Bolivia, Plurinational State of External Debt
Total external debt stocks DT.DOD.DECT.CD
Bolivia, Plurinational State of's external debt was $16.1B in 2025, ranked 51st globally. This represents a 2.7% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Bolivia, Plurinational State of's external debt stood at $16.1B in 2025, a rise of +$427.5M from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $16.1B by 2025. Bolivia, Plurinational State of ranked 51st globally.
Bolivia’s external debt has risen sharply over the 56‑year series, expanding from a low of 693,954,454.30 in 1971 to a peak of 16,311,190,351.20 in 2023, before slipping slightly to 16,145,118,809.66 in 2025, ranking 51st globally. The early 1970s trough coincided with a period of limited external borrowing, while the dramatic escalation since the early 2000s reflects increased financing for infrastructure, social programs and commodity‑price volatility. By 2025 Bolivia’s debt level is comparable to that of Nicaragua (16,080,327,937.77) and only marginally below Lao PDR (16,951,331,461.01), indicating that the country now occupies a middle‑of‑the‑pack position among emerging economies. The modest post‑peak decline suggests that fiscal consolidation and tighter debt‑service management are beginning to temper the upward trend, but future external borrowing will depend on commodity markets, fiscal reforms and the ability to attract diversified financing sources.
Data & projection
| Year | External Debt | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | $16.3B | - | - |
| 2026* trend | $16.2B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $16.1B | - | - |
| 2025 | $16.1B | +$427.5M | #51 |
| 2024 | $15.7B | −$593.6M | #67 |
| 2023 | $16.3B | +$380.9M | #70 |
| 2022 | $15.9B | −$95.3M | #68 |
| 2021 | $16.0B | +$605.5M | #69 |
| 2020 | $15.4B | +$1.1B | #69 |
| 2019 | $14.3B | +$1.1B | #69 |
| 2018 | $13.2B | +$258.3M | #69 |
| 2017 | $13.0B | +$2.0B | #69 |
| 2016 | $11.0B | +$1.1B | #67 |
| 2015 | $9.9B | +$1.0B | #64 |
| 2014 | $8.9B | +$742.2M | #64 |
| 2013 | $8.1B | +$1.5B | #61 |
| 2012 | $6.6B | +$435.1M | #59 |
| 2011 | $6.2B | +$405.5M | #61 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Bolivia, Plurinational State of matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw external debt improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Bolivia, Plurinational State of's external debt was $16.1B in 2025. Ranked 51st globally. This represents a 2.7% increase from the previous year.
Bolivia, Plurinational State of's external debt peaked at $16.3B in 2023.
The lowest external debt in Bolivia, Plurinational State of was $694.0M in 1971.
Bolivia, Plurinational State of ranks 51st globally in external debt as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is DT.DOD.DECT.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
Bolivia, Plurinational State of's external debt is projected to reach $16.1B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
Bolivia, Plurinational State of's external debt was approximately 16.15 billion ($16.1B) in 2025.
The external debt of Bolivia, Plurinational State of in 2025 was $16.1B. This ranks 51st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_bolivia-plurinational-state-of_external-debt,
title = {Bolivia, Plurinational State of External Debt},
url = {https://historysaid.com/bolivia-plurinational-state-of/external-debt/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}