Bolivia
Bolivia has a population of 9.2 million people. It is the poorest country in Latin America. It ranks 117th out of 177 countries on the United Nations Development Programme’s 2007-8 Human Development Index. Ireland is 8th.
Nearly 70% of the population lives in urban areas, and the city of El
Alto is the fastest growing in the southern hemisphere. This means that
farming activity in the Bolivian countryside is unable to provide for
the country’s food requirements.
Half the population is under
18-years of age. Infant mortality rates in poor, rural areas are high,
and most births among the poor are never registered. The lack of a birth
certificate prevents access to services such as health and education.
International
Service has been working in Bolivia for over 20 years. Our Development
Workers are placed across the country from La Paz to Sucre. Our current
work is focused on supporting young people and disabled people.
There
are over 1.3 million people with disabilities suffering from
preventable diseases such as polio and German measles. Poor nutrition is
a major contributory factor.
Bolivia also has the highest
percentage of indigenous people in Latin America (59%). However, despite
representing over half the population, indigenous people suffer high
levels of poverty and low social status throughout the country.
In
December 2005, Bolivia elected its first indigenous President in the
hope of making significant changes, unfortunately this has led to
threats of a breakaway by the more affluent states in the east of the
country leading to occasional periods of unrest.
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