More about Bolivia

In my quest to learn more about Bolivia this week, here are some of my findings to share:

* Bolivia was once a part of the ancient Incan Empire. When the Spanish conquered the Incas in the 16th century, Bolivia’s Indian population was reduced to slavery, setting the stage for the vast economic inequality that still continues today – indigenous groups that make up 85 percent of the population live in poverty. The western highlands of this landlocked country include the Altiplano, a great plateau where almost half the population lives.
* Bolivia is South America's poorest country — it was ranked 113 out of 177 countries in the world in the 2005 Human Development Index.
* Approximately 24 percent of children are unable to enter school at age 6 — they either do not have access or are contributing to help their struggling families.
* Only 40 percent of the children who enter school complete their secondary education.
* Illiteracy among Bolivians 15 years and older is 13 percent.
* Infant mortality represents more than half of child deaths under the age of 5, and more than one-third of all child deaths. On average, of the 255,000 infants born each year in Bolivia, 7,000 die in their first month of life, and another 7,000 do not survive their first year of life. The current infant mortality rate is 50 deaths per 1,000 live births.
* Among children 6 months to 5 years old, 51 percent are malnourished
* 13 percent of adolescent girls are pregnant or have already had children, and an increase in sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, is cause for growing concern in Bolivia.