Moving to Bolivia: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

11,639,909

Population Growth Rate

1.63%

Urban Population

66.800000

Population in Major Urban Areas

Santa Cruz 1.719 million; LA PAZ (capital) 1.715 million; Sucre (constitutional capital) 307,000

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Age Structure

32.360000

Median Age

23.100000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

24

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

6.67

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

2.87

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

60.5%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

60.5%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

21.2

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.2

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.050000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

-0.76

Ethnic Groups

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

Nationality Noun

Bolivian(s)

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Literacy - total population

86.7%

Literacy - male

93.1%

Literacy - female

81.6%

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

6.9%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

13.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

68.220000

Infant Mortality Rate

39.760000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

39.760000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

190

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

1.22

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

1.1

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

4.9%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

Very high

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

17.9%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

96.000000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

57.500000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

4.5%

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Economic Overview

Bolivia is a resource-rich country with strong growth attributed to captive markets for natural gas exports – to Brazil and Argentina.

However, the country remains one of the least developed countries in Latin America because of state-oriented policies that deter investment.

Following an economic crisis during the early 1980s, reforms in the 1990s spurred private investment, stimulated economic growth, and cut poverty rates.

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 2005-06, the government passed hydrocarbon laws 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 laws engendered much public debate.

High commodity prices between 2010 and 2014 sustained rapid growth and large trade surpluses with GDP growing 6.8% in 2013 and 5.4% in 2014.

The global decline in oil prices that began in late 2014 exerted downward pressure on the price Bolivia receives for exported gas and resulted in lower GDP growth rates - 4.9% in 2015 and 4.3% in 2016 - and losses in government revenue as well as fiscal and trade deficits.

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.

In 2015, President Evo MORALES expanded efforts to court international investment and boost Bolivia’s energy production capacity.

MORALES passed an investment law and promised not to nationalize additional industries in an effort to improve the investment climate.

In early 2016, the Government of Bolivia approved the 2016-2020 National Economic and Social Development Plan aimed at maintaining growth of 5% and reducing poverty.

Industries

Mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing, jewelry

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,200.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

3.7%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$92,590,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$7,200.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

3.7%

GDP - official exchange rate

$35,700,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• Consumption: 69.3% Government
• Consumption: 18.2% Investment in Fixed
• Capital: 20.4% Investment in
• Inventories: -1.4% Exports of Goods and
• Services: 29% Imports of Goods and
• Services: -35.5%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

13.3%

GDP by Sector- Industry

37.4%

GDP by Sector- services

53.6%

Industrial Growth Rate

3.5%

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Inflation Rate

3.9%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

6.91

Currency Name and Code

Bolivianos (BOB)

Fiscal Year

Calendar Year

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

7.6%

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Labor Force

4,993,000

Unemployment Rate

7.5%

Unemployment - note

Data are for urban areas; widespread underemployment

Major Industries

Mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing, jewelry

Agriculture Products

Soybeans, quinoa, Brazil nuts, sugarcane, coffee, corn, rice, potatoes, chia, coca

Population Below Poverty Line

45%

Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14

553,323

Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14

26%

Child Labor - note

note: data represents children ages 5-13

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

32%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

20%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

47.9%

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Annual Budget

$15,440,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

47%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-6.2%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

43.3%

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Full Country Name

Plurinational State of Bolivia

Country Name

Bolivia

Local - Long

Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia

Local - Short

Bolivia

Etymology- history of name

the country is named after Simon BOLIVAR, a 19th-century leader in the South American wars for independence

Independence

6 August 1825 (from Spain)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 6 August (1825)

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Government Type

presidential republic

Constitution

• history: many previous; latest drafted 6 August 2006 to 9 December 2008, approved by referendum 25 January 2009, effective 7 February 2009
• amendments: proposed through public petition by at least 20% of voters or by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the Assembly and approval in a referendum; amended 2013

Legal System:

civil law system with influences from Roman, Spanish, canon (religious), French, and indigenous law

