What Languages Are Spoken In Bolivia? (Answered!)

According to the 2009 Constitution, indigenous languages and Spanish are the official languages in Bolivia. Spanish is spoken by 70% of the population, whilst some 36 other indigenous languages are spoken in the country.

Bolivia is a South American country home to nearly 11 million people. Astonishingly, Bolivia has 37 main languages.

People have resided in Bolivia for thousands of years; the country has shapeshifted due to different rulers, yet their indigenous roots are still apparent.

Bolivia’s land is not just diverse in terms of languages.

The country has a beautiful landscape and thriving nature.

You can see valleys filled with llamas, the breathtaking Andes Mountains and the world’s largest salt flat.

Llamas are joined by jaguars,

Andean condors, caimans, sloths, piranhas, and the emperor tamarin- a monkey with a mustache!

The nation also has two capital cities, one administrative capital in La Paz and a constitutional capital in Sucre.

Bolivia is a nation built on diversity, not just in language but in wildlife too.

This article looks into the languages that are spoken in Bolivia.

In This Article

What are the top 3 languages in Bolivia?

As we have discussed, Bolivia has an outstanding 37 official languages.

However, every language is unique and native to different groups within the country.

We have ranked the top 3 languages in Bolivia by the number of speakers.

The most spoken languages in Bolivia are as follows:

Spanish- 70%. Bolivian Spanish is also known as Castillan. The language is spoken by the majority of Bolivia, either as a mother tongue or second language. Spanish was brought to Bolivia when the Spaniards defeated the Inca forces in 1538. Despite being in Bolivia for decades, Spanish only became the majority language in 1976. Now it is the most spoken language in the country.
Quechua- 18%. Quechua is an indigenous language. In 2009, a Constitution stated that Spanish and indigenous languages would be the official dialects. Quechua is, consequently, the official language of Bolivia. Quechua is spoken predominantly in the Andes region and was used as the language of the Inca empire. The Inca ruled Bolivia for nearly one hundred years.
Aymara- 10%. This language is spoken in the Altiplano around lake Titicaca. It is one of the few Native American languages with over a million speakers. That list, of course, includes Quechua too. Aymara is spoken, but to a lesser extent, in Chile. There it is recognized as a minority language.

A country with 37 official languages, Bolivia looks to preserve their indigenous people.

Therefore, it is essential to work for the government to ensure the native population is protected.

Making native languages official gives indigenous people legitimate status in the country.

What are the 36 Indigenous languages in Bolivia?

As we previously discussed, Bolivia has a lot of official languages.

These dialects range from 8,000,000 speakers to 63,000 speakers.

Despite some languages being more widely spoken, they are all significant to the native people of Bolivia.

The 36 indigenous languages spoken in Bolivia are as follows:

Aymara
Araona
Baure
Besiro (Chuquitano)
Canichana
Cavineno
Cayubaba
Chacobo
Chiman
Ese Ejja
Guarani
Guarasu’we
Guarayu
IItonama
Leco
Machajuyai-Kallawaya
Machineri
Maropa
Mojeno-Ignaciano
Mojeno-Trinitario
More
Moseten
Movima
Pacawara
Puquina
Quechua
Siriono
Tacana
Tapiete
Toromona
Uru-Chipaya
Weenhayek
Yaminawa
Yuki
Yuracare
Zamuco

The list above is the languages included in the 2009 Constitution.

It is by no means an exhaustive list. Various languages and dialects exist, and some may go by different names.

However, it is interesting to see the diversity of official languages in Bolivia.

Is Bolivian Spanish the Same as Spanish in Spain?

Spanish in Bolivia is different to the Spanish that is spoken in Spain.

The issue gets a bit complicated when you consider the different forms of Spanish spoken in Bolivia.

Below is a list of Spanish variants spoken in Bolivia:

Andean Spanish– This variant is spoken throughout the central Andes. This means that Andean Spanish is not just spoken in Bolivia. Andean Spanish influenced Castilian and Andalusian Spanish
Camba Spanish– Spoken on the Chaco-Beni plain and in the Santa Cruz valleys. This variant is unique in the sense that it adopted features from Portuguese, Arabic and other indigenous languages
Chapaco Spanish– Spoken in the regions of Santa Cruz, Chaco Regions, Villa Abecia and Camarco. This version of Spanish is similar to the dialects spoken in Argentina
Valluno Spanish– This variant is similar to Andean Spanish. The difference is in the use of idioms and intonation.

Spanish is a single language; however, it has different versions.

Although some may speak Spanish, Bolivians speak different dialects for the most part.

Do they Speak English in Bolivia?

English is not widely spoken in Bolivia.

Unfortunately, this reality is the same for a lot of South America.

You will find that only upper-class people can communicate in English.

Additionally, People in the tourism industry may also speak the language.

The majority of Bolivians are likely to not know English. If you plan to visit Bolivia, brush up on your Spanish.

There is a reason why English is not one of the 37 official languages of Bolivia- only a few people speak it.

Are there any foreign languages in Bolivia?

German found its way to Bolivia, and people still speak the language today.

The European language is spoken by around 160,000 people.

In addition, 70,000 German speakers in Bolivia reside in the Santa Cruz Department.

There is a community of Flemish and North German people who speak Plautdietsch.

This is a German dialect.

Portuguese is also spoken in areas that border Brazil. However, Only 0.2% of Bolivians speak Portuguese.

Bolivia is a fascinating country. There is so much beauty to behold and culture to explore.

More importantly for this article, Bolivia has more official languages than any other country.

This definitely sets Bolivia apart.

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Founder - @PollyWebster

Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.

Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.

Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.

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