Geography


Location:
Central South America, southwest of Brazil


Geographic coordinates:
17 00 S, 65 00 W


Map references:
South America


Area:
total:1,098,581 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 28
land:1,083,301 sq km
water:15,280 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Montana


Land boundaries:
total:7,252 km
border countries:Argentina 942 km, Brazil 3,403 km, Chile 942 km, Paraguay 753 km, Peru 1,212 km


Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)


Maritime claims:
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:
arable land:3.49%
permanent crops:0.2%
other:96.31% (2011)


Irrigated land:
1,282 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
622.5 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
622.5 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
flooding in the northeast (March to April)


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


Environment - 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
signed, but not ratified:Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation


Geography - note:
landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru



People and Society


Nationality:
noun: Bolivian(s)
adjective:Bolivian


Ethnic groups:
Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, Aymara 25%, white 15%


Languages:
Spanish (official) 60.7%, Quechua (official) 21.2%, Aymara (official) 14.6%, Guarani (official), foreign languages 2.4%, other 1.2%


Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%


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.


Population:
10,631,486 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 82


Age structure:
0-14 years:33.3% (male 1,805,121/female 1,737,794)
15-24 years:19.8% (male 1,063,823/female 1,037,320)
25-54 years:36.3% (male 1,878,736/female 1,979,819)
55-64 years:5.7% (male 280,809/female 322,057)
65 years and over:4.9% (male 232,514/female 293,493) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:65.3 %
youth dependency ratio:57 %
elderly dependency ratio:8.2 %
potential support ratio:12.1 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:23.4 years
male:22.6 years
female:24.1 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.6% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 76


Birth rate:
23.28 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 70


Death rate:
6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 145


Net migration rate:
-0.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 141


Urbanization:
urban population:66.8% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.18% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
Santa Cruz 1.719 million; LA PAZ (capital) 1.715 million; Sucre (constitutional capital) 307,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.95 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.79 male(s)/female
total population:0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
21.2


Maternal mortality rate:
190 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)


    Infant mortality rate:
total:38.61 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 57
male:42.23 deaths/1,000 live births
female:34.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:68.55 yearscountry comparison to the world: 159
male:65.78 years
female:71.45 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.8 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 67


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
60.5% (2008)


Health expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
1.22 physicians/1,000 population (2001)


Hospital bed density:
1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 96% of population
rural: 71.9% of population
total: 88.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4% of population
rural: 28.1% of population
total: 11.9% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 57.5% of population
rural: 23.7% of population
total: 46.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 42.5% of population
rural: 76.3% of population
total: 53.6% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 90


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,900 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 89


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,300 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 67


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
17.9% (2008)country comparison to the world: 109


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
4.5% (2008)country comparison to the world: 95


Education expenditures:
6.9% of GDP (2011)country comparison to the world: 24

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:91.2%
male:95.8%
female:86.8% (2009 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:13 years
male:13 years
female:13 years (2007)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:6.2%country comparison to the world: 132
male:4.8%
female:7.8% (2009)


Government


Country name:
conventional long form: Plurinational State of Bolivia
conventional short form:Bolivia
local long form:Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia
local short form:Bolivia


Government type:
republic; note - the new constitution defines Bolivia as a 'Social Unitarian State'


Capital:
name:La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (constitutional capital)
geographic coordinates:16 30 S, 68 09 W
time difference:UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija


Independence:
6 August 1825 (from Spain)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 August (1825)


Constitution:
many previous; latest drafted 6 August 2006 - 9 December 2008, approved by referendum 25 January 2009, effective 7 February 2009; amended 2013 (2013)


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


Suffrage:
18 years of age, universal and compulsory


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January 2006); 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 (since 22 January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January 2006)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term and are eligible for re-election once; election last held on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results:Juan Evo MORALES Ayma reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma 64%; Manfred REYES VILLA 26%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana 6%; Rene JOAQUINO 2%; other 2%


Legislative branch:
bicameral Plurinational Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (36 seats; members are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats total; 70 uninominal deputies directly elected from a single district, 7 'special' indigenous deputies directly elected from non-contiguous indigenous districts, and 53 plurinominal deputies elected by proportional representation from party lists; all deputies serve five-year terms)
elections:Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results:Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 26, PPB-CN 10; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 89, PPB-CN 36, UN 3, AS 2; note - as of 15 February 2013, the composition of the Chamber of Deputies was: MAS 88, PPB-CN 37, UN 3, AS 2


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (consists of 12 judges); 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 (in each of the 9 administrative departments)


    Political parties and leaders:
Bacada Indigena or BI
Bolivia-National Convergence or PPB-CN [Adrian OLIVA]
Fearless Movement or MSM [Juan DE GRANADO Cosio]
Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma]
National Unity or UN [Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana]
People or Gente [Roman LOAYZA]
Social Alliance or AS [Rene JOAQUINO]
Social Democratic Movement or MDS [Ruben COSTAS]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Bolivian Workers Central or COB


International organization participation:
CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Freddy BERSATTI Tudela
chancery:3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 483-4410
FAX:[1] (202) 328-3712
consulate(s) general:Los Angeles, Miami, New York
note:as of September 2008, the US has expelled the Bolivian ambassador to the US


