Good to know
Good to Know
- La Paz has low foreign-born representation at the national level (~1%), so the expat community is quite concentrated in specific affluent neighborhoods like Zona Sur (Calacoto, San Miguel, Achumani).
- Peruvian migration is historically significant in La Paz; Peruvian nationals represent the most visible immigrant community in the city.
- Tech entrepreneurship in La Paz is still developing compared to regional peers (Brazil, Chile, Argentina), but growing; the ecosystem remains informal and faces challenges around government support and access to funding.
- Employment as a foreigner requires a Temporary Residence Visa and work permit, with employer sponsorship and 30–60 day processing time through the Ministry of Labor and DIGEMIG.
- Bolivia's startup ecosystem grew 62% (2020–2023) in tech communities and initiatives, with La Paz sharing this growth momentum alongside Santa Cruz and Cochabamba.
Notable Nationalities
Peru
- Presence
- Important colonies in La Paz, El Alto and Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Argentina
- Presence
- Largest immigration source (40.5% of national immigrants as of 2012)
Japan
- Presence
- Approximately 14,000 nationally, primarily in Santa Cruz
Lebanon/Syria
- Presence
- Approximately 12,900 Lebanese and smaller Syrian communities nationally
Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal)
- Presence
- Small communities; Mennonites (approximately 140,000 nationally)
Business And Tech Presence
- Tech Sector Status
- Expanding; La Paz is one of Bolivia's emerging tech hubs alongside Santa Cruz and Cochabamba
- Startup Distribution
- La Paz accounts for approximately one-third of Bolivia's startups (remainder split between Santa Cruz majority and Cochabamba minority)
- Employment Notes
- International NGOs and embassies represent significant employers for foreign professionals. Bolivian law requires at least 85% of a company's workforce to be Bolivian nationals.
Key Institutions
Bolivia Tech Hub
- Type
- Early-stage incubator and support system
- Focus
- Helping entrepreneurs learn, develop and collaborate on tech projects
- Founded
- 2014
CoWork Sopocachi
- Type
- Coworking space
- Location
- La Paz
Squemas Cowork
- Type
- Coworking space
- Location
- La Paz
Primary Industries
- Manufacturing (building materials, consumer goods, textiles)
- Financial services
- Government administration
- Tourism
- Technology (expanding)
Population
- Metro Area
- 2300000
- City Proper
- 757431
- Year Estimate
- 2026
- Metro Area Note
- Includes El Alto and Viacha
Foreign Born Percentage
- Country Level
- 1.06
- Country Level Year
- 2001
- Country Level Note
- Most recent national census data; La Paz city-specific data unavailable
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this local demographics research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About La Paz
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.