Population of Potosí, Bolivia 1547-1700
highest cities in the world. According to census data from 2012, the population of Potosí was almost 176,000 people; a figure that is barely 16 thousand more than its estimated population four centuries before. It is estimated that the population of Potosí grew from 14 thousand in 1547, to 150 thousand by the turn of the 17th century (and some estimates suggest that it exceeded 200,000 in subsequent decades). With this explosion in population growth, Potosí quickly became the most populous city in the Americas, and was even larger than most European cities in the 17th century. This growth came following the discovery of silver deposits in 1545 in a nearby mountain, later named Cerro Rico ("Rich Hill"); this silver would provide a significant share of the Spanish crown's wealth during the 16th century, helping Spain grow to become the most powerful nation on earth at this time.
At over four kilometers above sea level, Potosí, Bolivia is one of the