South American Countries: Complete Alphabetical List (A–Z)

South American Countries Overview (2025 Guide)

Quick overview of each sovereign country in South America, including key travel and geographical facts as of December 2025.

Overview of South America

Quick Facts About the Continent

• Official Name: South America (América del Sur in Spanish/Portuguese)
• Land Area: 17,840,000 km² (4th largest continent)
• Population (Dec 2025): ~438 million
• Largest Country by Area: Brazil (47.3% of the continent)
• Largest Country by Population: Brazil (~213 million)
• Most Populous City: São Paulo, Brazil (~22 million in metro area)
• Highest Point: Aconcagua, Argentina (6,960 m / 22,837 ft)
• Longest River: Amazon River (flows through Brazil, Peru, Colombia)
• Largest Lake: Lake Titicaca (Peru/Bolivia border)
• Official Languages: Spanish (9 countries), Portuguese (Brazil), English (Guyana), Dutch (Suriname), plus many indigenous languages
• Biodiversity: Home to the Amazon Rainforest – the world’s largest rainforest and most biodiverse place on Earth

How Many Countries Are in South America?

South America has 12 sovereign countries and 3 dependent territories (French Guiana, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands).

Subregions of South America

South America is commonly divided into four geographic and cultural subregions:

Interesting Facts About South America

South America, the fourth-largest continent, is a land of stunning contrasts—from the world's largest rainforest to its driest desert. Here are some captivating facts that highlight its natural wonders, geography, and unique features.

• Home to the Amazon Rainforest: The Amazon is the world's largest tropical rainforest, covering about 40% of the continent and producing around 20% of the planet's oxygen. It's also incredibly biodiverse, home to millions of species.
• The Andes Mountains: The longest continental mountain range in the world, stretching over 7,000 km (4,300 miles) along the western edge, with Aconcagua as the highest peak outside Asia at 6,959 meters (22,831 feet).
• Angel Falls: Located in Venezuela, it's the world's tallest uninterrupted waterfall at 979 meters (3,212 feet)—nearly 20 times taller than Niagara Falls.
• Atacama Desert: In Chile, it's the driest non-polar desert on Earth—some areas haven't seen rain for centuries, making it a perfect spot for stargazing and Mars-like landscapes.
• Machu Picchu: This iconic Incan citadel in Peru, built in the 15th century, is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO site perched high in the Andes.
• Two Landlocked Countries: Bolivia and Paraguay are the only landlocked nations in South America, with no access to the ocean.
• Triangular Shape: South America's unique shape gives it the shortest coastline relative to its size among continents.
• Biodiversity Hotspot: The continent boasts incredible diversity, from the Galápagos Islands (famous for inspiring Darwin's theory of evolution) to the world's highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca.
• Southernmost City: Ushuaia in Argentina is the world's southernmost city, often called the "End of the World" and a gateway to Antarctica.

From ancient ruins to extreme landscapes, South America offers endless adventure for travelers!

Economic and Cultural Overview of South America

Main Industries

South America's economy is diverse and heavily reliant on natural resources. Key sectors include mining (copper in Chile, iron ore and gold in Brazil and Peru), agriculture (soybeans, coffee, beef, and wine), manufacturing (automobiles, steel, and food processing, especially in Brazil and Argentina), oil and gas (Venezuela and Brazil), and a growing services sector including tourism. Brazil dominates as the continent's largest economy, contributing significantly to regional GDP through its varied industries.

Languages Spoken

The predominant languages are Spanish (official in most countries except Brazil) and Portuguese (official in Brazil, the continent's most populous nation). English is official in Guyana, while Dutch is spoken in Suriname and French in French Guiana. Indigenous languages play a vital role, with Quechua (spoken by millions in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador), Guaraní (co-official in Paraguay and widely spoken), and Aymara being among the most prominent.

Religions

Christianity dominates, with Roman Catholicism historically the majority faith (around 54% of the population in recent surveys). Evangelical Protestantism has grown rapidly (about 19-20%), while around 19% identify as non-religious or unaffiliated. Indigenous beliefs often blend with Catholicism in Andean regions, and small minorities practice Judaism, Islam, and other faiths, particularly in urban areas like Argentina.

Cultural Highlights

South America is renowned for its vibrant festivals blending indigenous, European, and African influences. Standouts include Rio Carnival in Brazil (the world's largest with samba parades and street parties), Inti Raymi in Peru (Inca sun festival reenactment in Cusco), Fiesta de la Candelaria in Puno (colorful dances honoring the Virgin Mary), and Día de los Muertos traditions. Other highlights are tango in Argentina, Andean music and textiles, Amazonian indigenous traditions, and gaucho cowboy culture in the Pampas.

South America Countries by Population (as of December 2025)

The following table ranks the top 10 countries of South America by population from largest to smallest, based on UN estimates and projections for December 2025.

South America Countries by Area (from Largest to Smallest)

The following table ranks the top 10 countries of South America by land area from largest to smallest.