Updated
Overview
Chile has about 60% more people than Bolivia: 19.86 million against 12.58 million (2025).
Chile's economy is 5.5 times the size of Bolivia's, at $357.37B versus $64.77B.
Per person, Chile is the wealthier of the two: $17,995 against $5,148 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Chile | Bolivia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $357.37B | $64.77B | 2025 | $330.27B / $49.67B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $17,995 | $5,148 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.5% | -1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 4.2% | 19.5% | 2025 | 4.3% / 5.1% |
| Unemployment | 9.0% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 48 | 40 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $1,024 | $462 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $530 | $362 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.41 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 19.86 million | 12.58 million | 2025 | 19.09 million / 12.44 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 36.9 yrs | 25.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.13 | 2.50 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 81.4 yrs | 68.7 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 89% | 72% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 96% | 80% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 756,102 km² | 1,098,581 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 26.3/km² | 11.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 79 Mt | Lower: 29 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 4.0 t | Lower: 2.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.11B | $655.13M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.6% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 114,000 | 71,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Chile grew while the other economy contracted: 2.5% against -1.6%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Bolivia at 19.5%, while the other economy sits at 4.2%.
Average monthly earnings favour Chile: $1,024 against $462 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Bolivia is the far younger society: median age 25.2 versus 36.9 years.
Life expectancy is 12.6 years longer in Chile (81.4 vs 68.7).
Chile is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 72%.
Internet adoption is higher in Chile (96% vs 80% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Chile is 31% smaller than Bolivia: 756,102 km² versus 1,098,581 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Chile is far more densely settled: 26 people per km² against 11.
Military
Chile spends 7.8 times as much on defence as Bolivia: $5.11B versus $655.13M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Chile fields the larger armed forces: 114,000 personnel against 71,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Chile bigger than Bolivia?
- Bolivia is larger by land area. Chile covers 756,102 km² while Bolivia covers 1,098,581 km², so Bolivia is 45% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Chile or Bolivia?
- Chile has the larger population: 19.86 million versus 12.58 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Chile richer than Bolivia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Chile is richer: $17,995 against $5,148. Total GDP tells the same story: $357.37B for Chile versus $64.77B for Bolivia.
- Who spends more on their military, Chile or Bolivia?
- Chile spends more: $5.11B versus $655.13M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).