Poverty and living standards in Cochabamba, Bolivia: official figures
INE's unmet basic needs index (NBI) classed 17.0% of the population of Cochabamba municipality as poor in 2024 (109,624 of 645,638 people), 3rd highest of 10 Bolivian cities on this site for poverty on this measure; the national figure was 29.8%.
Has poverty fallen in Cochabamba?
The share of people in Cochabamba municipality with unmet basic needs was 28.5% at the 2012 census and 17.0% in 2024, a change of -11.6 percentage points; Bolivia moved from 44.9% to 29.8%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow many people in Cochabamba have their basic needs met?
In 2024, 45.8% of people in Cochabamba municipality had all basic needs met and 37.2% were at the threshold; 16.0% were in moderate poverty, 1.0% in indigence and 0.0% in marginality.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow many people in Cochabamba live in poor housing?
Housing material was inadequate for 4.2% of people in Cochabamba municipality in 2024 and living space insufficient for 58.5%; the national shares were 21.2% and 64.2%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow many people in Cochabamba lack water and sanitation?
Water and sanitation were inadequate for 24.5% of people in Cochabamba municipality in 2024, against 32.6% in 2012 and 28.8% nationally; energy supplies were inadequate for 1.7% (Bolivia 17.9%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow many people in Cochabamba lack education or health care?
In 2024, 19.4% of people in Cochabamba municipality fell short on the education component of the NBI index (it was 27.8% in 2012) and 15.1% on health care, against 31.0% and 16.1% for Bolivia.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow Cochabamba compares with other cities in Bolivia
Population with unmet basic needs (NBI), 2024 (2024)
Cochabamba ranks 3 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | City | Population with unmet basic needs (NBI), 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yacuiba | 21.5% |
| 2 | Sacaba | 20.3% |
| 3 | Cochabamba | 17.0% |
| 4 | El Alto | 16.9% |
| 5 | Potosí | 16.8% |
| 6 | Sucre | 16.2% |
| 7 | Tarija | 13.3% |
Change in the NBI poverty share, 2012 to 2024 (percentage points) (2012-2024)
Cochabamba ranks 6 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in the NBI poverty share, 2012 to 2024 (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Tarija | -9.4 pts |
| 4 | Santa Cruz | -10.7 pts |
| 5 | Sucre | -10.8 pts |
| 6 | Cochabamba | -11.6 pts |
| 7 | Oruro | -12.6 pts |
| 8 | Yacuiba | -12.9 pts |
| 9 | Sacaba | -15.9 pts |
Population with all basic needs met, 2024 (2024)
Cochabamba ranks 5 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | City | Population with all basic needs met, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Oruro | 46.8% |
| 3 | Sucre | 46.0% |
| 4 | Santa Cruz | 45.9% |
| 5 | Cochabamba | 45.8% |
| 6 | Potosí | 43.3% |
| 7 | Tarija | 42.8% |
| 8 | Sacaba | 36.4% |
Population with inadequate water and sanitation (NBI component), 2024 (2024)
Cochabamba ranks 1 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | City | Population with inadequate water and sanitation (NBI component), 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cochabamba | 24.5% |
| 2 | Sacaba | 23.0% |
| 3 | Potosí | 14.0% |
| 4 | Oruro | 14.0% |
| 5 | Sucre | 13.9% |
| 6 | Tarija | 13.7% |
| 7 | Yacuiba | 13.1% |
More on Cochabamba: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · all cities in Bolivia
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE): Censo 2024, tabulados por municipio: Necesidades básicas insatisfechas, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 01b9098442d8…)
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