Editing Bolivia (section)

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Bolivia}}
[[File:Centro de La Paz, Bolivia.jpg|thumb|La Paz is Bolivia's main financial center.]]
Driven largely by its natural resources Bolivia has become a regional leader in measures of economic growth, fiscal stability and foreign reserves,<ref name="auto3"/> although it remains a historically poor country. Bolivia's estimated 2012 gross domestic product (GDP) totaled $27.43&nbsp;billion at official exchange rate and $56.14&nbsp;billion at purchasing power parity. Despite a series of mostly political setbacks, between 2006 and 2009 the Morales administration spurred growth higher than at any point in the preceding 30 years. The growth was accompanied by a moderate decrease in inequality.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/bolivian-economy-during-morales-administration/|title=Bolivia: The Economy During the Morales Administration|date=December 2009|last1=Weisbrot |first1= Mark|last2=Ray |first2= Rebecca|last3=Johnston |first3= Jake|name-list-style=amp|publisher=CEPR – Center for Economic and Policy Research|access-date=18 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112060441/http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/bolivian-economy-during-morales-administration|archive-date=12 November 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Under Morales, per capita GDP doubled from US$1,182 in 2006 to US$2,238 in 2012. GDP growth under Morales averaged 5 percent a year, and in 2014 only Panama and the Dominican Republic performed better in all of Latin America.<ref name=":1" /> Bolivia's nominal GDP increased from 11.5&nbsp;billion in 2006 to 41&nbsp;billion in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bolivia {{!}} Data|url=https://data.worldbank.org/country/BO|access-date=19 December 2020|website=data.worldbank.org|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101002556/https://data.worldbank.org/country/BO|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bolivia in 2014, before a strong decline, boasted the highest proportional rate of financial reserves of any nation in the world, with Bolivia's rainy day fund totaling some US$15&nbsp;billion or nearly two-thirds of total annual GDP, up from a fifth of GDP in 2005.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Progress in Bolivia: Declining the United States Influence and the Victories of Evo Morales|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312406225|access-date=17 December 2020|website=ResearchGate}}</ref>
[[File:Ivirgarzama, Bolívia´s Puerto Villarroel county.jpg|thumb|[[Ivirgarzama]], an important agricultural region for the cultivation of bananas, citrus fruits, pineapples and rice]]

=== Agriculture ===
Agriculture is less relevant in the country's GDP compared to the rest of Latin America. The country produces close to 10 million tons of [[sugarcane]] per year and is the 10th largest producer of [[soybean]] in the world. It also has considerable yields of maize, potato, [[sorghum]], banana, rice, and wheat. The country's largest exports are based on soy (soybean meal and [[soybean oil]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/|title=FAOSTAT|website=www.fao.org|access-date=22 July 2022|archive-date=12 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112130804/https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/|url-status=live}}</ref> The culture of [[soy]] was brought by Brazilians to the country: in 2006, almost 50% of soy producers in Bolivia were people from Brazil, or descendants of Brazilians. The first Brazilian producers began to arrive in the country in the 1990s. Before that, there was a lot of land in the country that was not used, or where only subsistence agriculture was practiced.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/agronegocio/agricultura/o-brasil-que-planta-na-bolivia-2no8img13bb4xydb3u981ahky/|title=O brasil que planta na Bolívia|first=Giovani|last=Ferreira|website=Gazeta do Povo|access-date=14 July 2022|archive-date=26 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526171314/https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/agronegocio/agricultura/o-brasil-que-planta-na-bolivia-2no8img13bb4xydb3u981ahky/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bolivia's most lucrative agricultural product continues to be [[coca]], of which Bolivia is the world's third largest cultivator.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/pdf/andean/Andean_report_Part3.pdf |title=Bolivia Coca Cultivation Survey |access-date=29 July 2022 |archive-date=29 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729011427/https://www.unodc.org/pdf/andean/Andean_report_Part3.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{citation-attribution|1={{Cite web|date=January 2006|title=Country Profile: Bolivia|url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/cs/profiles/Bolivia.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/cs/profiles/Bolivia.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live|access-date=5 November 2020|publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]]}}}}</ref>

=== Mineral resources ===
[[File:Cerro ricco.jpg|thumb|The [[Cerro Rico]] in [[Potosí]], still an important mining site since the colonial times]]
Bolivia, while historically renowned for its vast mineral wealth, is relatively under-explored in geological and mineralogical terms. The country is rich in various mineral and natural resources, sitting at the heart of South America in the Central Andes.

