Bolivia Facts

Hola! That’s how you say “hello” in Spanish, the official language of Bolivia. This country in South America is known for its diverse geography, which includes rainforests and the world’s largest salt flat. Learn more facts about Bolivia here.

five Facts About Bolivia

Here are five fun facts about Bolivia:

  1. Bolivia is home to the world’s largest salt flat, the Salar de Uyuni.
  2. Bolivia has the highest capital city in the world. La Paz, situated at an altitude of about 11,975 feet (3,650 meters) above sea level, offers breathtaking views of the Bolivian mountains.
  3. If you visit Bolivia, you might see a pink dolphin. The Bolivian river dolphin lives in Bolivian Amazon streams and is known for its grayish-pink color.
  4. The Bolivian Amazon rainforest covers a big portion of the country, offering a habitat for diverse wildlife such as sloths and monkeys.
  5. Bolivia features a fascinating historical site known as Tiwanaku, an ancient city that was once the center of pre-Columbian civilization.

Where is Bolivia?

Bolivia is a country in west-central South America. It shares borders with Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru.

Key Challenges in Bolivia & Our Response

While Bolivia may feature incredible wildlife, beautiful snow capped mountains and lush rainforests, it’s also home to many children living in devastating poverty. And poverty results in serious challenges. But Compassion is working to help children overcome them.

Lack of Safe & Clean Water

Many people living in rural areas of Bolivia have no access to clean, safe water. With no other options, many families must rely on contaminated water sources, which can lead to deadly illnesses like cholera and typhoid.

Our Response: Providing Reliable, Clean Water for Children & Families

Compassion works within these communities to provide reliable and safe water sources for the children we serve. For example, we provide essential water infrastructure where needed, including wells, rainwater harvesting systems, water storage and even filtration systems.

In some cases, we also work with local churches to construct new bathrooms so children have safe places to wash their hands and care for their bodies. Through the Compassion program, we teach each child we serve the importance of hygiene, ensuring they know how to prevent sickness.

Lack of Child Protection

Children living in poverty are especially vulnerable to exploitation and violence, including gang violence, forced child labor and abuse. According to UNICEF, violence against children takes place in eight out of 10 households in Bolivia.

Our Response: Standing in the Gap to Protect the Vulnerable

At Compassion, we work to ensure children feel known, loved and protected. Through our child sponsorship program, children receive age-appropriate training to learn how to stand up for themselves and others. We also train our staff and volunteers to spot signs of abuse or violence and how to intervene.

A boy rides a bicycle down a rocky path in Bolivia

A boy rides a bicycle down a rocky path in Bolivia.

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Children play soccer with snowcapped mountains in the distance

Children play soccer with snowcapped mountains in the distance.

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A girl from La Paz enjoys being at her child development center

A girl from La Paz enjoys being at her child development center.

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A Bolivian baby is wrapped in traditional, striped fabric

A Bolivian baby is wrapped in traditional, striped fabric.

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A young boy pumps water from a well

A young boy pumps water from a well.

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A boy holds a baby goat on his shoulders

A boy holds a baby goat on his shoulders.

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Two boys laugh and read the Bible together

Two boys laugh and read the Bible together.

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A girl walks as part of a parade in front of a church

Children march in a parade in their community.

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Our Impact in Bolivia

Compassion has supported children and youths throughout Bolivia for many years. During that time, we’ve released thousands of children from poverty in Jesus’ name through child sponsorship.

99,936

children served (and counting)

220

churches serving

48

years of serving

Leidy Turns Her Pain Into Purpose by Becoming a Nurse

Leidy’s heart broke when she realized her father was dying from a painful disease. But with inspiration and support from the doctor who sponsors her, she’s turning pain into purpose by pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse.

See Story
Wendy Finds Peace in Chronic Illness

After receiving a devastating type 1 diabetes diagnosis, Wendy feared for her life. But through the help of her Compassion center, Wendy is now thriving with the medical care and support she needs to stay healthy.

See Story

How You Can Help Vulnerable Children in Bolivia

You can join Compassion’s fight against child poverty in Bolivia in three key ways:

  • Pray: Jeremiah 33:3 tells us that if we call on God, he will answer us. When we lift children living in poverty up in prayer, God hears us, and we can trust he's working on their behalf. Join us in praying daily for children living in poverty by becoming a prayer partner.
  • Donate: Children living in poverty face many challenges, from a lack of medical care to dangerous living conditions. You can provide immediate support by donating to fulfill a right-now need.
  • Sponsor a Child: By sponsoring a child, you empower a local church to meet the critical needs of a child's body, mind and spirit as they journey out of poverty. Through sponsorship, you'll help deliver medical care, hygiene training, education, malnutrition monitoring and so much more to a child in need. But most importantly, you'll help introduce them to the hope of the gospel, which changes everything.
Sponsor a Child in Bolivia