Bolivia’s Census Shows Population Growth Slower Than Expected, Similar to Regional Trends

Bolivia’s 2024 census has revealed a slower population growth than initially projected, mirroring trends observed in neighboring countries. The Vice Minister of Autonomies, Alvaro Ruiz, attributed this to factors like declining fertility rates and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ruiz pointed to similar discrepancies in census data from Brazil, Paraguay, and Ecuador, highlighting a regional trend of slower population growth. He emphasized that Bolivia’s actual population of 11.312.620 is slightly lower than the 2022 projections, while Santa Cruz remains the most populous department with 3.115.386 residents. Despite the lower than projected figures, some political groups have expressed concerns, deeming the census results imprecise. The Minister of Planning and Development, Sergio Cusicanqui, clarified that census projections are subject to change due to various factors, urging the public to consider the data in its context. The National Institute of Statistics (INE) remains open to address any technical queries regarding the census data.