Two-thirds of Bolivia's population are indigenous, yet these groups suffer discrimination at most levels of society. The Aymara and Quechua lead an almost parallel existence and do not take part in the political process or the formal economy, which remain under the control of a few wealthy city families who established their position during Spanish colonial rule. Most Bolivians are poor and many are subsistence farmers or miners. In recent years, the state has been encouraging people to settle in the Santa Cruz region. In addition to Bolivians from the "altiplano," Asians, South Africans and a few Mennonite communities have migrated there.
Family life tends to be close-knit; Roman Catholic influence and extended family ties among indigenous groups remain strong. Women have low status in Bolivia, particularly in Aymara and Quechua communities.
