South America
South America (orthographic projection).svg
Area17,850,000 km2 (6,890,000 sq mi) (4th)
Population420,458,044 (2016; 5th)[1]
Population density21.4/km2 (56.0/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)$3.96 trillion (2018; 4th)[2]
GDP (PPP)$6.6 trillion (2018; 4th)[3]
GDP per capita$9,390 (2018; 4th)[4]
DemonymSouth American
LanguagesSpanish, Portuguese, English, French, Dutch, Quechua, Hindustani, Sranan Tongo, Saramaccan, other languages
Time zonesUTC-2 to UTC-5
Largest citiesList of cities in South America
UN M.49 code005 – South America
419Latin America







A composite relief image of South America

South America occupies the southern portion of the Americas. The continent is generally delimited on the northwest by the Darién watershed along the Colombia–Panama border, although some may consider the border instead to be the Panama Canal. Geopolitically and geographically[8] all of Panama – including the segment east of the Panama Canal in the isthmus – is typically included in North America alone[9][10][11] and among the countries of Central America.[12][13] Almost all of mainland South America sits on the South American Plate.





Outlying islands




Map of all tropical cyclone tracks from 1945 to 2006.


In temperate latitudes, winters are milder and summers warmer than in North America. Because its most extensive part of the continent is in the equatorial zone, the region has more areas of equatorial plains than any other region.[21]

The average annual temperatures in the Amazon basin oscillate around 27 °C (81 °F), with low thermal amplitudes and high rainfall indices. Between the Maracaibo Lake and the mouth of the Orinoco, predominates an equatorial climate of the type Congolese, that also includes parts of the Brazilian territory.[21]


The distribution of rainfall is related to the regime of winds and air masses. In most of the tropical region east of the Andes, winds blowing from the northeast, east and southeast carry moisture from the Atlantic, causing abundant rainfall. However, due to a consistently strong wind shear and a weak Intertropical Convergence Zone, South Atlantic tropical cyclones are rare.[22] In the Orinoco Llanos and in the Guianas plateau, the precipitation levels go from moderate to high. The Pacific coast of Colombia and northern Ecuador are rainy regions, with Chocó in Colombia being the most rainy place in the world along with the northern slopes of Indian Himalayas[23]. The Atacama Desert, along this stretch of coast, is one of the driest regions in the world. The central and southern parts of Chile are subject to extratropical cyclones, and most of the Argentine Patagonia is desert. In the pampas of Argentina, Uruguay and South of Brazil the rainfall is moderate, with rains well distributed during the year. The moderately dry conditions of the Chaco oppose the intense rainfall of the eastern region of Paraguay. In the semiarid coast of the Brazilian Northeast the rains are linked to a monsoon regime.[21]




The prehistoric Cueva de las Manos, or "Cave of the Hands", in Argentina






Pre-Columbian civilizations





Around the 7th century, both Tiahuanaco and Wari or Huari Empire (600–1200, Central and northern Peru) expanded its influence to all the Andean region, imposing the Huari urbanism and Tiahuanaco religious iconography.


Other important Pre-Columbian cultures include: the Cañaris (in south central Ecuador), Chimú Empire (1300–1470, Peruvian northern coast), Chachapoyas, and the Aymaran kingdoms (1000–1450, Western Bolivia and southern Peru). Holding their capital at the great city of Cusco, the Inca civilization dominated the Andes region from 1438 to 1533. Known as Tawantin suyu, and "the land of the four regions," in Quechua, the Inca Empire was highly distinct and developed. Inca rule extended to nearly a hundred linguistic or ethnic communities, some nine to fourteen million people connected by a 25,000 kilometer road system. Cities were built with precise, unmatched stonework, constructed over many levels of mountain terrain. Terrace farming was a useful form of agriculture.


European colonization

Woodcut depicting Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci's first voyage (1497-98) to the New World, from the first known published edition of Vespucci's 1504 letter to Piero Soderini.






The Dutch colonial houses in the historic center of Paramaribo, Suriname.
Illustration of the Demerara rebellion in British Guiana in 1823.





