Women In La Paz, Bolivia: Census Insights

La Paz, Bolivia's national capital, is the third most populous city in the country. As of 2024, La Paz has a population of 755,732 residents, with its metropolitan area, which includes Viacha and El Alto, home to about 2.2 million people. While the latest census data for Bolivia is from 2012, it provides insight into the country's demographics. According to the 2012 census, the gender ratio of the total population is 0.99 males per female, indicating a relatively balanced distribution between males and females in the country, including La Paz.

La Paz's population in 2024 is 755,732, making it the third-most populous city in Bolivia

La Paz, officially known as Nuestra Señora de La Paz, is the seat of government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. As of 2024, La Paz has a population of 755,732, making it the third-most populous city in the country. The city's metropolitan area, which includes La Paz, El Alto, Achocalla, Viacha, and Mecapaca, is the second-most populous urban area in Bolivia, with a population of 2.2 million.

La Paz is an important cultural centre in Latin America, boasting several colonial landmarks such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, the San Francisco Church, and the Plaza Murillo. The city is also renowned for its markets, particularly the Witches' Market, and its nightlife. La Paz is the highest capital city in the world, situated at an elevation of roughly 3,650 m (11,975 ft) above sea level. This altitude gives La Paz an unusual subtropical highland climate, with rainy summers and dry winters.

The population of La Paz has grown significantly since 1950, when it was 319,640. In recent years, the population has continued to grow steadily, with an annual change of 1.55% between 2023 and 2024. The population of La Paz is predominantly urban, which is consistent with the overall trend in Bolivia, where 70.3% of the population resides in urban areas.

Bolivia has a population of over 12 million people as of 2024, with a median age of 24.9 years. The country's population density is 11 people per square kilometre, and the overall life expectancy is 68.2 years. The population of Bolivia has been steadily increasing since the late 1800s, and the country currently ranks 79th in the world by population.

La Paz's metropolitan area, including El Alto, is Bolivia's largest urban area, with 2.2 million people

La Paz is the third-most populous city in Bolivia, with 755,732 residents as of 2024. However, its metropolitan area, which includes El Alto, Achocalla, Viacha, and Mecapaca, is the country's largest urban area. This metropolitan area has a population of 2.2 million people, second only to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, which has 2.3 million people.

El Alto, a fast-growing city in its own right, had an estimated population of 943,558 in 2020. It is located adjacent to La Paz in the Pedro Domingo Murillo Province on the Altiplano highlands. El Alto is one of the world's highest major cities, with an average elevation of 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) above sea level. The city boasts a unique appearance, with a locally indigenous Neo-Andean architectural style that has emerged alongside its growth.

The metropolitan area's population of 2.2 million represents around a fifth of Bolivia's total population of 10 million as of 2012. The country's population density is 9.13 inhabitants per square kilometer, and the median age is 23.1 years, with a life expectancy at birth of 65.4 years.

La Paz, officially known as Nuestra Señora de La Paz, is the seat of the government of Bolivia. It is an important political, administrative, economic, and cultural center of the country. The city is renowned for its markets, nightlife, and archaeological significance, with landmarks dating back to colonial times.

La Paz is the seat of the Bolivian government and an important cultural centre

La Paz, officially Nuestra Señora de La Paz, is the administrative capital of Bolivia and the seat of the country's government. It is the third-most populous city in Bolivia, with 755,732 residents as of 2024. Its metropolitan area, which includes El Alto, Achocalla, Viacha, and Mecapaca, is the second most populous urban area in Bolivia, with a population of 2.2 million.

La Paz is located in west-central Bolivia, 68 km southeast of Lake Titicaca. It is situated in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River, in a bowl-like depression, part of the Amazon basin, surrounded by the high mountains of the Altiplano. At an elevation of roughly 3,650 m above sea level, La Paz is the highest capital city in the world. The city was founded on 20 October 1548, by the Spanish conquistador Captain Alonso de Mendoza, at the site of the Inca settlement of Laja. La Paz was under Spanish colonial rule before Bolivia gained independence.

