National Identity
- Official name
- Plurinational State of Bolivia
- Official name (in Spanish)
- Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia
- Name etymology
the country is named in honor of Simón BOLÍVAR, a 19th-century leader in the South American wars for independence
Sources:- Political Constitution of the State ↗ - Plurinational State of Bolivia - Ministry of Education
- The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- Coat of arms
- National flag
Translated from the Official Gazette of the Plurinational State of Bolivia ARTICLE 5.- (DESCRIPTION). The Flag of the Plurinational State of Bolivia consists of three horizontal stripes of equal dimensions, placed in this order: red colour at the top, yellow colour in the centre and green colour at the bottom.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Official Gazette of the Plurinational State of Bolivia ARTICLE 6.- (SYMBOLISM OF THE COLOURS OF THE TRICOLOUR FLAG).
- RED. The upper red stripe represents the blood shed by the heroes for the birth and preservation of the Republic and the consolidation of the Plurinational State of Bolivia.
- YELLOW. The central yellow stripe represents the mineral and subsoil riches of the Bolivian people.
- GREEN. The lower green stripe represents the richness of nature and hope, as a principal value of our society.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in Canada First flag
Created by the Deliberative Assembly of 17 August 1825. Three horizontal stripes. The upper and lower stripes green and the middle one, wider, red. The central stripe 5 golden stars in laurel leaves, representing the 5 departments that Bolivia had at the time of its founding: La Paz, Potosí, Cochabamba, Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in Canada Second flag
The amending Law of 25 July 1826, under the presidency of Marshal Antonio José de Sucre, replacing the upper green stripe with another one of yellow colour, in place of the five gold stars, the coat of arms of the Republic.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in Canada Current (official) flag
Under the government of Manuel Isidoro Belzu, by the Law of 5 November 1851, it approved on a definitive basis the colours of the National Flag, in the following form: scarlet red at the top, yellow in the centre and green at the bottom.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerSources:- gacetaoficialdebolivia.gob.bo ↗ - the Official Gazette of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
- bolivianembassy.ca ↗ - the Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in Canada
- National anthem
- Canción Patriótica1:41
- Title (in Spanish)
- Canción Patriótica
- Title (in English, translated)
- Patriotic Song
- Lyrics
1Bolivianos: el hado propicio coronó nuestros votos y anhelos. Es ya libre, ya libre este suelo, ya cesó su servil condición. Al estruendo marcial que ayer fuera y al clamor de la guerra horroroso, siguen hoy, en contraste armonioso, dulces himnos de paz y de unión. Siguen hoy, en contraste armonioso, dulces himnos de paz y de unión.
ChorusDe la Patria, el alto nombre, en glorioso esplendor conservemos. Y en sus aras de nuevo juremos: ¡Morir antes que esclavos vivir! ¡Morir antes que esclavos vivir! ¡Morir antes que esclavos vivir!
2Loor eterno a los bravos guerreros, cuyo heroico valor y firmeza, conquistaron las glorias que empieza hoy Bolivia feliz a gozar. Que sus nombres, en mármol y en bronce, a remotas edades transmitan, y en sonoros cantares repitan: ¡Libertad, Libertad, Libertad! Y en sonoros cantares repitan: ¡Libertad, Libertad, Libertad!
De la Patria, el alto nombre,3Aquí alzó la justicia su trono que la vil opresión desconoce, y en su timbre glorioso legose libertad, libertad, libertad. Esta tierra inocente y hermosa que ha debido a Bolívar su nombre es la patria feliz donde el hombre goza el bien de la dicha y la paz. Es la patria feliz donde el hombre goza el bien de la dicha y la paz.
De la Patria, el alto nombre,4Si extranjero poder alqún día sojuzgar a Bolivia intentare, al destino fatal se prepare que amenaza a soberbio invasor. Que los hijos del grande Bolívar hayan mil y mil veces jurado: morir antes que ver humillado de la Patria el augusto pendón. Morir antes que ver humillado de la Patria el augusto pendón.
De la Patria, el alto nombre,Source: - Citizens
- Bolivians
- Official name:Political Constitution of the State ↗ - Plurinational State of Bolivia - Ministry of Education
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- National flag:gacetaoficialdebolivia.gob.bo ↗ - the Official Gazette of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
- National flag:bolivianembassy.ca ↗ - the Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in Canada
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Central South America, southwest of Brazil
- Total area
- 1,098,581 km²
- Land area
- 1,083,301 km²
- Water area
- 15,280 km²
- Land borders
- 7,252 km(5 countries)
- Coastline
- 0 km(Landlocked)
- Terrain
Rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin - Mean elevation
- 1,192 m
- Highest point
- 6,542 mNevado Sajama
- Lowest point
- 90 mRio Paraguay
- Climate
Varies with altitude humid and tropical to cold and semiarid - Avg. temperature
- 20.3 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 15.7 to 26.1 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 1,488 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 26.6 21.7 18.1 244 February 26.2 21.4 17.9 224 March 26.3 21.2 17.5 185 April 25.9 20.4 16.2 103 May 24.3 18.5 14 64 June 23.7 17.5 12.6 39 July 24.1 17.3 11.8 32 August 26.2 19 13.1 38 September 27.5 20.7 15.2 69 October 28.1 21.9 17 118 November 27.7 22 17.4 158 December 27.1 22 18 214 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable5.1%Perm. crops0.2%Pasture30.5%Forest50.6%Other13.5%
- Arable land
- 5,562,568 hectares (5.1%)
- Permanent crops
- 252,831 hectares (0.2%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 33,000,000 hectares (30.5%)
- Forest
- 54,849,790 hectares (50.6%)
- Other land
- 14,664,811 hectares (13.5%)
Source: - Major lakes
- Lago Titicaca8,030 km²Lago Poopo1,340 km²
- Natural hazards2026
- Epidemics7.4Very high#13/191Earthquakes7.2Very high#39/191Drought7.1Very high#12/191River floods5.5High#87/191Tsunamis0.0Very lowTropical cyclones0.0Very lowCoastal floods0.0Very low
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Mean elevation, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate, Major lakes:The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +1.33% per year+167,449 people/yearWorld Rank77thof 237
- Birth rate
- 20.5 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 7.2 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- −0.2 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 25.5 yearsWorld Rank165thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years29.1%15-64 years65.1%65 years +5.8%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 5.8%
- Share aged under 18
- 34.8%
- Total dependency ratio
- 54
- Youth dependency ratio
- 45
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 9
- Sex ratio
- 1 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 0.4% 0.6% 70-79 1.2% 1.4% 60-69 2.5% 2.7% 50-59 4.1% 4.2% 40-49 5.8% 5.8% 30-39 7.7% 7.7% 20-29 8.8% 8.7% 10-19 9.6% 9.3% 0-9 9.9% 9.6% - 2026
- 0.27 above the replacement level for Bolivia ()2.47 births per womanreplacement 2.20123World Rank80thof 237
- 1.14 daughters per woman0.14 above replacement, long-run each generation larger than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- +13.3 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 13.3 more births than deaths a year
- 2026
- −0.2 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 71.9% live in cities9,166,267 urban residents
- Largest cities2024
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra, El Alto, La Paz, CochabambaRankCity or TownPopulation (2024 census)1Santa Cruz de la Sierra1,601,7242El Alto885,2103La Paz750,2254Cochabamba665,4825Oruro298,2576Sucre275,9597Tarija215,5558Potosí198,3979Sacaba191,85010Quillacollo145,000Source:
- National Institute of Statistics, Bolivia (2024 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- 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.
