Bolivia is roughly the size of France and Spain combined with about 8 percent of their population (7.8 million in 1998).  It is divided into three regions:  the Altiplano, or high plains in the west; the Valle, or valleys, in the central region; and the Llano, or plains, in the east and north.  Each region is distinctive with regard to climate, settlement patterns, social organization, access to goods and services, and profile of morbidity and mortality.

Despite being one of the most sparsely populated countries on the continent, Bolivia managed to triple its population since 1950 and is currently growing at an annual rate of 2.0 percent. Although the population growth rate is not expected to continue if anticipated declines in fertility occur, Bolivia’s population is likely to exceed 10 million by 2012 and be twice its current size by 2050.

Bolivia has a young population with over 40 percent under 15 years of age. At the same time, the population is growing older, largely as a result of falling fertility (Figure 1). Consequently, between now and 2020 both the working age population and women in childbearing age will grow faster and will become larger proportions of the total population.