Immigration To Bolivia: Trends And Numbers

Bolivia has historically been a country of emigration, with a large proportion of its population living abroad. However, in the past, the government has implemented policies to attract international migrants to settle in uninhabited areas. Despite these attempts, the total number of immigrants has never been significant, standing at around 1% of the population. Neighbouring countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Peru have been the main source of migration to Bolivia, with migrants settling mainly in the departments of Santa Cruz, La Paz and Cochabamba. In recent years, there has also been an increase in Peruvian migrants to the city of El Alto.

Immigration to Bolivia is low compared to other South American countries

Despite various attempts to attract international migrants, Bolivia has not been a significant destination for immigrants. During the 20th century, small groups of Jews, Arabs, Mennonites, and Japanese arrived in the country, with the total number of immigrants never exceeding 100,000 people, or 1% of the population, between the 1976 and 2001 censuses.

Bolivia's neighbors, such as Argentina, Brazil, and Peru, have been the main source of migration to the country. In recent years, there has been an increase in Peruvian migrants to Bolivia, particularly in the city of El Alto. Other Latin American countries, such as Colombia and Venezuela, have also contributed to the immigrant population in Bolivia.

Small communities of immigrants from various countries reside in Bolivia, including Germans, Spaniards, Italians, East Asians (Taiwanese and Chinese), West Asians (Lebanese and Syrians), and a small Yugoslavian community. The Basque people were a significant source of Spanish and European immigration from the 16th to the 20th centuries, contributing to Bolivia's livestock industry.

While Bolivia has experienced less immigration than its South American neighbors, the country has a diverse population, including indigenous, European, and Afro-Bolivian communities.

Neighbouring countries are the main source of Bolivian immigration

The increase in Peruvian migrants in recent years has been particularly notable in the city of El Alto, where they are involved in informal activities related to the sale and conversion of used and imported cars. This shift in migration patterns is attributed to the financial crisis and stricter immigration policies in traditional destination countries like the European Union and the United States.

Historically, Bolivia has experienced far less immigration than other South American countries. However, small groups of immigrants from various countries have settled in Bolivia over the years. For instance, during the 20th century, a small number of Jews, Arabs, Mennonites, and Japanese arrived in the country, with some forming communities in the Bolivian department of Santa Cruz.

Additionally, Bolivia has a history of Basque immigration, dating from the late 16th to the early 20th centuries, with Spaniards and Europeans working as shepherds and ranchers in the country's livestock industry. Other immigrant groups include Germans, Italians, East Asians (Taiwanese and Chinese), West Asians (Lebanese and Syrians), and a small Yugoslavian community.

The US, Argentina and Spain are top destinations for Bolivian emigrants

Bolivia has long been characterised as a country of emigration, with around 7% of the population (over 700,000 people) living abroad. The US, Argentina and Spain are top destinations for Bolivian emigrants.

Argentina

Bolivians have been migrating to Argentina for over a hundred years, with reliable data on Bolivian migrants in Argentina dating back to as early as 1869. Migration patterns between the Andean region and the Southern Cone date back to colonial times. Between 1869 and the present, a steady 2 to 3% of the Argentine population has consisted of people born in border countries, though this percentage has been considerably higher in larger cities in recent decades.

Bolivian migrants have historically benefited from certain niches in the labour market that Argentines were not willing to occupy, such as certain construction, textile, domestic and street-related jobs. However, in recent years, rising unemployment in Argentina has led to Argentines being willing to settle for lower-paying jobs under worse conditions, leading to increased competition with migrant workers and xenophobic sentiment towards them.

Spain

In the last decade, there has been an exponential increase in Bolivian migration to Spain, driven by Spain's economic development and construction boom.

The US

The US is another older and highly relevant destination for Bolivian migrants.

The Bolivian government has tried to attract international migrants

Although Bolivia has been characterised as a country of emigration, the Bolivian government has, at times, attempted to promote international immigration. The state's aim was to populate sparsely populated lands, mainly in eastern Bolivia, through a process of colonisation. However, despite these attempts, Bolivia has not been successful in attracting a significant flow of immigrants.

