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Bolivia
David Beckett
Laura Bielawski
Carlos Feliciano
Lindsay Field
John Sheehan
Brief History
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Gained independence
from Spain on Aug. 6,
1825
Named after Simon
Bolivar
Area slightly smaller than
Montana
Highland plateau, Andes
Mountains, hills, lowlands
(Amazon Basin), Lake
Titicaca
Land-locked
Brief History
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Three equal horizontal bands with coat of arms
centered on yellow band
Red for the bravery of the Bolivian soldier
Yellow for mineral wealth
Green for the fertility of the land
Population
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Estimated at 8,724,156 people in 2004
21 people per square mile – one of the lowest
population density numbers in South America
Population is currently growing at a rate of
1.56%, birth rate is strong at 3.08
95.5% are below the age of 65
Population
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Ethnic breakdown of Bolivia is spread
relatively evenly amongst Quechua, Mestizo,
Aymara, and white
Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara are the
official languages
Literacy of total population is 87.2%
Religion
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Vast majority of the population of Bolivia is
Roman Catholic (roughly 95%)
586 Catholic parishes in the country of Bolivia
Presence of native religions
Some Protestant and Evangelical Methodist
churches.
Religion
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Blends of Roman
Catholicism and native
religions in some areas
of the country
Stems from distrust of
Europeans
Work & Economy
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In terms of GDP per capita,
Bolivia is the poorest country in
South America
70% of Bolivians are below the
poverty line
Causes
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Hindered by political instability
Unable to develop natural
resources
Lack of a major seaport
Work & Economy
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GDP Composition by sector:
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agriculture: 15%
industry: 33.2%
services: 51.9%
Primary agricultural products
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soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane,
rice, potatoes; timber
Work & Economy
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The Coca Leaf Society
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Bolivia is the world’s second largest producer of coca
leaves
Primarily used by starving people in the highlands to
combat oxygen deprivation
 Only source of income and food
Governmental drug agencies attempting to eradicate
production
Work & Economy
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“Stuck Between a Rock and a
Hard Place”
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Traditional culture vs. Modernization
President Sanchez de Lozada’s goal
of market-oriented economy
 Free-trade agreement with Mexico
 Associate member of Southern
Cone Common Market
 Privatization of a state airline,
telephone company, railroad,
electric power company, and oil
company
National/Popular Culture
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Most indigenous country in Latin
America
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85% of the population is Quechua,
mestizo, or Aymara
After revolution in 1952, Bolivians
began to identify themselves with
their Quechua and Aymara
backgrounds
National/Popular Culture
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Music
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Strictly regional
 Ranges from soft and sad in the
barren lands of Altiplano to disco
music in the nightclubs
Folk music
 Most popular
Dance
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Cueca- national dance of Bolivia
Example
www.dancilla.com/search.asp?crit=
cueca
Carnival
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Main event held in Oruro
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12,144 feet above sea level
Population triples during
Carnival
Costumes represent:
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Satan
The Virgin Mary
Indian heritage
Customs
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Everyday life:
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Greetings
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Eye contact
Tap on the shoulder
“Reverse racism”
Dress
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Men – shirts, slacks
Women – skirts, should never wear pants
Customs
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Gifts
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Flowers – acceptable colors
Celebrations
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Carnival
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famous for Oruru Celebration
“diablita” or devil dance
Food - Meals
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Lunch is the main meal of the day
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Dinner is composed of 2 snacks at 4:00 /
5:00 pm and 9:00 / 10:00 pm
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Expected to eat everything off of your plate
Food
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Very spicy
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Two types of sauces commonly used:
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Llajua
Halpahuayca
Potatoes frequently served w/ meals
Food
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Two most popular meals:
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Sajta
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chicken in a hot pepper sauce
Chairo
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lamb, potatoes & other vegetables
Drink
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Coca leaves are frequently used to make beverages
Mate de Coca – tea made of coca leaves
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Popular alcoholic drinks – Chufle, Singani and
Chicha
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Prevents altitude sickness
Chicha: fermented corn or grain drink, otherwise known as
“maize beer”
Religious ties with Incas
Never pour wine with the left hand
Hold the bottle of wine by the neck when pouring
Language
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Bolivia has three official languages:
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Spanish
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Quechua
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Aymala
Language
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Spanish
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Quechua
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Spanish Conquistadors
Official language of the Inca Empire
Aymala
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Language of the Aymala people of the Andes
Government
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The government of Bolivia is a
Republic, under a constitution
that passed in the year 1967.
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The legislature of Bolivia has
a congress that is bicameral. It
is composed of a 27 member
senate (3 from each
department) and 130 member
chamber of deputies.
Government
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La Paz is one of the
two capitals of Bolivia,
where the seat of
government lies. Sucre
is where the legal
capital and seat of
judiciary.
Government Cont.
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There are nine major political divisions in the
republic of Bolivia:
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Tarija
Postosi
El Beni
Santa Cruz
La Paz
Pando
Oruro
Cochabamba
Chuquisaca.
Conclusion
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A colorful history, infusion of native religions with
Catholicism, and largely indigenous population make Bolivia
distinctive.
Being a land-locked country can be a hindrance, but
improvements to the economy have been made.
Although Bolivia currently exists as the poorest country in
South America, it is rich in culture and traditional values.