Bolivia Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (constitutional [legislative and judicial] capital)

Population

12,436,103 (2025 est.)

Area

1,098,581 sq km

Location

Central South America, southwest of Brazil

🧭 Background

Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simón BOLÍVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825. Much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of coups and countercoups, with the last coup occurring in 1980. Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have faced problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and illegal drug production. In 2005, Bolivians elected Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo MORALES as president -- by the widest margin of any leader since 1982 -- after he ran on a promise to change the country's traditional political class and empower the poor and indigenous majority. In 2009 and 2014, MORALES easily won reelection, and his party maintained control of the legislative branch. In 2016, MORALES narrowly lost a referendum to approve a constitutional amendment that would have allowed him to compete in the 2019 presidential election. A subsequent Supreme Court ruling stating that term limits violate human rights provided the justification for MORALES to run despite the referendum, but rising violence, pressure from the military, and widespread allegations of electoral fraud ultimately forced him to flee the country. An interim government, led by President Jeanine AÑEZ Chávez, held new elections in 2020, and Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora was elected president.

🗺️ Geography

Location

Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Geographic coordinates

17 00 S, 65 00 W

Map references

South America

Area — total

1,098,581 sq km

Area — land

1,083,301 sq km

Area — water

15,280 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Land boundaries — total

7,252 km

Land boundaries — border countries

Argentina 942 km; Brazil 3,403 km; Chile 942 km; Paraguay 753 km; Peru 1,212 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

None (landlocked)

Climate

Varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid

Terrain

Rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin

Elevation — highest point

Nevado Sajama 6,542 m

Elevation — lowest point

Rio Paraguay 90 m

Elevation — mean elevation

1,192 m

Natural resources

Lithium, tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower

Land use — agricultural land

35.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

50.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

13.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

2,972 sq km (2017)

Major lakes (area sq km) — fresh water lake(s)

Lago Titicaca (shared with Peru) - 8,030 sq km

Major lakes (area sq km) — salt water lake(s)

Lago Poopo - 1,340 sq km

Major watersheds (area sq km) — Atlantic Ocean drainage

Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)

Major aquifers

Amazon Basin

Population distribution

A high-altitude plain in the west between two cordillera of the Andes, known as the Altiplano, is the focal area for most of the population; a dense settlement pattern is also found in and around the city of Santa Cruz, located on the eastern side of the Andes

Natural hazards

Flooding in the northeast (March to April) volcanism: volcanic activity in Andes Mountains on the border with Chile; historically active volcanoes in this region are Irruputuncu (5,163 m), which last erupted in 1995, and the Olca-Paruma volcanic complex (5,762 m to 5,167 m)

Geography - note

Landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

12,436,103 (2025 est.)

Population — male

6,257,914

Population — female

6,178,189

Nationality — noun

Bolivian(s)

Nationality — adjective

Bolivian

Ethnic groups

Mestizo (mixed White and Indigenous ancestry) 68%, Indigenous 20%, White 5%, Cholo/Chola 2%, African descent 1%, other 1%, unspecified 3%; 44% other Indigenous group, predominantly Quechua or Aymara (2009 est.)

Languages — Languages

Spanish (official) 68.1%, Quechua (official) 17.2%, Aymara (official) 10.5%, Guarani (official) 0.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.1%; note - Spanish and all Indigenous languages are official (2012 est.)

Languages — major-language sample(s)

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 19.6% (Evangelical (non-specific) 11.9%, Evangelical Baptist 2.1%, Evangelical Pentecostal 1.8%, Evangelical Methodist 0.7%, Adventist 2.8%, Protestant (non-specific) 0.3%), Believer (not belonging to the church) 0.9%, other 4.8%, atheist 1.7%, agnostic 0.6%, none 6.1%, unspecified 1.3% (2023 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

28.5% (male 1,792,803/female 1,718,081)

Age structure — 15-64 years

64.5% (male 4,002,587/female 3,937,953)

Age structure — 65 years and over

7% (2024 est.) (male 397,384/female 463,166)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

54 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

42.9 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

11 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

9.1 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

27 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

26.2 years

Median age — female

27 years

Population growth rate

1.01% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

17.02 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-0.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

