What You Need to Know About Bolivia
The Plurinational State of Bolivia is a landlocked country located in the central-western part of South America. It has two capitals: one is Sucre, which is the seat of government, but the executive capital is La Paz. There is also another major city in the country, Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The area of Bolivian territory is 1,098,581 km2 and the Bolivian population is 11,428,245 inhabitants.
Bolivia is therefore the 27th largest country and the 83rd most populous country in the world. The population density in Bolivia is 10.4 inhabitants per km2. The official languages spoken in the country are Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, Guarani, and 33 other indigenous languages. Finally, the telephone code in Bolivia is 591.
Where is Bolivia on the World Map?
On the world map, Bolivia is located in America, precisely in the southern hemisphere of the American continent and in the central-western part of it. Bolivia is landlocked among several neighbors which are: Peru (west), Brazil (northeast), Paraguay (southeast), Argentina (south), and Chile (southwest).
Colors of Bolivia
The Bolivian flag is a rectangular flag composed of 3 stripes of equal size. From top to bottom, we have: red, yellow, and green. In the center of the yellow stripe are the national coat of arms. The red represents the blood shed during the struggle for independence, the yellow symbolizes mineral wealth, and the green represents green spaces and agriculture.
What Are the Best Cities to Visit in Bolivia?
Salar de Uyuni
As its name indicates, Salar de Uyuni is a flat city with minimal altitude variations (<1m). The name “Salar” also comes from the salt flat in the area during the dry seasons, and during the wet seasons, it is covered with water. It is a breathtaking natural spectacle to see the sun and the blue sky reflected in what looks like a saltwater mirror.
La Paz
La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, nestled on rugged hills reaching up to 3,650 m. It is the highest capital in the world, and if you have the chance to fly over the area, the view will be stunning. First, you will see the slums of El Alto, then you will see La Paz clinging to the sides like a large cut in the earth.
Tiwanaku
Tiwanaku is located in the southern section of Lake Titicaca. It was the capital of several ancient civilizations including the Incas. Archaeologists later discovered separate ancient neighborhoods surrounded by large adobe walls. There are also other remains such as temples, a pyramid, gates, and sculptures of extraterrestrial faces.
Population of Bolivia
Currently, the Bolivian population numbers 11,428,245 inhabitants with a density of 9.1 inhabitants per km2. The annual demographic growth rate is 21.2% and the birth and death rates are respectively 23.7 births and 6.6 deaths per 1000 inhabitants. The life expectancy of a Bolivian at birth is 66.87 years and the fertility rate is 2.8 births per woman. Finally, the male-to-female sex ratio is 0.99 men to 1 woman.
Bolivia Climate Map
The climate of Bolivia varies depending on the regions. For example, the Llanos experience a tropical climate while in the western Andes, the climate is polar. Generally, throughout the territory, summers are hot: in the east, summers are hot and in the west, summers are hot and humid. However, rains often disrupt temperatures by increasing atmospheric pressure.
Under the influence of El Nino, weather conditions are altered and winters are harsh in the west and in the mountain ranges, it often snows. Average annual temperatures in tropical zones hover around 25°C during the day and around 15 to 20°C at night in summer. In winter, nighttime temperatures can reach 0°C but during the day, it is mild with average sunshine. Snow only occurs in the country in high altitude areas exceeding 2000m.
Bolivia Economic Map
The IMF and World Bank rank the Bolivian economy as the 95th most performing in the world in terms of nominal GDP and 87th most performing in terms of GDP by purchasing power parity.
Here are some economic data:
- Current currency: Bolivian Boliviano
- Nominal GDP: 42.401 billion USD
- GDP by purchasing power parity: 94.392 billion USD
- Nominal GDP per capita: 3,671 USD
- GDP per capita by purchasing power parity: 8,172
- Annual GDP growth rate:
- Nominal: 2.7%
- PPP: 2.2%
- Inflation rate: 3.1%
- Population below poverty line: 34.6%
- Unemployment: 4%
- HDI: 0.703
- Exports: 9.060 billion USD
- Imports: 9.996 billion USD
- Main industries: mining, cement plants, oil refineries, agro-food, textiles and clothing, tobacco, jewelry.
Administrative and Demolinguistic Data
Administrative subdivisions
The Bolivian territory is divided into 9 departments which are in turn divided into 112 provinces. These provinces are further divided into 337 communes or municipalities.
Here are the departments of Bolivia:
- Beni
- Chuquisaca
- Cochabamba
- Santa Cruz
- Tarija
- La Paz
- Oruro
- Pando
- Potosí
Demolinguistic data
Bolivians are considered a multiethnic people. Indeed, indigenous peoples who identify as such represent 60% of the population and others who do not identify represent 40%.
Here is the ethnic composition of the Bolivian people
Mestizo (68%), Indigenous (21%), White Bolivians (4%), Cholo (2%), Afro-Bolivians (1%), Others (1%), undefined (3%). The most dominant native groups in the population are the Quechuas (2.5 million inhabitants), Aymaras (2 million inhabitants), Chiquitano (180,000 inhabitants), and Guarani (125,000 inhabitants). Bolivian ethnicities are estimated at 30% speaking the Quechua language and 25% speaking the Aymara language.
The other ethnicities represented in the 1% are Asians (Japanese and Lebanese), there are also European immigrants (French, Italians, Germans, Portuguese). There are also American emigrants, Brazilians, Chileans, Colombians, Ecuadorians, Venezuelans, Peruvians.
