Language in Bolivia

The Political Constitution of the State (Constitución Política del Estado), or CPE, names Castellano and 36 Indigenous languages as official. Castellano is the local designation for Spanish (Castellano) and generally functions as the common language of communication. Official Indigenous languages include Aymara, Quechua, Guaraní, Bésiro, Guarayu, Mojeño-Trinitario, Tsimane’, Tacana, Weenhayek and Yuracaré. In the Altiplano and the Andes, Aymara, Quechua and Uru-Chipaya are particularly relevant; in the valleys, Quechua and Castellano predominate; in the Chaco, Guaraní, Weenhayek and Tapiete are important; and in the Amazon region and the Oriente, several smaller languages are used, including Bésiro, Guarayu, Mojeño varieties, Tsimane’, Tacana and Mosetén. Migration and urbanization create especially diverse multilingualism in cities. Regional Bolivian Castellano includes Andean and eastern varieties; terms such as Camba are locally used, but there is no uniform state classification of dialects. The 2012 Population and Housing Census (CNPV 2012) recorded the main language used by people aged six and older. Castellano accounted for 69.4 percent, Quechua for 17.1 percent, Aymara for 10.7 percent, Guaraní for 0.5 percent, Chimán and Guarayu for 0.1 percent each, other Indigenous languages for 0.2 percent, and foreign languages for 1.9 percent. In cities, the Castellano share was 82.3 percent; in rural areas, official Indigenous languages together reached 55.0 percent. These figures describe primary use, not the total number of speakers. The 2024 Population and Housing Census (CNPV 2024) additionally distinguishes mother tongue, most-used language, second and third language, every language spoken, use of at least one Indigenous language, and Bolivian Sign Language (Lengua de Señas Boliviana). Up to three languages could be reported. The analysis extends to the municipality and TIOC levels, as well as by age, gender and settlement area. A report by the state news agency ABI gives, on the basis of the official results and a population of 11,365,333, approximately 8.1 million people with Castellano as their main language, 1.39 million with Quechua, 774,874 with Aymara and 43,870 with Guaraní. Raw figures alone do not show whether a language is transmitted between generations; a critical speaker base is reported for around 30 Indigenous languages. For state and public services, the principle of territoriality applies: the responsible administration provides additional language services according to the area, needs, circumstances and preferences of the population. The national government and departmental governments must use at least two official languages, including Castellano. Other autonomous territorial entities combine Castellano with the relevant territorial Indigenous official language. Public and private institutions that provide services must serve, inform, provide signage and translate necessary rules in the relevant official languages. An application or trámite in an Indigenous official language may not be rejected or declared invalid solely because of the language used. When hiring and for direct customer contact, knowledge of the required languages should be taken into account. Public officials generally need, in addition to Castellano, at least one Indigenous official language; for rotating positions, the personal principle may become relevant when the linguistic assignment is not determined by territory. General language rights do not depend on Bolivian nationality. In the justice system, people have the right to proceedings and a defense in their own language. If communication is otherwise impossible, the justice system provides an interpreter free of charge. Names and surnames may also be registered in the mother tongue. Place names, animal and plant names, and other local designations may not be arbitrarily replaced or changed. Indigenous languages are regarded as oral, intangible, historical and cultural heritage. The Plurinational Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures (Instituto Plurinacional de Estudio de Lenguas y Culturas) and 36 Language and Culture Institutes (Institutos de Lengua y Cultura) conduct research, document languages, develop writing systems and technical terminology, prepare dictionaries and archives, organize courses and assess language proficiency. They also support the translation of official documents into the 36 Indigenous languages. The Unified Certificate of Official Languages (Certificado Único de Idiomas Oficiales) has been the only valid certificate for positions in public administration and private service units since Supreme Decree 4566/2021. Depending on the learning pathway, it is issued by IPELC, by the responsible vice-ministry together with IPELC, or by the Plurinational School of Public Administration together with IPELC. The Basic, Intermediate and Advanced levels distinguish degrees of proficiency; public personnel need at least Basic. A current IPELC call for applications gives, as an example, Bs 440 for three months and 240 teaching hours. Examination, certification and translation may have separate fees and dates. Education Law 070 provides for intracultural, intercultural and multilingual education. Instruction begins in the mother tongue; an Indigenous language and Castellano are used as the first or second language depending on local dominance. Territorial or transterritorial solutions apply in multilingual areas. Endangered languages are to be revitalized with the participation of their speakers. Learners also have a right to Bolivian Sign Language; a foreign language is a separate educational component and must not be equated with Indigenous official languages. Media and digital services should enable oral, written and audiovisual information in official languages. Supreme Decree 2477 requires Indigenous language programs and learning and cultural formats; Castellano, Aymara, Quechua and Guaraní were used for communication about the 2024 census. The Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022–2032 is based on Law 1426 and Supreme Decree 4766. It is intended to promote preservation, revitalization and active use in public and private areas. IPELC performs a technical secretariat function; funding comes from existing budgets. The practical relevance is particularly high for Castellano, Quechua, Aymara, territorial authorities, education, justice and access to services. Guaraní, Bésiro, Mojeño languages, Tsimane’, Weenhayek and other regional languages are also central depending on the area. Small language communities in the Amazon region and the Oriente face particular risks from limited intergenerational transmission and displacement by urban languages.