Moving to Bolivia from Iceland

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Iceland to Bolivia — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Iceland to Bolivia, and you’d need to navigate life in Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Iceland to Bolivia, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
2 ↓ 33% vs 2015

people born in Iceland live in Bolivia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Bolivia?

Top countries of origin for Bolivia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Iceland and Bolivia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

IS
1.1
BO
4.3
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

IS
91%
BO
59%

Iceland performs better than Bolivia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IS
$6,927
BO
$756
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IS
45.2
BO
12.7

Bolivia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IS
8.0
BO
54.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IS
8.5t
BO
2.3t

Iceland generally does better on environment, though Bolivia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IS
38.2
BO
10.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IS
0.4%
BO
1.2%

Iceland performs better than Bolivia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IS
3.6%
BO
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IS
$66,500
BO
$9,700

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Bolivia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IS
83.6 yrs
BO
72.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IS
1.6
BO
22.3

Iceland generally does better on family life, though Bolivia leads in education spending.

Data: Directorate of Internal Revenue, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland and Bolivia. To live, work, or study long-term in Bolivia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Bolivia's immigration authority.

Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Bolivia

Visa Free
Iceland passport holders can enter Bolivia without a visa.
Bolivia passport

Bolivia passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Required
Bolivia passport holders need a visa to enter Iceland.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Bolivia?

With 10.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Bolivia can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Iceland and Bolivia.

Is Bolivia safe for expats?

Iceland performs better than Bolivia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bolivia is 4.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland. About 59% of people in Bolivia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Bolivia compared to Iceland?

Bolivia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 12.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Bolivia, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Bolivia scores 65 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).

What language do they speak in Bolivia?

The official languages in Bolivia are Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.

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At a Glance

IS BO
Population 357,603 12,054,379
Currency Icelandic Króna (ISK) Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)
Languages Icelandic Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +354 +591
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 110