made up only 3.5% of the population five years old and
older, or 290,125 out of a total of 8,235,220 (Repablica
del Perd 1966:4-45). According to the 1972 Peruvian
census, their number had grown to 332,593, although this
then constituted only 2.9% of the total population five
years old and older (Repdblica del Perf 1974:2.646).
Allowing for the inclusion of Peruvian Aymara children
under five, the total of Aymara speakers in Bolivia and
Peru today may be estimated as nearing two million.

The 1961 Peruvian census gave breakdowns of
Aymara speakers by department and province. Unfortu-
nately, such figures are not yet available for 1972.
The 1961 census indicated that of the total 290,125,
83.9% were in the department of Puno, in the provinces
of Puno, Chucuito, and Huancané. Of the rest, 8.4%
were in the interior highlands of the departments of
Moquegua (province of Mariscal Nieto) and Tacna
(province of Tarata), with the remaining 8.5% scattered
in the departments of Arequipa (provinces of Arequipa
and Istay), Puno (provinces of Sandia and San Roman),
Lima, and Cuzco.

For Bolivia, reliable statistics on numbers
and location of Aymara speakers are not available. The
majority of speakers are generally considered to be in
the departments of La Paz and Oruro. There are also

Aymara in the northern and western parts of the department