Mining is a major sector of the economy, with most of the country's exports being dependent on it.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://oec.world/en/profile/country/bol |title=Bolivia exports by OEC |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=24 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724113835/https://oec.world/en/profile/country/bol |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, the country was the seventh largest world producer of silver;<ref>{{Cite web |title=USGS Silver Production Statistics |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2024/mcs2024.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220035538/https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2024/mcs2024.pdf |archive-date=December 20, 2024 |access-date=December 23, 2024}}</ref> fifth largest world producer of [[tin]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-tin.pdf |title=USGS Tin Production Statistics |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813153917/https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-tin.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[antimony]];<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-antimony.pdf |title=USGS Antimony Production Statistics |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-antimony.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> seventh largest producer of [[zinc]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-zinc.pdf |title=USGS ZincProduction Statistics |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-zinc.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> eighth largest producer of lead,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-lead.pdf |title=USGS Lead Production Statistics |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=15 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515091715/https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-lead.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> fourth largest world producer of [[boron]];<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-boron.pdf |title=USGS Boron Production Statistics |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=18 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718104325/https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-boron.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> and the sixth largest world producer of [[tungsten]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-tungsten.pdf |title=USGS Tungsten Production Statistics |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=5 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705141418/https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-tungsten.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> The country also has considerable gold production, which varies close to 25 tons/year, and also has [[amethyst]] extraction.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/bolivia/gold-production |title=Bolivia Gold Production |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=19 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019082941/https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/bolivia/gold-production |url-status=live}}</ref> The country's gold production in 2015 is 12 metric tons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gold production |url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/gold-production?tab=table |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129233804/https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/gold-production?tab=table |archive-date=29 November 2023 |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Our World in Data |url-status=live }}</ref> [[File:Lithium mine at Bolivia´s Uyuni Salt Flat, on a CBERS4 MUX yesterday´s image.jpg|thumb|[[Lithium]] mine in the [[Salar de Uyuni]]]]Bolivia has the world's largest lithium reserves, second largest antimony reserves, third largest iron ore reserves, sixth largest tin reserves, ninth largest lead, silver, and copper reserves, tenth largest zinc reserves, and undisclosed but productive reserves of gold and tungsten. Additionally, there is believed to be considerable reserves of uranium and nickel present in the country's largely under-explored eastern regions. Diamond reserves may also be present in some formations of the Serranías Chiquitanas in [[Santa Cruz Department (Bolivia)|Santa Cruz Department]].

Bolivia has the second largest natural gas reserves in South America.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 September 2008 |title=Anti-Morales protests hit Bolivia |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7607158.stm |url-status=live |access-date=30 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327011113/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7607158.stm |archive-date=27 March 2010}}</ref> Its natural gas exports bring in millions of dollars per day, in royalties, rents, and taxes.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite book |last=Gustafson |first=Bret |title=Bolivia in the Age of Gas |publisher=Duke University Press |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-4780-1099-9 |pages=10}}</ref> From 2007 to 2017, what is referred to as the "government take" on gas totaled approximately $22&nbsp;billion.<ref name="auto3" />

The government held a binding referendum in 2005 on the Hydrocarbon Law. Among other provisions, the law requires that companies sell their production to the state hydrocarbons company [[YPFB|Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos]] (YPFB) and for domestic demand to be met before exporting hydrocarbons and increased the state's royalties from natural gas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bolivia – Hydrocarbons {{!}} export.gov |url=https://legacy.export.gov/article?id=Bolivia-Hydrocarbons |access-date=28 June 2022 |website=legacy.export.gov |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808230209/https://legacy.export.gov/article?id=Bolivia-Hydrocarbons |url-status=live}}</ref> The passage of the Hydrocarbon law in opposition to then-President [[Carlos Mesa]] can be understood as part of the [[Bolivian gas conflict]] which ultimately resulted in election of [[Evo Morales]], Bolivia's first indigenous president.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gustafson |first=Bret |title=Bolivia in the Age of Gas |publisher=Duke University Press |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-4780-1099-9 |pages=2}}</ref>
The [[United States Geological Survey|US Geological Service]] estimates that Bolivia has 21 million tonnes of [[lithium]], which represent at least 25% of world reserves – the largest in the world. However, to mine for it would involve disturbing the country's salt flats (called [[Salar de Uyuni]]), an important natural feature which boosts tourism in the region. The government does not want to destroy this unique natural landscape to meet the rising world demand for lithium.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 September 2008 |title=Bolivia's lithium mining dilemma |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7607624.stm |url-status=live |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414021531/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7607624.stm |archive-date=14 April 2009}}</ref> On the other hand, sustainable extraction of lithium is attempted by the government. This project is carried out by the public company "Recursos Evaporíticos" subsidiary of [[Corporación Minera de Bolivia|COMIBOL]].
[[File:Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, 2016-02-04, DD 45.JPG|thumb|The [[Salar de Uyuni]] is the most visited site in Bolivia.]]

===Tourism===
{{Main|Tourism in Bolivia}}
The income from tourism has become increasingly important. [[Tourism in Bolivia|Bolivia's tourist industry]] has placed an emphasis on attracting ethnic diversity.<ref name="Xie2011">{{cite book|author=Philip Feifan Xie|title=Authenticating Ethnic Tourism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vi7XBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA1|year=2011|publisher=Channel View Publications|isbn=978-1-84541-157-2|page=1|access-date=10 October 2020|archive-date=29 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129011551/https://books.google.com/books?id=vi7XBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> The most visited places include [[Nevado Sajama]], [[Torotoro National Park]], [[Madidi National Park]], [[Tiwanaku]] and the city of [[La Paz]].

The best known of the various festivals found in the country is the "[[Carnaval de Oruro]]", which was among the first 19 "[[Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]]", as proclaimed by UNESCO in May 2001.<ref name="protection">{{cite web|title=UNESCO to Protect Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity|url=http://www.unesco.org/bpi/eng/unescopress/2000/00-48e.shtml|publisher=UNESCO Press|date=10 May 2000|access-date=5 September 2009|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094951/http://www.unesco.org/bpi/eng/unescopress/2000/00-48e.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>