Slavery in South America

Public flogging of a slave in 19th-century Brazil.




Independence from Spain and Portugal

The proclamation of the Independence of Brazil by Prince Pedro on 7 September 1822
Coronation of Pedro I as 1st Emperor of Brazil
Bernardo O'Higgins swears officially the independence of Chile.





Nation-building and fragmentation

The Thirty-Three Orientals proclaimed the independence of Cisplatine Province.

The newly independent nations began a process of fragmentation, with several civil and international wars. However, it was not as strong as in Central America. Some countries created from provinces of larger countries stayed as such up to modern times (such as Paraguay or Uruguay), while others were reconquered and reincorporated into their former countries (such as the Republic of Entre Ríos and the Riograndense Republic).

The first separatist attempt was in 1820 by the Argentine province of Entre Ríos, led by a caudillo.[29] In spite of the "Republic" in its title, General Ramírez, its caudillo, never really intended to declare an independent Entre Rios. Rather, he was making a political statement in opposition to the monarchist and centralist ideas that back then permeated Buenos Aires politics. The "country" was reincorporated at the United Provinces in 1821.

In 1825 the Cisplatine Province declared its independence from the Empire of Brazil, which led to the Cisplatine War between the imperials and the Argentine from the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata to control the region. Three years later, the United Kingdom intervened in the question by proclaiming a tie and creating in the former Cisplatina a new independent country: The Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

Later in 1836, while Brazil was experiencing the chaos of the regency, Rio Grande do Sul proclaimed its independence motivated by a tax crisis. With the anticipation of the coronation of Pedro II to the throne of Brazil, the country could stabilize and fight the separatists, which the province of Santa Catarina had joined in 1839. The Conflict came to an end by a process of compromise by which both Riograndense Republic and Juliana Republic were reincorporated as provinces in 1845.[30][31]


Wars and conflicts

The Imperial Brazilian Army during a procession in Paraguay, 1868

South American history in early 19th century was built almost exclusively on wars. Despite the Spanish American wars of independence and the Brazilian War of Independence, the new nations quickly began to suffer with internal conflicts and wars among themselves.

In 1825 the proclamation of independence of Cisplatina led to the Cisplatine War between historical rivals the Empire of Brazil and the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, Argentina's predecessor. The result was a stalemate, ending with the British arranging for the independence of Uruguay. Soon after, another Brazilian province proclaimed its independence leading to the Ragamuffin War which Brazil won.


Meanwhile, the Argentine Civil Wars plagued Argentina since its independence. The conflict was mainly between those who defended the centralization of power in Buenos Aires and those who defended a confederation. During this period it can be said that "there were two Argentines": the Argentine Confederation and the Argentine Republic. At the same time the political instability in Uruguay led to the Uruguayan Civil War among the main political factions of the country. All this instability in the platine region interfered with the goals of other countries such as Brazil, which was soon forced to take sides. In 1851 the Brazilian Empire, supporting the centralizing unitarians, and the Uruguayan government invaded Argentina and deposed the caudillo, Juan Manuel Rosas, who ruled the confederation with an iron hand. Although the Platine War did not put an end to the political chaos and civil war in Argentina, it brought temporary peace to Uruguay where the Colorados faction won, supported by the Brazilian Empire, British Empire, French Empire and the Unitarian Party of Argentina.[32]

Peace lasted only a short time: in 1864 the Uruguayan factions faced each other again in the Uruguayan War. The Blancos supported by Paraguay started to attack Brazilian and Argentine farmers near the borders. The Empire made an initial attempt to settle the dispute between Blancos and Colorados without success. In 1864, after a Brazilian ultimatum was refused, the imperial government declared that Brazil's military would begin reprisals. Brazil declined to acknowledge a formal state of war, and, for most of its duration, the Uruguayan–Brazilian armed conflict was an undeclared war which led to the deposition of the Blancos and the rise of the pro-Brazilian Colorados to power again. This angered the Paraguayan government, which even before the end of the war invaded Brazil, beginning the biggest and deadliest war in both South American and Latin American histories: the Paraguayan War.

