South American countries

South America is a continent entirely situated in the Western Hemisphere and predominantly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion extending into the Northern Hemisphere at its northern tip. It can also be described as the southern subregion of the single continent called America.

South America is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean, with North America and the Caribbean Sea to its northwest. The continent typically includes twelve sovereign states—Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela—two dependent territories (the Falkland Islands; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) and one internal territory (French Guiana). Additionally, various islands of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ascension Island, Bouvet Island, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago may also be considered part of South America.

South America covers an area of about 17 840 000 square kilometers (6 890 000 sq mi). Its population was estimated at over 434 million people in 2021. It ranks fourth in area (after Asia, Africa, and North America) and fifth in population (after Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America). Brazil is by far the most populous country on the continent—home to more than half its people—followed by Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, and Peru. In recent decades, Brazil has also produced roughly half of the continent’s GDP and emerged as its leading regional power.

Most inhabitants live along the western or eastern coasts, while the interior and far southern regions are sparsely populated. The geography of western South America is dominated by the Andes Mountains. In contrast, the eastern region includes both highlands and vast lowlands drained by rivers such as the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná. The majority of the continent lies within the tropics, except for a large portion of the Southern Cone, which falls in the temperate latitudes.

The continent’s cultural and ethnic landscape originates from the interactions of Indigenous peoples with European conquerors and immigrants—and, at a more local level, with African slaves. Owing to its long colonial history, the overwhelming majority of South Americans speak Spanish or Portuguese, and their societies and states are steeped in Western traditions. Compared with Europe, Asia, and Africa, 20th-century South America was one of the more peaceful continents, experiencing relatively few wars.