Population and Demographics

Bolivia is one of the least developed countries in South America. Almost two-thirds of its people, many of whom are subsistence farmers, live in poverty. Population density ranges from less than 1 person per square kilometre in the southeastern plains to about 10 per square kilometre (25 per sq mi) in the central highlands. As of 2006, the population is increasing about 1.45% per year.

Bolivia's ethnic distribution is estimated to be 56%-70% indigenous people and 30%-42% European and mixed. The largest of the approximately three dozen indigenous groups are the Aymaras, Quechuas and Guaraní (Chiriguanos, Guarayos). The majority of white Bolivians are of Spanish descent, but there are also small numbers of German, Basque, Croats, Asian (notably Japanese Okinawans relocated there after expropriation of farmland by the US military after WWII), Middle Eastern and other minorities, many of whose members descend from families that have lived in Bolivia for several generations.

Also noteworthy is the Afro-Bolivian community that numbers more than 0.5% of the population, descended from African slaves that were transported to work in Brazil and then migrated down south to Bolivia. They are mostly concentrated in the Yungas region (Nor Yungas and Sud Yungas provinces) in the department of La Paz, some three hours from La Paz city.

The great majority of Bolivians are Roman Catholic (the official religion), although Protestant denominations are expanding strongly. There is also a small Jewish community that is almost all Ashkenazi in origin. More than 1% of Bolivians practice the Baha'i Faith (giving Bolivia one of the largest percentages of Baha'i in the world). There are colonies of Mennonites in the department of Santa Cruz. Many Native communities interweave pre-Columbian and Christian symbols in their worship.

About 80% of the people speak Spanish as their first language, although the Aymara and Quechua languages are also common. Approximately 90% of the children attend primary school but often for a year or less. The literacy rate is low in many rural areas, but is thought to be 87% across the whole country.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 8,989,046
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 35% (male 1,603,982/female 1,542,319)
  • 15-64 years: 60.4% (male 2,660,806/female 2,771,807)
  • 65 years and over: 4.6% (male 182,412/female 227,720)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 21.8 years
  • Male: 21.2 years
  • Female: 22.5 years
• Population Growth Rate: 1.45%
• Birth Rate: 23.3 births/1,000 population
• Death Rate: 7.53 deaths/1,000 population
• Net Migration Rate: -1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 51.77 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 55.31 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 48.05 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 65.84 years
  • Male: 63.21 years
  • Female: 68.61 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 2.85 children born/woman
• HIV/AIDS:
  • Adult prevalence rate: 0.1%
  • People living with HIV/AIDS: 4,900
• Ethnic Groups:
  • Quechua 30%
  • Mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%
  • Aymara 25%
  • White 15%
• Religions:
  • Roman Catholic 95%
  • Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%
• Languages:
  • Spanish (official)
  • Quechua (official)
  • Aymara (official)
• Literacy:
  • Total population: 87.2%
  • Male: 93.1%
  • Female: 81.6%