A high-altitude plain in the west between two cordillera of the Andes, known as the Altiplano, is the focal area for most of the population; a dense settlement pattern is also found in and around the city of Santa Cruz, located on the eastern side of the Andes

Urbanization — urban population

71.2% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.936 million LA PAZ (capital), 1.820 million Santa Cruz, 1.400 million Cochabamba (2022); 278,000 Sucre (constitutional capital) (2018)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.86 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.1 years (2008 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

146 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

22.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

24.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

20 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

72.5 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

71 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

74 years

Total fertility rate

2.13 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.04 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 81% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 19% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

8.2% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

16.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

1.28 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Hospital bed density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 51.4% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 85.8% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 48.6% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 14.2% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.2% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

2.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

2.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

11% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

18.9% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

3.2% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.4% (2016 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

50.2% (2022 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

3.4% (2016)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

19.7% (2016)

Child marriage — men married by age 18

5.2% (2016)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

8.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

10.8% national budget (2024 est.)

Literacy — total population

95.6% (2023 est.)

Literacy — male

97.8% (2023 est.)

Literacy — female

93.5% (2023 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Deforestation from agricultural clearing and international demand for timber; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation

International environmental agreements — party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Climate

Varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid

Land use — agricultural land

35.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

50.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

13.5% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

71.2% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

21.552 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

24,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

13.647 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from consumed natural gas

7.881 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

24.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions — energy

122.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Methane emissions — agriculture

673.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — waste

73.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — other

150.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

2.219 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

34.4% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

252.91 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

32 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

1.92 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

574 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Plurinational State of Bolivia

Country name — conventional short form

Bolivia

Country name — local long form

Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia

Country name — local short form

Bolivia

Country name — former

Upper Peru

Country name — etymology

The country is named in honor of Simón BOLÍVAR, a 19th-century leader in the South American wars for independence

Government type

Presidential republic

Capital — name

La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (constitutional [legislative and judicial] capital)

Capital — geographic coordinates

16 30 S, 68 09 W

Capital — time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — etymology

La Paz is a shortening of the original name of the city, Pueblo Nuevo de Nuestra Señora de La Paz (New Town of Our Lady of Peace); Sucre is named after Antonio José de SUCRE (1795-1830), the second president of Bolivia

Administrative divisions

9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija

Legal system

Civil law system with influences from Roman, Spanish, canon (religious), French, and ethnic groups' pre-colonial law

Constitution — history

Many previous; latest drafted 6 August 2006 to 9 December 2008, approved by referendum 25 January 2009, effective 7 February 2009

Constitution — amendment process

Proposed through public petition by at least 20% of voters or by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the Assembly and approval in a referendum

International law organization participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

Yes

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

Yes

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

Yes

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

3 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch — chief of state

President Rodrigo PAZ Pereira (since 8 November 2025)

Executive branch — head of government

President Rodrigo PAZ Pereira (since 8 November 2025)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

Executive branch — election/appointment process

President and vice president directly elected on the same ballot one of 3 ways: candidate wins at least 50% of the vote, or at least 40% of the vote and 10% more than the next highest candidate; otherwise, a second round is held and the winner determined by simple majority vote; president and vice president are elected by majority vote to serve a 5-year term; no term limits

Executive branch — most recent election date

17 August 2025

Executive branch — election results

2025: Rodrigo PAZ Pereira elected president in second round; percent vote in first round - Rodrigo PAZ Pereira (PDC) 32.1%, Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramírez (LIBRE) 26.7%, Samuel DORIA MEDINA Auza (UN) 19.7%, Andrónico RODRÌGUEZ Ledezma (AP) 8.5%, Manfred REYES Villa (APB Súmate) 6.8%, Eduardo DEL CASTILLO (MAS) 3.2%, other 3%; percent of vote in second round - Rodrigo PAZ Pereira 55%, Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramírez 45% 2020: Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora elected president; percent of vote - Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (MAS) 55.1%; Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert (CC) 28.8%; Luis Fernando CAMACHO Vaca (Creemos) 14%; other 2.1% 2019: Juan Evo MORALES Ayma reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (MAS) 61%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana (UN) 24.5%; Jorge QUIROGA Ramirez (POC) 9.1%; other 5.4%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

