Definition of Youth
Bolivia’s Youth Bill of Rights defines youth as between 18-30 years of age.
Marriageable Age
- Opposite Sex
- Same Sex
- Without parental consent
- with parental consent
- Male
- 16
- 16
- --
Candidacy Age
- Lower House
- 25 Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
- Upper House
- 35
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
Criminal Responsibility
(2014)
Majority Age
Situation of Young People
Literacy Rates
- 99.18% Male (15-24) %
- 98.89% Female (15-24) %
- Year: 2015
- Source: UNESCO
Net Enrolment Rate
Secondary School- 67.69%Male %
- 69.00% Female %
- Year: 2011
- Source: UNESCO
Situation of Young People
Tobacco Use
Consumed any smokeless or smoking tobacco product at least once 30 days prior to the survey.- 24.70% Male (13-15) %
- 16.60% Female (13-15) %
- Year: 2010
- Source: WHO
Policy & Legislation
The national youth plan (2008-2012) explores the rights of young people, current situation and presents five strategic areas: education, health, decent work, citizenship & participation and strengthening institutions for better strategies and programmes for youth. However, this has since expired and it is unclear if it will be renewed, or if a new policy will take its place. The youth rights bill was established in 2012 detailing the rights and responsibilities of youth Bolivians.
Public Institutions
(ministry, department or office) that is primarily responsible for youth?
Youth and Representation
...seek to establish a National Youth Parliament, start a training programme for young political leaders, and initiate activities aimed at improving the political participation of women.
Budget & Spending
- % of GDP
- % of gov. expenditure
Source: World Bank
Additional Background
Bolivia approved a national youth policy in October 1998, and its president issued a decree on youth in February 1999. The health sector is taking the lead in implementing the policy, but tight budgets and changes in leadership have limited the government’s ability to mount a nationwide effort. Key elements in the success of youth policy efforts include influential support from top political leaders, a strong coalition of youth advocates from private groups, and consistent support from international agencies
Additionally, it came with funding: "The plan allocates $1.4 million for the administrative costs of carrying out the policy." The Presidential Decree:Youth advocates had long pushed for the government to provide legal backing to any youth policy. These efforts succeeded in part when the Banzer Suárez government issued a presidential decree on youth in January 1999.
Despite this, funding and prioritisation have limited progress:Reflecting the low priority the government has assigned to youth issues, the coordination effort of the Office of Family and Generational Affairs remains severely underfunded and understaffed. Only one full-time person works on youth issues. Although in theory the national youth plan provides ample funds, the government has released very little money for implementation. A major weakness of the presidential decree on youth is its lack of a funding mechanism. The shortage of funds has also hampered the establishment of the local youth committees called for in the presidential decree.