South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and east, and North America and the Caribbean Sea to the northwest.
South America covers about 17.46 million km² (6.89 million sq mi), with a population of 431 million (2021). South America's population is equivalent to 5.53% of the total world population.
Fun Facts about South America
The Amazon is the second longest river in the world. It contains more water than any other river and is home to the Amazon River Dolphin and thousands of unique species.
São Paulo, Brazil is the largest city in South America. With over 22 million inhabitants (2021), it is also one of the ten biggest cities on Earth.
More than 300 languages are spoken across the continent. English, Spanish and Portuguese are the most widely spoken, alongside hundreds of indigenous languages.
The largest carnival celebrations on Earth are held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — drawing millions of visitors every year in a breathtaking display of music and culture.
Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela is the largest lake in South America, spanning 5,100 sq miles. Between 26–30 million years old, it is also one of the oldest lakes on Earth.
Interactive Map of South America
Countries of South America
The continent of South America comprises 12 independent countries, in addition to 4 non-sovereign dependent territories.
| # | Country | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Brazil | 216,056,737 |
| 2 |  Colombia | 52,015,562 |
| 3 |  Argentina | 45,686,947 |
| 4 |  Peru | 34,252,628 |
| 5 |  Venezuela | 28,660,662 |
| 6 |  Chile | 19,621,074 |
| 7 |  Ecuador | 18,127,884 |
| 8 |  Bolivia | 12,334,185 |
| 9 |  Paraguay | 6,834,824 |
| 10 |  Uruguay | 3,423,005 |
| 11 |  Guyana | 812,149 |
| 12 |  Suriname | 621,522 |
Non-Sovereign Territories
A list of non-sovereign states and dependent territories in South America.
| Territory | Population | Dependency of |
|---|---|---|
| French Guiana | 309,633 | France |
| Falkland Islands | 3,787 | United Kingdom |
| South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands | 0 | United Kingdom |
| Bouvet Island | 0 | Norway |
Was South America once connected to Africa?
Yes. Around 160 million years ago, the two continents began drifting to their present locations as part of the breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana. Today's coastlines of South America and Africa mirror each other closely — and similar fossils have been found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, confirming their shared prehistoric origin.
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