Exploring Bolivia's Population: How Many Call It Home?

Bolivia, officially known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a country in South America. It is bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. As of 2024, Bolivia has a population of around 12.5 million people, with projections reaching up to 12.6 million. The population has been steadily increasing since the late 1800s, with a notable growth rate of 238.8% from 1960 to 2023. The country's population is expected to continue growing and will peak at around 17.67 million by 2083.

Population growth and projections

Bolivia's population has been steadily increasing since the late 1800s. The population growth rate has been slowing since 1980, and this trend is expected to continue. Bolivia's population growth rate currently stands at 1.39%, down from 1.71% in 2010. The population growth rate is projected to decline towards 1% in 2040.

The population of Bolivia has grown rapidly from 8.2 million in 2001 to just over 11 million. In 2024, the population is estimated to be between 11.67 million and 12.56 million people. The population of Bolivia is projected to continue growing and will likely reach its peak of 17.67 million people by 2083. After this, the population growth will slow down and gradually decline.

The population growth in Bolivia can be attributed to several factors. The birth rate in Bolivia is higher than the death rate, although both are declining slightly each year. Additionally, the fertility rate is currently 2.75 births per woman, which is above the population replacement rate of 2.1 births. However, the fertility rate is also on a downward trend. The country has also experienced urbanization, with around 71% of its inhabitants living in larger cities. The urbanization rate is increasing by about 1.8% annually.

The population of Bolivia is expected to continue growing in the coming years, but at a slower rate. The population growth rate is projected to decline towards 1% in 2040. The population of Bolivia is forecast to be 11,543,982 in 2020, 13,158,072 in 2030, 14,643,343 in 2040, and 15,903,460 by 2050.

Population density

Bolivia has one of the lowest population densities in the world. As of August 2024, the population density of Bolivia is 11.2 people per square kilometre (29.1 people per square mile). This is a slight increase on the 2023 figure of 11.28 people per square kilometre.

To put this into context, the population density of Bolivia in 1950 was 3.8 people per square kilometre. The population density has been increasing steadily since then, with the rate of increase also increasing in recent years.

The overall land area of Bolivia is 1,083,300 km2 (418,264 sq. miles) or 1,098,580 km2 (424,164 sq. miles). The total population of Bolivia is estimated to be between 11.67 million and 12.56 million.

The population is not evenly distributed throughout the country. Almost 64% of the country's population lives in urban areas, with 70% of the people concentrated in La Paz, Santa Cruz, and Cochabamba. Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the largest city, has a population of 3.32 million and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.

Life expectancy

Bolivia, officially known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia, has a population of around 12.5 million people as of 2024. The median age of the population is between 23.1 and 24.9 years.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data from 2020, the life expectancy in Bolivia is 72.1 years, with men having a life expectancy of 71.1 years and women at 73.1 years. This gives Bolivia a World Life Expectancy ranking of 109.

The leading causes of death in Bolivia include coronary heart disease, influenza and pneumonia, road traffic accidents, Alzheimer's and dementia, congenital anomalies, peptic ulcer disease, and colon-rectum cancers.

Bolivia's population growth rate has been steadily declining since 1980, and this trend is projected to continue. The country's fertility rate is currently 2.75 births per woman, which is above the population replacement rate of 2.1 births. With the birth rate and fertility rate declining, and thousands of people emigrating each year, Bolivia's population growth is expected to slow down significantly in the coming years.

Birth and death rates

Bolivia's birth rate has been higher than its death rate since the 1950s. The birth rate in 2024 is 20.364 births per 1000 people, a slight decline from 2023. The birth rate in 2022 was 21.6 live births per 1000 inhabitants, a figure that remained stable in 2023. The birth rate has been steadily declining since 2020, when it was 21.121 births per 1000 people.

The overall life expectancy in Bolivia at birth is 68.2 years, although another source states it to be 65.4. The median age of the population is 23.1, although another source states it to be 24.9 years. The gender ratio of the total population is 0.99 males per female.

The total fertility rate is 2.87 children per mother, although another source states the current fertility rate to be 2.75 births per woman. This is well above the population replacement rate of 2.1 births.

The population of Bolivia has been increasing since 1900 and has only had a negative per annum growth rate twice in its history (1835 and 1882). Bolivia's population growth rate is slowing significantly due to the falling birth and fertility rates, and thousands leaving the country each year. The population growth rate currently stands at 1.39%, down from 1.71% in 2010.

Urbanisation

Bolivia is a predominantly urban country, with 64% to 70.83% of its population living in urban areas. The country's urban population is expected to increase further, with projections suggesting that 80% of Bolivians will live in urban areas by 2030 to 2050. This trend towards urbanisation is reflected in the average annual inter-urban growth rate of 5.4%, which surpasses the overall population growth rate of 2.2%.

The urbanisation of Bolivia is particularly evident in the "Agglomeration of La Paz", which encompasses the municipalities of La Paz and El Alto. Together, they form the country's political, social, and economic centre, with a combined population of over two million people, or 17% of the nation's total population. La Paz, as the seat of government, is characterised by a youthful population and a strong cultural identity. The city's territorial distribution of residents is notably asymmetric, with 96% of people concentrated in seven urban macro-districts that span just 9% of the territory, while the remaining 4% inhabit two rural districts.

El Alto, situated more than 4,000 metres above sea level, is intrinsically linked to La Paz geographically, socially, culturally, and economically. It is distinguished by a constant influx of migrants, contributing to the country's second-highest growth rate. Over one million people reside in El Alto's 14 urban and rural districts, predominantly from the Indigenous Aymara culture.

The ongoing urbanisation of Bolivia presents both challenges and opportunities for the country. The municipalities of La Paz and El Alto grapple with issues such as transportation, environmental impact, informal settlements in hazardous areas, and citizen insecurity. However, these challenges also create opportunities for inclusive and participative models of development. For instance, digital tools that foster citizen participation and urban innovation have been successfully leveraged to address these issues.

Bolivia's National Urban Policy, known as the "Cities Policy," serves as a strategic instrument to guide the country's urban development. This policy aims to address the challenges and harness the opportunities presented by urbanisation, with a focus on diversifying the economic model, reducing inequalities, and ensuring sustainability. The implementation of this policy is currently underway, involving a wide range of urban stakeholders, including civil society, academia, and the private sector.

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