The Paraguayan War began when the Paraguayan dictator Francisco Solano López ordered the invasion of the Brazilian provinces of Mato Grosso and Rio Grande do Sul. His attempt to cross Argentinian territory without Argentinian approval led the pro-Brazilian Argentine government into the war. The pro-Brazilian Uruguayan government showed its support by sending troops. In 1865 the three countries signed the Treaty of the Triple Alliance against Paraguay. At the beginning of the war, the Paraguayans took the lead with several victories, until the Triple Alliance organized to repel the invaders and fight effectively. This was the second total war experience in the world after the American Civil War. It was deemed the greatest war effort in the history of all participating countries, taking almost 6 years and ending with the complete devastation of Paraguay. The country lost 40% of its territory to Brazil and Argentina and lost 60% of its population, including 90% of the men. The dictator Lopez was killed in battle and a new government was instituted in alliance with Brazil, which maintained occupation forces in the country until 1876.[33]

The last South American war in the 19th century was the War of the Pacific with Bolivia and Peru on one side and Chile on the other. In 1879 the war began with Chilean troops occupying Bolivian ports, followed by Bolivia declaring war on Chile which activated an alliance treaty with Peru. The Bolivians were completely defeated in 1880 and Lima was occupied in 1881. The peace was signed with Peru in 1883 while a truce was signed with Bolivia in 1884. Chile annexed territories of both countries leaving Bolivia with no path to the sea.[34]

In the new century, as wars became less violent and less frequent, Brazil entered into a small conflict with Bolivia for the possession of the Acre, which was acquired by Brazil in 1902. In 1917 Brazil declared war on the Central Powers and join the allied side in the World War I, sending a small fleet to the Mediterranean Sea and some troops to be integrated with the British and French troops. Brazil was the only South American country that fought in WWI.[35][36] Later in 1932 Colombia and Peru entered a short armed conflict for territory in the Amazon. In the same year Paraguay declared war on Bolivia for possession of the Chaco, in a conflict that ended three years later with Paraguay's victory. Between 1941 and 1942 Peru and Ecuador fought decisively for territories claimed by both that were annexed by Peru, usurping Ecuador's frontier with Brazil.[37]

Also in this period the first naval battle of World War II was fought on the continent, in the River Plate, between British forces and German submarines.[38] The Germans still made numerous attacks on Brazilian ships on the coast, causing Brazil to declare war on the Axis powers in 1942, being the only South American country to fight in this war (and in both World Wars). Brazil sent naval and air forces to combat German and Italian submarines off the continent and throughout the South Atlantic, in addition to sending an expeditionary force to fight in the Italian Campaign.[39][40][39]

A brief war was fought between Argentina and the UK in 1982, following an Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands, which ended with an Argentine defeat. The last international war to be fought on South American soil was the 1995 Cenepa War between Ecuador and the Peru along their mutual border.

Rise and fall of military dictatorships

Argentine soldiers during the Falklands War



Argentina and Britain fought the Falklands War in 1982.


Revolutionary movements and right-wing military dictatorships became common after World War II, but since the 1980s, a wave of democratization passed through the continent, and democratic rule is widespread now.[43] Nonetheless, allegations of corruption are still very common, and several countries have developed crises which have forced the resignation of their governments, although, on most occasions, regular civilian succession has continued.