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (since 8 November 2020); Vice President David CHOQUEHUANCA Cespedes (since 8 November 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
• head of government: President Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (since 8 November 2020); Vice President David CHOQUEHUANCA Cespedes (since 8 November 2020)
• cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
• elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot one of 3
• ways: candidate wins at least 50% of the vote, or at least 40% of the vote and 10% more than the next highest candidate; otherwise a second round is held and the winner determined by simple majority vote; president and vice president are elected by majority vote to serve a 5-year term; no term limits (changed from two-consecutive-term limit by Constitutional Court in late 2017); election last held on 18 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2025)
• election results: 2020: Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora elected president; percent of vote - Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (MAS) 55.1%; Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert (CC) 28.8%; Luis Fernando CAMACHO Vaca (Creemos) 14%; other 2.1% 2019: Juan Evo MORALES Ayma reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (MAS) 61%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana (UN) 24.5%; Jorge QUIROGA Ramirez (POC) 9.1%; other 5.4%; note - MORALES resigned from office on 10 November 2019 over alleged election rigging; resignations of all his constitutionally designated successors followed, including the Vice President, President of the Senate, President of the Chamber of Deputies, and First Vice President of the Senate, leaving the Second Vice President of the Senate, Jeanine ANEZ Chavez, the highest-ranking official still in office; her appointment to the presidency was endorsed by Bolivia's Constitutional Court, and she served as interim president until the 8 November 2020 inauguration of Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora, who won the 18 October 2020 presidential election

Legislative Branch:

• Description: bicameral Plurinational Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional consists of: Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (36 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; 70 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 53 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote, and 7 (apportioned to non-contiguous, rural areas in 7 of the 9 states) directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)
• elections: Chamber of Senators - last held on 18 October 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
• Chamber of Deputies - last held on 18 October 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
• election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 21, ACC 11, Creemos 4; composition as of October 2023 - men 16, women 20, percent of women 55.6%
• Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 75, ACC 39, Creemos 16; composition as of October 2023 - men 70, women 60, percent of women 46.2%;
• Note: total Plurinational Legislative Assembly percent of women - 48.2%

Judicial Branch:

• office: Supreme Court, Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal, National Agro-Environmental Court, and Council of the Judiciary candidates pre-selected by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly and elected by direct popular vote; judges elected for 6-year terms; Plurinational Electoral Organ judges appointed - 6 by the Legislative Assembly and 1 by the president of the republic; members serve single 6-year terms
• subordinate courts: National Electoral Court; District Courts (in each of the 9 administrative departments); agro-environmental lower courts

Regions or States:

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

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Community Citizen Alliance or ACC [Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert]
• Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma]
• National Unity or UN [Samuel DORIA MEDINA Auza]
• Revolutionary Left Front or FRI [Edgar GUZMAN Jauregui]
• Social Democrat Movement or MDS [Ruben COSTAS Aguilera]
• We Believe or Creemos [Luis Fernando CAMACHO Vaca]
• Note: We Believe or Creemos [Luis Fernando CAMACHO Vaca] is a coalition comprised of several opposition parties that participated in the 2020 election, which includes the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) and Solidarity Civic Unity (UCS)

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: yes citizenship by descent
• only: yes dual citizenship
• recognized: yes residency requirement for
• naturalization: 3 years

Capital Name

La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (constitutional [legislative and judicial] capital)

Capital - geographic coordinate

16 30 S, 68 09 W

Capital Time Difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• CAN
• CD
• CELAC
• FAO
• G-77
• IADB
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICC (national committees)
• ICCt
• 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
• UN Security Council (temporary)
• UNAMID
• UNASUR
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNIDO
• Union Latina
• UNISFA
• UNMIL
• UNMISS
• UNOCI
• UNOOSA
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WFTU (NGOs)
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Debra HEVIA (since September 2023)
• Embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, La Paz
• Mailing Address: 3220 La Paz Place, Washington DC 20512-3220
• Telephone: [591] (2) 216-8000
• FAX: [591] (2) 216-8111
• Email: ConsularLaPazACS@state.gov
• Website: https://bo.usembassy.gov/
• Note: in September 2008, the Bolivian Government expelled the US Ambassador to Bolivia, Philip GOLDBERG, and both countries have yet to reinstate their ambassadors

