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Bolivia vs Paraguay
Side-by-side comparison of Bolivia and Paraguay from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Bolivia
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 201 years
Paraguay
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 215 years
In short
Bolivia scores 40.0 in the NationsTree Index (129th in the world) and Paraguay scores 39.1 (132nd), a gap of 0.8 points. Their trees are 7.2 m and 6.7 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Bolivia has 79% more people than Paraguay. Bolivia is 2.7 times larger than Paraguay by land area. The economy of Bolivia is 14% larger than that of Paraguay (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Bolivia 12.6 million and Paraguay 7.0 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $20,181 in Paraguay and $12,873 in Bolivia (2025, international dollars). People in Paraguay live on average 5.2 years longer (74.0 vs 68.7 years).
Of 36 indicators reported by both countries, Bolivia ranks higher in the world on 10 and Paraguay on 26. Bolivia is clearly stronger in natural resources and tourism. Paraguay is clearly stronger in economy, environment & energy and institutions & safety.
As a nation, Paraguay is the older of the two (statehood since 1811, 215 years), compared with Bolivia (since 1825). Over the last five years Bolivia improved faster (direction score 51 vs 12 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Bolivia and Paraguay.
Bolivia
-1.6%
202nd of 210
Paraguaybetter
6.6%
24th of 210
Government budget balanceEconomy
Bolivia
-11.4%
183rd of 192
Paraguaybetter
-1.7%
68th of 192
Social protection coverage (incl. pensions)Society & health
Boliviabetter
96.9%
1st of 55
Paraguay
54.4%
27th of 55
Regulatory qualityInstitutions & safety
Bolivia
34.5
184th of 205
Paraguaybetter
55.0
96th of 205
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Bolivia
12.8%
128th of 212
Paraguaybetter
58.8%
38th of 212
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Bolivia overtook Paraguay in the NationsTree Index in 2025, the latest year with data.
Bolivia overtook Paraguay in GDP (PPP) in 2000 and has stayed ahead since.
Paraguay has been ahead of Bolivia in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Bolivia has been ahead of Paraguay in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
BoliviaParaguay All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Bolivia | Paraguay |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,098,58027th/216 · 2024 | 406,75261st/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,087,95927th/216 · 2024 | 396,01260th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 12.6 m78th/217 · 2025 | 7.0 m107th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.35%76th/217 · 2025 | 1.20%88th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 11.4201st/216 · 2024 | 17.5193rd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 71.6%83rd/217 · 2025 | 70.4%89th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 29.4%74th/217 · 2025 | 28.4%79th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 5.7%139th/217 · 2025 | 6.7%129th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $64.77 bn88th/210 · 2025 | $49.28 bn98th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $161.97 bn89th/199 · 2025 | $141.53 bn92nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $138.41 bn89th/199 · 2025 | $120.95 bn92nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $5,148137th/210 · 2025 | $7,027121st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $12,873129th/199 · 2025 | $20,181105th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $4,420134th/201 · 2025 | $6,750113th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | -1.6%202nd/210 · 2025 | 6.6%24th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 19.5%169th/180 · 2025 | 4.0%125th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.0%38th/187 · 2025 | 4.8%82nd/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 68.3%2001 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 83.3%149th/189 · 2025 | 38.2%55th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -11.4%183rd/192 · 2025 | -1.7%68th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 8.8%77th/197 · 2024 | 11.6%64th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 31.3%49th/200 · 2024 | 32.3%45th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 13.1%65th/192 · 2024 | 19.4%22nd/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 53.4%129th/200 · 2024 | 48.1%155th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $11.76 bn105th/182 · 2024 | $18.32 bn92nd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $14.02 bn109th/182 · 2024 | $19.37 bn94th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 21.4%141st/183 · 2024 | 37.2%89th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 25.5%150th/183 · 2024 | 39.3%105th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 47.0%148th/183 · 2024 | 76.5%104th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 11.7%44th/170 · 2025 | 11.0%46th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 8.3%137th/171 · 2025 | 16.3%115th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 20.5%73rd/171 · 2025 | 69.1%15th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 46.6%8th/171 · 2025 | 1.7%113th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 8.8%74th/168 · 2024 | 10.5%61st/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -1.9%99th/191 · 2025 | -2.5%106th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.8%151st/196 · 2025 | 2.4%89th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 9.5%48th/209 · 2021 | 1.3%109th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 1.26%43rd/197 · 2021 | 0.07%80th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 1.85%24th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 