History of Bolivia in Timeline

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in central South America. It features diverse geography, including the Andes Mountains and tropical lowlands like the Amazonian plain and the Gran Chaco. Bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru, Bolivia includes part of the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland. La Paz is the seat of government, while Sucre is the constitutional capital. The largest city and industrial center is Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

1903: Loss of Acre Territory

In 1903 Bolivia was forced to sign the Treaty of Petrópolis, in which Bolivia lost the state of Acre, important because this region was known for its production of rubber, after the Acre War.

1903: Bolivia lost Acre territory to Brazil

In 1903, Bolivia lost the Acre territory to Brazil after the Acre War, a region known for its rubber production. Bolivia was then forced to sign the Treaty of Petrópolis, ceding this territory to Brazil.

October 1904: Treaty of Peace and Friendship Signed

In October 1904, Bolivia and Chile signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, with Chile agreeing to build a railway between Arica and La Paz to improve access of Bolivian products to ports.

1909: Loss of territory to Peru

In 1909, Bolivia lost the basin of the Madre de Dios River and the territory of the Purus in the Amazon, yielding 250,000 km to Peru.

1932: Start of the Chaco War

In 1932, the Chaco War began, marking a turning point where Bolivia lost a great part of the Gran Chaco region in dispute to Paraguay.

1935: End of the Chaco War

In 1935, Bolivia's defeat by Paraguay in the Chaco War marked a turning-point.

1939: Temperature Increase in Andes

From 1939 to 1998, temperatures in the Andes increased by 0.1 °C per decade.

April 1943: Bolivia entered World War II

In April 1943, Bolivia entered World War II, joining the Allies, leading President Enrique Peñaranda to declare war on the Axis powers: Germany, Italy and Japan.

1945: Bolivia became a founding member of the UN

In 1945, Bolivia became a founding member of the United Nations.

1945: TAM becomes part of FAB

In 1945, TAM – Transporte Aéreo Militar (the Bolivian Military Airline), also known as TAM Group 71, became a part of the Fuerza Aérea Boliviana (the Bolivian Air Force).

1950: Start of the Inter-Census Period

Beginning in 1950, the Bolivian population has tripled in the last fifty years.

1951: Denied MNR victory

In 1951, the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNR) was denied its victory in the presidential elections.

1952: Bolivian National Revolution

In 1952, the Bolivian National Revolution established universal suffrage, nationalized tin mining, and initiated limited land reform.

1952: MNR-led revolution

In 1952, the MNR led a successful revolution, introducing universal suffrage, land reform, and nationalizing tin mines under President Víctor Paz Estenssoro.

1956: Hernán Siles Zuazo First Term

In 1956, Hernán Siles Zuazo started his first term as president of Bolivia

1960: Hernán Siles Zuazo First Term Ends

In 1960, Hernán Siles Zuazo ended his first term as president of Bolivia

1964: Military junta overthrew President Paz Estenssoro

In 1964, a military junta overthrew President Paz Estenssoro at the outset of his third term, dividing the MNR.

1964: Bolivian Free Port in Rosario, Argentina

Since 1964, Bolivia has had its own port facilities in the Bolivian Free Port in Rosario, Argentina, located on the Paraná River connected to the Atlantic Ocean.

1966: René Barrientos elected president

In 1966, René Barrientos, a former member of the junta, was elected president.

October 1967: Che Guevara killed in Bolivia

In October 1967, Che Guevara was killed in Bolivia by a team of CIA officers and members of the Bolivian Army.

1969: Death of President René Barrientos

In 1969, the death of President René Barrientos led to a succession of weak governments.

1971: Hugo Banzer Dictatorship

From 1971 to 1978, Hugo Banzer was a dictator in Bolivia.

1971: Hugo Banzer became president

In 1971, Hugo Banzer was installed as president by the military, the MNR, and others.

1976: Inter-Census Period

Between 1950 and 1976, the growth of the bolivian population was approximately 2.05%.

1976: Assassination of Juan José Torres

In 1976, Juan José Torres, who had fled Bolivia, was kidnapped and assassinated as part of Operation Condor.

1977: Creation of TAB

In 1977, TAB – Transportes Aéreos Bolivianos, a civil transport airline, was created as a subsidiary company of the FAB.

1978: Hugo Banzer Dictatorship

From 1971 to 1978, Hugo Banzer was a dictator in Bolivia.