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Maysa Rossana URENA MENACHO (since 1 September 2022)
• Chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008
• Telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410
• FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712
• Email: embolivia.wdc@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.boliviawdc.org/en-us/
• Consulate(s) General: Houston, Los Angeles, Maple Grove (MN), Miami, New York, Washington, DC

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Geographic Location

South America

Geographic Coordinates

17 00 S, 65 00 W

Total Area

424,162 Square Miles 1,098,581 Square Kilometers

Land Area

418,263 Square Miles 1,083,301 Square Kilometers

Water Area

5,900 Square Miles 15,280 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

4,312 Miles 6,940 Kilometers

Border Countries

Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km

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Terrain

Rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, and lowland plains of the Amazon Basin

Highest Point

6,542 Meters

Highest Point Location

Nevado Sajama 6,542 m

Lowest Point

90 Meters

Lowest Point Location

Rio Paraguay 90 m

Natural Resources

Tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower

Irrigated Land

495 Square Miles 1,282 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

Bolivia lies entirely within the Tropics, but extreme differences in elevation from 300 feet (90 meters) along the Brazilian border to 21,000 feet (6,400 meters) at the highest peaks produce a great variety of climatic conditions.

Coupled with soil diversity, this produces highly varied vegetation, from the sparse scrub grasses in semiarid highlands to lush rain forests containing a variety of hardwoods (Mahogany, South American, Oak, and Cedar).

There are two seasons in La Paz: a rainy season beginning in December and continuing through March (it rains almost daily during this period), and a dry season running from April to November.

The climate is generally cool, but brilliant sunshine raises daytime temperatures.

Midday outdoor parties and activities are pleasant.

Rainfall averages 20 inches (51 centimeters) a year.

Terrain

Rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, and lowland plains of the Amazon Basin

Location

Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Total Area

424,162 Square Miles 1,098,581 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km

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

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Exports

$7,528,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$8,981,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

Natural gas, mineral ores, gold, soybeans and soy products, tin

Major Imports

Machinery, petroleum products, vehicles, iron and steel, plastics

Top Export Partners

Brazil 28.1%, Argentina 16.9%, United States 12.1%, Colombia 6.3%, China 5.3%, Japan 4.7%, South Korea 4.3%

Top Import Partners

China 17.9%, Brazil 16.5%, Argentina 11.8%, United States 10.6%, Peru 6.2%, Japan 5.2%, Chile 4.6%

Export Partners

Brazil 28.1%, Argentina 16.9%, United States 12.1%, Colombia 6.3%, China 5.3%, Japan 4.7%, South Korea 4.3%

Import Partners

China 17.9%, Brazil 16.5%, Argentina 11.8%, United States 10.6%, Peru 6.2%, Japan 5.2%, Chile 4.6%

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Country Description

Bolivia is a constitutional democracy and one of the least-developed countries in South America.

Tourist facilities are generally adequate but vary greatly in quality.

La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, while Sucre is the constitutional capital and the seat of the Supreme Court.

La Paz is accessible via the international airport in El Alto.