Countries and territories

Arms Flag Country or territory Capital Area[45] Population
Coat of arms of Argentina.svg Argentina Buenos Aires 2,766,890 km2
(1,068,300 sq mi)
43,847,430 14.3/km2
(37/sq mi)
Bolivia Bolivia La Paz,
1,098,580 km2
(424,160 sq mi)
10,887,882 8.4/km2
(22/sq mi)
Norway Bouvet Island
49 km2
(19 sq mi)
0 0/km2
(0/sq mi)
Brazil Brazil Brasília 8,514,877 km2
(3,287,612 sq mi)
207,652,865 22/km2
(57/sq mi)
Chile Chile[48] Santiago 756,950 km2
(292,260 sq mi)
17,909,754 22/km2
(57/sq mi)
Colombia Colombia Bogotá 1,141,748 km2
(440,831 sq mi)
48,653,419 40/km2
(100/sq mi)
Ecuador Ecuador Quito 283,560 km2
(109,480 sq mi)
16,385,068 53.8/km2
(139/sq mi)
Falkland Islands Falkland Islands
(United Kingdom)[49]
Stanley 12,173 km2
(4,700 sq mi)
2,910 0.26/km2
(0.67/sq mi)
French Guiana French Guiana
Cayenne (Préfecture) 91,000 km2
(35,000 sq mi)
275,713 2.1/km2
(5.4/sq mi)
Guyana Guyana Georgetown 214,999 km2
(83,012 sq mi)
773,303 3.5/km2
(9.1/sq mi)
Coat of arms of Paraguay.svg Paraguay Asunción 406,750 km2
(157,050 sq mi)
6,725,308 15.6/km2
(40/sq mi)
Peru Peru Lima 1,285,220 km2
(496,230 sq mi)
31,773,839 22/km2
(57/sq mi)
(United Kingdom)[50]
King Edward Point[51] 3,093 km2
(1,194 sq mi)
20 0/km2
(0/sq mi)
Suriname Suriname Paramaribo 163,270 km2
(63,040 sq mi)
558,368 3/km2
(7.8/sq mi)
Uruguay Uruguay Montevideo 176,220 km2
(68,040 sq mi)
3,444,006 19.4/km2
(50/sq mi)
Venezuela Venezuela Caracas 916,445 km2
(353,841 sq mi)
31,568,179 27.8/km2
(72/sq mi)
Total 17,824,513 km2
(6,882,083 sq mi)
420,458,044 21.5/km2
(56/sq mi)


Headquarters of the UNASUR in Quito, Ecuador
South American flags

Historically, the Hispanic countries were founded as Republican dictatorships led by caudillos. Brazil was the only exception, being a constitutional monarchy for its first 67 years of independence, until a coup d'état proclaimed a republic. In the late 19th century, the most democratic countries were Brazil,[52][full citation needed] Chile, Argentina and Uruguay.[53]

In the interwar period, nationalism grew stronger on the continent, influenced by countries like Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. A series of authoritarian rules broke out in South American countries with views bringing them closer to the Axis Powers,[54] like Vargas's Brazil. In the late 20th century, during the Cold War, many countries became military dictatorships under American tutelage in attempts to avoid the influence of the Soviet Union. After the fall of the authoritarian regimes, these countries became democratic republics.

During the first decade of the 21st century, South American governments have drifted to the political left, with leftist leaders being elected in Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. Most South American countries are making increasing use of protectionist policies, helping local development.

All South American countries are presidential republics with the exceptions of Peru, which is a semi-presidential republic, and Suriname, a parliamentary republic. French Guiana is a French overseas department, while the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are British overseas territories. It is currently the only inhabited continent in the world without monarchies; the Empire of Brazil existed during the 19th century and there was an unsuccessful attempt to establish a Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia in southern Argentina and Chile. Also in the twentieth century, Suriname was established as a constituent kingdom of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Guyana retained the British monarch as head of state for 4 years after its independence.

Recently, an intergovernmental entity has been formed which aims to merge the two existing customs unions: Mercosur and the Andean Community, thus forming the third-largest trade bloc in the world.[55] This new political organization, known as Union of South American Nations, seeks to establish free movement of people, economic development, a common defense policy and the elimination of tariffs.


Satellite view of South America at night from NASA.

South America has over 420 million[1] inhabitants and a population growth rate of about 0.6% per year. There are several areas of sparse demographics such as tropical forests, the Atacama Desert and the icy portions of Patagonia. On the other hand, the continent presents regions of high population density, such as the great urban centers. The population is formed by descendants of Europeans (mainly Spaniards, Portuguese and Italians), Africans and indigenous peoples. There is a high percentage of mestizos that vary greatly in composition by place. There is also a minor population of Asians, especially in Brazil. The two main languages are by far Spanish and Portuguese, followed by French, English and Dutch in smaller numbers.


