Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in central South America bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. Its seat of government is La Paz, while Sucre is the constitutional capital, and major cities include Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Bolivia’s geography is extraordinarily diverse, encompassing portions of the Andes mountains, the Amazon rainforest, and high-altitude plains.

The population is around 12 million and ethnically diverse, with significant Indigenous, mestizo, and European communities. Spanish and 36 Indigenous languages are official. Bolivia gained independence from Spain in 1825 and is named for liberator Simón Bolívar. The country’s economy is based on natural gas, mining, and agriculture. Bolivia's political scene includes a history of instability but also periods of social reform and Indigenous empowerment.