1978: Elections marked by fraud

In 1978, elections in Bolivia were marked by fraud.

1979: Inconclusive elections

In 1979, elections in Bolivia were inconclusive.

1979: OAS Resolution 426

In 1979, the Organization of American States (OAS) passed the 426 Resolution, declaring that the Bolivian problem regarding access to the sea is a hemispheric problem.

1980: Accelerated Temperature Increase

From 1980 to 2005, the rate of temperature increase in the Andes tripled to 0.33 °C per decade.

1980: Luis García Meza coup d'état

In 1980, General Luis García Meza carried out a coup d'état in Bolivia, leading to violent repression and numerous deaths.

1980: Founding of Universidad Evangélica Boliviana

In 1980, Universidad Evangélica Boliviana UEB – Santa Cruz de la Sierra, was founded.

1981: Military rebellion forces out García Meza

In 1981, a military rebellion forced out García Meza, and three other military governments struggled with Bolivia's economic problems.

October 1982: Hernán Siles Zuazo becomes president again

In October 1982, Hernán Siles Zuazo became president again, twenty-two years after the end of his first term of office.

1982: End of military rule

In 1982, the last non-elected military ruler left office in Bolivia, marking a transition towards civilian governance.

1982: Return to Democratic Government

Since 1982, Bolivia has been governed by democratically elected governments.

1985: Presidents Ceding Power Peacefully

From 1985 to 1989, Presidents Víctor Paz Estenssoro began a tradition of ceding power peacefully.

1985: Predominance of Political Parties

From 1985 to 2005, the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement, Nationalist Democratic Action, and the Revolutionary Left Movement predominated.

1989: Presidents Ceding Power Peacefully

From 1985 to 1989, Presidents Víctor Paz Estenssoro began a tradition of ceding power peacefully.

1990: Forest Cover in 1990

In 1990, forest cover in Bolivia was 57,804,720 ha.

1990: Improvements in Water and Sanitation

Since 1990, Bolivia's drinking water and sanitation coverage has improved due to increased investment, though coverage levels remain the continent's lowest.

1992: Inter-Census Period

Between 1976 and 1992, the growth of the bolivian population was approximately 2.05%.

1992: Establishment of Special Economical Zone for Bolivia in Ilo (ZEEBI)

In 1992, the Special Economical Zone for Bolivia in Ilo (ZEEBI) was established, granting Bolivia a special economic area of maritime coast near Ilo, Peru, for 99 years.

1993: Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada elected president

In 1993, Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada was elected president and pursued privatization of public enterprises under the capitalization program and introduces the Plan de Todos.

1994: Recovery and Performance of Native Baroque Religious Music

An important body of Native Baroque religious music of the colonial period was recovered and has been performed internationally to wide acclaim since 1994.

1994: Frequent protests in La Paz and Chapare

From 1994 through 1996, certain segments of Bolivian society strongly opposed reforms and economic restructuring, leading to frequent and sometimes violent protests, particularly in La Paz and the Chapare coca-growing region.

1994: Constitutional Revisions and Judicial Reform

In 1994, Bolivia initiated potentially far-reaching reforms in the judicial system and increased decentralization of powers to departments, municipalities, and indigenous territories through revisions to the constitution and subsequent laws.

1995: Defeated teachers' strike

In 1995, a teachers' strike was defeated because the Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) could not marshal the support of many of its members.

1996: Frequent protests in La Paz and Chapare

1996: Satellite imaging maps of Tiwanaku

In 1996, satellite imaging was used to map the extent of preserved suka kollus across the three primary valleys of Tiwanaku, with the results suggesting a population-carrying capacity of anywhere between 285,000 and 1,482,000 people.

1997: Hugo Banzer returns to the presidency

In 1997, Hugo Banzer returned to the presidency.

1997: Law Establishes Gender Quotas

In 1997, a law was established in Bolivia mandating that candidates for public office fielded by political parties must be at least 30% women.

1997: Hugo Banzer won elections

In the 1997 elections, General Hugo Banzer won 22% of the vote and launched a policy of eradicating illegal coca. The Banzer government continued the free-market and privatization-policies of its predecessor.

1998: Temperature Increase in Andes

From 1939 to 1998, temperatures in the Andes increased by 0.1 °C per decade.

January 1999: Protests against water privatization in Cochabamba

In January 1999, large-scale protests erupted in Cochabamba in response to the privatization of water resources by foreign companies.

