Bolivia Military Power Ranking 2025

MPR Rank: 95th
MPR SCORE: 294
MPR Index: 0.0919 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.8606 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.411 (standard deviations above the mean)

Overview

Bolivia ranks 95th globally in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. Its military, the Bolivian Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Bolivia), is primarily focused on internal security, border control, and civil support. The country’s armed forces are constitutionally mandated to play a role in national development, disaster relief, and political stability, especially during moments of internal unrest.

As a landlocked nation, Bolivia lacks a conventional navy and instead operates a riverine force and lake patrol units. Though constrained by economic limitations and geographic challenges, Bolivia maintains a capable ground force and modest air mobility primarily oriented toward counter-narcotics, anti-smuggling, and border surveillance operations. While not designed for external conflict or force projection, Bolivia’s military remains an essential institution for sovereignty enforcement and public order.

Strengths

1. Terrain-Adapted Ground Forces

Bolivia’s army is trained for operations in mountainous, jungle, and high-altitude environments, especially the Andean plateau. This gives its infantry a strong home-field advantage in any defensive scenario and enhances border patrol efficiency.

2. Civil Support and Internal Security Role

The military plays an active role in domestic stabilization, regularly supporting police operations, electoral security, and disaster response. The armed forces are often called upon to protect key infrastructure and maintain government continuity.

3. Counter-Narcotics and Border Surveillance

Bolivia’s military has worked closely with civil agencies and international partners to combat drug trafficking, particularly in the Chapare region. Air surveillance, light helicopters, and patrol units are deployed for interdiction operations along borders with Brazil, Peru, and Paraguay.

Why Bolivia Is Still Ranked 95th

1. No Naval Projection Capability

As a landlocked country, Bolivia lacks a blue-water navy, operating only riverine boats and lake patrol craft for inland waterways. This severely limits its participation in maritime security or international maritime exercises.

2. Aging Equipment and Budget Constraints

Bolivia’s military relies heavily on older Russian, Chinese, and Western equipment, much of which is logistically difficult to maintain. Budget limitations have restricted modernization, training cycles, and system upgrades, especially for the air force.

3. Minimal Strategic Mobility

Bolivia lacks long-range airlift, heavy armor, or advanced missile systems, making it difficult to respond to multi-theater threats or engage in regional coalitions beyond low-intensity operations.

Conclusion

Bolivia’s armed forces are a domestically focused institution, built for territorial defense, public order, and internal security. Despite limited resources and a lack of strategic reach, the military maintains regional relevance through terrain adaptation, counter-narcotics expertise, and national civil roles. Its low ranking reflects its limited modernization, geographic restrictions, and non-expeditionary doctrine, but it continues to serve as a reliable pillar of internal stability and border integrity.

Military Strength and Force Projection

• Active Military Personnel: 42,000 (IISS 2023)

• Reserve Personnel: 15,000 (CIA World Factbook)

• Paramilitary Forces: 20,000 (National Police, Civil Defense)

• Army Personnel: 30,000

• Navy Personnel: 4,000

• Air Force Personnel: 8,000

Ground Forces

• Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 30+ (Light tanks, older T-55 models)

• Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 200+

• Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): 100+

Air Force

• Combat Aircraft: 15+ (SIPRI 2023)

• Helicopters: 20+

• Transport Aircraft: 10+

Aircraft Breakdown:

• K-8 Karakorum Jets: 6 (combat aircraft)

• Mi-17 Helicopters: 10 (transport and utility helicopters)

Naval Forces

As a landlocked nation, Bolivia's naval forces are small and focused on patrolling Lake Titicaca and riverine areas.

• Patrol Vessels: 10+ (for lake and river patrol)

Missile Capabilities

Bolivia does not possess strategic missile systems or ballistic missile capabilities. Its military is geared towards conventional defense and counter-narcotics operations, with no advanced missile infrastructure.

Strategic Partnerships

Bolivia maintains military partnerships with Russia and Venezuela, from whom it has received military equipment and training. The country is also a participant in regional security efforts, including defense cooperation agreements with its neighbors in South America.

Military History & Combat Experience

Bolivia’s military history is marked by territorial loss, internal unrest, and a tradition of military involvement in governance. Though not engaged in recent conventional warfare, Bolivia’s forces have deep experience in internal conflict, anti-insurgency, and national sovereignty crises.

• War of the Pacific (1879–1884):
  Bolivia allied with Peru against Chile in a conflict over coastal territory and mineral wealth. Bolivia lost access to the Pacific Ocean, a strategic defeat that continues to shape its military doctrine and national psyche. The war revealed deficiencies in logistics, coordination, and military preparedness that echo today.

