Lyla Lindsey
Bolivia has two capital cities: Sucre, the constitutional capital, and La Paz, the administrative capital. La Paz is the seat of the executive and legislative branches of the Bolivian government, while Sucre is the seat of the judiciary. La Paz is the third-most populous city in Bolivia, with 755,732 residents as of 2024, and is the highest capital city in the world, sitting at an elevation of roughly 3,650 m (11,975 ft) above sea level.
What You'll Learn
La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia
La Paz was founded in 1548 by the Spanish conquistador Captain Alonso de Mendoza on the site of an Inca village. The city was originally named Nuestra Señora de La Paz ("Our Lady of Peace") to commemorate the restoration of peace following an insurrection against the first viceroy of Peru. In 1825, after Bolivia gained independence, the city's name was changed to La Paz de Ayacucho to commemorate the decisive victory at Ayacucho over the Spanish army during the Spanish American Wars of Independence.
La Paz is located in west-central Bolivia, about 42 miles (68 km) southeast of Lake Titicaca. The city lies in a deep, broad canyon formed by the Choqueyapu River and is situated between 10,650 and 13,250 feet (3,250 and 4,100 metres) above sea level, making it the highest capital city in the world. The city's elevation can make it difficult for visitors to exert themselves due to the rarefied atmosphere.
La Paz is the third most populous city in Bolivia, with a population of around 755,732 residents as of 2024. Its metropolitan area, which includes the cities of El Alto, Achocalla, Viacha, and Mecapaca, has a population of 2.2 million, making it the second most populous urban area in Bolivia after Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
La Paz is a cultural centre of Bolivia, hosting several landmarks from colonial times, such as the San Francisco Church, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Plaza Murillo. The city is also known for its markets, particularly the Witches' Market, where herbs, remedies, and other ingredients used in Aymara traditions are sold.
In addition to being the administrative capital, La Paz is also the capital of the La Paz Department. The city generates 24% of Bolivia's gross domestic product and serves as the headquarters for numerous Bolivian companies and industries.
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Sucre is the constitutional capital
However, the focus of industry gradually shifted from silver to tin, and the tin mines were located near La Paz. Tin mine owners lived in La Paz, while silver mine owners lived in Sucre. La Paz thus began to surpass Sucre in economic importance, and its population grew.
At the end of the 19th century, the Liberal Party (backed by the tin miners) and the Conservative Party (supported by the silver miners) clashed in a struggle for political power. This brief civil war, known as the Federal Revolution of 1899, had the location of the capital as a central issue. The Liberals won, and an agreement was reached: La Paz became the seat of the executive and legislative branches of the Bolivian government, while Sucre retained the seat of the judicial branch.
Despite this compromise, there is still much conflict over the issue of the two capitals, and many see La Paz as the true heart of the country. La Paz is home to the foreign embassies, government ministries, and the central bank, and is now four times as large as Sucre.
Since 2005, there has been a movement to return all three branches of government to Sucre, with some violent confrontations and protests taking place. However, the people of La Paz are opposed to this, as their economy would suffer as a result.
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La Paz is the seat of the executive and legislative branches
La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia and the seat of the country's executive and legislative branches. It is the place where the president of Bolivia resides and is also the location of the Palacio Quemado, the presidential palace.
La Paz is the seat of the executive branch of the Bolivian government, which includes the president of Bolivia and their cabinet. The executive branch is responsible for enforcing the laws of the country and managing the day-to-day operations of the government. It is the branch that holds the most power in the country and has a significant influence on the lives of Bolivian citizens.
The legislative branch, of which La Paz is also the seat, is responsible for creating and passing laws in Bolivia. This branch consists of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, which is made up of two chambers: the Chamber of Senators and the Chamber of Deputies. The legislative branch plays a crucial role in shaping the country's policies and has the power to introduce, amend, and reject laws.
La Paz became the seat of the executive and legislative branches of the Bolivian government following the Federal Revolution of 1899, a brief civil war between the ruling Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. The Conservatives were traditionally supported by silver mine owners, while the Liberals had the backing of tin mine owners. As the country's focus shifted from silver to tin mining, La Paz, where many tin mining families lived, began to surpass Sucre in economic importance. When the Liberals won the civil war, the two parties reached a compromise, and La Paz was established as the seat of the executive and legislative branches, while Sucre retained the judicial branch.
La Paz is the third-most populous city in Bolivia, with around 755,732 residents as of 2024. It is located in west-central Bolivia, 68 kilometres southeast of Lake Titicaca. The city lies in a deep canyon formed by the Choqueyapu River and is surrounded by the high mountains of the Altiplano. At an elevation of approximately 3,650 metres above sea level, La Paz is the highest capital city in the world.
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Sucre is the seat of the judicial branch
Sucre is one of the two governmental centres of Bolivia, with La Paz being the other. Sucre was established as the country's capital in 1839, named after revolutionary leader Antonio José de Sucre. The city was chosen due to its proximity to important silver mines, which were the source of the country's primary industry at the time. However, when the focus shifted from silver to tin, the tin mines near La Paz caused the latter to become more economically important.
In 1899, the Liberal party, backed by the tin miners, won the Federal Revolution, a brief civil war against the Conservative party, who were supported by the silver miners. As a result, La Paz was established as the seat of government for the legislative and executive branches, while Sucre retained the seat of the judicial branch. Sucre is still the only official capital of Bolivia, but La Paz is considered by many to be the de facto capital.
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La Paz is the highest capital city in the world
La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia and the seat of its government. The city is home to the Palacio Quemado, the presidential palace, as well as the Bolivian legislature, the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, and numerous government departments and agencies.
La Paz is located in west-central Bolivia, 68 km (42 mi) southeast of Lake Titicaca. It is set in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River and is surrounded by the high mountains of the Altiplano. The triple-peaked Illimani overlooks the city, with its snow-covered peaks visible from many parts of La Paz.
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. The full name of the city was originally Nuestra Señora de La Paz ("Our Lady of Peace") in commemoration of the restoration of peace following an insurrection. The city was later moved to its present location in the valley of Chuquiago Marka.
La Paz 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, forms the second-most populous urban area in Bolivia, with a population of 2.2 million.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Sucre is the constitutional and official capital of Bolivia. However, La Paz is the administrative capital and the seat of the government.
Sucre was established as the capital city of Bolivia when the country gained independence in 1825. The city was named after revolutionary leader Antonio José de Sucre and was chosen due to its proximity to silver mines, which were the country's primary industry at the time.
La Paz is the seat of the government, home to the president, foreign embassies, government ministries, and the central bank. It is also the largest and most developed city in Bolivia.
Yes, there has been much debate and even violent protests over the years regarding the two capitals. The conflict has been fuelled by the ideological and political divide between the West and East of the country.
