Quick facts
Santa Cruz de la Sierra overview
Santa Cruz de la Sierra (orange) and the other large cities of Bolivia
Santa Cruz de la Sierra lies in Santa Cruz Department in Bolivia at 17.79°S, 63.18°W, about 433 m above sea level. The local time zone is America/La_Paz (UTC-4); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than La Paz (2,004,652) and larger than Cochabamba (841,276). The largest city in Bolivia is La Paz with 2,004,652 people; the capital, Sucre, has 224,838.
The national capital, Sucre, is about 260 km away; the nearest large city is Cotoca, 14 km from Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
Bolivia as a whole has a live population of 12,799,509 (+1.3% a year) and ranks #79 of 238 countries — see the Bolivia population page for the full statistics and the Bolivia atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Santa Cruz de la Sierra
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Cotoca Santa Cruz Department | 14 km | 18,347 |
| Warnes Santa Cruz Department | 30 km | 22,036 |
| Montero Santa Cruz Department | 50 km | 88,616 |
| Villa Yapacaní Santa Cruz Department | 81 km | 18,187 |
Largest cities in Bolivia
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Paz | La Paz Department | 2,004,652 |
| 2 | Santa Cruz de la Sierra | Santa Cruz Department | 1,831,434 |
| 3 | Cochabamba | Cochabamba | 841,276 |
| 4 | SucreCapital | Chuquisaca Department | 224,838 |
| 5 | Oruro | Oruro | 208,684 |
| 6 | Tarija | Tarija Department | 159,269 |
| 7 | Potosí | Potosí Department | 141,251 |
| 8 | Riberalta | Beni Department | 99,070 |
| 9 | Montero | Santa Cruz Department | 88,616 |
| 10 | Viacha | La Paz Department | 86,218 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Santa Cruz de la Sierra has about 1,831,434 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Santa Cruz de la Sierra the capital of Bolivia?
No. The capital of Bolivia is Sucre (224,838 people), about 260 km away. Santa Cruz de la Sierra is the 2nd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Santa Cruz de la Sierra compared with the rest of Bolivia?
Its 1,831,434 residents are 14.3% of the 12,799,509 people living in Bolivia today. La Paz is larger with 2,004,652 people.
Where is Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
In Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia, at latitude -17.79 and longitude -63.18, 433 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Cotoca (14 km), Warnes (30 km), Montero (50 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Santa Cruz de la Sierra Population 2026 — Bolivia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/bolivia/santa-cruz-de-la-sierra/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/bolivia/santa-cruz-de-la-sierra/">Santa Cruz de la Sierra Population 2026 — Bolivia</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.