Official languages in South America





An estimated 90% of South Americans are Christians[58] (82% Roman Catholic, 8% other Christian denominations mainly traditional Protestants and Evangelicals but also Orthodox), accounting for c. 19% of Christians worldwide.

African descendent religions and Indigenous religions are also common throughout all South America, some examples of are Santo Daime, Candomblé, Umbanda and Encantados.



Japanese Buddhism, Shintoism, and Shinto-derived Japanese New Religions are common in Brazil and Peru. Korean Confucianism is especially found in Brazil while Chinese Buddhism and Chinese Confucianism have spread throughout the continent.

Kardecist Spiritism can be found in several countries.

Part of Religions in South America (2013):[59]

Religion in South America
Argentina 88% 77% 11% 11%
Bolivia 96% 74% 22% 4%
Brazil 88% 64% 22% 8%
Chile 70% 57% 13% 25%
Colombia 92% 80% 12% 7%
Paraguay 96% 87% 9% 2%
Peru 94% 81% 13% 3%
Suriname 51% 29% 22% 5%
Uruguay 58% 47% 11% 41%
Venezuela 88% 71% 17% 8%

Ethnic demographics

Afro-Colombian fruit sellers in Cartagena.
A Japanese-Brazilian Miko during a festival in Curitiba
Former president of Brazil Lula and members of the Italian Brazilian community during the Grape Festival at Caxias do Sul
Peruvian woman and her son of indigenous descent

Genetic admixture occurs at very high levels in South America. In Argentina, the European influence accounts for 65–79% of the genetic background, Amerindian for 17–31% and sub-Saharan African for 2–4%. In Colombia, the sub-Saharan African genetic background varied from 1% to 89%, while the European genetic background varied from 20% to 79%, depending on the region. In Peru, European ancestries ranged from 1% to 31%, while the African contribution was only 1% to 3%.[60] The Genographic Project determined the average Peruvian from Lima had about 28% European ancestry, 68% Native American, 2% Asian ancestry and 2% sub-Saharan African.[61]

Descendants of indigenous peoples, such as the Quechua and Aymara, or the Urarina[62] of Amazonia make up the majority of the population in Bolivia (56%) and, per some sources, in Peru (44%).[63][64] In Ecuador, Amerindians are a large minority that comprises two-fifths of the population. The native European population is also a significant element in most other former Portuguese colonies.

People who identify as of primarily or totally European descent, or identify their phenotype as corresponding to such group, are more of a majority in Argentina,[65] and Uruguay[66] and more than half of the population of Chile (64.7%)[67] and (48.4%) in Brazil.[68][69][70] In Venezuela, according to the national census 42% of the population is primarily native Spanish, Italian and Portuguese descendants.[71] In Colombia, people who identify as European descendant are about 37%.[72][73] In Peru, European descendants are the third group in number (15%).[74]

Mestizos (mixed European and Amerindian) are the largest ethnic group in Paraguay, Venezuela, Colombia[72] and Ecuador and the second group in Peru.

South America is also home to one of the largest populations of Africans. This group is significantly present in Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Venezuela and Ecuador.

Brazil followed by Peru have the largest Japanese, Korean and Chinese communities in South America, Lima has the largest ethnic Chinese community in Latin America.[75] East Indians form the largest ethnic group in Guyana and Suriname.

Ethnic distribution in South America[76][77]
Country Amerindians White people Mestizos Mulatos Black people Zambos Asian people
Argentina 1% 85% 14% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Bolivia 55% 12% 30% 2% 0% <1% 0%
Brazil <1% 48% 23% 20% 8% 0% 1%
Chile 3% 64% 33% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Colombia 2% 37% 50% 8% 2% 0% <1%
Ecuador 39% 10% 41% 5% 5% 0% 0%
Paraguay 3% 20% 75% 4% 0% 0% 0%
Peru 45% 15% 35% 2% 0% 0% 3%
Uruguay 0% 88% 8% 4% 0% 0% 0%
Venezuela 3% 17% 38% 38% 3% 0% 1%

Indigenous people



The most populous country in South America is Brazil with 207.7 million people. The second largest country is Colombia with a population of 48,653,419. Argentina is the third most populous country with 43,847,430.

While Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia maintain the largest populations, large city populations are not restricted to those nations. The largest cities in South America, by far, are São Paulo, Lima, and Bogotá. These cities are the only cities on the continent to exceed eight million, and three of five in the Americas. Next in size are Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Caracas, Buenos Aires and Salvador.

Five of the top ten metropolitan areas are in Brazil. These metropolitan areas all have a population of above 4 million and include the São Paulo metropolitan area, Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, and Belo Horizonte metropolitan area. Whilst the majority of the largest metropolitan areas are within Brazil, Argentina is host to the second largest metropolitan area by population in South America: the Buenos Aires metropolitan region is above 13 million inhabitants.

South America has also been witness to the growth of megapolitan areas. In Brazil four megaregions exist including the Expanded Metropolitan Complex of São Paulo with more than 32 million inhabitants. The others are the Greater Rio, Greater Belo Horizonte and Greater Porto Alegre. Colombia also has four megaregions which comprise 72% of its population, followed by Venezuela, Argentina and Peru which are also homes of megaregions.


Metro Area Population Area Country
São Paulo 21,090,792 7,947 km2 (3,068 sq mi) Brazil
Buenos Aires 13,693,657 3,830 km2 (1,480 sq mi) Argentina
Rio de Janeiro 13,131,431 6,744 km2 (2,604 sq mi) Brazil
Lima 9,904,727 2,819 km2 (1,088 sq mi) Peru
Bogotá 9,800,225 4,200 km2 (1,600 sq mi) Colombia
Santiago 6,683,852 15,403 km2 (5,947 sq mi) Chile
Belo Horizonte 5,829,923 9,467 km2 (3,655 sq mi) Brazil
Caracas 5,322,310 4,715 km2 (1,820 sq mi) Venezuela
Porto Alegre 4,258,926 10,232 km2 (3,951 sq mi) Brazil
Brasilia 4,201,737 56,433 km2 (21,789 sq mi) Brazil

2015 Census figures.


Trading panel of the São Paulo Stock Exchange is the second biggest in the Americas and 13th in the world.
Financial center of Santiago, Chile
Refinery of Brazilian state-owned Petrobras in Cochabamba, Bolivia


Since 1930, the continent has experienced remarkable growth and diversification in most economic sectors. Most agricultural and livestock products are destined for the domestic market and local consumption. However, the export of agricultural products is essential for the balance of trade in most countries.[80]




Since the end of the economic crisis in Brazil and Argentina that occurred in the period from 1998 to 2002, which has led to economic recession, rising unemployment and falling population income, the industrial and service sectors have been recovering rapidly. Chile, Argentina and Brazil have recovered fastest, growing at an average of 5% per year. All of South America after this period has been recovering and showing good signs of economic stability, with controlled inflation and exchange rates, continuous growth, a decrease in social inequality and unemployment–factors that favor industry.[80]

The main industries are: electronics, textiles, food, automotive, metallurgy, aviation, naval, clothing, beverage, steel, tobacco, timber, chemical, among others. Exports reach almost US$400 billion annually, with Brazil accounting for half of this.[80]

The economic gap between the rich and poor in most South American nations is larger than on most other continents. The richest 10% receive over 40% of the nation's income in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Paraguay,[81] while the poorest 20% receive 4% or less in Bolivia, Brazil, and Colombia.[82] This wide gap can be seen in many large South American cities where makeshift shacks and slums lie in the vicinity of skyscrapers and upper-class luxury apartments; nearly one in nine South Americans live on less than $2 per day (on a purchasing power parity basis).[83]

Country GDP (nominal)
in 2017 (in millions of dollars)
in 2017 (in millions of dollars)
per capita
in 2017

($bn), 2011[79]
in 2017

Percent with
less than
$2 (PPP)
per person
per day[citation needed]
Argentina 628,935 912,816 20,707 83.7 0.825 2.6
Bolivia 39,267 83,608 7,552 9.1 0.693 24.9
Brazil 2,140,940 3,216,031 15,485 250.8 0.759 10.8
Chile 251,220 455,941 24,796 86.1 0.845 2.7
Colombia 306,439 720,151 14,609 56.5 0.747 15.8
Ecuador 97,362 184,629 11,004 22.3 0.752 10.6
Falkland Islands[86] (UK) 206.4 206.4 70,800 0.26
French Guiana[87] (France) 4,456 4,456 19,728 1.3
Guyana 3,591 6,398 8,306 0.9 0.654 18.0
Paraguay 28,743 68,005 9,779 9.8 0.702 13.2
Peru 285,032 469,803 13,501 46.3 0.750 12.7
Suriname 3,641 7,961 13,934 1.6 0.720 27.2
Uruguay 58,123 77,800 22,271 8.0 0.804 2.2
Venezuela 251,589 404,109 12,856 92.6 0.761 12.9
Total 3,836,569 6,642,623 17,852 669.1 0.772 11.3

Economically largest cities as of 2014

Rank City Country GDP in Int$ bn[88] Population (mil)[88] GDP per capita
1 São Paulo Brazil $430 20,847,500 $20,650
2 Buenos Aires Argentina $315 13,381,800 $23,606
3 Lima Peru $176 10,674,100 $16,530
4 Rio de Janeiro Brazil $176 12,460,200 $14,176
5 Santiago Chile $171 7,164,400 $32,929
6 Bogotá Colombia $160 9,135,800 $17,497
7 Brasília Brazil $141 3,976,500 $35,689
8 Belo Horizonte Brazil $84 5,595,800 $15,134
9 Porto Alegre Brazil $62 4,120,900 $15,078
10 Campinas Brazil $59 2,854,200 $20,759


Tourism has increasingly become a significant source of income for many South American countries.[89][90]

Historical relics, architectural and natural wonders, a diverse range of foods and culture, vibrant and colorful cities, and stunning landscapes attract millions of tourists every year to South America. Some of the most visited places in the region are Iguazu Falls, Recife, Olinda, Machu Picchu, Bariloche, the Amazon rainforest, Rio de Janeiro, São Luís, Salvador, Fortaleza, Maceió, Buenos Aires, Florianópolis, San Ignacio Miní, Isla Margarita, Natal, Lima, São Paulo, Angel Falls, Brasília, Nazca Lines, Cuzco, Belo Horizonte, Lake Titicaca, Salar de Uyuni, Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos, Los Roques archipelago, Gran Sabana, Patagonia, Tayrona National Natural Park, Santa Marta, Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, Cartagena, Perito Moreno Glacier and the Galápagos Islands.[91][92] In 2016 Brazil hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Panorama of Cartagena (2008), one of the main tourist destinations of Colombia.


Teatro Solis, Uruguay.



Tango show in Buenos Aires, typical Argentine dance.
Carmen Miranda, Portuguese Brazilian singer helped popularize samba internationally.



Because of South America's broad ethnic mix, South American cuisine has African, South American Indian, South Asian, East Asian, and European influences. Bahia, Brazil, is especially well known for its West African–influenced cuisine. Argentines, Chileans, Uruguayans, Brazilians, Bolivians, and Venezuelans regularly consume wine. People in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, southern Chile, Bolivia and Brazil drink mate, an herb which is brewed. The Paraguayan version, terere, differs from other forms of mate in that it is served cold. Pisco is a liquor distilled from grapes in Peru and Chile. Peruvian cuisine mixes elements from Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, African, Arab, Andean, and Amazonic food.

Plastic arts

Bird (Singapore), sculpture of Fernando Botero

The artist Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919–1999) from Ecuador, represented with his painting style the feeling of the peoples of Latin America[93] highlighting social injustices in various parts of the world. The Colombian Fernando Botero (1932) is one of the greatest exponents of painting and sculpture that continues still active and has been able to develop a recognizable style of his own.[94] For his part, the Venezuelan Carlos Cruz-Diez has contributed significantly to contemporary art,[95] with the presence of works around the world.

