Which country has the most official languages?

Bolivia is the country with the most official languages, recognizing 37 languages at the national level. Spanish is one of them, alongside 36 Indigenous languages recognized by the country's 2009 Constitution.

The list includes widely spoken languages such as Quechua, Aymara, and Guaraní, as well as languages associated with smaller communities, including Tacana, Uru-Chipaya, Chiquitano, and Yuracaré. Bolivia's language policy reflects its constitutional description as a plurinational state with many Indigenous peoples and nations.

This question often causes confusion because “official language” is not defined identically everywhere. India recognizes 22 scheduled languages under its Constitution, but that category is not the same as having 22 national-level official languages. Zimbabwe recognizes 16 official languages, while South Africa recognizes 12, leaving Bolivia ahead under the standard country-comparison definition.

Bolivia's government and departmental administrations are generally expected to use Spanish plus at least one Indigenous language suited to local circumstances. Recognition, however, does not mean every language is equally widely spoken; several official languages have very small speaker populations, and some are endangered or extinct.