Ask anyone to list South American countries and you might get a different answer each time — some say 12, others swear 17, and a few will confidently name 23. The confusion is understandable: several online sources mix up sovereign nations with territories, and educational materials sometimes blur the line between South America and the broader Latin American region.

4 related posts

Sovereign countries: 12 ·
Largest by area: Brazil ·
Most populous: Brazil ·
Total with territories: 14 ·
Smallest by area: Suriname

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • Suriname gained independence from the Netherlands on November 25, 1975 (Nations Online)
  • Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom on May 26, 1966 (Wikipedia)
  • Sovereign state count has remained stable at 12 since the 1970s (Nations Online)
4What’s next
  • No changes to sovereign status are anticipated; the 12-nation framework is internationally settled
  • French Guiana’s status remains unchanged as a French overseas department (since 1946)
Metric Value
Number of sovereign countries 12
Total land area 17.84 million km²
Population 434 million
Languages Spanish, Portuguese, others

What are the countries in South America?

The continent includes twelve sovereign nations, each with its own government, territory, and international recognition. These range from the massive Amazon basin of Brazil to the high-altitude Andes of Bolivia, and from Spanish-speaking nations along the Pacific coast to the Portuguese-speaking giant that dominates the eastern third of the continent.

Sovereign states

The 12 fully independent sovereign states in South America, listed alphabetically, are: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela (Wikipedia). Each appears on the official list maintained by the US State Department as independent states in the world (US State Department), confirming their sovereign status under international law. Travelers interested in iconic global landmarks may also appreciate that Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa exemplifies the kind of engineering curiosity that draws millions of visitors worldwide.

The upshot

Brazil alone accounts for roughly 213.6 million of the continent’s 434 million total population — more than all the other 11 countries combined. When sources claim higher counts like 17 or 23, they’re almost always mixing in dependent territories or confusing South America with Latin America (which spans from Mexico to Chile and includes 33 countries).

Territories and dependencies

Beyond the 12 sovereign nations, South America contains three non-sovereign dependent territories. French Guiana is administered by France as an overseas department, with an area of 83,534 km² and a 2023 population of approximately 309,610 (World Population Review). The Falkland Islands, under British administration, cover 12,173 km² with a population around 3,700. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, also British territories, have no permanent population and span 3,903 km² (World Population Review). Curious explorers drawn to legendary traditions like Ireland’s Blarney Stone will find Suriname equally fascinating for its unique Dutch colonial heritage.

“There are 12 sovereign states and 3 non-sovereign dependent territories in South America.”

— Wikipedia Editors, Encyclopedia Contributors

Some sources count 14 entities when including Falkland Islands and French Guiana, but this inflates the sovereign count. French Guiana is the only continental mainland territory without its own sovereign government — it’s fully part of France and votes in French elections (Wikipedia Template).

How many countries in South America?

The straightforward answer is 12 — this is the consensus across authoritative sources including the US State Department, the United Nations, and Wikipedia. The count has remained stable since the last major independence in 1975, when Suriname separated from the Netherlands (Nations Online).

Sovereign vs. total including territories

When counting both sovereign nations and dependent territories, the total rises to 15 entities. This figure includes the 12 sovereign states plus French Guiana, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Some sources cite 14 when they exclude the uninhabited South Georgia territory.

Common misconceptions

The most frequent source of confusion is conflating South America (12 countries) with Latin America (33 countries across two continents). Educational platforms sometimes list all Latin American nations, inflating the South American count (Study.com). Another common error involves Aruba, which is Caribbean, not South American — yet appears in some poorly sourced lists (Kolibri Teacher in a Box).

Why this matters

The distinction matters for anyone studying geography, international business, or regional politics. Sovereign states have voting rights in the UN General Assembly; territories do not. Mixing the two categories leads to inflated statistics and misinformed policy decisions.

Guyana and Suriname stand out as linguistic outliers in a region dominated by Spanish and Portuguese — Guyana uses English officially, and Suriname uses Dutch.

What are the top 5 biggest countries in South America?

By land area, Brazil dominates overwhelmingly. By population, the ranking shifts slightly but retains the same five largest nations.

By area

Brazil alone covers nearly 48% of South America’s total land area of 17.84 million km². Argentina ranks a distant second at roughly 2.8 million km², followed by Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia (World Atlas).

Rank Country Area (km²)
1 Brazil 8,500,000
2 Argentina 2,780,000
3 Colombia 1,140,000
4 Peru 1,285,000
5 Bolivia 1,098,000

By population

Brazil’s 213.6 million residents represent approximately 49% of the continent’s 434 million total population. Colombia’s 53.9 million places it second, followed by Argentina at 46 million (World Population Review).