Safety & Security

• Roadblocks: Roadblocks are common in Bolivia. If you find yourself at a roadblock, you should not attempt to run through it, as this may aggravate the situation and lead to physical harm. Instead, you should consider taking alternative, safe routes, or returning to where the travel started. If you plan to take a road trip, be sure to monitor news reports and contact the American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy in La Paz at (591-2) 216-8246 or the U.S. Consular Agencies in Cochabamba at (591-4) 411-6313 and/or Santa Cruz at (591-3) 351-3477 for updates. Given that roadblocks may occur without warning and have stranded travelers for several days, you should take extra food, water, and warm clothing. The U.S. Embassy also advises U.S. citizens to maintain at least two weeks’ supply of drinking water and canned food in case roadblocks affect supplies. For more information on emergency preparedness, please consult the Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA) website. The countrywide emergency number for the police, including highway patrol, is 110. The corresponding number for the fire department is 119. The National Tourism Police has offices in La Paz and Cochabamba, providing free assistance to tourists. In the city of Santa Cruz, Interpol will provide these same services to tourists. These services include English-speaking officials who may assist tourists in filing police reports of lost/stolen documents or other valuables. The La Paz office is open 24 hours a day and is located at Plaza del Stadium, Edificio Olympia, Planta Baja, Miraflores, telephone number 800-14-0081. The Cochabamba office is located at Plaza 14 de Septiembre, Edificio Prefectura, tel. (591-4) 450-3880; it is open from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. seven days a week. Chapare and Yungas
• Regions: In the Chapare region between Santa Cruz and Cochabamba and the Yungas region northeast of La Paz, violence and civil unrest, primarily associated with anti-narcotics activities, periodically create a risk for travelers. This region is also prone to dangerous flooding due to heavy rains from December to February. Confrontations between area residents and government authorities over coca eradication have resulted in the use of tear gas and stronger force by government authorities to quell disturbances. Pro-coca groups have expressed anti-U.S. sentiments and may attempt to target U.S. government or private interests. If you plan to travel to the Chapare or Yungas regions, we encourage you to check with the Embassy's Consular Section prior to travel. Violence has also erupted between squatters unlawfully invading private land and security forces attempting to remove them.

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Crime

• Kidnappings: Incidents in which tourists are robbed and forced to withdraw money from ATMs, known as “express kidnappings”, are common in La Paz. Typically, the victim enters a taxi driven by a criminal, and then an additional person or two gets in the vehicle. The victim is then robbed of his/her belongings and/or driven to an ATM where he/she is forced to provide personal identification numbers for debit and credit card withdrawals. The areas where these crimes are most frequent include Plaza Humbolt (Zona Sur), Plaza Abaroa, Plaza del Estudiante, Plaza Isabel La Católica, and Plaza San Francisco. Avoid becoming a victim of this crime by using only radio taxis and not traveling alone, particularly if you’re under the influence of alcohol or it’s late at night. Coronilla
• Hill: We recommend that you avoid Coronilla Hill, a Cochabamba landmark adjacent to the main bus terminal and near several markets, hostels, and restaurants. Coronilla Hill has become an increasingly dangerous place for tourists and local citizens alike. The local police, tourist authorities, and press have declared the area off limits and cautioned people to enter the area at their own peril. U.S. citizens have been assaulted in the area. The police have made several sweeps of the area in an attempt to control the situation, but incidents of crime continue. Police reports indicate that thieves in that area have gone from purse snatching and burglary to increasingly violent assaults on passersby. Public
• Transportation: The U.S. Embassy in La Paz continues to receive reports of U.S. citizens traveling by bus from Copacabana to La Paz being held up and robbed of their ATM cards and other valuables. This crime reportedly involves U.S. citizens taking an evening bus from Copacabana. While the bus is scheduled to stop at the La Paz bus terminal, the driver will stop short of that location, typically near the General Cemetery late at night. Disembarking and disoriented passengers then have little option but to hail a waiting taxi. Thieves in cooperation with the taxi driver enter the taxi to blindfold and coerce the U.S. citizen(s) into surrendering cash, cameras, ATM cards, and other valuables. Victims have reported that once the thieves withdrew funds using the ATM cards, they were released without further harm. If you plan to travel from Copacabana, you should try to arrive during daylight hours, verify the final destination, and buy tickets directly at the Copacabana bus terminal rather than from third parties. Scam
• Artists: Bolivian police report the presence of organized criminal groups operating in the La Paz area. The techniques employed by these groups vary, but there are a few major patterns, including “false police” - persons using police uniforms, identification, and even buildings modified to resemble police stations, who intercept and rob foreigners. Remember, under Bolivian law, police need a warrant from the “fiscal” (prosecutor) to detain a suspect. Any searches or seizures must occur at a bona fide police station in the presence of the prosecutor. The warrant requirement also applies to suspected drug trafficking cases, although such searches and seizures may occur without a prosecutor present. If you are detained, you should request to see th

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in another country, you are subject to the local laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own.

In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you do not have your passport with you.

In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings, and driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail.

