Chapter 1: Social, Economic and Political Situation in Bolivia
Bolivia (Quechua: Bulibiya Suyu, Aymara: Bulibiya, Buliwya, official name: Republic of Bolivia) is an independent and sovereign country located in the central western part of South
America.
The official capital and site of the judicial branch is Sucre (according to the Political Constitution of the State in place as of January, 2009), and the site of government (executive and legislative branches) is La Paz.
It borders with Brazil to the north and to the east, with Paraguay and Argentina to the south, and with Chile and Peru to the west. Along with Paraguay, it is one of the two land-locked countries in South America. It is the eighth largest country on the American continent and the twentyseventh world-wide.
Bolivia is a multicultural country with extensive natural and archaeological wealth. Among others, the Tiahuanacu culture stands out, which developed in what today is known as the western region of the country, and whose advanced knowledge in a variety of subjects was later inherited by the Incan Empire. Less well known are the archaeological remains in the tropical eastern region of Bolivia, in the Moxos and Baures plains in the department of Beni. Here the Hydraulic Culture of the Lomas, the largest in the Americas, was developed.
Population
According to the National Institute of Statistics in Bolivia, the population in the last census in 2001 was 8,274,325, of which 4,123,850 were men, and 4,150,475 were women, yet by 2007 the population had grown to approximately 9,827,522 inhabitants.
In the last 50 years, the Bolivian population has tripled, with an annual growth rate of 2.25%. The growth rate for the first intercensal period was 2.05% from 1976-1992, while the annual growth rate at the last census in 2001 was 2.74%.
Most of the population (70%) is concentrated in the departments of La Paz, Santa Cruz, and Cochabamba. In the altiplano region, most of the population is concentrated in the departments of La Paz and Potosí. In the valleys, the departments of Cochabamba and Chuquisaca have the largest population, and in the lowlands the departments of Santa Cruz and Beni are the most populated. The national population density is 8.49.
Bolivia has a young population. According to the 2001 census: 54% of inhabitants are between 15 and 59 years of age, 39% are less than 15 years of age, and the rest are under 5 years of age. Almost 60% of the population is under 25 years of age, adolescents (10-20 years of age) represent 23% of the population, and women of reproductive age (15-49 years of age) represent almost half of all women in the country.
The exact number of people with disabilities in Bolivia is unknown. However, studies by the United Nations offer the conservative estimate that at least 10% of the population of all countries have a disability. This means that at least 827,432 inhabitants of Bolivia have a disability. Life expectancy is between 62 and 67 years of age for men and women, respectively.
Language
The official languages are stated in the new Political Constitution of the State: Article 5.
- The official languages of Bolivia are Spanish and all the languages of the originary indigenous peasant nations and peoples, which are Aymara, Araona, Baure, Bésiro, Canichana, Cavineño, Cayubaba, Chácobo, Chimán, Ese ejja, Guaraní, Guarasu’we, Guarayu, Itonama, Leco, Machajuyai-kallawaya, Machineri, Maropa, Mojeño-trinitario, Mojeño-ignaciano, Moré, Mosetén, Movima, Pacawara, Puquina, Quechua, Sirionó, Tacana, Tapiete, Toromona, Uruchipaya, Weemhayek, Yaminawa, Yuki, Yuracaré and Zamuco.
- The plurinational government and the departmental governments must use at least two official languages. One of them must be Spanish, and the other will be chosen taking into account the use, convenience, circumstances, needs, and preferences of the population as a whole or of the territory in question. The other autonomous governments must use their own languages in their territory, and one of them must be Spanish.
Economy
The Bolivian economy is based mainly on the mining, petroleum, natural gas, agriculture, cement and textile industries.
Most of the mineral resources are concentrated in the western departments such as Potosí, La Paz and Oruro, where there is tin (4th largest producer in the world), silver (11th largest), copper, tungsten, antimony, zinc, etc.
The most important deposits of iron (Mutún17) and gold (San Simon Hill) are found in the eastern tropical areas, mainly in the departments of Santa Cruz and Beni. There are also important precious stones, such as Bolivianita, Ayoreita, Anahita, Amethyst and Millennium, which come from the tropical lowlands.
Hydrocarbon production is concentrated in the Andean foothills mainly in the departments of Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca and Tarija.
Petroleum production (about 11.25 million barrels in the first nine months of 2006) supplies the national market, while natural gas is exported to Brazil and Argentina, given the small and inefficient system of residential and industrial distribution of gas in Bolivia. In the first nine months of 2006, 357.9 million cubic feet of natural gas per day were produced.
Agricultural and cattle production has become more important over the last several decades, mainly in the eastern tropical regions.
Andean agriculture is fundamentally based on domestic consumption. The Andean regions mainly produce corn, wheat, potatoes and other root crops, barley, quinoa, vegetables, etc. Cattle breeding is limited; the breeding of native livestock is more important, consisting of camelids such as alpaca. The wool from the alpaca, which is both very fine and very resistant, is used in textile production.
Agricultural growth is taking place in the eastern tropical regions in Bolivia. Currently, the agricultural industry is of great importance in the national economy. The following crops are grown for domestic consumption as well as for export: rice, soybean (the 8th largest producer in the world, with 1.7 million tons), sorghum, sugar cane, sunflower, tobacco, corn, yucca, cacao, coffee, coca leaves, etc.