2030

Legislative branch — legislature name

Plurinational Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

130 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Mixed system

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

8/17/2025

Legislative branch - lower chamber — parties elected and seats per party

Christian Democratic Party (PDC) (49); LIBRE (39); Unity (26); Popular Alliance (8); Other (8)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

50.8%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

August 2030

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

36 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — electoral system

Proportional representation

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

8/17/2025

Legislative branch - upper chamber — parties elected and seats per party

Christian Democratic Party (PDC) (16); LIBRE (12); Unity (7); Other (1)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

58.3%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

August 2030

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (consists of 12 judges organized into civil, penal, social, and administrative chambers); Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal (consists of 7 primary and 7 alternate magistrates); Plurinational Electoral Organ (consists of 7 members and 6 alternates); National Agro-Environment Court (consists of 5 primary and 5 alternate judges; Council of the Judiciary (consists of 3 primary and 3 alternate judges)

Judicial branch — judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court, Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal, National Agro-Environmental Court, and Council of the Judiciary candidates pre-selected by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly and elected by direct popular vote; judges elected for 6-year terms; Plurinational Electoral Organ judges appointed - 6 by the Legislative Assembly and 1 by the president of the republic; members serve single 6-year terms

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

National Electoral Court; District Courts (in each of the 9 administrative departments); agro-environmental lower courts

Political parties

Autonomy for Bolivia – Súmate or APB Súmate Christian Democratic Party or PDC Community Citizen Alliance or ACC Freedom and Democracy or LIBRE Front for Victory or FPV Movement Toward Socialism or MAS National Unity or UN Popular Alliance or AP Revolutionary Left Front or FRI Revolutionary Nationalist Movement or MNR Social Democrat Movement or MDS Third System Movement or MTS We Believe or Creemos

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Henry BALDELOMAR CHÁVEZ (since 11 October 2023)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

3014 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 483-4410

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 328-3712

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Embolivia.wdc@gmail.com https://www.boliviawdc.org/en-us/

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s) general

Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Debra HEVIA (since September 2023)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Avenida Arce 2780, Casilla 425, La Paz

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

3220 La Paz Place, Washington DC 20512-3220

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[591] (2) 216-8000

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[591] (2) 216-8111

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

ConsularLaPazACS@state.gov https://bo.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

6 August 1825 (from Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 August (1825)

Flag

Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band meaning: red stands for bravery and the blood of national heroes, yellow for the nation's mineral resources, and green for the land's fertility history: in 2009, a presidential decree made it mandatory for a wiphala -- a square, multi-colored flag representing the country's ethnic groups -- to be used alongside the national flag

National symbol(s)

Llama, Andean condor; two national flowers, the cantuta and the patuju

National color(s)

Red, yellow, green

National anthem(s) — title

"Cancion Patriotica" (Patriotic Song)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Jose Ignacio de SANJINES/Leopoldo Benedetto VINCENTI

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1852

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

City of Potosi (c); El Fuerte de Samaipata (c); Historic Sucre (c); Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos (c); Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (n); Tiahuanacu (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

Resource-rich economy benefits during commodity booms; has bestowed juridical rights to Mother Earth, impacting extraction industries; increasing Chinese lithium mining trade relations; hard hit by COVID-19; increased fiscal spending amid poverty increases; rampant banking and finance corruption

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$122.2 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$120.531 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$116.927 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

1.4% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

3.6% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$9,800 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$9,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$9,700 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$49.668 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

5.1% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

2.6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

1.7% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

13.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

24.2% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

51.1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

68.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

19.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

17.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0.1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

25.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-30.9% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

Sugarcane, soybeans, maize, potatoes, sorghum, rice, milk, chicken, plantains, beef (2023)

Industries

Mining, smelting, electricity, petroleum, food and beverages, handicrafts, clothing, jewelry

Industrial production growth rate

1.1% (2023 est.)

