Culture of Bolivia

Bolivia has a population of about 8.5 million. The largest ethnic group is the Quechua with 30% of Bolivia’s population. About another 30% are mestizo, or a mix of indigenous and European lineage. 25% of Bolivians are Aymara, about 14% are European descent and less than 1% have African heritage. Over half of the population is full-blooded indigenous and the vast majority has some ethnic connection to the indigenous cultures that lived in the region before the arrival of Europeans.

About 70% of the population lives in the Altiplano, despite the cold and harshness of the region. Most Bolivians speak Quechua or Aymara in addition to Spanish. The standard of living is relatively low in Bolivia compared to other countries in South America, mostly due to its historically slow economic development.

The national dance is the cueca, which originated from the Chilean version of the dance. Cueca consists of couples moving to three quarters time while waving handkerchiefs. The Cueca dance of Bolivia is most commonly seen during festivals.

Bolivia’s national holiday is Independence Day on August 6th. Almost all Bolivians are Roman Catholic (mixed with traditional indigenous beliefs in many communities) and so Catholic holidays such as Christmas and Easter are also nationally celebrated. In addition, all towns and communities have their own festivals and rituals throughout the year.