Bolivian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Bolivia is a landlocked country in the heart of South America, home to the Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat, and to La Paz, one of the highest cities in the world. Spanish, Quechua and Aymara are among its official languages. Bolivians in Britain include students, professionals and families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 2,281 people living in the city had been born in South America, a group that includes Bolivia; and 976 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Hispanic or Latin American.

Working for Birmingham

Bolivian residents work and study in fields such as education, healthcare, engineering and hospitality. Many are multilingual, and they bring a strong sense of community and resilience to their work and studies.

Every community that has settled in Birmingham has helped to shape it. Newcomers have filled gaps in the workforce, opened shops and restaurants, and raised children who have gone on to become the city's doctors, teachers, engineers and entrepreneurs. The Bolivian community is part of that tradition of hard work and ambition, and of the city's own motto: Forward.

Culture and community life

The Carnival of Oruro, with its dramatic masked dances, is recognised by UNESCO, and Andean music played on pan pipes and the charango is loved worldwide. Saltenas, baked pastries filled with meat and stew, are a national favourite.

Birmingham's strength lies in its variety, and the Bolivian community is a welcome part of it. As the city continues to grow and change, that contribution will remain part of the story of a place that has always looked forward.