There are also some things that might be legal in Bolivia, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods or engage in child pornography.

While you are overseas, U.S. laws don’t apply.

If you do something illegal in the host country, your U.S. passport won’t help.

It is very important to know what is legal and what is not legal where you are going.

If you violate Bolivian laws, even unknowingly, Bolivian authorities may expel, arrest and/or imprison you.

Under Bolivian law, suspects can be detained in prison for up to 18 months without formal charges while the investigation is conducted.

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in Bolivia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

It is not unusual for legal cases in Bolivia to drag on for years, with numerous delays and costly setbacks along the way.

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Medical Facilities

• Dengue: Dengue is endemic throughout eastern Bolivia, including in the city of Santa Cruz. Since January 2007, there have been several thousand cases, representing a significantly increased incidence and part of a region-wide trend.
• Rabies: Bolivia is a high-risk area for rabies. Dog and bat bites and scratches should be taken seriously and post-exposure prophylaxis sought. Yellow
• Fever: Yellow fever is present in subtropical Bolivia. Yellow fever vaccination certification is required for entry visa applications and may be required prior to boarding by airlines flying into/transiting Bolivia, as well as at entry points to Bolivia. Please refer to the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) information on Yellow Fever. High Altitude Health
• Risks: The altitude of La Paz ranges from 10,600 feet to over 13,000 feet (3,400 to 4,000 meters) above sea level. Much of Western Bolivia is at the same altitude or higher, including Lake Titicaca, the Salar de Uyuni, and the cities of Oruro and Potosi. The altitude alone poses a serious risk of illness, hospitalization, and even death, even for those in excellent health. Prior to departing the U.S. for high-altitude locations (over 10,000 feet above sea level), you should discuss the trip with your healthcare provider and request information on specific recommendations concerning medication and lifestyle tips at high altitudes. Coca-leaf tea is a popular beverage and folk remedy for altitude sickness in Bolivia. However, possession of this tea, which is sold in bags in most Bolivian grocery stores, is illegal in the United States. "Sorojchi pills" sold in local pharmacies, contain high amounts of caffeine and are not usually recommended. The State Department cautions travelers planning to visit La Paz to consider the following risks and
• advice: Sickle cell anemia or sickle cell
• trait: persons with sickle cell trait may have a crisis at elevations of more than 8,000 feet. U.S. citizens with this condition have required urgent medical evacuation from La Paz to the United States. Heart
• disease: Any person who has heart disease, or known risk factors for heart disease, should consult their doctor about the risks of ascending to high altitude, and whether any testing of their heart would be in order. Even U.S. citizens who adjust well initially to the altitude in La Paz have subsequently suffered heart attacks and been hospitalized. Lung
• disease: Anyone with emphysema should consult closely with their doctor and seriously reconsider coming to La Paz or other, high-altitude areas. Anyone with asthma should consult their doctor; mild asthma may be manageable at high altitudes, but it is important to remember that emergency care and intensive respiratory care are very limited even in the city of La Paz and are absent outside the city. U.S. citizens with respiratory ailments have previously been medically evacuated from La Paz to other countries to receive medical treatment.
• Pregnancy: Given potential complications from altitude sickness, pregnant women should consult their doctor before traveling to La Paz and othe

Traffic Safety

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

The information below concerning Bolivia is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

If you plan on driving in Bolivia, despite the hazards described below, you should obtain an international driver’s license through your local automobile club before coming to Bolivia.

Road conditions in Bolivia are hazardous.

Although La Paz, Santa Cruz, and Cochabamba are connected by improved highways, the vast majority of roads in Bolivia are unpaved.

Few highways have shoulders, fencing, or barriers, and highway markings are minimal.

Yielding for pedestrians in the cities is not the norm.

For trips outside the major cities, especially in mountainous areas, we highly recommend using a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Travel during the rainy season (November through March) is difficult, as most routes have potholes, and roads and bridges may be washed out.

Added dangers are the absence of formal training for most drivers, poor maintenance and overloaded vehicles, lack of lights on some vehicles at night, and intoxicated or overly tired drivers, including commercial bus and truck drivers.

