Bolivian languages
Bolivia speaks Spanish (in its Bolivian variants), Aymara, Quechua, and a variety of lesser-used indigenous languages. During the 2001 Census, 47% of the population declared that they spoke an indigenous language, while 36% had it as their mother tongue. 33.2% of the population was bilingual, in contrast to 11.6% indigenous monolinguals and 49.8% monolingual Spanish speakers. English is also used in certain contexts and Portuguese for being neighbors of Brazil.
In the highlands and sub-Andean regions, the most widely spoken languages are Spanish, Aymara, and southern Quechua, as well as Chipaya. In the eastern region of the plains, there is a greater diversity of indigenous languages (close to 33), although they are spoken to a lesser extent within the ethnic localities and some are on the verge of extinction. Among these languages are Chiriguano (or Eastern Bolivian Guarani) and Simba (or Western Bolivian Guarani).
Official languages of Bolivia
Bolivia declared by law of 1997 Quechua, Guarani and Aymara as official languages along with Spanish. By Supreme Decree No. 25894 of September 11, 2000, promulgated during the government of Hugo Banzer Suárez and in force until August 2012, thirty-four indigenous languages were recognized as official languages of Bolivia: Aymara, Araona, Ayoreo, Baure, besiro, canichana, cavineno, cayubaba, chácobo, chimán, ese ejja, guarani, guarasu'we (pauserna), guarayu, itonama, leco, machineri, mojeño-trinitario, mojeño-ignaciano, more, mosetén, movima, pacawara, Quechua, Reyesano, Sirionó, Tacana, Tapieté, Toromona, Uru-Chipaya, Weenhayek, Yaminawa, Yuki, Yuracaré and Tupi-Guarani.
In accordance with the current Political Constitution of the State, in force since February 7, 2009, with the government of Evo Morales, Bolivia recognizes thirty-seven official languages, including, in addition to Spanish, the languages of the original indigenous nations and peoples Bolivian peasants, indicated in Article 5 of the New Political Constitution of the State:
Article 5.I. They are official languages of the State, Spanish and all the languages of the indigenous peasant nations and peoples, which are the Aymara, Araona, Baure, Bésiro, Canichana, Cayubaba, Chacobo, Chimán, that ejja, guaraní, guarasuawe, guarayu, itonama, leco, machajuyai-katénawaya, machineri
II. The plurinational Government and departmental governments should use at least two official languages. One must be Spanish, and the other will be decided to take into account the use, convenience, circumstances, needs and preferences of the entire population or of the territory in question. Other self-governments must use the languages of their territory, and one must be Spanish.Political Constitution of the State - Bolivia
List of official languages of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
List of Bolivian languages
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| Group | Family | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Araona | Tacana | 81 (90) |
| Ayoreo | Zamucana | 771 |
| Baure | Arawak | 13 (630) |
| Canichana | (Insulated) | 3 (583) |
| Castilian (monolingual) | Indoeuropea | 5 000 000 |
| Cavineño | Tacana | 1180 (5058) |
| Cayubaba | (Insulated) | 2 (800) |
| Chácobo | Pano | 550 (770) |
| Chimane | Mosetena | 4000 (5900) |
| Chiquitan | (Insulated) | 5855 (47 000) |
| Chiriguanos | Tupi | 33 670 |
| That Ejja | Tacano | 225 |
| Guarayo | Tacano | 5900 |
| Itonama | (Insulated) | 10 (5000) |
| Leco | (Insulated) | 50 (80) |
| Machineri | Arawak | 140 |
| Moré | Chapacura | 76 (200) |
| Moseté | Moseteno | 750 |
| Movima | (Insulated) | 1450 |
| Pacahuara | Pano | 17 |
| Siriono | Tupi | 400 |
| Takana | Tacana | 1180 (1736) |
| Toromona | 25-200 | |
| Yaminahua | Pano | 137 |
| Yuqui | Tupi | 125 |
| I will | (Insulated) | 2675 |
| Tapieté | Tupi | 70 |
| Weenhayek | Mascoyana | 1800 |
| Aimara | Aimara | 1 462 286 |
| Chipaya | Uru-chipaya | 1000 |
| Quechua | Quechua | 2 400 000 |
| Plautdietsch | Indoeuropea | 100 000 |
| Uru | Uru-chipaya | 2 (500) |
The number without parentheses is the number of indigenous language speakers and the number in parentheses is the population of the ethnic group.
List the number of speakers of indigenous minority languages
| Categories | Cases | % | Accumulated % |
| He doesn't speak another native language. | 6 927 428 | 99.52 | 99.52 |
| He's not talking. | 52 | 0.00 | 99.53 |
| Araona | 83 | 0.00 | 99.53 |
| Zamuco | 1167 | 0.02 | 99.54 |
| Baures | 65 | 0.00 | 99.54 |
| Canichana | 3 | 0.00 | 99.54 |
| Cavineño | 557 | 0.01 | 99.55 |
| Cayuvaba | 15 | 0.00 | 99.55 |
| Chacobo | 322 | 0.00 | 99.56 |
| Chamas | 6 | 0.00 | 99.56 |
| More | 44 | 0.00 | 99.56 |
| Chiman | 5038 | 0.07 | 99.63 |
| Chiman Moseten | 18 | 0.00 | 99.63 |
| Chipaya | 1205 | 0.02 | 99.65 |
| Chiquitan | 3661 | 0.05 | 99.70 |
| That's right. | 418 | 0.01 | 99.71 |
| Guarayo | 6629 | 0.10 | 99.80 |
| Ignaciano | 895 | 0.01 | 99.81 |
| Itonama | 363 | 0.01 | 99.82 |
| Javier | 3 | 0.00 | 99.82 |
| Joaquineño | 13 | 0.00 | 99.82 |
| Lecos | 105 | 0.00 | 99.82 |
| Language | 15 | 0.00 | 99.82 |
| Loretano | 2 | 0.00 | 99.82 |
| Machineri | 13 | 0.00 | 99.82 |
| Mataco | 36 | 0.00 | 99.82 |
| Mojeño | 568 | 0.01 | 99.83 |
| Moseten | 770 | 0.01 | 99.84 |
| Movima | 1026 | 0.01 | 99.86 |
| Maxo-arawak | 1 | 0.00 | 99.86 |
| Murato | 5 | 0.00 | 99.86 |
| Pacahuara | 6 | 0.00 | 99.86 |
| Paunaca | 3 | 0.00 | 99.86 |
| Pukina | 220 | 0.00 | 99.86 |
| Reyesano | 52 | 0.00 | 99.86 |
| Siriono | 178 | 0.00 | 99.86 |
| Takana | 1019 | 0.01 | 99.88 |
| Tapiete | 29 | 0.00 | 99.88 |
| Trinitarian | 2776 | 0.04 | 99.92 |
| Uru-Chipaya | 3 | 0.00 | 99.92 |
| Wenhayek | 1608 | 0.02 | 99.94 |
| Yaminawa | 47 | 0.00 | 99.94 |
| Yuqui | 106 | 0.00 | 99.94 |
| Yura | 13 | 0.00 | 99.94 |
| Yurakare | 1495 | 0.02 | 99.96 |
| Yurakari | 3 | 0.00 | 99.96 |
| Unspecified | 2442 | 0.04 | 100.00 |
| Total | 6 960 526 | 100.00 | 100.00 |