Bolivia's Indigenous Population: Understanding Their Presence

Bolivia is a multiethnic and multilingual society, with the majority of its population made up of indigenous people and Old World immigrants and their descendants. The country's population is estimated to be around 11 million, with indigenous people constituting 20% of the population, according to the most recent census. However, this number is believed to be higher, with some estimates placing it between 62-70%. The largest indigenous groups in Bolivia are the Andean Aymara and Quechua, who make up around half of the country's indigenous population and primarily live in the western departments of the country. Other lowland indigenous groups include the Chiquitano, Guaraní, and Moxeño.

Indigenous peoples make up 20% of Bolivia's population, but estimates range from 41% to 70%

The percentage of Bolivia's population that is Indigenous depends on how Indigenous identity is defined. According to the 2012 National Census, 41% of the Bolivian population over the age of 15 are of Indigenous origin. However, the National Institute of Statistics' (INE) 2017 projections indicate that this percentage is likely to have increased to 48%. This variation in percentage is due to different surveys using different wordings of the ethnicity question and different available response choices. For example, the 2001 census did not provide "Mestizo" as a response choice, resulting in a much higher proportion of respondents identifying themselves as belonging to one of the available indigenous ethnicity choices.

The 2012 census recorded a significant drop in the proportion of the population who identified as Indigenous – from 66.4% of those aged 15 or over in the 2001 census. This decline has been attributed in part to factors such as urbanisation, as Indigenous identity in Bolivia is strongly tied to conceptions of the rural ‘campesino’ (peasant). However, this decline has taken place during a period when Bolivia’s marginalised Indigenous communities have seen improvements in their situation under the leadership of Evo Morales, the country’s first Indigenous President, in power since 2006.

The Indigenous peoples of Bolivia can be divided into two categories of ethnic groups: the Andeans, who are located in the Andean Altiplano and the valley region; and the lowland groups, who inhabit the warm regions of central and eastern Bolivia, including the valleys of Cochabamba Department, the Amazon Basin areas of northern La Paz Department, and the lowland departments of Beni, Pando, Santa Cruz, and Tarija (including the Gran Chaco region in the southeast of the country). Large numbers of Andean peoples have also migrated to form Quechua, Aymara, and intercultural communities in the lowlands.

According to the 2012 census, there are a total of 36 recognised Indigenous peoples, including Aymara, Quechua, Chiquitano, Guaraní and Moxeño. Highland Quechua (1.8 million) and Aymara (1.7 million) make up around half of the country’s total Indigenous population. Lowland peoples include the Chiquitano, Guaraní Moxeño, Ese Eja and Ayoreo.

The most recent census in 2012 put the number of Bolivians identifying as Indigenous at 20%, but in reality, this number is likely to be between 62-70%. According to a genetic study, the average values of Native American ancestry in individuals from La Paz and Chuquisaca are 86% and 76.8% respectively.

Mestizos, people of mixed European and indigenous ancestry, make up 68% of the population

Bolivia is a multiethnic and multilingual society, with the majority of its population made up of indigenous people and their descendants. Mestizos, people of mixed European and indigenous ancestry, make up 68% of the population. This is due in part to the fact that many people of exclusively Amerindian ancestry identify as Mestizo. Most Mestizos also identify with one or more indigenous cultures.

The term "Mestizo" was not included as a response choice in the 2001 census, resulting in a much higher proportion of respondents identifying themselves as belonging to one of the available indigenous ethnicity choices. In the 2012 census, 41% of the Bolivian population over the age of 15 identified as indigenous, though the true percentage is likely higher. According to a 2018 estimate, 44% of respondents indicated feeling part of some indigenous group, predominantly Quechua or Aymara.

The indigenous population of Bolivia is diverse, with 36 recognized ethnic groups, including the largest groups, Aymara and Quechua. The geography of Bolivia includes the Andes, the Gran Chaco, and the Amazon Rainforest. The indigenous population constitutes anywhere from 20 to 60% of Bolivia's population of 11,306,341, depending on different estimates.

The history of Bolivia is marked by the Spanish conquest of South America and the founding of the first Spanish settlements in the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. This, along with subsequent immigration, has resulted in the diverse ethnic makeup of the country today.

The largest indigenous groups are the Quechua and Aymara peoples

The largest indigenous groups in Bolivia are the Quechua and Aymara peoples. Together, they make up the majority of Bolivia's indigenous population, with 3.5 million people between them according to the 2012 census. The Quechua people are native to Peru, but there are significant populations in Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina. The Aymara people, on the other hand, are concentrated in the western departments of Bolivia, such as La Paz, Potosí, Oruro, Cochabamba, and Chuquisaca.

