Bolivia

1825 – Independence from Spain (Tuesday, August 6, 1825), following the Bolivian War of Independence

1839–1842 – War of the Pacific with Chile and Peru (Bolivia loses its coastal territory to Chile)

1952 – National Revolution (April 9, 1952): Major social and economic reforms, including land reform and the nationalization of tin mines

2006 – Evo Morales becomes the first indigenous president of Bolivia (Sunday, January 22, 2006)

2009 – New Constitution adopted (Sunday, February 7, 2009): Establishes Bolivia as a “Plurinational State”

2019 – Political crisis and resignation of Evo Morales after disputed elections, leading to a period of unrest (Sunday, November 10, 2019)

2020 – Luis Arce elected president following Morales’s departure (Sunday, October 18, 2020)

2020 – COVID-19 pandemic: Bolivia faces significant challenges in the health sector and economy

Continent: South America
Location: Landlocked, located in the heart of South America, bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay and Argentina to the south, and Chile and Peru to the west
Capital: Sucre (constitutional capital), La Paz (seat of government and executive capital)
Language: Spanish (official), Quechua, Aymara, and 34 other indigenous languages
Currency: Bolivian boliviano (BOB)
Population: ~13 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Bolivia Time (UTC-4)

Borders: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Peru
Landscape: The Andes Mountains, Amazon Basin, high plateaus, salt flats
Major Rivers: Mamoré, Paraguay, Pilcomayo
Notable Features: Salar de Uyuni (world’s largest salt flat), Lake Titicaca, Madidi National Park

Ethnic Groups: Mestizo (60%), indigenous (30%), European (5%), Afro-Bolivian (5%)
Religion: Roman Catholic (77%), Evangelical Protestant (8%), indigenous religions (10%), other (5%)
Urban Population: ~70% (last updated: 2023)
Population Notes: Bolivia is culturally rich with a significant indigenous population, including Quechua and Aymara peoples

Famous For: Traditional Andean culture, indigenous textiles, folklore music (charango), salt flats, and political history
Cuisine: Salteñas (pastries), llama meat, quinoa, tamales, empanadas
Arts: Textiles, Andean music, silverwork
Sports: Football (soccer), volleyball, basketball, handball

Economy Type: Developing economy, with a mix of industry, mining, agriculture, and services
GDP: Approx. $45 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Mining (lithium, natural gas, tin), agriculture (soybeans, quinoa, coffee), tourism
Key Exports: Natural gas, tin, soybeans, silver, lithium
Unemployment Rate: ~4.5% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: The western part of the country, including La Paz and Potosí, is dominated by mining, while the eastern lowlands are focused on agriculture and oil extraction

Government Type: Unitary state, presidential republic
Head of State: President Luis Arce (last updated: April 2025)
Head of Government: President Luis Arce (last updated: April 2025)
Legislature: Bicameral (Chamber of Deputies & Senate)
Constitution: In effect since 2009

Salar de Uyuni: The world’s largest salt flat, a breathtaking landscape
Lake Titicaca: The highest navigable lake in the world, shared with Peru
Madidi National Park: A biodiversity hotspot, known for its lush rainforests and wildlife
La Paz: A city set in a dramatic valley with scenic views, and the world’s highest capital city
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 2 (last updated: 2023)