Bolivia
- Capital:
- Sucre
- Continent:
- South America
- Region(s):
- South America, Latin America
- Largest Cities:
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra, El Alto, La Paz
- Abbreviation:
- BOL
12,749,291
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
12,749,291
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
Bolivia's population is projected to be 17,819,658 by 2097.
Historical
Switch the toggle to see projected data.
| Year ↓ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12,749,291 | 1.32% | 79 |
| 2025 | 12,581,843 | 1.26% | 79 |
| 2020 | 11,816,299 | 1.24% | 80 |
| 2019 | 11,671,386 | 1.42% | 80 |
| 2018 | 11,508,368 | 1.44% | 80 |
| 2017 | 11,344,587 | 1.47% | 81 |
| 2015 | 11,014,705 | 1.58% | 83 |
| 2010 | 10,182,345 | 1.7% | 83 |
| 2005 | 9,360,754 | 1.7% | 83 |
| 2000 | 8,606,326 | 1.79% | 83 |
| Year ↑ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12,749,291 | 1.32% | 79 |
| 2032 | 13,723,362 | 1.22% | 80 |
| 2037 | 14,478,103 | 1.08% | 80 |
| 2042 | 15,165,743 | 0.93% | 80 |
| 2047 | 15,778,746 | 0.8% | 81 |
| 2052 | 16,315,135 | 0.67% | 80 |
| 2057 | 16,771,479 | 0.55% | 81 |
| 2062 | 17,148,875 | 0.45% | 82 |
| 2067 | 17,449,196 | 0.35% | 82 |
| 2072 | 17,669,104 | 0.25% | 82 |
172K
250K
500K
750K
1M
Santa Cruz de la Sierra has a metropolitan area population of 1,647,330, comprising 12.92%% of Bolivia's total population.
| Rank | City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | % of National Pop. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz de la Sierra | 1,647,330 | 12.92% |
| 2 | El Alto | 894,833 | 7.02% |
| 3 | La Paz | 757,431 | 5.94% |
| 4 | Cochabamba | 674,128 | 5.29% |
| 5 | Oruro | 305,724 | 2.4% |
| 6 | Sucre | 305,012 | 2.39% |
| 7 | Tarija | 246,361 | 1.93% |
| 8 | Sacaba | 228,931 | 1.8% |
| 9 | Potosi | 224,592 | 1.76% |
| 10 | Quillacollo | 172,934 | 1.36% |
As of 2026, Bolivia has a total population of 12,749,291, ranking as the 79th most populous nation in the world.
Bolivia has a net population change of approximately 456 people per day, driven by 716 births, 251 deaths, and net emigration of 9 people.
Bolivia represents 0.16% of the total global population and 2.89% of South America's population.
Bolivia has a population density of 11.8 people per km² (approximately 30.5 per mi²), making it the 212th most densely populated country in the world.
Currently, 91.23% of the population resides in urban areas.
*Rates last updated: June 16, 2026
As of 2026, the largest ethnicity in Bolivia is Mestizo (68%) , followed by Indigenous (20%) .
As of 2026, Roman Catholic is the largest religion in Bolivia, comprising 70% of the population.