2004年3月23日，玻利维亚实施了一项大规模人口普查，要求全国居民从午夜到午夜期间留在原地[1]。这次普查是该国12年来首次进行[1]，覆盖了1,136万余人口和约400万户家庭[1]。为了确保统计的准确性，玻利维亚政府动员了86万名志愿普查员进行逐户调查[1]。
这一独特的做法与发达国家的普查方式差异显著。一位记者在位于海拔3650米的拉巴斯被锁在旅馆内整整24小时，亲身体验了这场全国性的人口统计行动[1]。玻利维亚采取强制宵禁的方式反映了发展中国家在基础设施和资源方面面临的现实挑战。政府采取这种措施的目的在于准确掌握人口数据，因为"一个地区被统计的人口越多，获得的资源份额和政治代表权就越大"[1]。相比之下，澳大利亚计划在2026年8月11日进行的人口普查预计仅需20分钟[1]，两国做法的差异凸显了不同发展阶段国家的现实差距。
Bolivia conducted an unusual population count on March 23, 2004, requiring all residents to remain in place from midnight to midnight as part of the country's first census in 12 years [1]. The ambitious effort mobilized 860,000 volunteer census takers to conduct house-by-house surveys across the nation, counting a total population of 11,365,333 people living in approximately 4 million households [1].
The census operation was distinctive in its enforcement mechanism—a complete halt to movement nationwide ensured data accuracy by preventing residents from traveling between locations during the counting period [1]. This approach contrasted sharply with other nations' methods; Australia scheduled its 2026 census for August 11 and expected the process to take approximately 20 minutes per household [1]. The thoroughness of Bolivia's approach reflected the stakes involved, as census results directly determined resource allocation and political representation, with areas recording higher populations receiving greater shares of both [1]. The survey took place in La Paz, the capital city located at an elevation of 3,650 meters [1].