The majority of intercity travel in Bolivia is by bus, with varying levels of safety and service.

Bus accidents, at times attributed to drunk drivers or mechanical failures, have caused scores of deaths and severe injuries.

In recent years, there have been major bus crashes on the highway between La Paz and Oruro, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz, Oruro and Cochabamba, and on the Yungas road.

The old Yungas road is considered one of the most dangerous routes in the world.

Public Transportation: From a crime perspective, public transportation is relatively safe, and violent assaults are rare.

However, petty theft of unattended backpacks and other personal items does occur.

For safety purposes, the

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Airports - total

855

Airports with Paved Runways

21

Railways

2,275 Miles 3,662 Kilometers

Roadways- total

49,988 Miles 80,448 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

7,452 Miles 11,993 Kilometers

Waterways

6,214 Miles 10,000 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Puerto Aguirre (on the Paraguay/Parana waterway, at the Bolivia/Brazil border); also, Bolivia has free port privileges in maritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay

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Pipelines: Gas

3,391 Miles 5,457 Kilometers

Pipelines: Liquid Petroleum Gas

32 Miles 51 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil

1,560 Miles 2,511 Kilometers

Pipelines: Refined Products

1,011 Miles 1,627 Kilometers

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Telephones

810,200

Cell Phones

3,254,000

Internet Users

1,000,000

Internet Country Code

.bo

Internet Hosts

125,462

Broadcast Media

A large number of radio and TV stations broadcast with private media outlets dominating; state-owned and private radio and TV stations generally operate freely, although both pro-government and anti-government groups have attacked media outlets in response to their reporting

Telephone System

• Assessment: Bolivian National Telecommunications Company was privatized in 1995 but re-nationalized in 2007; the primary trunk system is being expanded and employs a 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)

10 facts — expand for details.

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

5,814,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

6,085,000,000

Natural Gas Consumption - Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

9,432,000,000

Natural Gas Exports- Cubic Meters (cu m)

44,940,000,000

Natural Gas Production- Cubic Meters (cu m)

54,370,000,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

281,500,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

55,560

Oil Exports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

60.71

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

42,000

Oil Reserves- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

209,800,000

3 facts — expand for details.

Anthem History

The composer of the music (Leopoldo Benedetto Vincenti) is Italian, which is not that uncommon for "Latin American epic anthems" such as this one, as they often resemble Italian operatic pieces.

The author of the lyrics was an ardent patriot, a signer of the Bolivian Declaration of Independence, and of the first constitution of the country.

Anthem Lyrics

• CHORUS: De la Patria, el alto nombre En glorioso esplendor conservemos Y en sus aras de nuevo juremos ¡morir antes que esclavos vivir! ¡morir antes que esclavos vivir! ¡morir antes que esclavos vivir! Aqui alzó la justicia su trono, Que la vil opresión desconoca. Y este timbre glorioso legóse. Libertad! Libertad! Libertad! Que los hijos del grande Bolívar Han ya mil y mil veces jurado, Morir antes que ver humillado De la Patria el augusto pendón. CHORUS Loor eterno a los bravos guerreros, Cuyo heroíco valor y firmeza, Conquistaron las glorias que empieza Hoy Bolivia feliz a gozar. Que sus nombres el mármol y el bronce A remotas edades transmitan y en sonoros cantares
• repitan: Nuestros hijos y nietos a par. CHORUS

Anthem Lyrics English

• CHORUS: We have kept the lofty name of our country In glorious splendour, And on its altars we once more swear To die, rather than live as slaves. To die, rather than live as slaves. To die, rather than live as slaves. This innocent and beautiful land, Which owes its name to Bolivar, Is the happy homeland where men Enjoy the benefits of good fortune and peace. For the sons of the great Bolivar Have sworn, thousands upon thousands of times, To die rather than see the country's Majestic flag humiliated. CHORUS Eternal praise to the brave warriors Whose heroic valour and firmness Conquered the glories that now A happy Bolivia begins to enjoy! Let their names, in marble and in bronze, Transmit to remote ages And in resounding song repeat the
• call: Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! CHORUS