April 2000: Water price increases cause protests

In April 2000, large-scale protests erupted in Cochabamba in response to a subsequent doubling of water prices due to the privatization of water resources.

2000: End of Cochabamba concession

In 2000, a concession to a foreign private company in Cochabamba was prematurely ended.

May 2001: UNESCO Proclamation of Carnaval de Oruro

In May 2001, the "Carnaval de Oruro" was proclaimed by UNESCO as one of the first 19 "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity".

August 2001: Banzer resigned from office

On 6 August 2001, Banzer resigned from office after being diagnosed with cancer and Vice President Jorge Fernando Quiroga Ramírez completed the final year of his term.

2001: Religious Demographics

According to the 2001 census, 78% of the Bolivian population is Roman Catholic, followed by 19% that are Protestant, as well as a small number of Bolivians that are Orthodox, and 3% non-religious.

2001: Spanish Language Usage

According to the 2001 census, Spanish is the most spoken official language in the country, spoken by two-thirds of the population.

2001: Population Census

According to the census, in 2001 the bolivian population was of 8,274,325 (from which 4,123,850 were men and 4,150,475 were women).

2001: End of Inter-Census Period

Between 1992 and 2001, the growth of the bolivian population reached 2.74% annually.

2001: Hugo Banzer leaves the presidency

Hugo Banzer leaves the presidency in 2001.

June 2002: National elections

In June 2002, Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada placed first in the national elections with 22.5% of the vote, followed by Evo Morales with 20.9%.

October 2003: Bolivian Gas Conflict

In October 2003, the Bolivian gas conflict intensified, leading to the government imposing martial law in El Alto on October 12th after 16 people were shot and dozens wounded in clashes. President Sánchez de Lozada resigned and left for the United States, with Carlos Mesa becoming the new president.

2003: Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada Steps Down

In 2003, President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada stepped down in the face of extraordinary circumstances.

January 2005: Carlos Mesa Attempts to Resign

In January 2005, amid a resurgence of gas protests, President Carlos Mesa attempted to resign, but his offer was refused by Congress.

March 2005: Mesa Resigns Amid Protests

On March 22, 2005, Carlos Mesa again offered his resignation to Congress after weeks of street protests accusing him of bowing to U.S. corporate interests. Congress accepted his resignation on June 10.

2005: Accelerated Temperature Increase

From 1980 to 2005, the rate of temperature increase in the Andes tripled to 0.33 °C per decade.

2005: Predominance of Political Parties

From 1985 to 2005, the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement, Nationalist Democratic Action, and the Revolutionary Left Movement predominated.

2005: Increased GDP Savings

In 2005, Bolivia's savings totaled one fifth of GDP, compared to 2014 when it was two-thirds of GDP.

2005: Evo Morales Wins Presidential Election

In 2005, Evo Morales won the presidential election with 53.7% of the vote.

2005: Carlos Mesa Steps Down

In 2005, President Carlos Mesa stepped down in the face of extraordinary circumstances.

2005: Hydrocarbon Law Referendum

In 2005, the government held a binding referendum on the Hydrocarbon Law, requiring companies to sell their production to the state hydrocarbons company YPFB and increasing state royalties from natural gas.

May 2006: Morales Announces Re-nationalization

On May 1, 2006, President Morales announced his intent to re-nationalize Bolivian hydrocarbon assets following protests.

August 2006: Bolivian Constituent Assembly Opens

On August 6, 2006, President Morales opened the Bolivian Constituent Assembly to begin writing a new constitution aimed at empowering the indigenous majority.

2006: Drafting of the new constitution

Between 2006 and 2007, a new constitution was drafted. It was later approved in 2009, establishing balanced powers across the executive, legislative, judicial, and electoral branches, along with multiple levels of autonomy.

2006: Start of Economic Growth

Between 2006 and 2009, the Morales administration spurred growth higher than at any point in the preceding 30 years.

2006: Economic Growth Begins

Between 2006 and 2019, the Bolivian economic system saw significant growth and stability, including GDP increasing from $9 billion to over $40 billion.

2006: Under-Five and Infant Mortality Rates

In 2006, Bolivia's under-five mortality rate was 52.7 per 1000, and the infant mortality rate was 40.7 per 1000.

2006: Start of Evo Morales' Presidency

In 2006, Evo Morales began his presidency which lasted until 2019. During this period, Bolivia experienced significant economic growth and political stability but also faced accusations of democratic backsliding.

