Bolivia coca cultivation increases 7% in 2025

Coca cultivation in Bolivia increased by 7% in 2025, reaching a total of 364,000 hectares, according to a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). This growth occurred during the transition from the administration of Luis Arce to the presidency of Rodrigo Paz.

The most significant expansion was recorded in the Cochabamba department, where cultivation grew by 22% and now accounts for nearly half of the country's total coca crops. Experts note that eradication efforts have significantly declined; in 2025, only 27,000 hectares were destroyed, compared to at least 100,000 hectares annually in previous years.

Much of this expansion is concentrated in the stronghold of former president Evo Morales. Researchers suggest the state has limited access to these regions due to pressure from coca growers and the presence of indigenous militias. Morales, who faces arrest warrants for charges he denies, remains in these areas, which are protected by local groups that prevent police intervention.