BOLIVIA 

The Republic of Bolivia

Area: 1.28 million sq km (425,000 sq miles)
Population: 9 million (2004 prov)
Legal Capital: Sucre (population: 132,000)
Political Capital: La Paz (population 0.8 million; conurbation 1.5 million)
People: Indigenous, primarily Aymara, Quechua, and Guarani (65%), Mestizo (35%)
Language(s): Spanish, Quechua, Aymara (all official) plus numerous other indigenous languages
Religion(s): Roman Catholic (95%), Protestant (Evangelical Methodist)

Basic Economic Facts

Currency: Boliviano
GDP: US $8 billon (2004)
GDP per head: approx US $890 (2004)
Annual Growth: 3.5% (2004)
Inflation: 4.9% (2005)
Major Industries: Natural gas, mining and agriculture
Major trading partners: United States, Japan, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Argentina
Major political organizations: Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS); PODEMOS
Government: Democracy with elections held every five years. The 1964 constitution (revised in 1994 and 2004) provides for an executive and a legislature consisting of a 27-member Senate and 130-member Chamber of Deputies.
Head of State: Juan Evo Morales Aima
Foreign Minister: David Choquehuanca
Membership of international groupings/organizations: Bolivia holds membership of the UN; WTO; G-11; G77; Organization of American States (OAS); Andean Community; Latin American Integration Association (ALADI); Rio Group; MERCOSUR (associate membership); Inter-American Developmental Bank (IADB); IMF

DID YOU KNOW?

• Did you know that Bolivia has 2 capitals, Sucre the constitutional capital, legal y judicial, and La Paz, the administrative capital and the is where the government takes place.
• Did you know that the first cause of dead if because of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases.

• Did you know that Bolivia has a record Guinness for the highest lake of the world, the Titicaca.

MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS:

• Bolivia Life
• El Deber
• El Nuevo Dia
• El Mundo
• El Correo del Sur
• Unitel
• Radio La Bruja
• Radio Noticias La Cruz