Bolivia Population by Department

Bolivia has a total population of 11,365,333 people, with a nearly equal gender distribution: 5,682,498 men and 5,682,835 women. This balance reflects a stable demographic structure at the national level.

Population Count by Department (Bolivia)

DepartmentTotal PopulationMenWomen
Total (Bolivia)11,365,3335,682,4985,682,835
Chuquisaca606,027299,161306,866
La Paz3,030,9171,504,4801,526,437
Cochabamba2,016,357993,2861,023,071
Oruro571,471282,808288,663
Potosí861,292433,507427,785
Tarija534,210264,496269,714
Santa Cruz (Holy Cross)3,122,6051,582,3261,540,279
Beni (Me)488,260251,595236,665
Pando134,19470,83963,355

Notes

  • “Holy Cross” is the English translation of Santa Cruz
  • “Me” corresponds to the Beni department
  • Women slightly outnumber men at the national level
  • Santa Cruz and La Paz are the most populous departments

Population of Bolivia by Department

Most Populated Departments

  • Santa Cruz is the most populous department with 3.12 million people, driven by economic growth, migration, and urban expansion.
  • La Paz follows closely with 3.03 million inhabitants, remaining a major political, cultural, and administrative center.
  • Cochabamba, with 2.02 million residents, serves as a central hub for agriculture and internal trade.

Together, these three departments account for over 70% of Bolivia’s population, highlighting a strong concentration in key urban and economic regions.

Mid-Sized Population Centers

  • Potosí (861,292) and Chuquisaca (606,027) have moderate populations, shaped by historical mining activity and administrative importance.
  • Oruro (571,471) and Tarija (534,210) show balanced gender ratios and steady demographic patterns.

Least Populated Departments

  • Beni (488,260) and Pando (134,194) are the least populated, largely due to their geographic isolation, extensive forested areas, and lower population density.

Gender Distribution

  • Women slightly outnumber men nationally and in most departments.
  • Departments like Santa Cruz and Beni show a slightly higher male population, reflecting labor migration patterns.
Bolivia Population by Department

Bolivia’s population distribution reveals a contrast between densely populated highland and eastern economic centers and sparsely populated Amazonian regions. Urbanization, economic opportunity, and geography continue to shape internal migration and demographic trends across the country.

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