Bolivia Society Analysis: Ethnicities, Health, and Social Issues

This report provides a comprehensive overview of Bolivian society, examining various aspects including ethnic composition, health infrastructure, and educational systems. It highlights the diversity of cultures within Bolivia, with a significant indigenous population and a growing Mestizo influence. The report discusses the health system, including the role of international organizations, the number of physicians, and the introduction of free health coverage. It also outlines the structure of the education system, from pre-school to higher education, and government and NGO support. Furthermore, the report addresses the issue of illegal drug production, particularly coca, and the efforts to counter drug trade. It also analyzes income distribution, poverty rates, social conflicts, and the religious landscape of Bolivia, with Christianity as the dominant religion. The report draws on various sources, including the World Bank and other academic publications, to provide a detailed and insightful analysis of Bolivian society.

Running head: BOLIVIA SOCIETY
Bolivia Society
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Ethnic Groups.............................................................................................................................2
Health.........................................................................................................................................2
Level of Education.....................................................................................................................2
Illegal Drug Rate........................................................................................................................2
Income........................................................................................................................................3
Social and Security Situation.....................................................................................................3
Religious....................................................................................................................................3
References..................................................................................................................................5

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Ethnic Groups
Bolivia's ethnic composition consists of a wide diversity of cultures. The Indigenous
black separated amongst the population of Indigenous self-identification, which is 60% and
Non-self-identification is 40%. The population of about 68% is integrated with Mestizo
culture that is spreading and growing indigenous heritage. The ethnic distribution of cultures
assessed as 25% Aymara and 30% Quechua-speaking.
Health
The health system of Bolivia is funded in part through International organizations like
the World Bank. The number of physicians practising has doubled, and it is about 130 per
100,000 people. In the year 2019, Bolivia started providing health coverage to those who are
uninsured through launching a free Unified Health System. Most of the living in rural areas is
still lack of proper sanitation and medical services. In Bolivia, Cochabamba, La Paz and
Santa Cruz have medical institutions like clinics, private and public hospitals.
Level of Education
The educational system in Bolivia is divided into four cycles. Amongst the four, Pre-
school education is not mandatory. The rest three are the Primary, Secondary and Higher
education. There are now both private as well as public institutions in all the levels of
education. Generally, public schools keep the low cost. Bolivia devotes approx. 24% of the
annual budget as for expense in education (www.worldbank.org 2020). Bolivia's education is
highly being supported by the government and different NGO projects such as Yo si Puedo
and Care International.
Illegal Drug Rate
Bolivia is the third-largest country in the world for the production of Coca. The US
government and the Bolivian President has launched ‘Plan Dignidad’ so that to counter the

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drug trade. The plan weighed plant eradication and lack of trafficking issue that was noted by
the critics. In order to strengthen Bolivian anti-drug action, Russia lends $ 100 million.
Morale also tends to have new partnerships with Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, Iran and China.
Relation with President Morales and the US government resulted in reducing coca
cultivation.
Income
Bolivia is a country where most of the poor population comes under the rural areas.
However, the World Bank Group has declared that Bolivia upgraded from being a low-
income country to middle income that allows the country to access credit. The Bolivian
economy in the period of 2006-2017 has registered a growth of 4.9%. During the presidency
of Evo Morales (2006-19), the GDP per capita is increased, and there is an extreme decline
(38% to 18%) in the poverty rate (Valenzuela 2020). The country has income inequality also
due to the reason of diversified religions as well as gender.
Social and Security Situation
Social conflicts are frequent in Bolivia as well as blockades can be seen on the main
roads. The public transport is also disrupted due to several political actions. Bolivia offers a
number of adventure activities, but there are no minimum standards for tour operators (Kash
2019). The increasing number of accidents and assault behaviours faced by many of the
victims shows that Bolivia is required impactful social and security system at their top
priority.
Religious
The most significant religious belief dwells within Christianity. The dominant
religious about 76% of the population is with the Roman Catholic Church in Bolivia. Bolivia
consists of a multiethnic population, which is measured as 11.67 million in the year 2020

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(Worldpopulationreview.com 2020). The statistical data shown below is as per the survey of
the year 2018 for Latinobarometro.
70.00%
17.20%
9.30%
1.20% 1.70% 0.60%
RELIGION
Catholic Evangelical Non-Religious
Other Protestant Mormon & Jehova's Witness No answer

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References
Kash, G., 2019. Always on the defensive: the effects of transit sexual assault on travel
behavior and experience in Colombia and Bolivia. Journal of Transport & Health, 13,
pp.234-246.
Valenzuela, J.R., 2020. Resource Governance in Bolivia under Evo Morales (2006–2016).
In Natural Resource Governance, Grievances and Conflict (pp. 95-159). Springer VS,
Wiesbaden.
Worldpopulationreview.com 2020. online Worldpopulationreview.com. Available at:
http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/bolivia-population/ Accessed 15 Jan. 2020.
www.worldbank.org, T. 2020. Education Statistics. online Datatopics.worldbank.org.
Available at: http://datatopics.worldbank.org/education/country/bolivia Accessed 16 Jan.
2020.