During the 20th century, very small groups of Jews, Arabs, Mennonites, and Japanese migrated to the country. Throughout the century, the total number of immigrants never exceeded 1% of the population, or 100,000 people. In the 21st century, according to the 2001 Census, 87,338 Bolivian residents were born outside of Bolivia, representing 1.06% of the total population.

The Bolivian government's efforts to attract international migrants have been overshadowed by the country's emigration trends. Over 700,000 Bolivians, or 7% of the population, are estimated to live abroad, with Argentina, Spain, and the United States being common destinations.

Despite the relatively low immigration rates, Bolivia has attracted a diverse range of immigrants. Small communities of Germans, Spaniards, Italians, and Yugoslavians have contributed to the country's cultural landscape. Additionally, similar to other Latin American countries, Bolivia has experienced a small Japanese migration, with Japanese immigrants settling in the department of Santa Cruz since the late 19th century.

While the Bolivian government's attempts to attract international migrants have not resulted in large influxes, the country's immigration landscape is shaped by both historical and contemporary factors, contributing to the cultural richness of the nation.

In the 20th century, small numbers of Jews, Arabs, Mennonites and Japanese immigrated to Bolivia

While Bolivia has traditionally been a country of emigration, there have been times when the Bolivian State promoted international immigration to populate sparsely populated areas, particularly in eastern Bolivia. However, these attempts were largely unsuccessful in attracting a significant number of immigrants. During the 20th century, small groups of Jews, Arabs, Mennonites, and Japanese settled in Bolivia, with the total number of immigrants never exceeding 1% of the population or 100,000 people.

Jewish Immigration to Bolivia

Jewish merchants, both Sephardim and Ashkenazim, have been present in Bolivia since the colonial period in the 16th century. In the 19th century, these merchants, mostly from Brazil and Argentina, settled in the eastern regions of Santa Cruz, Tarija, Beni, and Pando, often marrying local women and integrating into mainstream Catholic society.

In the 20th century, substantial Jewish settlement began in Bolivia. In 1905, a group of Russian Jews, followed by Argentines, and later a few Sephardi families from Turkey and the Near East, settled in the country. By 1917, there were only an estimated 20 to 25 professing Jews in Bolivia. The Jewish population grew to 30 families by 1933, and the first large influx of Jewish immigrants occurred in the 1930s, with 7,000 Jews estimated to be in the country by the end of 1942. During World War II, a small number of Polish Jews immigrated to Bolivia, and by 1939, Jewish communities had gained greater stability in the country.

Arab Immigration to Bolivia

Information specifically about Arab immigration to Bolivia in the 20th century is scarce. However, it is known that during this period, small numbers of Arabs were among the immigrants to Bolivia, along with Jews, Mennonites, and Japanese.

Mennonite Immigration to Bolivia

The Mennonites in Bolivia are among the most traditional and conservative Mennonite groups in Latin America, with most being Russian Mennonites of Frisian, Flemish, and Prussian descent. The ancestors of Bolivian Mennonites settled in the Ukrainian section of the Russian Empire in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, leaving their previous homes in Danzig and the Polish Vistula delta due to annexation by Prussia.

In the 1930s, the Bolivian government granted privileges to future Mennonite immigrants, including freedom of religion, private schools, and exemption from military service. However, Mennonite immigration to Bolivia did not begin until the 1950s. Between 1954 and 1957, the first group of 37 Mennonite families from various colonies in Paraguay established the Tres Palmas colony, followed by a second colony founded by 25 conservative Mennonite families. By 1959, the total Mennonite population in Bolivia was 189.

In the following decades, new settlements were founded, and by 1986, there were about 17,500 Mennonites living in 16 colonies in Bolivia, with a total population estimated at 60,000 by 2010. As of 2023, there are around 150,000 Mennonites in Bolivia, spread across more than 200 colonies.

Japanese Immigration to Bolivia

Information specifically about Japanese immigration to Bolivia in the 20th century is limited. However, it is known that during this period, small numbers of Japanese immigrants settled in Bolivia, alongside Jews, Arabs, and Mennonites.

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