1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
6 August 1825 (from Spain)
Religions
Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%, unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)
Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%
Languages
Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)
Spanish 60.7% (official), Quechua 21.2% (official), Aymara 14.6% (official), foreign languages 2.4%, other 1.2% (2001 census)
Exports
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision
natural gas, soybeans and soy products, crude petroleum, zinc ore, tin
External Debt
$548,300,000,000 $
$5,491,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar - 7.253 (2008 est.), 7.8616 (2007), 8.0159 (2006), 8.0661 (2005), 7.9363 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.300%
1.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
0
Location
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Central South America, southwest of Brazil
Area
92,090 km sq
1,098,581 km sq
Coastline
1,793 km
0 km
Climate
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
