Photo: Martin St-Amant ( S23678 ); derivative work (noise reduction to sky) by Julia W · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Bolivia: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Bolivia is placed joint 29th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 76.29 (2025); Labour Income Share 55.38 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
joint29th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Bolivia on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
76.29
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Bolivia: 76.29. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in South America
- 76.29 Bolivia
- Land neighbours
- Argentina 57.49 · Brazil 59.37 · Chile 56.71 · Peru 69.13 · Paraguay 66.87
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
2.967
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Bolivia: 2.967. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in South America
- 2.967 Bolivia
- Land neighbours
- Argentina 7.145 · Brazil 5.97 · Chile 8.974 · Peru 5.117 · Paraguay 4.803
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
62.69
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Bolivia: 62.69. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in South America
- 18.38 Suriname
- Land neighbours
- Argentina 22.27 · Brazil 26.08 · Chile 20.93 · Peru 47.51 · Paraguay 36.09
02Over time
Which way Bolivia is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
BoliviaWorld median
Bolivia rose from 68.44 in 2000 to 76.29 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Bolivia World median 2025 76.29 57.720 2024 75.77 57.694 2023 76.01 58.158 2022 75.49 57.688 2021 73.83 56.066 2020 66.55 55.691 2019 71.43 57.871 2018 69.27 56.911 2017 66.13 56.738 2016 65.00 56.845 2015 65.44 56.788 2014 66.35 56.774 2013 66.24 56.229 2012 66.66 56.289 2011 66.71 56.297 2010 66.64 56.212 2009 66.56 56.255 2008 66.98 57.308 2007 67.15 56.933 2006 67.34 56.685 2005 67.49 56.129 2004 67.65 55.465 2003 67.79 55.630 2002 67.99 55.843 2001 68.15 56.018 2000 68.44 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
BoliviaWorld median
Bolivia fell from 58.85 in 2004 to 55.38 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Bolivia World median 2025 55.38 46.230 2024 55.19 46.060 2023 54.03 45.900 2022 54.65 45.615 2021 54.99 45.433 2020 56.13 47.267 2019 54.98 46.277 2018 54.73 46.187 2017 54.44 46.467 2016 54.30 46.798 2015 52.80 46.876 2014 50.10 47.281 2013 44.77 46.887 2012 43.37 46.231 2011 44.95 45.679 2010 45.12 46.024 2009 46.87 47.071 2008 44.36 45.312 2007 47.56 45.246 2006 49.80 45.670 2005 56.79 46.265 2004 58.85 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
BoliviaWorld median
Bolivia rose from 2.439 in 2000 to 2.967 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Bolivia World median 2025 2.967 5.08 2024 3.274 5.15 2023 3.024 5.21 2022 3.552 5.34 2021 5.089 6.04 2020 7.903 6.38 2019 3.682 5.36 2018 3.519 5.35 2017 3.655 5.59 2016 3.498 5.90 2015 3.111 6.41 2014 2.021 6.58 2013 2.437 6.71 2012 2.066 6.79 2011 2.255 6.90 2010 2.609 7.04 2009 2.973 6.67 2008 2.603 5.79 2007 2.614 6.00 2006 2.575 6.50 2005 2.598 7.09 2004 2.615 6.80 2003 2.654 6.95 2002 2.603 6.91 2001 2.623 6.96 2000 2.439 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
BoliviaWorld median
Bolivia fell from 71.91 in 2000 to 62.69 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Bolivia World median 2025 62.69 28.67 2024 62.93 29.04 2023 63.06 29.33 2022 64.37 29.67 2021 66.09 30.01 2020 66.60 30.54 2019 64.18 29.98 2018 65.74 30.15 2017 65.67 29.93 2016 67.13 29.91 2015 67.36 30.26 2014 65.44 30.47 2013 65.37 31.14 2012 63.11 31.00 2011 65.38 31.41 2010 64.60 32.37 2009 63.81 32.59 2008 65.41 31.76 2007 65.42 33.47 2006 69.09 34.27 2005 68.13 34.66 2004 68.40 35.51 2003 68.68 35.90 2002 71.34 35.96 2001 71.72 35.27 2000 71.91 35.67
03In context
Bolivia beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Bolivia and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolivia | =29th | 76.29 | 55.38 | 2.967 | 62.69 |
 Brazil | =56th | 59.37 | 59.5 | 5.97 | 26.08 |
 Paraguay | =64th | 66.87 | 45.24 | 4.803 | 36.09 |
 Peru | 87th | 69.13 | 43.62 | 5.117 | 47.51 |
 Argentina | =92nd | 57.49 | 50.19 | 7.145 | 22.27 |
 Chile | 94th | 56.71 | 51.83 | 8.974 | 20.93 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across South America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Bolivia in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Bolivia is ahead of the world, and behind
30 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median9
Statistics on which Bolivia does better than the middle country measured.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3672.8753.36▲ Improved since 2015
Bolivia: 72.87 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 11th of 182 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6678.6361.66▲ Improved since 2015
Bolivia: 78.63 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 11th of 182 · derived.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1631.119.16No earlier reading
Bolivia: 31.1 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 23rd of 179 · derived.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.835.01312.83▲ Improved since 2015
Bolivia: 5.013 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 157th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Youth Not in Education, Employment or TrainingILO · 2024 · world median 14.318.02114.31▲ Improved since 2014
Bolivia: 8.021 · world median 14.31 · Youth not in education, employment or training (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.975 to 65.73; lower is better.
Position 83rd of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0740.6532.07No earlier reading
Bolivia: 40.65 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Gini Index of Monthly EarningsILO · 2024 · world median 0.3370.3160.337▲ Improved since 2014
Bolivia: 0.316 · world median 0.337 · Gini index of employees’ monthly earnings (0 = all paid the same, 1 = maximum inequality). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.182 to 0.643; lower is better.
Position 49th of 75 · derived, 1st = worst.
Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4)ILO · 2024 · world median 12.5610.9512.56▼ Worsened since 2014
Bolivia: 10.95 · world median 12.56 · Composite rate of labour underutilisation, LU4 (% of the extended labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.495 to 49.82; lower is better.
Position 46th of 76 · derived, 1st = worst.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8852.7524.885No real change since 2015
Bolivia: 2.752 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Behind the world median11
Statistics on which Bolivia does worse than the middle country measured.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23023,40225,230No real change since 2010
Bolivia: 23,402 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 78th of 151 · derived.
Low Pay RateILO · 2024 · world median 17.8919.117.89▲ Improved since 2021
Bolivia: 19.1 · world median 17.89 · Employees paid less than two-thirds of the median hourly earnings (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.395 to 41.69; lower is better.
Position 33rd of 71 · derived, 1st = worst.
Average Monthly Earnings of EmployeesILO · 2024 · world median 1,6361,3921,636▲ Improved since 2014
Bolivia: 1,392 · world median 1,636 · Average monthly earnings of employees (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 193.28 to 9,307; higher is better.
Position 44th of 75 · derived.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.6812.0416.68No earlier reading
Bolivia: 12.04 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 90th of 139 · derived.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989098▼ Worsened since 2015
Bolivia: 90 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.613.31.61▼ Worsened since 2015
Bolivia: 3.3 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38420,43547,384▼ Worsened since 2015
Bolivia: 20,435 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 124th of 168 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.169.1522.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Bolivia: 9.15 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 135th of 182 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.913.945.9No earlier reading
Bolivia: 13.9 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Female Share of Senior and Middle ManagementILO · 2024 · world median 35.8622.2735.86▼ Worsened since 2014
Bolivia: 22.27 · world median 35.86 · Women in senior and middle management (% of managers). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.226 to 56.69; higher is better.
Position 79th of 86 · derived.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8175.3141.81No earlier reading
Bolivia: 75.31 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 8th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 333▼ Worsened since 2015
Bolivia: 3 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Bolivia: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end8
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Share of Temporary EmployeesILO · 2024 · world median 13.4563.5413.45Moved since 2014
Bolivia: 63.54 · world median 13.45 · Employees on temporary contracts (% of employees). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.337 to 72.78.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8466.2731.84No real change since 2015
Bolivia: 66.27 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 38th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.951,078657.95Moved since 2014
Bolivia: 1,078 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3824.7114.38No real change since 2015
Bolivia: 24.71 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 72nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8819.7918.88Moved since 2015
Bolivia: 19.79 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 81st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5155.4959.51Moved since 2015
Bolivia: 55.49 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 103rd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8937.8938.89Moved since 2015
Bolivia: 37.89 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 106th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.018.8815.01No earlier reading
Bolivia: 8.88 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 90th of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Bolivia
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2024), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Informal Employment Rate and Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Bolivia’s 16 topics
Work & Labour is Bolivia’s best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labourjoint 29th of 1824/4 keys
- Gender & Equality33rd of 1834/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability64th of 1864/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge82nd of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience92nd of 1934/4 keys
- Energyjoint 85th of 1653/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties107th of 1984/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality92nd of 1593/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing124th of 2004/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation113th of 1764/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital127th of 1963/3 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 117th of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technology140th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions143rd of 1944/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture148th of 1843/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade164th of 1772/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Bolivia can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
United States14th4/4 keysHighest in South America
Bolivia=29th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Bolivia and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Bolivia on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Bolivia rank on work & labour?
Bolivia is placed joint 29th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Bolivia?
76.29 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Bolivia?
55.38 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Bolivia compare with Brazil on work & labour?
Brazil is placed joint 56th of 182, and Bolivia joint 29th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Brazil 59.37, Bolivia 76.29; Labour Income Share: Brazil 59.5, Bolivia 55.38; Unemployment Rate: Brazil 5.97, Bolivia 2.967; Vulnerable Employment: Brazil 26.08, Bolivia 62.69.
How have Bolivia’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 68.44 in 2000 to 76.29 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 58.85 in 2004 to 55.38 in 2025; Unemployment Rate rose from 2.439 in 2000 to 2.967 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 71.91 in 2000 to 62.69 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Bolivia?
No current reading is published for Bolivia on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Informal Employment Rate and Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 30 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Bolivia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Bolivia (banner) — Martin St-Amant ( S23678 ); derivative work (noise reduction to sky) by Julia W, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Bolivia: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/bolivia/work