Bolivia Facts for Kids

Bolivia is a landlocked country in western-central South America. Bolivia’s official name is the Plurinational State of Bolivia. This enhances the status of Bolivia’s indigenous people under its new constitution. The area around Bolivia belonged to the Inca Empire. The Spanish took control in the 16th century. Bolivia gained independence from Spain in 1825. Bolivia’s Independence Day is August 6th.

The capital of Bolivia is Sucre.
The seat of the government is in La Paz.
Bolivia is a democracy.
Bolivia has a total population of over 11 million people.

Bolivia’s population includes Amerindians, Europeans, Africans, Asians, and Mestizos.
Three million people live in La Paz.
People in Bolivia are Bolivians.
The official languages of Bolivia are Spanish, Quecha, Aymara, and Guarani.

There are over 33 indigenous languages spoken in Bolivia. Two-thirds of Bolivia’s population speak Spanish.
Most Bolivians are Christian. About 77% of Bolivians are Roman Catholic.
The Bolivian military has three branches. The branches are the Ejercito (Army), Naval (Navy), and Fuerza Aerea (Air Force).
Bolivia has few educational opportunities.
Less than a quarter of Bolivians go to secondary school.
Bolivia has a high fertility rate.
The average is about 3 children per woman.
Bolivia has many health problems. The problems come from lack of clean water and basic sanitation.
The currency in Bolivia is the Bolivian Boliviano.
Bolivia has the second largest natural gas reserves in South America.
Bolivia sells natural gas to Brazil.
Bolivia has a large tourism industry.
Bolivia is the poorest country in South America.
Tin is Bolivia’s biggest source of wealth. Silver was the biggest source before.
Bolivia is the main exporter of Brazil nuts.
Bolivia is west of Brazil.
Bolivia shares borders with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Peru.
Bolivia does not share a border with an ocean.
Bolivia claims part of Lake Titicaca.
Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable lake at 3,805 meters (12, 483 feet).
Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America. Peru also claims the territory.
Bolivia has many different landscapes. Bolivia has highlands with icy mountains and volcanoes.
Bolivia also has dense rainforests in the Amazon basin.
Bolivia’s climate is very diverse.
Western Bolivia is very cold like in the Andes highlands. Eastern Bolivia is warmer. It gets hot and humid in the plains and rainforest region. Bolivia is one of the wettest countries in the world. It gets about 8,000 millimeters of rainfall each year.
The biggest cities in Bolivia are Santa Cruz, La Paz, and Cochabamba.
La Paz is the highest city in the world at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet).
The highest point in Bolivia is the Nevado Sajama at 6,542 meters (21,463 feet).
Bolivia has several active volcanoes.
They are in the Andes Mountains on the border with Chile.
Bolivia’s last volcanic eruption was in 1995. It was at the Irruputuncu.
Bolivia is named after Simon Bolivar. Bolivar led Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, and Colombia to independence in 1852. Simon Bolivar was Bolivia’s first president.
You vote in Bolivia at 18 if you are married. You vote at 21 if you are single.
The world’s largest salt flat is in La Paz. Salar De Uyuni is 10,582 square kilometers. It is the largest mirror on Earth. It stretches for 6,500 miles.
La Paz was the first South American city to receive an electricity supply.
Guinea pig is a delicacy in Bolivia. Bolivians serve it fried and whole. It is a big part of the Bolivian diet.
The world’s largest butterfly sanctuary is in Bolivia. It is open every day of the year.
Cal Orcko is a famous limestone cliff in Bolivia. It has over 5,000 dinosaur footprints. The footprints are from 8 species of dinosaur. The footprints date back 68 million years.
Bolivia has a total of 53 prisons. San Pedro is the most famous prison. It houses inmates with their wives and children. Tourists visited San Pedro prison. The wives and children are free to come and go.
Camino De Las Yungas is the death road. It is in La Paz. The road is 56 kilometers long. It has 200 to 300 deaths each year. People dress like zebras in La Paz and teach children road safety.
Madidi National Park is part of one of the largest protected areas in the world. It is 18,958 square kilometers in area. It has more than 1,000 species of butterfly.
Bolivia has many attractions for both tourists and locals. Bolivia has a great collection of nature and wildlife.