LatinNews Daily - 15 October 2025

*Bolivia’s national statistics institute (INE) has released its latest GDP figures, showing a year-on-year contraction of 2.79% in the second quarter of 2025. This was the fourth consecutive quarter of annual decline, following GDP contractions of 1.97% in Q1 2025, 3.36% in Q4 2024, and 1.45% in Q3 2024. The INE did not provide figures showing GDP change in quarterly terms. State news agency ABI cited the INE’s director, Humberto Arandia, as saying that the overall 2.40% contraction in the first half of 2025 was largely due to roadblocks which were established on key transit routes in March, May, and June by supporters of former president Evo Morales (2006-2019) in protest at his exclusion from the presidential election. These, Arandia said, “not only affected transport but also the whole productive chain in general”. The dire state of the Bolivian economy, which is hamstrung by fuel shortages and low international reserves that have raised questions over the country’s ability to meet its debt obligations, is the central challenge facing the winner of the second round of presidential elections on 19 October between right-wing former president Jorge Quiroga (2001-2002) and the centre-right Rodrigo Paz.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 197 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options

• Subscribe
• Sign up for a one-time, 14-day trial