2006: White Bolivian Population

In 2006, White Bolivians comprised about 14% of the population and are usually concentrated in the largest cities: La Paz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Cochabamba, but as well as in some minor cities like Tarija and Sucre.

2006: End of La Paz/El Alto concession

In 2006, a concession to a foreign private company in La Paz/El Alto was prematurely ended.

2006: Ministry of Environment and Water Created

In 2006, after the election of Evo Morales, a Ministry of Environment and Water was created, reversing the privatization of the water distribution sector from the 1990s.

2006: Soy Producers Origin

In 2006, almost 50% of soy producers in Bolivia were people from Brazil, or descendants of Brazilians.

2006: Poverty Levels

In 2006, extreme poverty in Bolivia was at 38.2%.

2007: Government Take on Gas

From 2007 to 2017, the government take on gas totaled approximately $22 billion.

2007: Creation of "Bank for Productive Development"

In 2007, the government created a "Bank for Productive Development" through which small workers and agricultural producers can borrow easily.

2008: Bolivia declared free of illiteracy

In 2008, Bolivia was declared free of illiteracy, making it the fourth country in South America to attain this status, following UNESCO standards.

2008: Bolivian Naval Force Strength

In 2008, the Bolivian Naval Force had a strength of about 5,000 personnel.

2009: Racial Classification Estimate

A 2009 estimate of racial classification in Bolivia put mestizo (mixed White and Amerindian) at 68%, indigenous at 20%, white at 5%, cholo at 2%, black at 1%, other at 4%, while 2% were unspecified.

2009: Continued Economic Growth

Between 2006 and 2009, the Morales administration spurred growth higher than at any point in the preceding 30 years.

2009: New Constitution Created

In 2009, Bolivia created a new constitution and renamed the country to the Plurinational State of Bolivia, also triggering a new general election where Evo Morales was re-elected.

2009: New constitution and official name change

In 2009, a new constitution changed the country's official name to "Plurinational State of Bolivia" to reflect the multi-ethnic nature of the country and the strengthened rights of Bolivia's indigenous peoples under the new constitution.

2009: Approval of the new constitution

In 2009, a new constitution, drafted between 2006 and 2007, was approved, establishing balanced powers across the executive, legislative, judicial, and electoral branches, along with multiple levels of autonomy.

2009: Government gives in to the agribusiness sector

In 2009, the government gave in to the agribusiness sector, which in return committed to end the pressure it was exerting and jeopardizing until the new constitution was in place.

2009: Access to Water a Fundamental Right

In 2009, the new Constitution approved by referendum made access to water a fundamental right.

2009: Constitution assigns national capital to Sucre

In 2009, the new Constitution assigned the role of national capital to Sucre, while La Paz continues to be the seat of government.

July 2010: UN Resolution on Water Rights

In July 2010, at the initiative of Bolivia, the United Nations passed a resolution recognizing the right to safe and clean drinking water as "fundamental".

2010: Prison Population in Bolivia

As of 2010, there were approximately 8,700 people incarcerated in the 54 prisons across Bolivia.

2010: Religious Affiliations

In 2010, 92.5% of Bolivians identified as Christian, 3.1% identified with indigenous religion, 2.2% identified as Baháʼí, 1.9% identified as agnostic, and all other groups constituted 0.1% or less.

2010: Establishment of the Plurinational Electoral Organ

In 2010, the Plurinational Electoral Organ was established as an independent branch of government, replacing the National Electoral Court. It is regulated by the Electoral Regime Law (Law 026, passed 2010).

October 2011: First Judicial Elections

In October 2011, Bolivia held its first judicial elections to choose members of the national courts by popular vote, a reform brought about by Evo Morales.

October 2011: First Judicial Election by the Plurinational Electoral Organ

In October 2011, the Plurinational Electoral Organ conducted the country's first judicial election. This was among the first elections since the body's inception.

2011: Bolivian Population Demographics

According to the 2011 census, 59% of the Bolivian population is between 15 and 59 years old, and 39% is less than 15 years old.

November 2012: Cultural Self-Identification Omission

In November 2012 census, the government did not include the cultural self-identification "mestizo".

2012: Population Census

According to the census, in 2012 the bolivian population was of 10,059,856.

2012: GDP Totals

In 2012, Bolivia's gross domestic product (GDP) totaled $27.43 billion at the official exchange rate and $56.14 billion at purchasing power parity.

