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Bolivia — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Bolivia is 260,0001 2

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Bolivia is 2.51 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Bolivia ranked at No. 1102

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 179 countries, Bolivia ranked at No. 1193

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Bolivia are reported to have 67,0004 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Bolivia are reported to have 36,0004 firearms

ImpactsGun Death and Injury

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Number of Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Bolivia, annual homicides by any means total

2009: 1,1305
2008: 1,216
2007: 1,013
2006: 2,724
2005: 876
2004: 3,748
2003: 2,565
2002: 2,610
2001: 2,957
2000: 3,078

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Bolivia, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2009: 11.465
2008: 12.54
2007: 10.64
2006: 29.12
2005: 9.54
2004: 41.60
2003: 29.03
2002: 30.14
2001: 34.84
2000: 37.01
1998: 28.636

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Number of Gun Homicides

ChartIn Bolivia, annual firearm homicides total

2006: 77
2005: 11
2002: 528
2001: 50

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Rate of Gun Homicide per 100,000 People

ChartIn Bolivia, the annual rate of firearm homicide per 100,000 population is

2006: 0.077
2005: 0.12
2002: 0.598
2001: 0.58

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Bolivia is reported to be US$6019 (2009)

Import Control

In Bolivia, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 10

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Bolivia is reported to be US$260,1409 (2007)

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Market Cost of an AK-47 Assault Rifle (US$)

The asking price for an AK-47 pattern assault weapon in Bolivia is reported to be US$1,00011

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Regulation of Arms Brokers

In Bolivia, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are not specifically regulated by law10

MeasuresGun Regulation

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In Bolivia, the law requires12 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

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State-Owned Firearm Records

In Bolivia, State agencies are required13 to maintain records of the storage and movement of all firearms and ammunition under their control

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Marking

In Bolivia, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law14

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Firearm Tracing

In Bolivia, state authorities carry out15 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

Andean Community

As a member of the Andean Community, Bolivia adopted Decision 552: The Andean Plan to Prevent, Fight and Eradicate Illicit Trafficking in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects in June, 200316

Organization of American States

On 14 November 1997, as a member of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Bolivia adopted the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Explosives, Ammunition and Other Related Materials (CIFTA), a legally binding multilateral treaty of which the OAS is depository. The CIFTA Convention has since been signed and ratified17 18 by Bolivia

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Bolivia abstained from endorsing19 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has not been signed20 by Bolivia

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Bolivia committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects21

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Bolivia has submitted one or more national reports22 23 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Bolivia, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated24 23

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Bolivia, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated24 23

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated23 by Bolivia to other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Bolivia has not declared25 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Bolivia has been a Member State of the United Nations since 194526

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list27 Bolivia as a Participating State
Last Updated on 24 January 2012

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2009.‘Country Summaries – Bolivia.’ Surplus Arms in South America: A Survey.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,1 August. (Q5298)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

3.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2009.‘Estimated Total Small Arms, Firearms, and Surpluses in Bolivia, Rounded.’ Surplus Arms in South America: A Survey.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,1 August. (Q5297)Full Citation

5.

OAS Observatory on Citizen Security.2011.‘Intentional Homicide.’ Report on Citizen Security in the Americas 2011.Washington, DC:Organisation of American States,1 January. (Q5678)Full Citation

6.

Petrini, Benjamin.2011.‘Latin America and the Caribbean, 1995-2008, Total Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed, Rate per 100,000 Population.’ World Bank Homicide Rate Dataset 1995-2008.Washington DC:Social Development Department, World Bank,10 February. (Q3817)Full Citation

7.

UNODC.2008.‘Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed.’ Tenth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2005-2006).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,10 December. (Q10)Full Citation

8.

UNODC.2005.‘Recorded Homicide and Firearm Homicide in 53 Countries, Completed or Attempted.’ Eighth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2001-2002).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,15 April. (Q1077)Full Citation

9.

Marsh, Nicholas.2011.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 June. (Q16)Full Citation

10.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q82)Full Citation

11.

World Bank.2007.‘Available Kalashnikov Prices for Specific Countries and Periods.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q3)Full Citation

12.

Bolivia.2006.‘Report on the Programme of Action (Informe sobre el Programa de Acción).’ National Report of Bolivia on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Bolivia to the United Nations,20 June. (Q4638)Full Citation

13.

Bolivia.2010.‘Report on the Programme of Action (Informe sobre el Programa de Acción).’ National Report of Bolivia on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Bolivia to the United Nations,1 January. (Q4636)Full Citation

14.

Bolivia.2007.‘National Marking Practices (Prácticas Nacionales de Marcación).’ National Report of Bolivia on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Bolivia to the United Nations,1 January. (Q4637)Full Citation

15.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q323)Full Citation

16.

UNODA.2003.‘Decision 552: Andean Plan to Prevent, Fight and Eradicate Illicit Trafficking in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its Aspects.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York:Andean Community / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,11 April. (Q3220)Full Citation

17.

OAS / UNODA.1997.‘Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Explosives, Ammunition and Other Related Materials / CIFTA.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York:Organization of American States / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,14 November. (Q3244)Full Citation

18.

OAS.1997.‘Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Explosives, Ammunition and Other Related Materials (CIFTA): Signatures and Ratifications.’ Organization of American States, Department of International Law.Washington DC:Organization of American States,14 November. (Q3262)Full Citation

19.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

20.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

21.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

22.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

23.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

24.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q166)Full Citation

25.

UNODA.2011.‘National Reports on Small Arms Exports.’ United Nations Register of Conventional Arms - The Global Reported Arms Trade.New York:United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,21 October. (Q14)Full Citation

26.

UN.2009.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,11 May. (Q290)Full Citation

27.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation