Map of Bolivia with departments and capitals

Departments of Bolivia and their capitals

Bolivia is divided into 9 departments: La Paz, Oruro and Potosí in the highlands, Cochabamba, Chuquisaca and Tarija in the valleys, and Santa Cruz, Beni and Pando in the lowlands. Santa Cruz is the largest by area.

Population from Wikidata (latest figure available for each department).

Blank and coloring maps of Bolivia

Blank map of Bolivia

Coloring map of Bolivia

Geography of Bolivia

Bolivia covers 1,098,581 km² (424,164 sq mi). In the west, the Andes split into two great ranges, the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Oriental, with the Altiplano, a vast high plateau, between them. The highest point, the volcano Nevado Sajama, rises to 6,542 m (21,463 ft) near the Chilean border. On the eastern slopes, steep, forested valleys called the Yungas drop toward the lowlands. The east and north, more than half of the country, are tropical plains covered by Amazon rainforest, savannas and the dry forests of the Gran Chaco.

Lake Titicaca, on the border with Peru, lies on the Altiplano and is often called the highest navigable lake in the world. To the south, the Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat on Earth. Rivers in the north, such as the Mamoré, Beni and Madre de Dios, flow into the Amazon basin, while the Pilcomayo and Paraguay drain the southeast toward the Río de la Plata. The climate depends on altitude: cold and dry on the Altiplano, mild in the valleys, and hot and humid in the lowlands. About 12.2 million people (2023) live in Bolivia.

Fun facts

• Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world, turns into a giant natural mirror when it is covered by a thin layer of rainwater.
• La Paz, the seat of government, lies more than 3,500 m (11,500 ft) above sea level and is often called the highest seat of government in the world.
• Santa Cruz de la Sierra, in the eastern lowlands, is Bolivia's largest city.

Countries bordering Bolivia

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Chile
• Peru
• Paraguay