2013: Morales Attempts Third Term

By 2013, after being reelected under the new constitution, Evo Morales and his party attempted a third term as President of Bolivia, leading to a dispute over term limits.

2013: Comprehensive Law to Guarantee Women a Life Free from Violence

In 2013, the Comprehensive Law to Guarantee Women a Life Free from Violence was passed in Bolivia, codifying sixteen types of gender-based violence and implementing measures for prevention of violence, protection for victims, and the punishment of aggressors.

2013: Law of the Rights of Mother Earth Passed

In 2013, the Law of the Rights of Mother Earth was passed in Bolivia, according nature the same rights as humans and creating the Defensoría de la Madre Tierra.

2014: Reduced borrowing rates

Between 2014 and 2019 borrowing rates have been reduced by a factor of three between across all banking institutions for small and medium-sized agricultural producers.

2014: Highest Proportional Rate of Financial Reserves

In 2014, Bolivia boasted the highest proportional rate of financial reserves of any nation in the world, with a rainy day fund totaling approximately US$15 billion.

2014: Morales Re-elected for Third Term

In 2014, Evo Morales was re-elected for a third term as President of Bolivia with 64.22% of the vote.

2014: GDP Growth Rate

In 2014, only Panama and the Dominican Republic performed better in all of Latin America in terms of GDP growth.

2014: Underdeveloped road network

In 2014, researchers with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) noted that Bolivia's road network was still underdeveloped, with less than 2,000 kilometers of paved road in lowland areas.

2015: Public Ownership of Forest Area

For the year 2015, 100% of the forest area in Bolivia was reported to be under public ownership.

2015: First duplicated highway opens

In 2015, Bolivia opened its first duplicated highway, a 203 km stretch between La Paz and Oruro.

2015: Electrical Power Advancements

In 2015, it was announced that electrical power advancements include a planned $300 million nuclear reactor developed by the Russian nuclear company Rosatom.

2015: Gold production metrics

In 2015, the country's gold production reached 12 metric tons.

2016: Reduction in Poverty

Between 2006 and 2016, extreme poverty in Bolivia fell from 38.2% to 16.8%.

2016: Constitutional Referendum on Term Limits

In 2016, the Bolivian constitutional referendum asked voters to override the constitution and allow Evo Morales to run for an additional term in office, however Morales narrowly lost the referendum.

2017: Government Take on Gas

From 2007 to 2017, the government take on gas totaled approximately $22 billion.

2017: Petition to Override Constitution

In 2017, Evo Morales' party petitioned the Bolivian Constitutional Court to override the constitution, seeking to allow Morales to run for a fourth term based on the American Convention on Human Rights.

2018: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

In 2018, Bolivia had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 8.47/10, ranking it 21st globally out of 172 countries.

2018: Bolivia signs UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

In 2018, Bolivia signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

2018: Racquetball at the Odesur Games

In 2018, Racquetball became the second most popular sport in Bolivia as for the results in the Odesur Games held in Cochabamba.

2018: Fatality on Yungas Road

In 2018, an Israeli woman was killed by a falling rock while cycling on Bolivia's Yungas Road.

2018: Term Limits Not a Human Rights Violation

In 2018, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights determined that term limits are not a human rights violation.

2018: Maritime Dispute at the International Court of Justice

In 2018, the maritime dispute between Bolivia and Chile was taken to the International Court of Justice. The court ruled in support of the Chilean position, stating that Chile was not required to negotiate a Bolivian corridor to the sea.

2018: Single Health System Introduced

Since 2018, the Single Health System has offered all Bolivians free medical care.

September 2019: TAM suspends operations

In September 2019, TAM – Transporte Aéreo Militar (the Bolivian Military Airline) suspended its operations.

November 2019: Vacated Governmental Positions

On 11 November 2019, all senior governmental positions were vacated following the resignation of Evo Morales and his government. On 13 November 2019, Jeanine Áñez declared herself acting President of Bolivia.

2019: Economic Growth Concludes

Between 2006 and 2019, the Bolivian economic system saw significant growth and stability, including GDP increasing to over $40 billion.

2019: Decreased borrowing rates

Between 2014 and 2019 borrowing rates have been reduced by a factor of three between across all banking institutions for small and medium-sized agricultural producers.

