Bolivia at its true size
Bolivia covers 1,098,581 km², number 27 of 194 countries by area. Home to 12,581,843 people (2025). Sitting near the equator, it is one of the few places Mercator gets almost right.
Equal-area projection · Natural Earth 50m
| Area | 1,098,581 km² Wikidata |
|---|---|
| Population | 12,581,843 World Bank, 2025 |
| Density | 11 per km² |
| Capital | La Paz |
| Local time in La Paz | |
| Time zone | UTC−4 IANA |
| Currency | Boliviano (BOB) Wikidata |
| Languages | Spanish, Quechua, Guarani, Aymara |
| Traffic | On the right |
| Region | South America, South America |
| Status | Independent state |
| Coast | Landlocked |
| Calling code | +591 |
| Codes | BO · BOL · 068 |
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Where Bolivia ranks
Among the independent states, in 43 rankings. Each links to its table.
People
- Population#79 of 19413 million people#8 of 12 in South America
- Population density#180 of 19411 people per km²#10 of 12 in South America
- Urban population#66 of 19272% urban#8 of 12 in South America
- Fertility rate#72 of 1922.52 births per woman#1 of 12 in South America
- Population growth#73 of 192+1.35% a year#1 of 12 in South America
- Birth rate#63 of 19221.0 births per 1,000 people#1 of 12 in South America
- Death rate#94 of 1927.2 deaths per 1,000 people#5 of 12 in South America
- Children under 15#72 of 19229.4% under 15#1 of 12 in South America
- People over 65#115 of 1925.7% aged 65 and over#12 of 12 in South America
- Net migration#89 of 192−0.3 per 1,000 people#5 of 12 in South America
- Refugees abroad#129 of 1900.06 refugees abroad per 1,000 people#8 of 12 in South America
Health & education
- Life expectancy#139 of 19268.7 years#12 of 12 in South America
- Infant mortality#88 of 19114.2 infant deaths per 1,000 live births#5 of 12 in South America
- Doctors#100 of 1781.28 doctors per 1,000 people#11 of 11 in South America
- Human Development Index#107 of 190an index of 0.733#10 of 12 in South America
Economy
- GNI per capita#119 of 185$4,420 a person#11 of 12 in South America
- Internet users#99 of 18480% online#9 of 12 in South America
- GDP per capita (PPP)#116 of 184$12,873 a person#11 of 11 in South America
- GDP growth#181 of 187−1.6% a year#12 of 12 in South America
- Inflation#12 of 176+19.5% a year#2 of 11 in South America
- Unemployment#138 of 1783.0% of the labour force#12 of 12 in South America
- Extreme poverty#73 of 1492.1% under $3.00 a day#6 of 10 in South America
- Income inequality (Gini)#32 of 149a Gini index of 40.9#7 of 10 in South America
- Jobs in agriculture#74 of 17824.7% of jobs#2 of 12 in South America
- Jobs in industry#82 of 17819.8% of jobs#7 of 12 in South America
- Jobs in services#97 of 17855.5% of jobs#11 of 12 in South America
- Foreign investment#137 of 1840.8% of GDP#10 of 12 in South America
- Exports#129 of 16821.4% of GDP#6 of 10 in South America
- Military spending#103 of 1551.2% of GDP#5 of 10 in South America
- Mobile subscriptions#131 of 19198 subscriptions per 100 people#11 of 12 in South America
Energy & environment
- CO₂ per person#98 of 1852.29 tonnes a person#9 of 12 in South America
- Forest area#49 of 19250% forest#7 of 12 in South America
- Renewable energy#127 of 19012.8% renewable#10 of 12 in South America
- Access to electricity#123 of 19296.6% with electricity#10 of 12 in South America
- Air pollution (PM2.5)#53 of 19128.1 µg/m³#2 of 12 in South America
- Protected land#30 of 19130.9% of the land protected#2 of 12 in South America
- Arable land#125 of 1905.6% of the land arable#5 of 12 in South America
- Water stress#172 of 1760.2% of its available fresh water#12 of 12 in South America
- Precipitation#81 of 1801,146 mm a year#10 of 12 in South America
Governance & safety
Countries of a similar size
Every country within 25% of Bolivia’s area, lit up on the map →
- Ethiopia0.99×Bolivia and Ethiopia are almost exactly the same size.
- Colombia0.96×Bolivia is 4% smaller than Colombia.
- Mauritania1.07×Bolivia is 7% larger than Mauritania.
- Egypt1.09×Bolivia is 9% larger than Egypt.
- South Africa0.9×Bolivia is 10% smaller than South Africa.
- Mali0.89×Bolivia is 11% smaller than Mali.
How many times does Bolivia fit into…
- Russia: about 16 times
- Canada: about 9.1 times
- United States: about 8.9 times
The land itself
Rivers, summits and lakes Bolivia shares with the rest of the world. Turn on “Rivers & lakes” and “Physical names” in the atlas to see them on the map.
Rivers
- Mamoré1,930 km
- Madeira1,450 km
- Guaporé1,210 km
- Madre de Dios1,060 km
Summits
- Nevado Sajama6,542 m
- Illimani6,438 m
- Serrania de Santiago1,555 m
- Cerro San Miguel839 m
Lakes
- Lago Titicaca8,372 km²
Rivers are listed by the published length of their whole course, not the part inside Bolivia. Figures from Wikidata, features from Natural Earth.
Neighbours
Questions about Bolivia
- How big is Bolivia?
- Bolivia covers 1,098,581 km², which makes it number 27 of 194 countries by area. About 12,581,843 people live there (2025), 11 per km².
- Is Bolivia bigger than Ethiopia?
- Bolivia and Ethiopia are almost exactly the same size. Bolivia: 1,098,581 km²; Ethiopia: 1,104,300 km².
- How much does the Mercator map distort Bolivia?
- Bolivia lies close to the equator, so Mercator draws it at nearly its true size. It is the countries far from the equator that Mercator inflates.
- Which countries border Bolivia?
- Bolivia shares a land border with Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Paraguay.