Country Guide • Bolivia
Bolivia is a landlocked country. Brazil forms its eastern border; its other neighbours are Peru and Chile on the west and Argentina and Paraguay on the south.
| Official Name | Republic of Bolivia |
|---|---|
| Area | 1,098,580km² (424,162mile²) |
| Population | 8,586,000 |
| Continent | South America |
| Population per mile² | 20 |
| Capital City | La Paz |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 3% |
| Language | Spanish but most Indians speak either Quechua or Aymará; composite dialects of Spanish-Aymará and Spanish-Quechua are also widely spoken |
| Government | Democracy |
| Currency | Boliviano |
| GDP | $21 billion |
| GDP per Head | $2,500 |
| Natural Resources | Tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower |
| Land Use | Arable Land 2% |
| Agriculture | Coffee, cocoa, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, soy beans and timber |
| Industry | Narcotics, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing, tin mining and natural gas |
| Tourism | Bolivia lies in the southern hemisphere; winter runs from May to October and summer from November to April. The most important climatic factor to remember is that it's generally wet in the summer and dry in the winter. That being said Bolivia has much to offer the tourist with its history and culture, its numerous festivals and all to be had without spending too much |
| Natural Hazards | Flooding in the north east (March-April) and Droughts |
| Health Risks | Altitude sickness, Chagas disease, cholera, dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, polio, rabies, tetanus, typhoid, yellow-fever |
| Climate | Bolivia has a tropical climate, although the difference in altitude produces a variety of different climatic conditions. Generally, both temperature and rainfall increase from west to east. The wet season is from December to January. Average temperature ranges in La Paz are from 1 to 17°C in July to 6 to 19°C in November |
| Time | GMT/UTC-4 hours |
| National Days | August 6 Independence Day |
| Visas | Currently citizens of most EU countries can stay 90 days without a visa; citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa and Israel can stay 30 days without a visa. Most other nationalities require a visa in advance - usually issued for a 30-day stay.Regulations change frequently so please check with the relevant autorities before going |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
Information Only
The content above is for information purposes only and we have tried to ensure that the information is as accurate as possible. We cannot accept any responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury as a result of the information above. You should always check and verify any critical information like visas, health and safety and customs with the relevant authorities before you travel since information can change at any time.