Currently several emerging South American artists are recognized by international art critics: Guillermo Lorca – Chilean painter,[96][97] Teddy Cobeña – Ecuadorian sculptor and recipient of international sculpture award in France)[98][99][100] and Argentine artist Adrián Villar Rojas[101][102] – winner of the Zurich Museum Art Award among many others.




Other sports include basketball, cycling, polo, volleyball, futsal, motorsports, rugby (mostly in Argentina and Uruguay), handball, tennis, golf, field hockey, boxing and cricket.



South America is home to the longest running international football tournament; the Copa América, which has been regularly contested since 1916. Uruguay won the Copa América a record 15 times, surpassing hosts Argentina in 2011 to reach 15 titles (they were previously equal at 14 titles each during the 2011 Copa América).


South American Cricket Championship is an international limited-overs cricket tournament played since 1995 featuring national teams from South America and certain other invited sides including teams from North America, currently played annually but until 2013 was usually played every two seasons.



Jepírachi wind farm in the Guajira Peninsula.


The Brazilian Highlands has a much higher hydroelectric potential than the Andean region and its possibilities of exploitation are greater due to the existence of several large rivers with high margins and the occurrence of great differences forming huge cataracts, such as those of Paulo Afonso, Iguaçu and others. The Amazon River system has about 13,000 km of waterways, but its possibilities for hydroelectric use are still unknown.




Stretch of the Pan-American Highway in Argentina
The Port of Callao in Peru
The La Paz cable car system in Bolivia is home to both the longest and highest urban cable car network in the world.


Only two railroads are continental: the Transandina, which connects Buenos Aires, in Argentina to Valparaíso, in Chile, and the Brazil–Bolivia Railroad, which makes it the connection between the port of Santos in Brazil and the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, in Bolivia. In addition, there is the Pan-American Highway, which crosses the Andean countries from north to south, although some stretches are unfinished.[103]



The two main merchant fleets also belong to Brazil and Argentina. The following are those of Chile, Venezuela, Peru and Colombia. The largest ports in commercial movement are those of Buenos Aires, Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Bahía Blanca, Rosario, Valparaíso, Recife, Salvador, Montevideo, Paranaguá, Rio Grande, Fortaleza, Belém and Maracaibo.

In South America, commercial aviation has a magnificent expansion field, which has one of the largest traffic density lines in the world, Rio de Janeiro–São Paulo, and large airports, such as Congonhas, São Paulo–Guarulhos International and Viracopos (São Paulo), Rio de Janeiro International and Santos Dumont (Rio de Janeiro), El Dorado (Bogotá), Ezeiza (Buenos Aires), Tancredo Neves International Airport (Belo Horizonte), Curitiba International Airport (Curitiba), Brasilia, Caracas, Montevideo, Lima, Recife, Salvador, Salgado Filho International Airport (Porto Alegre), Fortaleza, Manaus and Belém.

The main public transport in major cities is the bus. Many cities also have a diverse system of metro and subway trains, the first of which was the Buenos Aires subte, opened 1913.[104] The Santiago subway[105] is the largest network in South America, with 103 km, while the São Paulo subway is the largest in transportation, with more than 4.6 million passengers per day[106] and was voted the best in the Americas. In Rio de Janeiro was installed the first railroad of the continent, in 1854. Today the city has a vast and diversified system of metropolitan trains, integrated with buses and subway. Recently it was also inaugurated in the city a Light Rail System called VLT, a small electrical trams at low speed, while São Paulo inaugurated its monorail, the first of South America.[citation needed] In Brazil, an express bus system called Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which operates in several cities, has also been developed.

See also

Notes and references

Content notes

^ Continent model: In some parts of the world South America is viewed as a subcontinent of the Americas[107] (a single continent in these areas), for example Latin America, Latin Europe, and Iran. In most of the countries with English as an official language, however, it is considered a continent; see Americas (terminology).


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  • "South America". The Columbia Gazetteer of the World Online. 2005. New York: Columbia University Press.
  • Latin American Network Information Database

External links