Over the past 12 months, stretching from August 2024 to July 2025, Bolivia has seen a considerable portion of its electricity generated from fossil sources, specifically natural gas, contributing to about two-thirds of the total. Low-carbon sources accounted for slightly more than one-third of the electricity consumed in the country. Among these clean energy sources, hydropower made up the majority, contributing to just over a quarter of the total electricity, while solar and wind energy both added small but noteworthy portions at around 3% each. Despite the substantial share of fossil-based electricity, Bolivia’s commitment to low-carbon energy is evident through these contributions from hydropower, solar, and wind.
Is Electricity Growing in Bolivia?
When examining whether electricity consumption is growing in Bolivia, the data from 2025 indicates a decline. The total electricity consumption per person has seen a decrease from its previous record of 998 kWh in 2024 to 938 kWh in 2025, representing a decline of 61 kWh per person. Similarly, low-carbon electricity consumption per person has also decreased—from 379 kWh per person in 2024 to 320 kWh in 2025, a drop of 59 kWh per person. These reductions suggest that while Bolivia is making strides in promoting clean energy, there is overall stagnation or decline in electricity consumption, marking a concerning trend given the ever-increasing need for sustainable, low-carbon electricity solutions.
Suggestions
To enhance low-carbon electricity generation in Bolivia, lessons can be drawn from regions successfully harnessing solar and nuclear energy. For instance, Lebanon and Nevada have both made significant strides in solar power, achieving 31% and 29%, respectively. Similarly, regions like France and Slovakia have demonstrated the potential of nuclear energy, where it accounts for around two-thirds of their electricity consumption. Bolivia could benefit from focusing on expanding solar power given its geographical location and abundant sunshine, and should consider nuclear power to ensure reliable and continuous electricity generation. These strategies could significantly boost Bolivia's clean energy profile and provide a sustainable pathway to meet future electricity demands.
History
In terms of historical changes in Bolivia's low-carbon electricity generation, hydropower has been an intermittent but dominant force. While there were both small gains and losses over the decades, notable increases occurred in 2017, 2018, and 2019, with 0.5, 0.4, and 0.6 TWh added, respectively. However, there were setbacks as well, such as the 0.8 TWh drop in 2016. In recent years, the addition of wind energy in 2022 marked a new direction with an increase of 0.3 TWh. Nevertheless, 2025 saw a dip again, with a decrease in both biofuels and hydropower contributions. The fluctuating nature of hydropower highlights the need for a diverse energy mix, emphasizing nuclear and solar as critical to complementing existing hydropower and expanding Bolivia's low-carbon energy footprint.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.