Bolivia's external debt reaches record $14.3 billion as gold‑linked reserves shrink

Bolivia's public external debt rose to a historic $14.357 billion at the end of the first half of 2026, up $193.4 million from December 2025. The increase came as the government of President Rodrigo Paz Pereira sought additional liquidity to fund investment programmes and meet fiscal pressures. Opposition legislators criticised the reliance on external credit, warning it may heighten inflation and exchange‑rate risks.

At the same time, the Central Bank of Bolivia reported that net international reserves stood at $3.617 billion, with foreign‑exchange assets of $666.1 million and gold holdings valued at $2.883 billion (22.3 tonnes). The gold component fell $95.9 million from the end of 2025, reflecting lower international gold prices and raising concerns about the concentration of reserves in the metal. The bank noted heightened volatility in gold prices and warned that sustained high‑interest‑rate environments could temper further gains.