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Aruna AMIRTHANAYAGAM (since 28 February 2014)
embassy:Avenida Arce 2780, Casilla 425, La Paz
mailing address:P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
telephone:[591] (2) 216-8000
FAX:[591] (2) 216-8111
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


National symbol(s):
llama; Andean condor


National anthem:
name:'Cancion Patriotica' (Patriotic Song)

lyrics/music:Jose Ignacio de SANJINES/Leopoldo Benedetto VINCENTI
note:adopted 1852


Economy


Economy - overview:
Bolivia is a resource rich country with strong growth attributed to captive markets for natural gas exports. 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. High commodity prices since 2010 sustained rapid growth and large trade surpluses. However, 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.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$59.11 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$55.35 billion (2012 est.)
$52.63 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$30.79 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
6.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
5.2% (2012 est.)
5.2% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,500 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
$5,200 (2012 est.)
$4,900 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
25.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
26% of GDP (2012 est.)
24.9% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:58.9%
government consumption:13.4%
investment in fixed capital:18%
investment in inventories:0.3%
exports of goods and services:47.8%
imports of goods and services:-38.4%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:9.2%
industry:38.5%
services:52.3% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
quinoa, soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; Brazil nuts; timber


Industries:
mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing, jewelry


Industrial production growth rate:
5.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46

Labor force:
4.922 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:32%
industry:27.4%
services:40.6% (2009 est.)


Unemployment rate:
7.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
7.5% (2012 est.)
note:data are for urban areas; widespread underemployment


Population below poverty line:
45%


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:1.8%
highest 10%:46% (2012 est.)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 29
57.9 (1999)


    Budget:
revenues:$15.16 billion
expenditures:$15.13 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
48.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
0.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40


Public debt:
36% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
32.6% of GDP (2012 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


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
4.5% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
4.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
4% (31 december 2012 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.41% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
10.6% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$8.429 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$7.434 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$20.19 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$17.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$12.45 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$10.49 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$9.684 billion (31 December 2013)


Current account balance:
$1.012 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$2.259 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$12.16 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$11.77 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
natural gas, soybeans and soy products, crude petroleum, zinc ore, tin


Exports - partners:
Brazil 41.8%, US 18.4%, Argentina 7.3%, Peru 4.9% (2012)


Imports:
$9.282 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$8.18 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, plastics, paper, aircraft and aircraft parts, prepared foods, automobiles, insecticides


Imports - partners:
Chile 21.3%, Brazil 20.3%, Argentina 10.9%, US 10.1%, Peru 6.5%, Venezuela 6.2%, China 4.9% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$14.43 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$13.93 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$5.265 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$4.196 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$10.56 billion (31 December 2013)
country comparison to the world: 85
$8.809 billion (31 December 2012)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$0 (31 december 2013)
country comparison to the world: 93
$0 (31 December 2012)


Exchange rates:
bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar -
6.91 (2013 est.)
6.94 (2012 est.)
7.0167 (2010 est.)
7.07 (2009)
7.253 (2008)


Energy


Electricity - production:
7.375 billion kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103


Electricity - consumption:
6.944 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
1.365 million kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
63.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
34.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
1.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80


Crude oil - production:
51,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60


Crude oil - exports:
60.71 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
209.8 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58


Refined petroleum products - production:
40,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
55,560 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154


Refined petroleum products - imports:
15,560 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119


Natural gas - production:
54.37 billion cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17


Natural gas - consumption:
9.432 billion cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49


Natural gas - exports:
44.94 billion cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162


Natural gas - proved reserves:
281.5 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
13.98 million Mt (2011 est.)



Communications


Telephones - main lines in use:
880,600 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 80


Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.494 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 82


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 2011, teledensity reached about 80 per 100 persons
international:country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)



    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)


Internet country code:
.bo


Internet hosts:
180,988 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 75


Internet users:
1.103 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 95



Transportation


Airports
855 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 7


Airports - with paved runways
total:21
over 3,047 m:5
2,438 to 3,047 m:4
1,524 to 2,437 m:6
914 to 1,523 m:6 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:834
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:4
1,524 to 2,437 m:47
914 to 1,523 m:151
under 914 m:
631 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 5,457 km; liquid petroleum gas 51 km; oil 2,511 km; refined products 1,627 km (2013)


Railways
total:3,652 kmcountry comparison to the world: 48
narrow gauge:3,652 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)


    Roadways
total:80,488 kmcountry comparison to the world: 59
paved:11,993 km
unpaved:68,495 km (2010)


Waterways
10,000 km (commercially navigable almost exclusively in the northern and eastern parts of the country) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 13


Merchant marine
total:18country comparison to the world: 98
by type:bulk carrier 1, cargo 14, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned:5 (Syria 4, UK 1, (2010)



Ports and terminals
river port(s):Puerto Aguirre (Paraguay/Parana)
note:Bolivia has free port privileges in maritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay


Military


Military branches
Bolivian Armed Forces: Bolivian Army (Ejercito Boliviano, EB), Bolivian Naval Force (Fuerza Naval Boliviana, FNB; includes Marines), Bolivian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, FAB) (2013)


Military 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)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:2,472,490
females age 16-49:2,535,768 (2010 est.)


    Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:1,762,260
females age 16-49:2,013,281 (2010 est.)


Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:108,334
female:104,945 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
1.47% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 66
1.47% of GDP (2011)
1.47% of GDP (2010)


Transnational Issues


Disputes - 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)
Information provided by CIA - The World Fact Book


Doing Business in Bolivia 2020


Bolivia Ease of Doing Business Rank: 150 Overall Score: 51.7
Starting a Business (rank) 175
Score 69.4
Procedures - Men (number) 12
Time - Men (number) 39.5
Cost - Men (days) 37.3
Procedures - Women (days) 12
Time - Women (% of income per capita) 39.5
Cost - Women (% of income per capita) 37.3
Paid in minimum capital (% of income per capita) 0
Dealing with Construction Permits (rank) 139
Score 60
Procedures (number) 15
Time (days) 235
Cost (% of warehouse value) 1.3
Building Quality Control Index(0-15) 7
Quality of building regulations index (0-2) 1
Quality control before construction index (0-1) 1
Quality control during construction index (0-3) 2
Quality control after construction index (0-3) 2
Liability and insurance regimes index (0-2) 1
Professional certifications index (0-4) 0
Getting Electricity (rank) 96
Score 73.2
Procedures (number) 7
Time (days) 36
Cost (% of income per capita) 638.7
Reliability of supply and transparency of tariff index (0-8) 6
Total duration and frequency of outages per customer a year (0-3) 1
Mechanisms for monitoring outages (0-1) 1
Mechanisms for restoring service (0-1) 1
Regulatory monitoring (0-1) 1
Financial deterrents aimed at limiting outages (0-1) 1
Communication of tariffs and tariff changes (0-1) 1
System average interruption duration index (SAIDI) 8
System average interruption frequency index (SAIFI) 8.6
Minimum outage time (in minutes) 3
Price of electricity (US cents per kWh) 17.5
Registering Property (rank) 148
Score 49.9
Procedures (number) 7
Time (days) 90
Cost (% of property value) 4.7
Quality of land administration index (0-30) 7
Reliability of infrastructure index (0-8) 2
Transparency of information index (0-6) 1.5
Geographic coverage index (0-8) 0
Land dispute resolution index (0-8) 3.5
Equal access to property rights index (-2-0) 0
Getting credit (rank) 144
Score 35
Strength of legal rights index (0-12) 0
Depth of credit information index (0-8) 7
Getting Credit total score 7
Credit registry coverage (% of adults) 26.1
Credit bureau coverage (% of adults) 55
Protecting Minority Investors (rank) 136
Score 38
Extent of disclosure index (0-10) 1
Extent of director liability index (0-10) 5
Ease of shareholder suits index (0-10) 6
Extent of shareholder rights index (0-6) 4
Extent of ownership and control index (0-7) 1
Extent of corporate transparency index (0-7) 2
Strength of minority investor protection index (0-50) 19
Paying Taxes (rank) 186
Score 21.6
Payments (number per year) 42
Time (hours per year) 1025
Total tax and contribution rate (% of profit) 83.7
Profit tax (% of profit) 0
Labor tax and contributions (% of profit) 18.8
Other taxes (% of profit) 64.9
Time to comply with VAT refund (hours) No VAT refund
Time to obtain VAT refund (weeks) No VAT refund
Time to comply with a corporate income tax correction (hours) 2
Time to complete a corporate income tax correction (weeks) 0
Postfiling index (0-100) 50
Trading across borders (rank) 100
Score 71.6
Time to export: Documentary compliance (hours) 144
Time to import: Documentary compliance (hours) 72
Time to export: Border compliance (hours) 48
Time to import: Border compliance (hours) 114
Cost to export: Documentary compliance (USD) 25
Cost to import: Documentary compliance 30
Cost to export: Border compliance (USD) 65
Cost to import: Border compliance (USD) 315
Enforcing contract (rank) 109
Score 55.6
Time (days) 591
Filing and service (days) 40
Trial and judgment (days) 401
Enforcement of judgment (days) 150
Cost (% of claim) 25
Attorney fees (% of claim) 10
Court fees (% of claim) 10
Enforcement fees (% of claim) 5
Quality of the judicial processes index (0-18) 6
Court structure and proceedings (0-5) 2
Case management (0-6) 1.5
Court automation (0-4) 0
Alternative dispute resolution (0-3) 2.5
Resolving Insolvency (rank) 103
Score 42.3
Outcome (0 as piecemeal sale and 1 as going concern) 0
Time (years) 1.8
Cost (% of estate) 14.5
Recovery rate (cents on the dollar) 40.8
Strength of insolvency framework index (0-16) 6.5
Commencement of proceedings index (0-3) 2.5
Management of debtor's assets index (0-6) 3
Reorganization proceedings index (0-3) 1
Creditor participation index (0-4) 0
Information provided by The World Bank Group

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