Location: Central South America, southwest of Brazil
Land Area: 1,098,580 sq km (424,1623 sq. miles)
Coastline: 0 km (Landlocked)
Highest Point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m (21,457 ft.)
Lowest Point: Rio Paraguay 90 m (295 ft.)
Notable Landmarks: Take a peek...

Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries, made considerable progress in the 1990s toward the development of a market-oriented economy. Successes under President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA (1993 to 1997) included the signing of a free trade agreement with Mexico and becoming an associate member of the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur), as well as the privatization of the state airline, telephone company, railroad, electric power company, and oil company. Growth slowed in 1999, because of tight government budget policies, which limited needed appropriations for anti-poverty programs, and the fallout from the Asian financial crisis. In 2000, major civil disturbances held down growth to 2.5 percent. Bolivia's Gross Domestic Product failed to grow in 2001 due to the global slowdown and laggard domestic activity. Growth picked up slightly in 2002, but the first quarter of 2003 saw extensive civil riots, looting and loss of confidence in the government. Bolivia will remain highly dependent on foreign aid unless and until it can develop its substantial natural resources.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $21.01 billion (2003 est.)
GDP Per Capita: $2,400 (2003 est.)
Number of Workers: 4.1 million (2003 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 11.7 percent; widespread underemployment.
Currency: boliviano What does it look like?

Type of Government: Republic
Head of State: President Eduardo Rodriguez (since 9 June 2005)
Head of Government: President Eduardo Rodriguez (since 9 June 2005)
Capital City: LaPaz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary)
Legal Age to Vote: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory if married; 21, universal and compulsory if single.
Flag Design: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band.
Official Language: Spanish (official), Quechua (official) and Aymara (official).
Religions: Roman Catholic, 95 percent; Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) five percent.

Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825. Much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and counter-coups. Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and drug production. Current goals include attracting foreign investment, strengthening the educational system, resolving disputes with coca growers over Bolivia's counter-drug efforts, and waging an anticorruption campaign.