• Chaco War (1932–1935):
  A bloody and resource-intensive war against Paraguay over the Gran Chaco region. Despite initial confidence, Bolivia’s army was overwhelmed by better-organized Paraguayan forces. The war exposed flaws in command structure, intelligence, and supply lines, prompting a long-term focus on territorial defense.

• 1960s–1990s Guerrilla Insurgencies:
  Bolivia faced several leftist insurgencies, including the Ñancahuazú Guerrilla, famously led by Che Guevara. The Bolivian military, with assistance from CIA advisors, successfully neutralized guerrilla operations, building its expertise in jungle warfare and counterinsurgency.

• Military Coups and Political Role (1952–1982):
  Bolivia experienced numerous military coups, with the armed forces frequently intervening in civilian politics. Though now under constitutional civilian control, the military retains significant political leverage and a role in regime stability, especially during protests or transitions.

• Anti-Narcotics Operations (1980s–present):
  Bolivia has deployed military forces in support of anti-drug missions, particularly in coordination with U.S. programs like Plan Dignidad (now largely phased out). The focus is on eradication, surveillance, and border zone control to limit trafficking from coca-producing areas.

Bolivia’s military history reflects a force shaped by geographic isolation, territorial insecurity, and domestic political volatility. Though no longer engaged in state-to-state warfare, the armed forces remain deeply entrenched in internal security, anti-narcotics enforcement, and regime protection, forming a core component of Bolivia’s national identity and political system.

General Information

Demographics and Geography

• Population: ~12.1 million (2024 est.)

• Population Available for Military Service: ~4.2 million

• Geographic Area: 1,098,581 km²

• Land Boundaries: 7,252 km

• Bordering Countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru

• Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

• Climate: Varies by altitude; humid and tropical in the east, cold in the highlands

• Terrain: High plateau (Altiplano), Andes mountains, lowland plains in east

• Natural Resources: Natural gas, tin, silver, lithium, iron, petroleum

• Proven Oil Reserves: ~250 million barrels

• Proven Natural Gas Reserves: ~10.7 trillion cubic feet

Economic Indicators

• Defense Budget (2025): ~$1.1 billion USD

• Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~2.0%

• GDP (PPP): ~$115 billion USD

• GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$9,300

• External Debt: ~$15 billion USD

• Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Stable with emphasis on internal and border defense

Military Infrastructure and Readiness

• Military Service Obligation: Mandatory for men (12 months)

• Primary Defense Focus: Internal security, counter-narcotics, border control

• Military Industry Base: Moderate; small arms, munitions, aircraft maintenance

• Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Basic

• Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)

• Major Military Districts / Commands: Divided into Army, Air Force, and Navy under Joint Command

• Missile Inventory Highlights: Short-range artillery, MANPADS, air-to-ground munitions

• Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Moderate readiness; mobilization within 30–60 days

• Reservist Force Size: ~50,000

Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure

• Space or Satellite Programs: Operates Túpac Katari 1 (communications satellite)

• Military Satellite Inventory: None

• Intelligence Infrastructure: Directorate of Military Intelligence, Ministry of Government

• Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: Regional (UNASUR), China, Russia

• Airports (Total): ~1,100

• Major Military Airports: La Paz (El Alto), Cochabamba, Santa Cruz

Naval Power and Maritime Logistics

• Merchant Marine Fleet: ~10 vessels

• Major Ports: Inland river ports; Puerto Busch, Puerto Quijarro

• Naval Infrastructure: Lake and riverine forces; symbolic naval academy

• Naval Replenishment Capability: Minimal; river patrol capability only

Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure

• Railway Network: ~3,700 km

• Roadways: ~90,000 km

Energy and Fuel Logistics

• Oil Production: ~60,000 barrels/day

• Energy Imports: Some refined petroleum imports

• Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Managed by YPFB; modest capacity

Defense Production and Strategic Forces

• Domestic Defense Production: Small arms, munitions, basic aircraft support

• Military Installations (Domestic): La Paz, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Trinidad

• Military Installations (Overseas): None

• Foreign Military Personnel Presence: None

• Defense Alliances: ALBA, regional cooperation with Venezuela, Russia

• Strategic Airlift Capability: C-130, MA60, small cargo aircraft

• Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Moderate

Research and Industry Support

• Defense R&D Investment: Modest; focus on communications and sustainment

• Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: YPFB (hydrocarbons), railways, logistics corps

Political and Administrative Structure

• Capital: Sucre (constitutional), La Paz (administrative)

• Founding Date: August 6, 1825 (independence from Spain)

• System of Government: Unitary presidential republic