Provinces of Bolivia facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A province is like a big region or area within a larger part of Bolivia called a department. Think of it like a state or county in other countries. Bolivia has nine departments, and each department is divided into several provinces.

There are 112 provinces across Bolivia. These provinces are then split into even smaller areas called municipalities. In total, Bolivia has 337 municipalities. This system helps organize the country and manage local areas.

What are Provinces in Bolivia?
- How Bolivia is Organized
Provinces by Department
See also

What are Provinces in Bolivia?

Provinces are the second-largest administrative divisions in Bolivia. They are smaller than departments but larger than municipalities. This setup helps the government manage different parts of the country more easily.

Provinces of Bolivia

How Bolivia is Organized

Bolivia's government divides the country into different levels to help with organization and services.

Departments: These are the largest divisions, like big states. Bolivia has nine departments.
Provinces: Each department is broken down into provinces. There are 112 provinces in total.
Municipalities: Provinces are further divided into municipalities. These are local areas, similar to towns or small cities and the land around them. Bolivia has 337 municipalities.
Cantons: Within municipalities, there are even smaller areas called cantons. These are like small districts or villages.

This system ensures that different regions have their own local governments and services, from big cities to small villages.

Provinces by Department

Bolivia has nine departments, and each one contains several provinces. Here's a quick look at some of them and their main cities:

Beni Department

The Beni Department is in the lowlands of Bolivia. It has 8 provinces. Its capital city is Trinidad.

Cercado Province: Its capital is Trinidad.
Iténez Province: Its capital is Magdalena.
José Ballivián Province: Its capital is Reyes.
Mamoré Province: Its capital is San Joaquín.
Marbán Province: Its capital is Loreto.
Moxos Province: Its capital is San Ignacio.
Vaca Díez Province: Its capital is Riberalta.
Yacuma Province: Its capital is Santa Ana.

Chuquisaca Department

The Chuquisaca Department is in the south-central part of Bolivia. It has 10 provinces. Its capital city is Sucre, which is also the constitutional capital of Bolivia.

Juana Azurduy de Padilla Province: Its capital is Azurduy.
Belisario Boeto Province: Its capital is Villa Serrano.
Hernando Siles Province: Its capital is Monteagudo.
Jaime Zudáñez Province: Its capital is Zudáñez.
Luis Calvo Province: Its capital is Villa Vaca Guzmán.
Nor Cinti Province: Its capital is Camargo.
Oropeza Province: Its capital is Sucre.
Sud Cinti Province: Its capital is Villa Abecia.
Tomina Province: Its capital is Padilla.
Yamparáez Province: Its capital is Tarabuco.

Cochabamba Department

The Cochabamba Department is located in the center of Bolivia. It has 16 provinces. Its capital city is Cochabamba.

Arani Province: Its capital is Arani.
Arque Province: Its capital is Arque.
Ayopaya Province: Its capital is Ayopaya or Independencia.
Capinota Province: Its capital is Capinota.
Carrasco Province: Its capital is Totora.
Cercado Province: Its capital is Cochabamba.
Chapare Province: Its capital is Sacaba.
Esteban Arce Province: Its capital is Tarata.
Germán Jordán Province: Its capital is Cliza.
Mizque Province: Its capital is Mizque.
Narciso Campero Province: Its capital is Aiquile.
Punata Province: Its capital is Punata.
Quillacollo Province: Its capital is Quillacollo.
Bolívar Province: Its capital is Bolívar.
Tapacarí Province: Its capital is Tapacarí.
Tiraque Province: Its capital is Tiraque.

La Paz Department

The La Paz Department is in western Bolivia and includes parts of the Andes Mountains and the Altiplano. It has 20 provinces. Its capital city is La Paz, which is the administrative capital of Bolivia.

Abel Iturralde Province: Its capital is Ixiamas.
Aroma Province: Its capital is Sica Sica.
Bautista Saavedra Province: Its capital is Charazani.
Caranavi Province: Its capital is Caranavi.
Eliodoro Camacho Province: Its capital is Puerto Acosta.
Franz Tamayo Province: Its capital is Apolo.
Gualberto Villarroel Province: Its capital is San Pedro de Curahuara.
Ingavi Province: Its capital is Viacha.
Inquisivi Province: Its capital is Inquisivi.
José Manuel Pando Province: Its capital is Santiago de Machaca.
Larecaja Province: Its capital is Sorata.
Loayza Province: Its capital is Luribay.
Los Andes Province: Its capital is Pucarani.
Manco Kapac Province: Its capital is Copacabana.
Muñecas Province: Its capital is Chuma.
Nor Yungas Province: Its capital is Coroico.
Omasuyos Province: Its capital is Achacachi.
Pacajes Province: Its capital is Coro Coro.
Pedro Domingo Murillo Province: Its capital is Palca.
Sud Yungas Province: Its capital is Chulumani.

Oruro Department

The Oruro Department is in the western part of Bolivia, known for its mining history. It has 16 provinces. Its capital city is Oruro.

Atahuallpa Province: Its capital is Sabaya.
Carangas Province: Its capital is Corque.
Cercado Province: Its capital is Oruro.
Eduardo Avaroa Province: Its capital is Challapata.
Ladislao Cabrera Province: Its capital is Salinas de Garcí Mendoza.
Litoral Province: Its capital is Huachacalla.
Nor Carangas Province: Its capital is Huayllamarca.
Pantaléon Dalence Province: Its capital is Huanuni.
Poopó Province: Its capital is Poopó.
Puerto de Mejillones Province: Its capital is La Rivera.
Sajama Province: Its capital is Curahuara de Carangas.
San Pedro de Totora Province: Its capital is Totora.
Saucarí Province: Its capital is Toledo.
Sebastián Pagador Province: Its capital is Santiago de Huari.
Sud Carangas Province: Its capital is Andamarca.
Tomas Barrón Province: Its capital is Eucaliptus.

Pando Department

The Pando Department is in the northern part of Bolivia, covered mostly by Amazon rainforest. It has 5 provinces. Its capital city is Cobija.

Abuná Province: Its capital is Santa Rosa del Abuná.
Federico Román Province: Its capital is Nueva Esperanza.
Madre de Dios Province: Its capital is Puerto Gonzalo Moreno.
Manuripi Province: Its capital is Puerto Rico.
Nicolás Suárez Province: Its capital is Cobija.

Potosí Department

The Potosí Department is in the southwest of Bolivia, known for its rich mining history. It has 16 provinces. Its capital city is Potosí.

Alonso de Ibáñez Province: Its capital is Sacaca.
Antonio Quijarro Province: Its capital is Uyuni.
Bernardino Bilbao Province: Its capital is Arampampa.
Charcas Province: Its capital is San Pedro de Buena Vista.
Chayanta Province: Its capital is Colquechaca.
Cornelio Saavedra Province: Its capital is Betanzos.
Daniel Campos Province: Its capital is Llica.
Enrique Baldivieso Province: Its capital is San Agustín.
José María Linares Province: Its capital is Puna.
Modesto Omiste Province: Its capital is Villazón.
Nor Chichas Province: Its capital is Cotagaita.
Nor Lípez Province: Its capital is Colcha „K“.
Rafael Bustillo Province: Its capital is Uncía.
Sud Chichas Province: Its capital is Tupiza.
Sur Lípez Province: Its capital is San Pablo de Lípez.
Tomás Frías Province: Its capital is Potosí.

Santa Cruz Department

The Santa Cruz Department is in eastern Bolivia, a large and diverse region. It has 15 provinces. Its capital city is Santa Cruz.

Andrés Ibáñez Province: Its capital is Santa Cruz.
Ángel Sandoval Province: Its capital is San Matías.
Chiquitos Province: Its capital is San José de Chiquitos.
Cordillera Province: Its capital is Lagunillas.
Florida Province: Its capital is Samaipata.
Germán Busch Province: Its capital is Puerto Suárez.
Guarayos Province: Its capital is Ascención.
Ichilo Province: Its capital is Buena Vista.
Ignacio Warnes Province: Its capital is Warnes.
José Miguel de Velasco Province: Its capital is San Ignacio de Velasco.
Manuel María Caballero Province: Its capital is Comarapa.
Ñuflo de Chávez Province: Its capital is Concepción.
Obispo Santistevan Province: Its capital is Montero.
Sara Province: Its capital is Portachuelo.
Vallegrande Province: Its capital is Vallegrande.

Tarija Department

The Tarija Department is in the south of Bolivia, known for its vineyards. It has 6 provinces. Its capital city is Tarija.

Aniceto Arce Province: Its capital is Padcaya.
Burnet O'Connor Province: Its capital is Entre Ríos.
Cercado Province: Its capital is Tarija.
Eustaquio Méndez Province: Its capital is San Lorenzo.
Gran Chaco Province: Its capital is Yacuíba.
José María Avilés Province: Its capital is Uriondo.