2019: Interruption of Electoral Count

During the 2019 elections, the Transmisión de Resultados Electorales Preliminares (TREP) was interrupted. The official count showed Morales fractionally clearing the 10-point margin he needed to avoid a runoff election, resulting in protests and tension.

2019: Pan American Games

In 2019, Bolivia won a gold medal in the Men's Team racquetball event at the Pan American Games.

2019: Nominal GDP Increase

In 2019, Bolivia's nominal GDP increased to 41 billion, up from 11.5 billion in 2006.

2019: Evo Morales Steps Down

In 2019, President Evo Morales stepped down in the face of extraordinary circumstances.

2019: Morales Allowed to Run for Fourth Term

In 2019, the Bolivian Constitutional Court ruled that Evo Morales had permission to run for a fourth term in the upcoming elections, despite the previous referendum.

2019: Universal Healthcare System

In 2019, the Bolivian government created a universal healthcare system cited as a model by the World Health Organization.

2019: End of Evo Morales' Presidency

In 2019, the presidency of Evo Morales came to an end. His time as president, which began in 2006, saw Bolivia experience significant economic growth and political stability, but also faced accusations of democratic backsliding.

April 2020: Interim Government Takes Loan from IMF

In April 2020, the interim government took out a loan of more than $327 million from the International Monetary Fund to meet the country's needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was later returned by the Arce government.

April 2020: Loan from IMF Taken Out

In April 2020, the interim government took out a loan of more than $327 million from the International Monetary Fund to meet the country's needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 2020: New Elections Scheduled

New elections were initially scheduled for May 3, 2020, but were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

June 2020: Report on OAS Analysis Released

On June 7, 2020, The New York Times reported that the OAS analysis immediately after the 20 October election was flawed yet fuelled "a chain of events that changed the South American nation's history".

October 2020: Final Proposed Election Date

The final proposed date for the new elections was October 18, 2020. Observers reported that they found no fraudulent actions in the 2020 elections.

November 2020: Luis Arce Sworn in as President

On November 8, 2020, Luis Arce was sworn in as President of Bolivia, alongside his Vice President David Choquehuanca.

2020: New Snake Species Discovered

In 2020, a new species of snake, the mountain fer-de-lance viper, was discovered in Bolivia.

2020: Forest Cover Statistics

In 2020, forest cover in Bolivia was around 47% of the total land area, equivalent to 50,833,760 ha of forest.

2020: Luis Arce as President

Luis Arce was president from 2020 to 2025.

February 2021: Loan Returned to IMF

In February 2021, the Arce government returned an amount of around $351 million to the IMF, comprising a loan taken out by the interim government in April 2020 and interest.

2021: Coca cultivation and cocaine production

In 2021, Bolivia's estimated coca cultivation was reported to be 39,700 hectares, with a cocaine production of 317 metric tons.

2022: Parliamentary Seats Held by Women

As of 2022, 46% of parliamentary seats in Bolivia are held by women.

2023: Freedom House Classification

As of 2023, Freedom House classifies Bolivia as a partly-free democracy, with a score of 66/100.

2023: Tourism Numbers

In 2023, Bolivia received around two million tourists, approximately one million were foreign nationals, while the remaining were domestic ones.

2023: Mining Production Ranking

In 2023, Bolivia was a major producer of various minerals, including silver (7th largest), tin and antimony (5th largest), zinc (7th largest), lead (8th largest), boron (4th largest), and tungsten (6th largest).

2023: Pan American Games Golds

In 2023, Bolivia won a gold medal in the Men's Team event, and a Men's Singles Gold by world champion Conrrado Moscoso at the Pan American Games.

June 2024: Military Coup Attempt

On June 26, 2024, a military coup attempt led by Juan José Zúñiga ended after lasting only 5 hours. Zúñiga was arrested in the evening.

2024: Indigenous Languages of Bolivia

According to the 2024 census, the main indigenous languages of the population above 4 years old are: Quechua (13.1%), Aymara (7.3%), Guarani (0.4%) and others (0.4%) including the Moxos in the department of Beni.

2024: Household Statistics

According to the 2024 census, there are total of 4,125,627 households in Bolivia.

2024: Global Innovation Index Rank

In 2024, Bolivia was ranked 100th in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: Bolivia population census

In 2024, the latest census recorded Bolivia's population at 11.4 million, highlighting its multiethnic composition, including Amerindians, Mestizos, and descendants of Europeans and Africans.