Bolivia's territorial losses (1825–1938)

This map shows the territorial changes in Bolivia between 1825 and 1938. It was published throughout the 20th century for use in educational centres.

With a certain propagandistic slant, the map shows how in 1825, when it gained independence from Spain, Bolivia had a land area of 2,364,756 square kilometres. In the centre, in white, Bolivia appears with its current area of 1,098,581 square kilometres, less than 50% of what it originally had.

The map uses colour coding to show the remaining territorial losses since independence:

• In green, the territories lost to Brazil: Acre (1867, 1903) and Mato Grosso (1928).
• In yellow, the territories lost to Peru: Amarumayu (1903).
• In red, the territories lost to Chile: Atacama (1879, 1904).
• In blue, the territories lost to Argentina: Central Atacama (1889) and Central Chaco (1889).
• In pink, the territories lost to Paraguay: Chaco Boreal (1935).

With a certain propagandistic interest, the map ignores the fact that the province of Tarija, in southern Bolivia, was initially part of Argentina until 1826 and that Argentina did not recognise its annexation to Bolivia until 1889, when Central Atacama and Central Chaco passed from Bolivia to Argentina.

Sources

• Bolivia 1825
• Outline of Bolivia's territorial divisions