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Bolivia Population (2026 Overview)
Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in western-central South America. It shares borders with Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the northwest.
Bolivia is the fifth-largest country in South America, after Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and Colombia. It is also the largest landlocked country in the Southern Hemisphere and the seventh-largest landlocked country in the world, following Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Chad, Niger, Mali, and Ethiopia.
The sovereign state of Bolivia is a constitutionally unitary state divided into nine departments. According to the INE, National Institute of Statistics, Bolivia’s population in 2026 is estimated at 11,982,400 (approximately 12 million)
Quick Facts — Bolivia (2026)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Population | 11,982,400 (12 million) |
| Land Area | 1,098,581 sq. km (424,164 sq. mi) |
| Population Density | 11 people/sq. km |
| Urban Population | 69% |
| Capital City | Sucre (constitutional) / La Paz (administrative) |
| Fertility Rate | 2.48 |
| Median Age | 26.5 years |
| Life Expectancy | 73.5 years |
| Major Languages | Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, Guarani |
| Religion | Christianity 86.8% (Catholic 64.7%, Protestant 15.7%) |
| Ethnic Composition | Mestizo 68%, Indigenous 20%, White 5%, Cholo/Chola 2%, Black 1%, Other/Unspecified 4% |
Bolivia Historical Population
Bolivia’s population growth has been uneven historically, marked by sharp fluctuations during the 19th century due to political instability, territorial losses, and economic disruption. From the mid-20th century onward, the country entered a phase of steady demographic expansion, driven by improved healthcare, declining mortality, and higher fertility rates. In recent decades, population growth has moderated, reflecting urbanization and gradual fertility decline.
| Year | Population | Avg. Annual Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1826 | 997,427 | — |
| 1831 | 1,088,768 | +1.77% |
| 1835 | 1,060,777 | −0.65% |
| 1845 | 1,378,896 | +2.66% |
| 1854 | 2,326,126 | +5.98% |
| 1882 | 1,172,156 | −2.42% |
| 1900 | 1,555,818 | +1.59% |
| 1950 | 2,704,165 | +1.11% |
| 1976 | 4,613,486 | +2.08% |
| 1992 | 6,420,792 | +2.09% |
| 2001 | 8,274,325 | +2.86% |
| 2012 | 10,027,254 | +1.76% |
| 2024 | 11,365,333 | + 1.05% |
Source: INE, National Institute of Statistics, Bolovia
Religion in Bolivia
Christianity remains the dominant religion in Bolivia, though religious affiliation has become more diverse in recent years. According to the 2023 Latinobarómetro survey, about 86–87% of Bolivians identify as Christian, with Roman Catholicism continuing as the largest denomination. However, Catholic affiliation has declined compared to previous decades, while Evangelical Protestant groups and religious non-affiliation have expanded.
In 2023, 65.0% of Bolivians identify as Roman Catholic, while Evangelical Christians collectively account for roughly 20% of the population, including Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and other Protestant groups. Around 6–7% of the population reports no religious affiliation, including atheists and agnostics, while non-Christian and other religions together represent about 4%, reflecting Bolivia’s growing religious pluralism.
Religious Composition of Bolivia (2023)
| Religion / Affiliation | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Christianity (Total) | ~86.9% |
| – Roman Catholic | 65.0% |
| – Evangelical (no specific) | 11.9% |
| – Evangelical Baptist | 2.1% |
| – Evangelical Methodist | 0.7% |
| – Evangelical Pentecostal | 1.8% |
| – Adventist | 2.8% |
| – Jehovah’s Witnesses | 0.4% |
| – Mormon | 0.5% |
| – Other Protestants | 0.3% |
| Believer (not church-affiliated) | 0.9% |
| Other Religions | 3.9% |
| Unaffiliated / No Religion (Total) | ~8.4% |
| – None | 6.1% |
| – Atheist | 1.7% |
| – Agnostic | 0.6% |
| Don’t know / No answer | 1.3% |
Source: Latinobarómetro Survey (2023)
Sample size: 1,200 respondents
Race and Ethnicity in Bolivia
Bolivia is a highly multi-ethnic nation, shaped by centuries of Indigenous heritage, European colonization, African ancestry, and more recent immigration. The country officially recognizes its ethnic diversity and Indigenous identity as a core part of its national character.
Around 68% of Bolivians identify as Mestizo, meaning people of mixed Indigenous (Amerindian) and European ancestry, largely descended from Spanish colonists. Indigenous peoples account for about 20% of the population and are commonly referred to as originarios (“original people”). The largest Indigenous groups include the Quechua and Aymara, primarily located in the Andean highlands, along with smaller groups spread across the Amazonian and lowland regions.
People identifying as White (5%) are mainly of European and Middle Eastern descent, including ancestry from Spain, Italy, Germany, Croatia, Lebanon, and Syria. Bolivia also hosts small immigrant and diaspora communities from neighboring Latin American countries and North America.
Afro-Bolivians, who make up around 1% of the population, are descendants of Africans brought to the region during the Spanish colonial period and are mainly concentrated in the Yungas region. The term Cholo/Chola (2%) is used to describe people of Indigenous or mixed background, often with strong Indigenous cultural identity.
Bolivia is also home to notable minority communities, including Japanese (≈14,000), Lebanese (≈12,900), and a large population of Mennonites (≈140,000) of Friesian, Flemish, and German origin, mainly residing in eastern Bolivia.
Racial and Ethnic Composition of Bolivia
| Race / Ethnic Group | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Mestizo (mixed Indigenous & European) | 68% |
| Indigenous Peoples | 20% |
| White | 5% |
| Unspecified | 3% |
| Cholo / Chola | 2% |
| Black (Afro-Bolivian) | 1% |
| Other | 1% |
Source: 2018 estimates
Largest Cities in Bolivia by Population
Bolivia’s urban population is concentrated mainly in the eastern lowlands and central valleys, with Santa Cruz de la Sierra emerging as the country’s largest and fastest-growing metropolitan area. Traditional highland cities such as La Paz and El Alto continue to play a major political and economic role, while Cochabamba serves as a central commercial and transport hub.
Top 20 Largest Cities in Bolivia
| Rank | City | Department | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz de la Sierra | Santa Cruz | 1,453,549 |
| 2 | El Alto | La Paz | 848,840 |
| 3 | La Paz | La Paz | 764,617 |
| 4 | Cochabamba | Cochabamba | 630,587 |
| 5 | Oruro | Oruro | 264,683 |
| 6 | Sucre | Chuquisaca | 259,388 |
| 7 | Tarija | Tarija | 205,346 |
| 8 | Potosí | Potosí | 189,652 |
| 9 | Sacaba | Cochabamba | 169,494 |
| 10 | Quillacollo | Cochabamba | 137,029 |
| 11 | Montero | Santa Cruz | 109,518 |
| 12 | Trinidad | Beni | 106,422 |
| 13 | Warnes | Santa Cruz | 96,406 |
| 14 | Yacuíba | Tarija | 91,998 |
| 15 | La Guardia | Santa Cruz | 89,080 |
| 16 | Riberalta | Beni | 89,003 |
| 17 | Viacha | La Paz | 80,388 |
| 18 | Villa Tunari | Cochabamba | 72,623 |
| 19 | Cobija | Pando | 55,692 |
| 20 | Tiquipaya | Cochabamba | 53,062 |
Urban growth in Bolivia is increasingly driven by Santa Cruz and surrounding lowland cities, reflecting internal migration, economic expansion, and demographic shift away from the highlands.
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