5.91%19th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.44%73rd/209 · 2021 | 1.27%45th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 5.6%131st/206 · 2024 | 11.5%90th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 25,13026th/183 · 2022 | 17,30735th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 323,300141st/194 · 2020 | 1.1 m94th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $243.0 m114th/175 · 2020 | $104.0 m141st/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 3.3%102nd/168 · 2020 | 0.8%155th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 432,00080th/107 · 2020 | 214,00092nd/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 68.7163rd/217 · 2024 | 74.0115th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 15.7102nd/196 · 2024 | 16.3106th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.2899th/174 · 2021 | 3.8933rd/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.5101st/145 · 2023 | 1.0115th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 59%186th/193 · 2024 | 80%145th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 65.6%90th/153 · 2024 | 57.2%103rd/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 90.5%101st/173 · 2024 | 79.1%131st/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 96.9%1st/55 · 2021 | 54.4%27th/55 · 2022 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 8.9%139th/217 · 2025 | 10.4%128th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 6.9%86th/193 · 2023 | 8.4%55th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 96.7%28th/98 · 2024 | 94.9%38th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | — | 37.6%2010 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.733108th/193 · 2023 | 0.75699th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 40.990th/108 · 2024 | 44.298th/108 · 2024 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 2.1%59th/108 · 2024 | 2.1%59th/108 · 2024 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 96.6%146th/215 · 2024 | 99.8%126th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 64.4%98th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 58.5%75th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 79.7%103rd/186 · 2024 | 81.6%98th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 98142nd/210 · 2024 | 12767th/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 12.1110th/208 · 2024 | 12.9108th/208 · 2023 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 | 2.5085th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | — | 4412000 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 5.6 m57th/161 · 2023 | 407,865118th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.2994th/203 · 2024 | 1.1668th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 12.8%128th/212 · 2021 | 58.8%38th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 28.1147th/200 · 2023 | 15.386th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 50.2%58th/214 · 2024 | 36.5%91st/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 833102nd/149 · 2024 | 1,05688th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 39.7154th/205 · 2025 | 47.7126th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 24.1179th/207 · 2025 | 27.7170th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 36.4187th/207 · 2025 | 48.2141st/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 62.7127th/207 · 2025 | 68.0104th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 34.5184th/205 · 2025 | 55.096th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 54.5114th/205 · 2025 | 55.2109th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 4.494th/145 · 2023 | 6.8108th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $688.3 m90th/156 · 2025 | $421.1 m109th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.2%104th/156 · 2025 | 0.9%125th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 3.2%125th/154 · 2025 | 4.3%99th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 71,00059th/170 · 2020 | 29,00088th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.21%54th/168 · 2020 | 0.88%77th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 0158th/163 · 2024 | 24.0 m85th/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.06%104th/110 · 2021 | 0.14%93rd/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 10104th/137 · 2022 | 1593rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 197129th/197 · 2023 | 253120th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Bolivia or Paraguay?
Bolivia has the larger population: 12.6 m (2025) compared with 7.0 m for Paraguay (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Bolivia or Paraguay?
Bolivia is larger: 1,098,580 km² (2024) compared with 406,752 km² for Paraguay (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Bolivia or Paraguay?
Bolivia has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $161.97 bn intl. (2025) compared with $141.53 bn intl. for Paraguay (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Bolivia or Paraguay?
Paraguay has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $20,181 intl. (2025) compared with $12,873 intl. for Bolivia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Bolivia or Paraguay?
Paraguay has the higher life expectancy at birth: 74.0 years (2024) compared with 68.7 years for Bolivia (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Bolivia or Paraguay?
Bolivia spends more on the military: $688.3 m (2025) compared with $421.1 m for Paraguay (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Bolivia or Paraguay?
Bolivia: 40.0 points (129th in the world); Paraguay: 39.1 points (132nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Costa Rica
Panama
Puerto Rico (US)
UruguaySources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Bolivia vs Paraguay — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/bolivia-vs-paraguay. Data as of 26 October 2026.