How Many Bolivians Speak Castilian?

Bolivia is a predominantly Spanish-speaking country, with Spanish being the mother tongue of 40% of the population. However, Bolivia has a large indigenous population, with 50% of the population reporting an indigenous language as their mother tongue. The Bolivian government recognizes 36 indigenous languages as official languages, including Aymara, Araona, Baure, Bésiro, and Guaraní. While Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Bolivia, with 60.7% of the population speaking it, the country's linguistic diversity is a reflection of its multiculturalism and indigenous heritage.

What percentage of people speak Spanish in Bolivia?

Bolivia is a predominantly Spanish-speaking nation, with Spanish being the official and predominant language. However, Bolivia also has a very large indigenous population, with around 50% of the population reporting an indigenous language as their mother tongue.

The country has a multiethnic population of around 12 million people, with Amerindians, Mestizos, Europeans, Asians, Africans, Arabs, Jews, and other groups spread throughout the country. Bolivia's official languages reflect this diversity, with 36 indigenous languages holding official status alongside Spanish. These include:

• Aymara
• Araona
• Baure
• Bésiro
• Canichana
• Cavineño
• Cayubaba
• Chácobo
• Chimán
• Ese Ejja
• Guaraní
• Guarasu'we
• Guarayu
• Itonama
• Leco
• Machajuyai-Kallawaya
• Machineri
• Maropa
• Mojeño-Ignaciano
• Mojeño-Trinitario
• Moré
• Mosetén
• Movima
• Pacawara
• Quechua
• Sirionó
• Tacana
• Tapieté
• Toromona
• Uru-Chipaya
• Weenhayek
• Yaminawa
• Yuki
• Yuracaré
• Zamuco

While Spanish is the most-spoken language in Bolivia (60.7% of the population), the country's linguistic diversity is such that, in addition to Spanish, there are five languages with more than 30,000 speakers:

• Quechua (2.4 million)
• Aymara (1.5 million)
• Low German (100,000)
• Guaraní (33,000)
• Kichwa (2.4 million)

The Bolivian government is required to use at least two languages in its operations, one of which must be Spanish, with the other chosen based on the situation and needs of the area. This reflects the country's commitment to preserving and promoting the use of indigenous languages.

What percentage of people speak an indigenous language as their mother tongue?

Bolivia is a predominantly Spanish-speaking nation, but it also has a large indigenous population, many of whom report an indigenous language as their mother tongue. According to one source, about 50% of the population speaks an indigenous language as their mother tongue, while another source states that 75% of the population speaks Spanish as either their mother tongue or second language. Bolivia is unique in that it has many official languages. According to the 2009 Bolivian Constitution, Spanish and 36 indigenous languages are recognised as official languages. Some of these languages are extinct, and others are only spoken by a small number of people.

The most commonly spoken indigenous languages in Bolivia are:

• Quechua: This is the most widely spoken indigenous language in Bolivia, with over 2 million speakers. It is also the most widely spoken indigenous language in South America, with nearly 10 million speakers across the continent, mostly in Peru.
• Aymara: This is the second most common indigenous language in Bolivia, spoken by around 17% of the population. It is mainly spoken in the Altiplano region around Lake Titicaca.
• Guarani: This is the third most common indigenous language in Bolivia and is native to South America. It is also spoken in Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. It has approximately 5 million native speakers worldwide and is protected by the Bolivian constitution.
• Chiquitano: This language is spoken in the central part of the Santa Cruz department.

In addition to these widely spoken indigenous languages, there are many other indigenous languages spoken by smaller numbers of people in Bolivia. The Bolivian government is required to use at least two languages in its operations, one of which must be Spanish, and the other chosen based on the situation and needs of the area.

What are the official languages of Bolivia?

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America with a population of around 12 million people. It is a multiethnic and multilinguistic country, with Spanish being the official and predominant language. However, Bolivia also recognises 36 indigenous languages as official languages, although some of these are extinct. These include:

• Aymara
• Araona
• Baure
• Bésiro
• Canichana
• Cavineño
• Chácobo
• Chimán
• Ese Ejja
• Guaraní
• Guarasu'we
• Itonama
• Leco
• Machajuyai-Kallawaya
• Machineri
• Maropa
• Mojeño-Ignaciano
• Moré
• Mosetén
• Movima
• Pacawara
• Quechua
• Sirionó
• Tacana
• Tapieté
• Toromona
• Weenhayek
• Yaminawa
• Yuki
• Yuracaré
• Zamuco
• Uru-Chipaya

The Bolivian government must use at least two languages in its operations, with Spanish being one of them. The other language is chosen based on the situation and needs of the area.

In addition to the official languages, there are many immigrant languages spoken throughout Bolivia, including Standard German and Plautdietsch, a German dialect spoken by the Mennonite community.

How does the Bolivian constitution recognise indigenous languages?

Bolivia's 2009 Constitution recognises the plurinational nature of the country and its diverse linguistic landscape. The document declares 36 indigenous languages as official languages alongside Spanish. This move was a significant shift from the previous recognition of only Spanish, Aymara, and Quechua as official languages.

The Constitution mandates that all departmental governments must use Spanish and one indigenous language as their official languages. Additionally, the Bolivian government and departmental governments are required to use at least two languages in their operations, with Spanish being one of them and the other chosen based on the specific circumstances and needs of the territory. This provision is outlined in Article 234 of the 2009 Constitution and the General Law of Linguistic Rights and Policies (Law 269 of August 2, 2012).

The recognition of indigenous languages in Bolivia's Constitution is a reflection of the country's commitment to cultural diversity and the rights of its indigenous peoples. This move towards plurinationalism is also reflected in the country's official name change to the "Plurinational State of Bolivia."

How does the Bolivian government use indigenous languages?

Bolivia is a predominantly Spanish-speaking nation, but it also has a large indigenous population, many of whom speak an indigenous language as their mother tongue. The Bolivian government officially recognizes 36 indigenous languages, and according to the 2009 Constitution, all of them are official languages of the state. The government must use at least two languages in its operations, with Spanish being one of them and the other chosen based on the situation and needs of the area.

The most commonly spoken indigenous languages in Bolivia are Guaraní, Aymara, and Quechua. The Bolivian government and the Plurinational Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures (Ipelec) announced plans in 2019 to extend constitutional recognition to three additional indigenous languages.

The National Education Reform of 1994 introduced all thirty indigenous languages alongside Spanish in the country's schools. However, many schools, especially urban schools, did not implement the reforms. Bolivia's national anthem has been translated into six indigenous languages: Aymara, Bésiro-Chiquitano, Guaraní, Guarayu, Quechua, and Mojeño-Trinitario.

The recognition of indigenous languages in Bolivia is a reflection of the country's multiethnic population, which includes Amerindians, Mestizos, Europeans, Asians, Africans, Arabs, and Jews. The country's commitment to promoting and preserving indigenous languages is a significant step towards ensuring the inclusion and representation of its indigenous communities.

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