As the seat of the Bolivian government, La Paz is home to the Palacio Quemado, the presidential palace, as well as the Bolivian legislature, the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, and various government departments and agencies. The city is an important political, administrative, economic, and sports centre of Bolivia, generating 24% of the nation's gross domestic product.

La Paz is also a significant cultural centre in South America. The city boasts several landmarks from the colonial era, such as the San Francisco Church, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Plaza Murillo, and Jaén Street. La Paz is situated at the confluence of the archaeological regions of the Tiwanaku and Inca Empire. The city is known for its markets, particularly the Witches' Market, and its nightlife. La Paz offers views of the surrounding mountains of the Cordillera Real from numerous natural vantage points.

The city's elevation makes it the highest capital in the world

La Paz, Bolivia, is the highest capital city in the world. Sitting at an elevation of approximately 3,650 m (11,975 ft) above sea level, the city quite literally takes your breath away. The thin air and reduced oxygen levels at this altitude can cause nausea, breathlessness, and headaches for visitors. It usually takes a day or two for the body to adjust to the high altitude.

La Paz is located in west-central Bolivia, 68 km (42 mi) southeast of Lake Titicaca. The city is set in a canyon formed by the Choqueyapu River and is surrounded by the high mountains of the Altiplano. The triple-peaked Illimani mountain, which overlooks the city, is always snow-covered and can be seen from many parts of La Paz.

Due to its high altitude, La Paz has a unique subtropical highland climate, with rainy summers and dry winters. The higher parts of the city, above 4,000 m (13,000 ft), have a subalpine subtropical highland climate, with cold to very cold nighttime temperatures. Snow flurries can occur during winter, especially at dawn, and usually melt before noon. Despite being located just 16 degrees from the equator, these high-altitude areas of La Paz have similar average temperatures to cities like Bergen, Norway, or Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands.

The center of the city, which lies in a deep, broad canyon, is about 1,400 ft (430 m) below the surface of the Altiplano plateau. This location provides some protection from the cold winds of the highlands. However, the city's elevation and topography are marked by social differences. The more affluent residents of La Paz live in the lower, central areas, while middle-class residents tend to reside in high-rise condos near the center. Lower-income residents, on the other hand, live in makeshift brick houses in the surrounding hills.

La Paz's elevation has shaped not only its climate but also its culture and the daily lives of its residents. The city's unique characteristics, stunning natural surroundings, and fascinating history make it a captivating destination for travelers seeking to explore this high-altitude capital.

La Paz's population has grown by 29,951 in the last year

La Paz, the national capital of Bolivia, has experienced a notable population increase in the last year, growing by 29,951 people. This growth represents a 1.55% annual change and brings the city's total population to an estimated 1,965,570 in 2024. As the seat of government and an important cultural center in Latin America, La Paz continues to draw people to its urban areas.

The city's population has been steadily increasing since 1950 when it stood at 319,640. La Paz is now the third most populous city in Bolivia, after Santa Cruz de la Sierra and El Alto. The La Paz metropolitan area, which includes Viacha and El Alto, is the country's largest urban area, with about 2.2 to 2.3 million residents.

The growth of La Paz is part of a broader trend of urbanization in Bolivia. Currently, 70.3% of the country's population resides in urban areas, and the overall population has been steadily rising since the late 1800s. Bolivia's population reached 10 million for the first time in 2012, with a density of 9.13 inhabitants per square kilometer.

The population of La Paz comprises primarily Quechua (46%) and Aymara (42%) communities, alongside 37 minority indigenous groups. Spanish is the most commonly spoken language in the city, at 60%, but numerous other languages are also used.

The city's status as a cultural hub and its economic significance contribute to its population growth. La Paz is an administrative, economic, and sports center, generating 24% of Bolivia's gross domestic product. It is also a tourist destination, known for its markets, nightlife, and colonial landmarks such as the Metropolitan Cathedral and the San Francisco Church.

Despite the challenges of access to basic services and affordable housing in La Paz, the population continues to expand steadily. The city's growth reflects the broader urbanization trends in Bolivia and the appeal of urban centers to indigenous communities seeking improved access to services and employment opportunities.

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