- Ethnic groups2009
- Results vary with how the ethnicity question is worded.Mestizo68.0%Indigenous20.0%White5.0%Cholo/Chola2.0%African descent1.0%Other1.0%Unspecified3.0%
The 2001 national census did not offer "Mestizo" as a response choice, so more respondents identified with one of the available indigenous choices.Surveys use "Mestizo" and "Cholo" interchangeably, offer one or the other, or offer them separately.A further 44% identify with another Indigenous group, predominantly Quechua or Aymara.Mestizo denotes mixed White and Indigenous ancestry.
Source:- The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- Religions2023
- Roman Catholic65.0%Protestant19.6%Believer (not belonging to the church)0.9%Other4.8%Atheist1.7%Agnostic0.6%None6.1%Unspecified1.3%
- 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%
Source:- The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- Languages
- Spanish (Español)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:National Institute of Statistics, Bolivia (2024 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicThe President is elected with the Vice-President by universal, direct suffrage for five years, re-eligible once consecutively; the Constitution calls Bolivia a "Unitary Social State of Plurinational Communitarian Law" (Arts. 1, 166, 168).Source:
- Constitución Política del Estado, 7 de febrero de 2009, texto de consulta ↗, Arts. 1, 166, 168
- System of government
- PresidentialThe President directs government policy and appoints ministers without legislative investiture; the Plurinational Legislative Assembly can censure and remove individual ministers by a two-thirds vote, and the text gives no power to dissolve it (Arts. 12, 158, 172).Source:
- Constitución Política del Estado, 7 de febrero de 2009, texto de consulta ↗, Arts. 12, 158, 172
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Government (in Spanish)
- President
- Parliament (in Spanish)
- Capital
- La PazDe facto757,431 people(2024)SucreDe jure296,125 people(2024)
- National holidays
- 13 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- ThuJan 22Plurinational State Foundation Day
- MonFeb 16Carnival
- TueFeb 17Carnival
- FriApr 3Good Friday
- FriMay 1Labor Day
- ThuJun 4Corpus Christi
- SunJun 21Aymara New Year
- MonJun 22Aymara New Year (observed)
- ThuAug 6Independence Day
- SatOct 17National Dignity Day
- MonNov 2All Souls' Day
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- BOTBolivia TimeUTC−4
- Currency
- Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information (in Spanish)
- Calling code
- +591
- Internet TLD
- .bo
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- BO, BOL
- Infrastructure
- Railways3,960 km
- Passengers carried
- 5,601,302 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Heliports
- 3
- Aircraft departures
- 50,459 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Air freight
- 19.9 million tonne-km(2023)
- Aircraft registration prefix
- CP
Sources:- The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Flag carrier
- Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) (in Spanish)State-owned
- 2025
- 28 / 100World Rank136thof 182Confidence interval
Corruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2012 34 28 40 2013 34 28 40 2014 35 30 40 2015 34 28 40 2016 33 28 37 2017 33 28 38 2018 29 23 35 2019 31 26.1 35.9 2020 31 27.6 34.4 2021 30 27.2 32.8 2022 31 27 35 2023 29 25.2 32.8 2024 28 22.9 33.1 2025 28 23.1 32.9 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:Constitución Política del Estado, 7 de febrero de 2009, texto de consulta ↗ - Official Gazette of Bolivia
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- Lower middle income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- −3% per yearWorld Rank188thof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $4,223 (136th in the world)
Source:- 2024
- Services53.4% of GDPIndustry31.3% of GDPAgriculture8.8% of GDPManufacturing13.1%part of industry
- Households
- +69.6%
- Government
- +16.5%
- Investment
- +17.9%
- Exports
- +21.4%
- Imports
- −25.5%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useSource:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 12.7%down 6.8 percentage points6.8pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 6.8 million (55% of population)World Rank70thof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 78.3% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 3.3%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 5.2% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $9.3 per hour worked at PPP
- Budget balance2026
- 9.2% of GDP deficit
- Current account
- 1.6% of GDP, $845 million surplus
Source: - Debt2024
- Central government debt100.9% of GDPInterest on debt3.1% of GDP
- Trade2025
- Goods$9.6 billion88.8%
- Services$1.2 billion11.2%
- Total exports
- $10.8 billion
- Change from 2024
- up 6.9 percent on the previous year6.9%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- 2024
- −1.10World Rank123rdof 145
- Projected GDP growth
- +2.2% a year over the next 10 years
