Exploring Bolivia's Neighbors: Which Countries Share Its Borders?

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the west. Bolivia has a rich history and was once part of the ancient Inca Empire. It is one of the few countries in the world with two capitals: La Paz is the seat of the national government, and Sucre is the legal capital and the seat of the judiciary.

Brazil borders Bolivia to the north and east

Bolivia is bordered by Brazil to the north and east. Brazil shares a 3,403 km border with Bolivia. Bolivia is located in west-central South America and is one of the two landlocked countries in the Americas. It is bordered by five countries in total: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru.

Bolivia has a population of 11.8 million people (2021 estimate) and is named after independence fighter Simón Bolívar. The country broke away from Spanish rule in 1825, and democratic civilian rule was established in the 1980s. Bolivia has two capitals: La Paz is the seat of the national government, and Sucre is the legal capital and the seat of the judiciary.

The western one-third of Bolivia is occupied by the Andes mountain range, with the Altiplano, or Andean Plateau, being a high plateau between the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Oriental. The Altiplano is home to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, which is shared with Peru. Bolivia's largest cities include Santa Cruz de la Sierra, El Alto, La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro, Tarija, and Potosí.

Argentina borders Bolivia to the south

Bolivia is bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the west. The country has been landlocked since it lost its Pacific coast to Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879-1884).

Argentina and Bolivia share a border that runs from west to east, from the Altiplano to the Chaco flat through the tropical environment of the Yungas. There are three main crossing points: Villazón - La Quiaca (Horacio Guzmán International Bridge over La Quiaca River); Bermejo - Aguas Blancas; and Yacuiba - Profesor Salvador Mazza (Pocitos).

Argentina and Bolivia have had foreign relations for over a century. Both countries were part of the Spanish Empire, and Buenos Aires was the capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, of which Bolivia was a part, known as Upper Peru. In 1810, Buenos Aires ousted the viceroy during the May Revolution, one of the starting points of the Spanish American wars of independence. Upper Peru was heavily disputed during this war, and Buenos Aires sent three unsuccessful military campaigns to secure the zone. The royalists in Upper Peru were ultimately defeated by forces led by Sucre, who came from the north.

In more recent times, Argentine exports to Bolivia amounted to US$559.7 million in 2016, while Bolivian exports to Argentina totalled US$708.7 million. Both nations are members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Latin American Integration Association, Organization of American States, Organization of Ibero-American States, and the United Nations.

Chile borders Bolivia to the southwest

Chile and Bolivia have had a tumultuous relationship. Bolivia has historically maintained a maritime claim to the land it lost to Chile, asking for sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean and its maritime space. Bolivia's claim has been presented before the Organization of American States, which in 1979 passed the 426 Resolution, declaring that the issue is a hemispheric problem.

In 1884, a truce was signed with Chile, whereby Chile gave facilities of access to Bolivian products through Antofagasta, and freed the payment of export rights in the port of Arica. In 1904, the Treaty of Peace and Friendship was signed, and Chile agreed to build a railway between Arica and La Paz. However, in the late 19th century, Chile occupied vast territories rich in natural resources southwest of Bolivia, including the Bolivian coast, the Chuquicamata area, the adjoining rich salitre fields, and the port of Antofagasta, among other Bolivian territories.

Chile is one of the largest countries in South America, and its landscape varies from rugged Andes mountains to the Altiplano high plateau, to the lowland plains of the Amazon Basin. Chile is a resource-rich economy, benefiting from mining and agriculture.

Paraguay borders Bolivia to the southeast

Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country located in the heart of South America. It is bordered by Bolivia to the northwest, Brazil to the north and northeast, Argentina to the south and southwest, and Chile to the west. Paraguay has a total area of 406,752 sq km, making it the 61st largest country in the world, and a population of over 7 million people. The country has a diverse landscape, ranging from lush rainforests and wetlands to rolling hills and fertile plains.

The border between Bolivia and Paraguay is approximately 753 km long and runs in a northwest-southeast direction. It passes through a variety of terrain, including mountainous regions, tropical rainforests, and lowland plains. The precise border between the two countries has been a subject of discussion and negotiation over the years, with several treaties and agreements helping to define and delineate the boundary.

The relationship between Bolivia and Paraguay has generally been friendly and cooperative. Both countries are members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Organization of American States (OAS). They have collaborated on various initiatives, including the development of the Hydrocarbons Project, which involves the construction of a natural gas pipeline connecting the two countries. Additionally, they have worked together to address issues such as drug trafficking and transnational crime.

Bolivia and Paraguay share cultural similarities due to their proximity and historical connections. Both countries have a rich indigenous heritage, with indigenous peoples constituting a significant portion of their populations. Spanish is the official language in both countries, and other indigenous languages, such as Guarani, are also widely spoken.

In conclusion, Paraguay borders Bolivia to the southeast, and this shared border has played a role in shaping the political, economic, and cultural dynamics between the two countries.

Peru borders Bolivia to the west

Bolivia is a diverse country, with several distinct geographical regions. The western third of the country is dominated by the Andes, which contain numerous active volcanoes and the Uyuni Salt Flat. The Altiplano, or Andean Plateau, is a high plateau between the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Oriental mountain ranges. This region includes Lake Titicaca, which is the second-largest lake in South America and is shared with Peru. The Altiplano also features salt flats such as Salar de Uyuni, the largest in the world.

The Puna region of the Central Andes is a high-altitude grassland extending from southern Peru through southwestern Bolivia into northern Argentina and Chile. It includes the humid Puna around Lake Titicaca, the semi-humid Puna north of the lake, the dry Puna to the south, and the desert-like Puna in the southwestern corner of the country.

The eastern part of Bolivia is covered by tropical Amazon rainforest, with abundant wildlife. This region includes the Moxos Plains, a vast tropical savanna and wetland ecosystem, and the Gran Chaco, an arid and sparsely populated region.

Bolivia's major rivers include the Desaguadero, which drains Lake Titicaca and feeds into Lake Poopó, and the Parapetí, which flows through the Gran Chaco. The Beni, Mamoré, Madre de Dios, and Guaporé rivers flow through the eastern lowlands and empty into the Amazon River.

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