Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
11 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
1.33 million (2022 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.bo
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
79.70% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
3 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
369,000 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
98 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
12.2 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sugarcane, soybeans, maize, potatoes, sorghum, rice, milk, chicken, plantains, beef (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
2.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
29.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$14.75 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$11.796 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$1.054 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$566.2 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$1.936 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$1.907 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$1.898 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$1.725 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$1.366 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$15.9 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$1.581 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$939.084 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$1.15 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$1.305 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$15.930 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$11.174 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
6.9100 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
6.9100 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
6.9100 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
6.9100 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
6.9100 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
6.9100 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
6.9100 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
6.9100 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
6.9100 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
6.9100 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
6.9100 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
6.9100 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
6.9100 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
gold, natural gas, precious metal ore, zinc ore, soybean meal (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$10.566 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$14.285 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$10.187 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$8.312 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$8.974 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$9.855 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$9.835 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$7.139 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$11.594 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$14.465 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$11.905 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$11.764 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
25.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
19.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
68.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-30.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
17.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
13.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
24.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
51.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$12,878 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$49.668 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$159.854 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
46.7 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
45.2 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
44.6 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
42.6 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
41.6 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
43.6 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
40.9 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
41.2 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
42.1 (2023 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
40.9 (2024 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
31.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
1.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, pesticides, trucks, plastics (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$6.745 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$12.231 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$10.832 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$11.958 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$12.864 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$12.644 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$8.736 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$10.187 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$13.462 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$12.988 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$14.018 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
1.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
4.06% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
3.62% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
2.82% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
2.27% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
1.84% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
0.94% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
0.74% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
1.75% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.58% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
5.10% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
6.859 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
37.70% (2024 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
49% of GDP (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$93.614 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$96.459 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$103.326 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$118.215 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$128.448 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$113.212 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$133.728 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$116.927 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$120.531 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$122.2 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
4.86% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
4.26% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.20% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
2.87% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
1.51% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-12.72% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
10.03% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
3.75% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
2.52% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$8,629 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$8,757 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$9,242 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$10,420 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$11,005 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$9,581 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$11,202 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$12,307 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$9,800 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$1.201 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$1.177 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$1.191 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$1.127 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
3.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
3.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$1.280 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$13.050 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$10.054 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$10.246 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$8.930 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$6.455 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$5.247 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$4.730 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$3.752 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$1.8 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$1.977 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
3.68% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
7.90% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
5.09% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.55% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.02% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.27% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
5.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
4.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
5.2% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
9,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
1 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
95.6%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
99.9% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
100%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
3.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
65% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
24.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
10.863 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
4.375 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
1.079 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
29.34 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
4.025 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
7.816 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
12.302 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
302.99 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
240.9 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
100,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
58,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
24,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
7.881 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
13.647 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
21.552 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
Environment: 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
Environment: 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,
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
35.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
50.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
13.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
673.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
122.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
150.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
73.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
24.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
574 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
1.92 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
32 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
252.91 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
71.24% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
2.219 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
34.4% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Geography: Area: land
1,083,301 sq km
Geography: Area: water
15,280 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Nevado Sajama 6,542 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Rio Paraguay 90 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
1,192 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
17 00 S, 65 00 W
Geography: Geography - note
landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru
Geography: Irrigated land
2,972 sq km (2017)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Argentina 942 km; Brazil 3,403 km; Chile 942 km; Paraguay 753 km; Peru 1,212 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
7,252 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
35.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
50.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
13.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Amazon Basin
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): fresh water lake(s)
Lago Titicaca (shared with Peru) - 8,030 sq km
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): salt water lake(s)
Lago Poopo - 1,340 sq km
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)
Geography: Map references
South America
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: 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: 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
Geography: Terrain
rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin
Government: Administrative divisions
9 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ); Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Government: 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
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
16 30 S, 68 09 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
3 years
Government: 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
Government: Constitution: history
many previous; latest drafted 6 August 2006 to 9 December 2008, approved by referendum 25 January 2009, effective 7 February 2009
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Bolivia
Government: Country name: etymology
the country is named in honor of Simón BOLÍVAR, a 19th-century leader in the South American wars for independence
Government: Country name: former
Upper Peru
Government: Country name: local long form
Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia
Government: Country name: local short form
Bolivia
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Debra HEVIA (since September 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ConsularLaPazACS@state.gov https://bo.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Avenida Arce 2780, Casilla 425, La Paz
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[591] (2) 216-8111
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
3220 La Paz Place, Washington DC 20512-3220
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[591] (2) 216-8000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
3014 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Henry BALDELOMAR CHÁVEZ (since 11 October 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
embolivia.wdc@gmail.com https://www.boliviawdc.org/en-us/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 328-3712
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 483-4410
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Rodrigo PAZ Pereira (since 8 November 2025)
Government: 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%
Government: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2030
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Rodrigo PAZ Pereira (since 8 November 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
17 August 2025
Government: 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
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: 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)
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
National Electoral Court; District Courts (in each of the 9 administrative departments); agro-environmental lower courts
Government: Legal system
civil law system with influences from Roman, Spanish, canon (religious), French, and ethnic groups' pre-colonial law
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
mixed system
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
August 2030
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
8/17/2025
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
130 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Christian Democratic Party (PDC) (49); LIBRE (39); Unity (26); Popular Alliance (8); Other (8)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
50.8%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
August 2030
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
8/17/2025
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
36 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Christian Democratic Party (PDC) (16); LIBRE (12); Unity (7); Other (1)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
58.3%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Plurinational Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1852
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Jose Ignacio de SANJINES/Leopoldo Benedetto VINCENTI
Government: National color(s)
red, yellow, green
Government: 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)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
Government: National symbol(s)
llama, Andean condor; two national flowers, the cantuta and the patuju
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: 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)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 30-35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military is equipped with a mix of mostly older Brazilian, Chinese, European, and US armaments (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.76% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.53% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.54% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.50% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.45% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.39% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.33% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.97% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.30% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.37% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: 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)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
28.5% (male 1,792,803/female 1,718,081)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
64.5% (male 4,002,587/female 3,937,953)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
7% (2024 est.) (male 397,384/female 463,166)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
2.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
2.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
17.02 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
5.2% (2016)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
3.4% (2016)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
19.7% (2016)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
3.4% (2016 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
6.92% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
50.2% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
11 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
9.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
54 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
42.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 81% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 19% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
8.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
10.8% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
7.54% (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.04 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
8.2% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
16.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.40% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.5 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
20 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
24.5 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
22.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: 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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
71.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
66.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
93.5% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
97.8% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
96.73% (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
146 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
27 years
People and Society: Median age: male
26.2 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
21.1 years (2008 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Bolivian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
20.2% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.28 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
People and Society: Population
12,413,315 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.01% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
6,178,189
People and Society: Population: male
6,257,914
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 51.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 85.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 48.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 14.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.86 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
3.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
18.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
11% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.52 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
71.24% (2024 est.)
Space: 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
Space: 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: 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)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Tren de Aragua (TdA)
Transnational Issues: Illicit drugs: USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
12,070 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
1,163 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: 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/
Transportation: Airports
201 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
CP
Transportation: Heliports
3 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 30, oil tanker 2, other 18
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
50 (2023)
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
3,960 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
3,960 km (2019)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.