Bolivia |
|
| OVERVIEW |
| Background |
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 counter-coups. Comparatively
democratic civilian rule was established in the 1980s, but
leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty,
social unrest, and drug production. Current goals include
attracting foreign investment, strengthening the educational
system, resolving disputes with coca growers over Bolivia's
counterdrug efforts, continuing the privatization program,
and waging an anticorruption campaign. |
| Natural
resources |
tin, natural gas, petroleum,
zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber,
hydropower |
| Land use |
arable land: 1.73%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 98.06% (1998 est.) |
| Population |
8,586,443 (July 2003 est.)
|
| Ethnic groups |
Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed
white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, Aymara 25%, white 15%
|
| Religions |
Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant
(Evangelical Methodist) |
| Languages |
Spanish (official), Quechua
(official), Aymara (official) |
| Literacy |
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write
total population: 87.2%
male: 93.1%
female: 81.6% (2003 est.) |
| Capital |
La Paz (seat of government);
Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary) |
| Government
type |
republic |
| Independence |
6 August 1825 (from Spain)
|
| National
holiday |
Independence Day, 6 August
(1825) |
|
|
