In 2009, Bolivia had a population of 9.9 million people and a population growth rate of 1.6%. The economy was driven by the export of commodities such as natural gas, tin and soybeans. Bolivia was an active member in many international organisations including the United Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR). Politically, Bolivia was a presidential republic with two major political parties: the Movement for Socialism (MAS) and the Nationalist Democratic Action (ADN). The then President was Evo Morales who had been in office since 2006. He had previously served as Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2005 under President Carlos Mesa. See internetsailors for Bolivia in the year of 2011.
On the way to Bolivia, one encounters extreme contradictions. The rugged plateau, the Altiplano, surrounded by snow-capped Andes and the deep blue Lake Titicaca enchant with its beauty and silence. In hardly any other Latin American country are the outfits and festive expenses of the locals as colorful as here. Knall-headed Indian women sell their products along the streets of La Paz as the mystical Mount Illimani looms on the horizon.
Bolivia also has the world’s largest salt plateau, Salar de Uyuni, where we take a day trip flying the 2021 Andean Treasures en route. See ABBREVIATIONFINDER for abbreviation BO which stands for the nation of Bolivia.
The Treasures of the Andes is an Olympic Tour in Peru and Bolivia.
Yearbook 2009
Bolivia. On January 25, unexpectedly, an overwhelming majority, or 62 percent, of Bolivia’s voters voted yes to the country’s new constitution. The turnout was high, 90 percent. However, the deep divide between eastern and western Bolivia was clear; in the four eastern provinces of Santa Cruz, Pando, Tarija and Beni won the down side. The new constitution strengthens the state’s role in the economy, recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples by providing guaranteed representation for Indians both in Congress, hereafter referred to as a “multinational congregation”, and in the Constitutional Court.
On February 7, the new Constitution came into force, and President Evo Morales announced that 500 years of colonial submission were now over. According to countryaah, the following day, a new “multinational” government was presented. In line with the new Constitution’s guidelines, the long-awaited land reform began in mid-March when 38,000 acres of land was handed over to Guarani Indians in Santa Cruz Province. However, the implementation of the laws surrounding the election procedure became dramatic. The opposition demanded the guaranteed minimum number of Native American mandates in Congress, prompting several members of the Movimiento al Socialismos (MAS) party to threaten to boycott the vote in Congress, and President Morales to launch a hunger strike. In the end, however, a compromise was reached and on April 14 it was decided that elections to the presidential office and the congress would be held on December 6.
As expected, the presidential election became a landslide victory for President Morales, who received 64 percent of the vote against opposition candidate Manfred Reyes Villas 28 percent. Even in the congressional elections, the presidential party won the MAS major and gained almost its own majority in both chambers.
Country data
Area: 1,098,581 km2 (world ranking: 27)
Population: 11,052,000
Population density: 10 per km2 (as of 2017, world ranking: 82)
Capital: Sucre; Seat of government: La Paz
Official languages: Spanish, Quechua (regional), Aimará (regional), further 34 regional languages
Gross domestic product: 37.5 billion US$; Real growth: 4.2%
Gross national product (GNP, per resident and year): 3130 US$
Currency: 1 Boliviano (Bs) = 100 Centavos
Embassy
Wichmannstr. 6, 10787 Berlin
Telephone 030 2639150,
Fax 030 26391515
www.bolivia.de
Government
Head of State and Government: Evo Morales AymaÁlvaro García Linera, Exterior: Fernando Huanacuni Mamani
National holiday: 6.8.
Administrative structure
9 Departamentos
State and form of government
Constitution of 2009
Presidential Republic
Plurinational Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional): House of Representatives (Cámara de Diputados) with 130 members; Senate (Senado) with 36 members; Election every 5 years.
Direct election of the head of state every 5 years (one-time re-election)
Mandatory elections from 18 years.
Population: Bolivians, last census 2012: 10,059,856 residents,
49% indigenous people (mainly Quechua, Aimará
total of 36 ethnic groups), 30% European-indigenous, 15% of European origin
Cities (with population): (as of 2012) Santa Cruz de la Sierra 1,442,396 residents, El Alto 846,880, La Paz 758,845 (A 1.8 million.), Cochabamba 632.013, Oruro 264.943, Sucre 238.798, Tarija 179.561, Potosí 176.022, Sacaba 150.110
Religions: 78% Catholics, 16% Protestants / Evangelicals, 3% other Christians; 3% without religion (status: 2006)
Languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aimará and 34 indigenous languages Employed
By economic sector: Agriculture. 22%, industry 27%, business 51% (2017)
Unemployment (in% of all labor force): 2017: 3.2%
Inflation rate (in%): 2017: 2.8%
Foreign trade: Import: US $ 9.3 billion (2017); Export: US $ 7.9 billion (2017)