Labor force

6.859 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

3.1% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

3.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

3.6% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

5.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

4.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

5.8% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

37.7% (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

42.1 (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on food

29.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on alcohol and tobacco

2.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

1.8% (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

31.3% (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

3.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

3.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$11.796 billion (2019 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$14.75 billion (2019 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2017

49% of GDP (2017 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

-$1.15 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

$939.084 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2021

$1.581 billion (2021 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$11.905 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$14.465 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2021

$11.594 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners

Brazil 15%, India 13%, China 11%, Argentina 11%, UAE 8% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Gold, natural gas, precious metal ore, zinc ore, soybean meal (2023)

Imports — Imports 2023

$12.988 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$13.462 billion (2022 est.)

Imports — Imports 2021

$10.187 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners

China 22%, Brazil 18%, Chile 13%, USA 7%, Peru 5% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Refined petroleum, cars, pesticides, trucks, plastics (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$1.977 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$1.8 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$3.752 billion (2022 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$11.174 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

6.91 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

6.91 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

6.91 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

6.91 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

6.91 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

99.9% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

100%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

95.6%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

4.375 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

10.863 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

1.079 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

65% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — wind

3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

24.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

3.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

9,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — proven reserves

1 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — total petroleum production

58,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

100,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — crude oil estimated reserves

240.9 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas — production

12.302 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — consumption

4.025 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — exports

7.816 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — proven reserves

302.99 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

29.34 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

369,000 (2024 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

12.2 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

98 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

Large number of radio and TV stations broadcasting with private media outlets dominating; state-owned and private radio and TV stations generally operating freely, although both pro-government and anti-government groups have attacked media outlets in response to their reporting (2019)

Internet country code

.bo

Internet users — percent of population

70% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

1.33 million (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

11 (2022 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

CP

Airports

201 (2025)

Heliports

3 (2025)

Railways — total

3,960 km (2019)

Railways — narrow gauge

3,960 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Merchant marine — total

50 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

General cargo 30, oil tanker 2, other 18

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

Bolivian Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Bolivia or FAB): Bolivian Army (Ejercito de Boliviano), Bolivian Navy (Armada Boliviana), Bolivian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana) Ministry of Government: National Police (Policía Nacional de Bolivia, PNB) (2025)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Approximately 30-35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The military is equipped with a mix of mostly older Brazilian, Chinese, European, and US armaments (2025)

Military service age and obligation

Voluntary service for men and women 18-22 years of age; selective 12-month compulsory service for men, 18-22 (24 months of search and rescue service can be substituted for military service) (2025)

Military - note

The Bolivian Armed Forces (FAB) are responsible for territorial defense but also have some internal security duties, particularly counternarcotics and border security; the FAB shares responsibility for border enforcement with the National Police (PNB), and it may be called out to assist the PNB with maintaining public order in critical situations land-locked Bolivia has a naval force for patrolling some 5,000 miles of navigable rivers to combat narcotics trafficking and smuggling, provide disaster relief, and deliver supplies to remote rural areas, as well as for maintaining a presence on Lake Titicaca; the Navy also exists in part to cultivate a maritime tradition and as a reminder of Bolivia’s defeat at the hands of Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879-1883), and its desire to regain access to the Pacific Ocean; every year on 23 March, the Navy participates in parades and government ceremonies commemorating the Día Del Mar (Day of the Sea) holiday that remembers the loss (2025)

🛰️ Space⬆️ Top

Space agency/agencies

Bolivian Space Agency (la Agencia Boliviana Espacial, ABE; established 2010 as a national public company under Ministry of Public Works, Services and Housing) (2025)

Space program overview

Has a small space program focused on acquiring and operating satellites; operates a telecommunications satellite and ground stations; has cooperated with China and India and member states of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)

Key space-program milestones

2013 - first communications satellite (Túpac Katari, TKSAT-1) built and launched by China 2016 - began independently operating the TKSAT-1 satellite 2021 - signed protocols for establishment of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency

🚨 Terrorism⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

Tren de Aragua (TdA)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

1,163 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

12,070 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons — tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — Bolivia did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/bolivia/

Illicit drugs — USG identification

Major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)