Source:- Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products2024
- Sorghum, Plantains and cooking bananas, Soya beans, and 7 more
- 1Sorghum12.7×
- 2Plantains and cooking bananas5.1×
- 3Soya beans3.7×
- 4Sugar cane2.7×
- 5Meat of cattle with the bone (fresh or chilled)2.3×
- 6Sunflower seed2.2×
- 7Meat of chickens (fresh or chilled)2.1×
- 8Potatoes1.6×
- 9Bananas1×
- 10Maize (corn)0.4×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Industries
- mining, smelting, electricity, petroleum, food and beverages, handicrafts, clothing, jewelry
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Debt:IMF Public Finances in Modern History ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- Economic Complexity Index:Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- Cost of living index
- Loading
- Monthly costs (excluding rent)
- Loading
- Rent
- Loading
- Buying an apartment
- Loading
- Average gross salary2025
- BOB 3,190 per month$462 (USD), $1,182 (PPP)
- Median
- BOB 2,800 per month($405)
- Men
- BOB 3,495 per month($506)
- Women
- BOB 2,784 per month($403)
Source:- ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- 2024
- BOB 2,500 per month, gross$362 (USD), $1,078 (PPP)
- Average gross salary, Minimum wage:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.733HighWorld Rank108thof 193BoliviaWorld
Human Development Index by year Year Bolivia World 1990 0.552 0.608 1991 0.561 0.611 1992 0.568 0.614 1993 0.577 0.617 1994 0.586 0.620 1995 0.594 0.625 1996 0.602 0.631 1997 0.610 0.636 1998 0.618 0.641 1999 0.624 0.646 2000 0.630 0.651 2001 0.639 0.657 2002 0.642 0.662 2003 0.645 0.669 2004 0.648 0.675 2005 0.658 0.681 2006 0.656 0.688 2007 0.664 0.694 2008 0.668 0.698 2009 0.671 0.701 2010 0.677 0.707 2011 0.683 0.713 2012 0.685 0.717 2013 0.699 0.721 2014 0.701 0.726 2015 0.704 0.731 2016 0.714 0.735 2017 0.715 0.739 2018 0.722 0.741 2019 0.728 0.745 2020 0.697 0.742 2021 0.693 0.742 2022 0.727 0.752 2023 0.733 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2024
- 40.9
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 10 years
- Expected for a child today
- 15.6 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Literacy2024
- 96.7% of adults
- Education expenditure2024
- 7.5% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 20.2%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2024
- 79.7% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 68.7%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2024
- 12.2 million
- Fixed telephone lines
- 368,926
- Fixed broadband
- 12.1 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership2024
- 11% of adults
- Debit-card ownership
- 34%
- Account at a bank or mobile-money provider
- 57%
- Mobile-money account
- 20%
- Made or received a digital payment
- 44%
Source:- Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted2025
- 1,117 people
- Asylum seekers
- 65
- Internally displaced persons
- 9,300All due to disasters
- Refugees from Bolivia abroad
- 617
Sources:- Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists2022
- 724,000 arrivalsdown 42% against 201942% below 2019World Rank94thof 139
- Per resident
- 6 arrivals per 100 residents
- All visitors
- 991,184 arrivals, overnight and same-day(2024)
- Visitor spending in the country
- $857.9 million(2023)
- Residents' trips abroad
- 821,000 overnight trips
- Residents' spending abroad
- $843.6 million(2023)
- Hotel beds
- 43,893(2021, latest available)
- 1.4 nights(2021, latest available)
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2022A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 7 sites6 cultural1 natural
Site Type City of Potosi Cultural El Fuerte de Samaipata Cultural Historic Sucre Cultural Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos Cultural Noel Kempff Mercado National Park Natural Tiahuanacu Cultural Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System Cultural Source:- The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Literacy:UIS Data Browser ↗ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership:Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted:Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Refugees hosted:Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- None - no active crisis
- Homicide rate2024
- Medium by global standards3.6 per 100,000 peopleWorld Rank42ndof 115
- Crime rates
- 7 offence categories
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Homicide (victims) 3.6 453 2024 Serious assault 91.6 11,211 2023 Sexual violence 80.2 9,822 2023 Kidnapping 0.4 47 2023 Burglary 0.3 34 2018 Theft 27.2 3,216 2020 Vehicle theft 23.4 2,762 2020 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population2023
- 235.5 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 28,838
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Homicide rate, Crime rates, Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 69.1 years
- Health expenditure2023
- 6.9% of GDP$255 per person
- Physicians2021
- 1.28 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2023
- 1.5 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 29.6 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 146 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 3.6 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Tobacco use2015latest available
- 16.2% of adults
- Men
- 24.2%
- Women
- 8.1%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending2023
- 2.2% of household spendingWorld Rank66thof 105
- World median
- 3.1%
Source:- The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 21.1 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption, Tobacco use:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending:The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 28.4 Mt per yearup 16.4 percent on the previous year16.4% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 2.3 t per personWorld Rank116thof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- 0.07%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 26.5 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 8.77 Mt CO₂-eq
- Fluorinated gases
- 0.04 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 63.8 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 40.6 µg/m³ of PM2.53.5 years of life expectancy lost against the WHO guidelineMost polluted6thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- 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
Source:- The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- International agreements
- 18 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 61 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2016 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1995 Kyoto Protocol in force 2005 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 1995 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 1995 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1995 CITES in force 1979 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) in force 2003 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2003 Nagoya Protocol not a party Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in force 1990 World Heritage Convention in force 1977 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1996 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 1997 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) in force 2004 Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2004 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2017 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 1995 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) signed 2023, not ratified MARPOL 73/78 in force 1999 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 10% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 574 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 47,528 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 47% originates outside the country
- Annual water withdrawal
- 2.2 billion m³ per year
- Withdrawn for agriculture
- 87%
- Water stress
- 0% of available freshwater withdrawn
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment2022
- 20.3% of the population2.5 million people
- Obesity2024
- 29.7% of adults
- Men
- 23.4%
- Women
- 35.9%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children2016
- 3.4% of children under five
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment:Food security indicators (FAOSTAT) ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 33.8 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- 0.07%
- Supply
- Surplusproduces 1.3× what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- Trade ended, last exchange reported in 200414 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 14 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 12 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- Deficitproduces 53% of what it consumes, 2024Oil reserves2025240.9 million barrelsWorld Rank54thof 99
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal:Worldwide Oil and Gas Survey ↗ - Oil & Gas Journal
Defense
- Military expenditure2024
- 1.4% of GDP$655.1 million, 3.7% of government spending
- Military personnel2025
- approximately 30,000–35,000active-duty Armed Forces
- Military service2025
- Selective conscriptionmen 18–22, 12 months, or 24 months of search and rescue service; voluntary men and women 18–22
As of 2024, women comprised about 11% of the Bolivian military's personnel.
Source:- The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- Space program2025
- Bolivian Space Agency (la Agencia Boliviana Espacial, ABE; established 2010 as a national public company under Ministry of Public Works, Services and Housing)
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
- 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
Key milestones
Source:- The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Military expenditure:SIPRI Military Expenditure Database ↗ - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
- Military expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Military personnel, Military service, Space program:The World Factbook: Bolivia - CIA
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
