Over the past 12 months, from June 2025 to May 2026, Bolivia's electricity consumption showed a clear dominance of fossil fuels, with gas contributing to more than two-thirds of the country's electricity supply. On the cleaner side of the energy spectrum, low-carbon sources provided almost a third of Bolivia's electricity. Hydropower remained the largest contributor within this category, representing about a quarter of the total electricity supply. Solar energy accounted for a modest but growing share at about 3%, while wind energy contributed just over 2%. Biofuels made up approximately 1% of electricity consumption. This mix highlights Bolivia's reliance on fossil energy but also presents an opportunity to enhance low-carbon electricity generation.

Is Electricity Growing in Bolivia?

In terms of electricity consumption, Bolivia has seen a decline. The latest available data shows that people in Bolivia used a total of 953 kWh of electricity per person in 2026, a drop from the 998 kWh/person recorded in 2024, indicating a decrease of 46 kWh/person. Low-carbon electricity generation, in particular, decreased significantly by 70 kWh/person, down from 379 kWh/person in 2024 to 309 kWh/person in 2026. This decrease is a setback for Bolivia's ambitions to expand its clean electricity footprint, and it underscores the urgent need for Bolivia to boost its electricity output, particularly from low-carbon sources, to meet growing demands and combat the negative impacts of fossil fuels like climate change and air pollution.

Suggestions

Bolivia can learn from other successful regions to enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, particularly by expanding its solar and potentially introducing nuclear energy. Countries and states like California and Lebanon have demonstrated the potential of solar power, with solar comprising more than 30% of their electricity. This indicates a viable path forward for Bolivia, given its abundant sunlight. Furthermore, looking at countries like France, Slovakia, and Finland, which generate a significant portion of their electricity from nuclear power, Bolivia could consider including nuclear as a stable and sustainable clean energy source. These examples illustrate that with the right investment and policy support, Bolivia can transform its electricity landscape to be more reliant on sustainable, low-carbon sources.

History

Looking back at the history of low-carbon electricity in Bolivia, hydroelectric power has seen a series of fluctuations in its contribution over the decades. From the early 1980s into the 2020s, there have been several instances of both increases and declines in hydroelectric generation. Noteworthy is the growth in the late 2010s, particularly between 2017 and 2019, suggesting a period of significant development in hydropower capacity. However, recent years have seen a decrease, with a significant decline in 2026. On the other hand, emerging contributions from wind and biofuels, especially in the 2020s, point towards a diversifying energy mix. Despite these developments, the recent decline in hydro generation highlights the pressing need for an accelerated transition to more reliable and sustainable energy sources, like solar and nuclear, to sustain and grow Bolivia's low-carbon electricity output.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jun 2025 – May 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.