Country explorer: Bolivia
EXPERIMENTAL
2024
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Overview
Bolivia is a landlocked, lower-middle-income country in South America with a medium-sized population. Its economy has grown stably in recent decades, and is based on natural resources, agriculture and tourism.
Bolivia is undergoing a political and economic transformation
Economy
Bolivia has experienced steady economic growth with controlled inflation, a significant reduction in poverty across various thresholds, and consistently low unemployment rates, distinguishing it as an example of stable economic management among lower-middle-income countries.
Demographics
Bolivia has experienced notable demographic changes, including a steady population growth, a consistent decline in both net migration and fertility rate, along with a significant improvement in life expectancy, showcasing trends similar to its lower-middle-income peers but with distinctively higher fertility and lower life expectancy rates indicating ongoing transitions in health and social structures.
Basic needs
Bolivia has made significant progress in improving access to basic needs such as clean cooking fuels and electricity, showcasing a notable societal transformation towards enhancing the quality of life, which reflects a common trend seen in several lower-middle-income countries.
Human development
Bolivia has made significant strides in human development, with marked improvements in the Human Development Index, reduction in child mortality rates, and increases in literacy rates, demonstrating progress akin to its regional peers despite starting from a lower baseline.
Environment & energy
Bolivia has experienced a significant decline in per capita CO₂ emissions including those from land-use change, a steady transition towards diverse renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, a decline in renewable freshwater resources per capita, and a gradual decrease in forest area, reflecting a broader environmental shift alongside efforts to embrace renewable energy, common trends among lower-middle-income countries but notable for its early investments in renewable energy diversity.
Technology & innovation
Bolivia has demonstrated a significant leap in digital inclusion with a notable increase in internet usage and mobile subscriptions per capita, highlighting a growing accessibility to technology that parallels trends seen in other lower-middle-income countries, albeit still facing challenges in elevating its research and development spending and scientific output to match global averages.
Culture & society
Bolivia has experienced significant societal transformations, evident in its gradually improving gender equality, stable though slightly increased self-reported life satisfaction, and a consistently high age dependency ratio that suggests persistent demographic pressures, setting it apart as a nation with ongoing social progress amidst challenges common to lower-middle-income countries.
Governance
Bolivia has experienced fluctuating governance indicators, indicating challenges in rule of law, corruption perception, political civil liberties, and press freedom, aligning it with the broader governance trends observed in lower-middle-income countries.