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Bolivia: Quick Facts

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News •

Chinese cigarettes and Bolivian beer: the Amazonian town transformed by a rampant mining boom • Nov. 2, 2026, 9:02 AM ET (The Guardian)
Bolivia declares emergency as El Nino intensifies, threatens severe weather • Nov. 1, 2026, 2:18 PM ET (Deutsche Welle)
New cat species identified in Bolivia • Oct. 24, 2026, 9:05 PM ET (The Roanoke Times)
Bolivia and Chile Make Nice • Oct. 23, 2026, 1:06 PM ET (Foreign Policy)
Chile's president makes first state visit to Bolivia in 71 years as region shifts right • Oct. 16, 2026, 10:37 PM ET (Washington Post)

Facts

Also Known As Republic of Bolivia ‱ Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia ‱ Plurinational State of Bolivia ‱ RepĂșblica de Bolivia
Head Of State And Government President: Rodrigo Paz Pereira
Capitals1 La Paz (administrative); Sucre (constitutional)2
Population (2026 est.) 11,559,000
Form Of Government unitary multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Chamber of Senators [36]; Chamber of Deputies [130])
Official Languages Spanish and 36 indigenous languages
Official Religion none
Official Name Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia (Plurinational State of Bolivia)
Total Area (Sq Km) 1,098,581
Total Area (Sq Mi) 424,164
Monetary Unit boliviano (Bs)
Population Rank (2026) 86
Population Projection 2030 13,321,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi (2026) 27.3
Density: Persons Per Sq Km (2026) 10.5
Urban-Rural Population Urban: (2024) 71.5% ‱ Rural: (2024) 28.5%
Life Expectancy At Birth Male: (2023) 70 years ‱ Female: (2023) 73.3 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000) (2024) 51,683
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$) (2024) 4,160
1Executive and legislative branches meet in La Paz, judiciary in Sucre.2Per 2009 constitution.

Did You Know?

  • Bolivia has one of the highest degrees of income inequality in the world.
  • Some Bolivians emigrate to Argentina or Chile, searching for work and higher wages.
  • Lake Titicaca, one famous natural feature of Bolivia, is the highest lake in the world that is deep enough for sailing a boat.

Photos and Videos

Bolivia
Map of South America highlighting Bolivia in light brown, with surrounding countries labeled and the capital city, La Paz, marked with a star. The map shows Bolivia as a landlocked country bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru.
Indigenous people from the Bolivian Amazon march through a city street in La Paz, wearing traditional clothing and carrying Bolivian flags to protest a proposed highway.
Political map of Bolivia displaying national and departmental boundaries, major cities, rivers, and neighboring countries including Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. An inset locator map in the upper right shows Bolivia's position within South America.
Uyuni Salt Flat
A herd of wild llamas (Lama glama) stands and walks across the white expanse of the Uyuni Salt Pan in Bolivia, with brown hills in the background.
Map of South America highlighting in purple the regions where Quechuan languages are spoken, primarily along the Andes Mountains in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and smaller areas in Colombia, Chile, and northern Argentina.
Stone facade of the Cathedral in Potosi, Bolivia, with two bell towers and arched green doors, viewed from the front against a partly cloudy sky.
Dancers in the Oruro Carnival parade in Bolivia wear elaborate, colorful devil costumes with ornate masks and headdresses, performing in a lively street procession.
Chaco War
Hear about Chuno, a traditional Andean freeze-dried potato dish, also the effect of climate change on the drying process of the food
How do countries choose their capital cities?
National anthem of Bolivia
See All Videos, Images, Audio and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic
SimĂłn BolĂ­var
SimĂłn BolĂ­var
Venezuelan soldier and statesman
President of Bolivia Evo Morales Ayma seated at a table, speaking and gesturing with one hand, wearing a dark jacket with traditional embroidery.
Evo Morales
president of Bolivia
Luis Arce
Luis Arce
president of Bolivia
Antonio José de Sucre
Antonio José de Sucre
South American leader
default image
VĂ­ctor Paz Estenssoro
president of Bolivia
default image
Hugo BĂĄnzer SuĂĄrez
president of Bolivia
default image
William Martin Conway, Baron Conway
British explorer and art historian
Sepia-toned portrait of Adolph Bandelier, Swiss-American anthropologist, standing in a suit with hands behind his back, dated 1892.
Adolph Bandelier
American anthropologist

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