Bolivia's Ranking: Where Does This Country Stand Globally?

Bolivia is a multiethnic country in central South America with a large proportion of indigenous people. It is ranked 106th out of 167 countries on the Legatum Prosperity Index, which measures factors such as safety, security, personal freedom, investment environment, and economic quality. Bolivia's military ranks are structured into four main branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, and National Police Force, with four pay grades. The country also has several universities that are ranked among the top in Latin America.

Bolivia is ranked 106th in the world for prosperity

Bolivia is ranked 106th out of 167 countries in the world for prosperity, according to the Legatum Prosperity Index 2023. This index provides an overview of the success of nations across a range of factors. Bolivia has dropped six places in the rankings since 2011.

The country performs well in the categories of Natural Environment and Social Capital. In terms of the Natural Environment, Bolivia ranks 48th, which is impressive compared to its overall position. This may be due to its abundant natural resources, including its large quantity of rivers and lakes. However, Bolivia's weakest category is Enterprise Conditions, where it ranks 154th.

The country's other rankings include Safety and Security (99th), Personal Freedom (79th), Investment Environment (112th), Infrastructure and Market Access (111th), Economic Quality (139th), and Living Conditions (101st).

Bolivia's ranking in the Legatum Prosperity Index is influenced by various factors, and it is worth noting that it has shown improvement in some areas over the last decade, particularly in Education. While the overall rank of 106th may indicate areas for improvement, Bolivia's strengths in specific categories, such as Natural Environment and Social Capital, contribute to its overall prosperity and development.

The country's military ranks are based on a design by the Central American Defence Council

The military ranks in Bolivia are based on a design by the Central American Defence Council (CADC). The CADC, also known as Consejo de Defensa Centroamericana or CONDECO in Spanish, was an alliance of Central American countries, including El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The organisation was established in 1963 through a treaty signed in Guatemala City, with the shared goal of suppressing the various left-wing guerrilla movements that threatened stability in the region during the Cold War.

The CADC was closely linked to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in Panama and thus had significant U.S. support. Its formation was considered the military phase of a growing movement towards Central American integration. The primary focus of the CADC was to develop coordinated military action against guerrilla activity, countering any perceived Soviet penetration of Central America, and fostering cooperation between the national armies of the region.

The ranks based on the CADC design were introduced to Bolivia in 1968. The Armed Forces of Bolivia are divided into four main branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the National Police Force. Each of these branches features a similar structure, with four pay grades: non-commissioned officers, senior non-commissioned officers, commissioned officers, and general staff. The Navy stands out as having different specialisations for NCOs and SNCOs once they attain the rank of 'seaman'.

In the Armed Forces, the title of Marshal is a distinction bestowed upon generals for exceptional achievements, denoting a senior military leader. Six individuals in Bolivia's history have been granted this rank.

Bolivia's Universidad Privada Boliviana is ranked 154th in Latin America

Bolivia's Universidad Privada Boliviana (UPB) is a highly regarded educational institution within Latin America. In the 2024 rankings, UPB secured a position of 154th in Latin America and the Caribbean Rankings - South America. This achievement underscores its reputation as a leading business school in the region.

Established in 1992 as a non-profit university, UPB has consistently demonstrated its commitment to academic excellence. With campuses in Cochabamba, La Paz, and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, it offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines. These include arts and humanities, business and management, engineering and technology, life sciences and medicine, and social sciences and management.

UPB's mission is to shape leaders who drive innovation within their organisations. It achieves this through its focus on applied and formative research, fostering an environment that encourages academic excellence. The university's selective admission policy ensures that it maintains a high calibre of students, with an acceptance rate range of 60-69%.

The university's recognition extends beyond Bolivia, with international applicants welcome. UPB provides a well-rounded experience to its students, offering not only academic programmes but also access to libraries, sports facilities, financial aid, and study abroad opportunities. This holistic approach equips graduates with the skills and knowledge to become high-level professionals and entrepreneurs, capable of competing on a global scale.

Universidad Privada Boliviana's ranking of 154th in Latin America is a testament to its dedication to educational excellence and its role in shaping the future leaders of Bolivia and beyond.

Bolivia is a major producer of coca, the plant used to make cocaine

Bolivia is ranked 106th out of 167 countries on the Legatum Prosperity Index. The country performs strongly in Natural Environment and Social Capital but is weakest in Enterprise Conditions.

The UN Office of Drug Control estimated that 30,900 hectares of coca were planted in Bolivia in 2009, making Bolivia the third-largest producer of coca after Colombia and Peru. The UN estimates that 35,148 of 54,608 metric tons produced in Bolivia is sold in unauthorized markets dominated by the cocaine trade, most of it from coca production in the Chapare. Sales of coca leaf amounted to approximately US$265 million in 2009, representing 14% of all agricultural sales and 2% of Bolivia's GDP.

Bolivia's most lucrative crop in the 1980s was coca. The country was the second-largest grower of coca in the world, supplying approximately 15% of the United States cocaine market in the late 1980s. Analysts believed that exports of coca paste or cocaine generated from US$600 million to US$1 billion annually in the 1980s, depending on prices and output. The production of cocaine has helped indirectly stabilize democracy in Bolivia by increasing incomes and standards of living, especially during crises, and by offering alternative sources of income for the military, which is thus less inclined to bring the government down.

The Bolivian government estimated that coca production had expanded from 1.63 million kilograms of leaves covering 4,100 hectares in 1977 to a minimum of 45 million kilograms over an area of at least 48,000 hectares in 1987. The number of growers expanded from 7,600 to at least 40,000 over the same period. Besides growers, the coca networks employed numerous Bolivians, including carriers, manufacturers of coca paste and cocaine, security personnel, and a wide range of more nefarious positions. The unparalleled revenues made the risk worthwhile for many.

In 2005, cocalero union leader Evo Morales was elected president of Bolivia. Morales has pursued a combined policy of legalizing coca production in the Chapare and Yungas and the eradication of the crop elsewhere.

Bolivia is ranked 81st out of 144 in the Global Peace Index

Bolivia is ranked 81st out of 144 countries in the Global Peace Index, which is an index that measures the peacefulness of nations. The index takes into account a variety of factors, including political corruption, ease of doing business, economic growth, and social indicators such as school enrollment and life expectancy.

Bolivia has made economic gains in the 21st century, but poverty and social tensions remain prevalent in the country. Other social indicators, such as school enrollment and life expectancy, fall below Latin American and Caribbean averages. Despite these challenges, Bolivia has a strong performance in the Natural Environment and Social Capital categories of the Legatum Prosperity Index, where it is ranked 48th and 79th, respectively.

In the Legatum Prosperity Index, Bolivia is ranked 106th out of 167 countries overall. This index considers a range of factors, including safety and security, personal freedom, investment environment, infrastructure, market access, economic quality, and living conditions. Bolivia has dropped six places in the rankings since 2011, with the biggest improvement over the last decade being in education.

The country's economic improvements have slowed in recent years, according to the World Bank. Bolivia's considerable natural resources, including large mineral deposits, hydrocarbons, agriculture, and forestry, have contributed to its economic gains. However, poverty and social tensions persist, and the agricultural sector, which employs an estimated 40% of the country's workforce, contributes relatively little to Bolivia's gross domestic product.

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