What is the most popular payment method in Bolivia?
Cash is still used most often, but interoperable QR is catching up fast. The BCB's cash use indicator fell from 85% in 2020 to 64% in 2025 as QR took over small payments. Bolivians made 892 million QR payments in 2025.
In detail
Cash is still used most often, but interoperable QR is catching up fast. The BCB's cash use indicator fell from 85% in 2020 to 64% in 2025 as QR took over small payments. Bolivians made 892 million QR payments in 2025.
Payment by cash in Bolivia
The BCB sees a progressive reduction of dependence on cash and a structural change in payment habits. Most QR payments are small: 52% are under Bs 50, which is exactly the ground cash used to own.
Payment by bank transfer in Bolivia
Electronic transfer orders reached 767.7 million operations in the first half of 2026, 55% of low-value electronic payments, up 79% in a year. The QR standard, adopted by the BCB in 2019 and branded QR Simple by the banks, is interoperable: a code from one bank can be paid from any other bank or wallet. Immediate QR payments made up 86% of electronic transfer orders in 2025, against 7% in 2021. This is Bolivia's own instant payment rail.
More detail in our #PayWorldTour guide Payment methods in Bolivia.