Poverty and living standards in La Paz, Bolivia: official figures
INE's unmet basic needs index (NBI) classed 7.2% of the population of La Paz municipality as poor in 2024 (52,359 of 723,535 people), the lowest of 10 Bolivian cities on this site for poverty on this measure; the national figure was 29.8%.
Has poverty fallen in La Paz?
The share of people in La Paz municipality with unmet basic needs was 14.3% at the 2012 census and 7.2% in 2024, a change of -7.1 percentage points; Bolivia moved from 44.9% to 29.8%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow many people in La Paz have their basic needs met?
In 2024, 60.7% of people in La Paz municipality had all basic needs met and 32.0% were at the threshold; 6.9% were in moderate poverty, 0.3% in indigence and 0.0% in marginality.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow many people in La Paz live in poor housing?
Housing material was inadequate for 3.4% of people in La Paz municipality in 2024 and living space insufficient for 44.7%; the national shares were 21.2% and 64.2%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow many people in La Paz lack water and sanitation?
Water and sanitation were inadequate for 4.8% of people in La Paz municipality in 2024, against 8.1% in 2012 and 28.8% nationally; energy supplies were inadequate for 1.0% (Bolivia 17.9%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow many people in La Paz lack education or health care?
In 2024, 10.6% of people in La Paz municipality fell short on the education component of the NBI index (it was 18.1% in 2012) and 13.6% on health care, against 31.0% and 16.1% for Bolivia.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow La Paz compares with other cities in Bolivia
Population with unmet basic needs (NBI), 2024 (2024)
La Paz ranks 10 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | City | Population with unmet basic needs (NBI), 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | El Alto | 16.9% |
| 5 | Potosí | 16.8% |
| 6 | Sucre | 16.2% |
| 7 | Tarija | 13.3% |
| 8 | Oruro | 12.3% |
| 9 | Santa Cruz | 10.4% |
| 10 | La Paz | 7.2% |
Change in the NBI poverty share, 2012 to 2024 (percentage points) (2012-2024)
La Paz ranks 1 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in the NBI poverty share, 2012 to 2024 (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Paz | -7.1 pts |
| 2 | Potosí | -8.5 pts |
| 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 |
Population with all basic needs met, 2024 (2024)
La Paz ranks 1 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | City | Population with all basic needs met, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Paz | 60.7% |
| 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% |
Population with inadequate water and sanitation (NBI component), 2024 (2024)
La Paz ranks 10 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | City | Population with inadequate water and sanitation (NBI component), 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Oruro | 14.0% |
| 5 | Sucre | 13.9% |
| 6 | Tarija | 13.7% |
| 7 | Yacuiba | 13.1% |
| 8 | Santa Cruz | 8.2% |
| 9 | El Alto | 7.9% |
| 10 | La Paz | 4.8% |
More on La Paz: 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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