The Quechua and Aymara peoples share many cultural attributes and practices, such as their belief in Pachamama, an Andean deity often translated as 'Earth Mother'. They also speak one of the two indigenous languages of Bolivia, either Aymara or Quechua, and many are also fluent in Spanish. Traditionally, the Quechua identity is locally oriented and inseparably linked to the established economic system, which is based on agriculture in the lower-altitude regions and pastoral farming in the higher regions of the Puna. Similarly, the Aymara people living in rural areas tend to make their living as small farmers.

Over the years, large numbers of both groups have migrated to Bolivia's cities, with La Paz being predominantly Aymara and Cochabamba's indigenous residents being mostly Quechua-speaking. The migration of the Quechua and Aymara peoples to urban areas has made them an important and influential part of Bolivian culture and society. They have also become far more active in local and national politics, with the current president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, being born in an Aymara-speaking home and frequently invoking his indigenous roots.

In terms of demographics, the 2012 census recorded 1.8 million highland Quechua and 1.7 million highland Aymara, making up around half of the country's total indigenous population. Additionally, the lowland regions of Bolivia are predominantly Quechua-speaking rather than Aymara-speaking.

Bolivia has 36 recognised indigenous groups

Bolivia is a country with a rich indigenous history. The Indigenous peoples in Bolivia, or Native Bolivians, are Bolivian people who are of indigenous ancestry. They constitute anywhere from 20 to 60% of Bolivia's population of 11,306,341, depending on different estimates. The country has 36 recognised indigenous groups, with the largest being the Aymara and Quechua communities. The geography of Bolivia includes the Andes, the Gran Chaco, and the Amazon Rainforest.

The 36 recognised indigenous groups in Bolivia include the Aymara and Quechua, the largest communities in the western Andes, as well as the Chiquitano, Guaraní and Moxeño, who make up the most numerous communities in the lowlands. The highland Quechua (1.8 million) and Aymara (1.7 million) make up around half of the country’s total indigenous population. The lowland peoples include the Chiquitano, Guaraní Moxeño, Ese Eja and Ayoreo.

The 2012 census recorded a significant drop in the proportion of the population who identified as indigenous – from 66.4% of those aged 15 years or over in the 2001 census – as more Bolivians appeared not to self-identify with any specific group. This decline has been attributed to factors such as urbanisation, as indigenous identity in Bolivia is strongly tied to conceptions of the rural ‘campesino’ (peasant). Despite this, the situation of Bolivia’s marginalised indigenous communities has improved under the leadership of Evo Morales, the country’s first indigenous President, who was elected in 2005 and took power in 2006.

The 2012 census showed that indigenous peoples constitute 2.8 million people aged 15 years or over, or 41% of the total population. According to the National Institute of Statistics’ (INE) 2017 projections, this percentage is likely to have increased to 48%. Of the 36 recognised indigenous peoples in the country, the majority live in the Andes and are Quechua- or Aymara-speaking (49.5% and 40.6% respectively) and they self-identify as one of 16 nationalities.

In addition to the 36 recognised indigenous groups, other minority groups in Bolivia include Afro-Bolivians, and small communities of Japanese and Europeans, including Germans (Mennonites).

The country's first indigenous president, Evo Morales, was elected in 2005

Bolivia is home to a significant population of indigenous peoples, who constitute anywhere from 20 to 60% of the country's total population. The exact percentage varies depending on different estimates and the specific definitions used in censuses. The indigenous population of Bolivia is comprised of 36 recognized ethnic groups, with the largest being the Aymara and Quechua communities.

In 2005, Evo Morales, a member of the Aymara community, was elected as the country's first indigenous president. Morales ran as the candidate for the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party, which had emerged from the movement to defend the interests of coca growers. On December 18, 2005, he won the election with 54% of the vote, becoming the first candidate to receive an absolute majority since the 1978 elections.

Morales' victory was significant as it represented a triumph for Bolivia's poor and indigenous populations, who had long been marginalized and underrepresented in the country's political system. The election reflected a growing anti-US sentiment in Latin America and a shift towards left-leaning governments in the region. Morales was a vocal opponent of US influence in Bolivia and had strong ties to other left-leaning Latin American leaders, such as Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Fidel Castro of Cuba.

Morales' campaign focused on issues such as the legalization of coca leaf production, which was an important sector of the Bolivian economy and culture, particularly for indigenous peoples. He also advocated for the renegotiation of contracts with multinational companies regarding the extraction of Bolivia's substantial oil and gas reserves.

The election of Morales marked a turning point in Bolivian politics, as he embarked on a program of extensive reform to address the marginalization of the country's indigenous population. One of his most notable achievements was the rewriting of the country's Constitution, which recognized the multi-ethnic and pluricultural nature of the republic and provided for greater empowerment of indigenous communities.

Morales served as President of Bolivia until 2019, winning re-election multiple times and becoming the longest-serving President in the country's history. His administration was marked by a period of unbroken rule and significant progress in addressing the marginalization of the indigenous population. However, issues such as poverty and discrimination persisted, and there were controversies surrounding his attempts to amend the Constitution to extend his term limits.

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