La Paz  - Bolivia's new constitution passed with 61.4 per cent of the votes in favour, according to the final official count of referendum ballots released by the country's electoral authorities on Monday.

The measure received 2.06 million votes, with close to 1.3 million votes (38.6 per cent of the total) against the proposed text.

The abstention rate was 9.74 per cent, the lowest in Bolivia in the past 25 years.

President Evo Morales - who campaigned in favour of the new constitution - was set to sign it into force Saturday in El Alto, a city close to La Paz that is a stronghold of the left-wing president.

The new constitution gives more rights to Bolivia's indigenous majority and expands government control over the economy. It would also allow the president to run for a second five-year term.

The results are nationally binding despite profound regional political differences across Bolivia. In four wealthy pro-autonomy provinces, among Bolivia's nine provinces, that are currently led by the opposition to Morales, a majority voted against the new text. (dpa)