank: 108
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 109
Imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 123
Installed generating capacity: 2.2 million kW (2014 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 114
Generation sources fossil fuels: 68.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 111
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 54
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 30% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 76
Generation sources other renewable sources: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 90
Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 55,610 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 55
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 91
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 163
Crude oil proven reserves: 209.8 million bbl (1 January 2016 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 58
Refined petroleum
Products production: 54,210 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products production rank: 81
Products consumption: 78,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products consumption rank: 89
Products exports: 7,292 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products exports rank: 158
Products imports: 19,940 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products imports rank: 123
Natural gas
Production: 21.4 billion m³ (2014 est.)
Production rank: 31
Consumption: 3.536 billion m³ (2014 est.)
Consumption rank: 70
Exports: 17.86 billion m³ (2014 est.)
Exports rank: 16
Imports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 165
Proven reserves: 295.9 billion m³ (1 January 2016 es)
Proven reserves rank: 40
Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 16 million Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 85
Bolivia - Communication 2016
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 881,084
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8
Fixed lines rank: 83
Mobile cellular total: 10.163 million
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 94
Mobile cellular rank: 84
Telephone system
General assessment: Bolivian National Telecommunications Company 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 2015 teledensity reached about 95 per 100 persons
International: country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2015)
Broadcast media: large number of radio and TV stations broadcasting with private media outlets dominating; state-owned and private radio and TV stations generally operating freely although both pro-government and anti-government groups have attacked media outlets in response to their reporting (2010)
Bolivia - Military 2016
top of pageMilitary service age and obligation: 18-49 years of age for 12-month compulsory male and female military service; Bolivian citizenship required; 17 years of age for voluntary 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 (2013)
Bolivia - Transportation 2016
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 7
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 39
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,578,959
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 9,456,548 mt-km
Airports: 855 (2013)
Rank: 7
With paved runways total: 21
With paved runways over 3047 m: 5
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 6
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6
With unpaved runways total: 834
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 4
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 47
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 151
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 631
Waterways: 10,000 km (commercially navigable almost exclusively in the northern and eastern parts of the country) (2012)
Rank: 13
Merchant marine
Total: 18
By type: bulk carrier 1 cargo 14 petroleum tanker 1 roll on/roll off 2
Foreign owned: 5
Rank: 98
Ports and terminals
River port: Puerto Aguirre
Note: Bolivia has free port privileges in maritime ports in Argentina Brazil Chile and Paraguay
Bolivia - Transnational issues 2016
top of pageDisputes 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 30,000 hectares under cultivation in 2011 a decrease of 13 percent over 2010; third largest producer of cocaine estimated at 265 metric tons potential pure cocaine in 2011 a 29 percent increase over 2010; 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 (2013)
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