Bolivia has experienced steady population growth over the past several decades. In 1950, the country’s population was around 3.1 million, but by 2023 it had risen to approximately 12 million, according to United Nations estimates. This growth has been driven by a combination of high birth rates and gradually declining mortality rates, although the pace of growth has slowed somewhat in recent years as fertility rates decrease. Urbanization has also played a significant role, with more Bolivians moving to cities such as La Paz, Santa Cruz, and Cochabamba in search of better economic opportunities. Despite this growth, Bolivia remains one of the less densely populated countries in South America, with large areas of sparsely inhabited highlands and lowlands.
| Year | Population | Population Density Per Square KM |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,766,028 | 2.6 |
| 1955 | 3,074,311 | 2.8 |
| 1960 | 3,434,073 | 3.2 |
| 1965 | 3,853,315 | 3.6 |
| 1970 | 4,346,218 | 4 |
| 1975 | 4,914,316 | 4.5 |
| 1980 | 5,441,298 | 5 |
| 1985 | 5,934,935 | 5.5 |
| 1990 | 6,573,900 | 6.1 |
| 1995 | 7,361,889 | 6.8 |
| 2000 | 8,176,787 | 7.5 |
| 2005 | 9,080,521 | 8.4 |
| 2010 | 10,024,103 | 9.3 |
| 2015 | 10,942,240 | 10.1 |
| 2020 | 11,775,350 | 10.9 |
| 2022 | 12,054,379 | 11.1 |
| 2023 | 12,186,079 | 11.2 |
| 2024 | 12,311,974 | 11.4 |
| 2025 | 12,436,103 | 11.5 |
| 2030 | 13,011,110 | 12 |
| 2035 | 13,504,069 | 12.5 |
| 2040 | 13,940,338 | 12.9 |
| 2045 | 14,312,197 | 13.2 |
| 2050 | 14,596,934 | 13.5 |
| 2055 | 14,780,562 | 13.6 |
| 2060 | 14,863,568 | 13.7 |
| 2065 | 14,853,909 | 13.7 |
| 2070 | 14,760,406 | 13.6 |
| 2075 | 14,584,677 | 13.5 |
| 2080 | 14,326,512 | 13.2 |
| 2085 | 13,988,285 | 12.9 |
| 2090 | 13,577,635 | 12.5 |
| 2095 | 13,106,235 | 12.1 |
| 2100 | 12,588,967 | 11.6 |
Data from US Census International Database