Immigration to Bolivia

In comparison with its neighbors, immigration has affected Bolivia to a lesser extent. However, small groups of Germans, Spaniards, Italians, as well as a small Yugoslav community and other nationalities live in this country. The Basques were one of the largest Spanish and European nationalities who immigrated to the country from the late 16th to the early 20th century. Most of them were shepherds and worked on a ranch in the Bolivian livestock industry.

Like other Latin American countries, there is a small group of immigrants from Japan in Bolivia. Beginning in 1899, a small stream of Japanese reached the country, which continued until the 1970s. Small Japanese communities were formed in the Santa Cruz department. Other East Asians (Taiwanese and Chinese, and Middle Eastern Lebanese and Syrians) established their communities in Bolivia by the end of the 20th century. During the 20th century, a small Jewish community was formed in Bolivia, consisting mainly of Ashkenazi Jews.