Bolivia Paraguay Guyana Suriname French Guiana

Author: Zhou Min, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-08-01
Features: General Overview of Bolivia, Official Name: The Plurinational State of Bolivia (La República de Bolivia). Area: 1,098,581 square kilometers. Population: 8.137 million (1999). In 1998, urban population was 5.02 million, accounting for 62.4% of the total population, while rural population was 3.02 million, accounting for 37.6%. Among them, Indigenous people make up 54%, Mestizos 31%, and Whites 15%. The official language is Spanish. Major ethnic languages include Quechua and Aymara. Most residents are Catholic.
Capital (seat of government and parliament): La Paz, with a population of 2.33 million (1998), an altitude of 3,627 meters, and an average annual temperature of 14°C. Located in central South America, it is an inland country. It borders Brazil to the northeast, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the west. It has a temperate climate.
Economy: Bolivia is a world-famous exporter of mineral products, with underdeveloped industry. Agricultural and livestock products can meet most domestic demand, making it one of the poorest countries in South America. Since 1985, successive Bolivian governments have implemented neoliberal economic policies, stabilizing the macro economy, adjusting economic structures, reducing state intervention, and capitalizing (privatizing) major state-owned enterprises through legislation. Economic reforms have achieved certain results, with the national economy maintaining steady growth and inflation under control. In August 1997, after the Banzer government took office, it proposed a "socially inclusive market economy," prioritizing solutions to social security, healthcare, education, housing, basic services, and poverty elimination. In 1998, economic growth slowed due to the Brazilian financial crisis and the decline in international primary commodity prices. In 1999, the government adopted measures such as fiscal austerity, encouraging private investment, and strengthening infrastructure, maintaining low-speed economic growth. In 2000, the Bolivian government strengthened macroeconomic control, implemented an "economic revitalization plan," and took measures such as reducing tax rates, restructuring corporate debts, and enhancing financial management, while strictly controlling fiscal deficits and external debt levels, leading to some improvement in the economic situation.
Key economic indicators in 2000:
Resources: Bolivia is rich in mineral resources, mainly including tin, antimony, tungsten, silver, zinc, lead, copper, nickel, and iron. Tin reserves amount to 1.15 million tons, and iron reserves are approximately 45 billion tons, second only to Brazil in South America. Proven oil reserves are 128 million barrels, and natural gas reserves are 107.9 billion cubic meters. Forest coverage covers 500,000 square kilometers, accounting for 48% of the country's total area.
Tourism: Tourism infrastructure is relatively underdeveloped. In recent years, tourism development has been emphasized. In 1998, the country welcomed 434,000 foreign tourists, with 592 hotels offering 14,023 rooms, generating $173 million in foreign exchange earnings from tourism. In 1999, foreign tourists reached 341,000, with tourism revenue of approximately $180 million. Most tourists come from Peru, Argentina, the United States, Brazil, and Western European countries. Major tourist attractions include Lake Titicaca, colonial ruins, Jesuit missions, and the Amazon Basin region.