Rank Country Population (2023)
1 Brazil 213,563,000
2 Colombia 53,936,200
3 Argentina 46,003,700
4 Peru 34,922,100
5 Venezuela 28,633,700

The implication: demographic weight and geographic size don’t always align. Bolivia ranks fourth by area but drops outside the top five by population due to its lower density.

What’s the safest South American country?

Safety rankings vary significantly depending on which index is consulted and what metrics are weighted. No single source provides a definitive answer, and year-to-year fluctuations mean any ranking should be treated as a snapshot.

Safety rankings

According to various global peace and safety indices, Uruguay and Chile typically rank highest among South American nations. Uruguay benefits from its stable democratic institutions and relatively small population concentrated in urban areas. Chile’s rigorous border controls and geographic isolation of certain regions contribute to its favorable metrics. Ecuador has improved significantly in recent years after historically higher crime rates.

Factors considered

Safety indices typically weigh violent crime rates, political stability, criminal justice effectiveness, and regional security cooperation. Nations with smaller populations and stronger institutional governance consistently score better. Countries facing border disputes or active internal conflicts — such as Venezuela — tend to rank lower across multiple metrics.

“12 Countries of South America and Their Capitals | Complete List of 12 Nations in South America.”

— Social Media Geography Educators, Instagram Geography Reel

The catch: tourists and residents experience safety differently. Street crime in urban centers may be high in a country that scores well on organized-crime indices, and vice versa.

What is the poorest country in South America?

The answer depends on which poverty metric is applied — GDP per capita, poverty headcount ratio, or human development index. Different sources will point to different nations depending on their methodology.

By GDP per capita

Using nominal GDP per capita, Venezuela historically ranked lowest due to economic crisis conditions, though disputed official figures complicate the picture. Bolivia and Paraguay typically show the lowest figures among countries with reliable data. The World Bank reports that Bolivia’s GDP per capita remains significantly below regional averages.

By other metrics

When poverty headcount ratios (the percentage of population living below the poverty line) are considered, Bolivia and Peru show higher poverty rates than Venezuela despite higher nominal GDP per capita. The Human Development Index offers another lens: Guyana and Chile consistently rank highest, while Bolivia and Paraguay rank lower (World Population Review).

The paradox

Venezuela illustrates how nominal GDP figures can mislead during economic crises — the country may show lower GDP per capita than neighbors while experiencing acute hyperinflation, yet its social infrastructure was historically more developed than Bolivia’s. Raw metrics without context tell only part of the story.

What to watch: Guyana presents a wildcard, as major offshore oil discoveries beginning production in 2019-2020 are rapidly transforming its economic trajectory. Within a decade, it could rank among the region’s wealthiest by GDP per capita.

Additional sources

onestep4ward.com, samplecontents.library.ph

The 12 sovereign states of South America feature prominently in resources like the South America countries list and facts, which unpack common misconceptions about their count and diversity.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the countries in South America and North America?

South America has 12 sovereign countries. North America, depending on definition, has 23 to 37 sovereign states and territories. The two continents are separated by the Darién Gap and different regional definitions.

Countries in South America quiz?

The 12 sovereign countries are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. A quiz typically tests recognition of these names and their capitals.

Which country is most friendly to Americans?

Friendliness rankings vary by survey methodology. Argentina and Uruguay often score well in regional polls due to historical cultural ties and tourism infrastructure. Chile and Brazil also rank highly for business and leisure travel.

What are 20 Latin American countries?

Latin America comprises 33 sovereign nations across two continents, from Mexico through Chile. North America includes Central American nations, Caribbean states, and Mexico. South America contains 12 sovereign nations. The term “20 Latin American countries” is not a standard geographic classification.

How many countries in North America?

North America contains 23 to 37 entities depending on whether dependent territories are included. The UN recognizes 35 member states in North America, including Caribbean nations.

What’s the difference between South America and Latin America?

South America is a geographic continent with 12 sovereign countries. Latin America is a cultural and political region spanning from Mexico to Chile, encompassing 33 countries across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. South America is a subset of Latin America.

Bottom line

Readers who distinguish between sovereign states and territories will avoid the inflated counts of 17 or 23 that plague lesser sources — and will understand why South America’s 12 internationally recognized nations represent a settled, stable framework.

South America is the fourth-largest continent by area, after Asia, Africa, and North America, spanning approximately 17.84 million km² (World Population Review). The continent is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the north and east, with the Caribbean Sea to the northwest (Wikipedia).

For travelers and researchers alike, the takeaway is clear: when someone claims South America has 17 or 23 countries, they’re either counting territories as nations or conflating the continent with the broader Latin American region. The internationally recognized count sits firmly at 12 sovereign states — a figure confirmed by the US State Department, the United Nations, and consensus across major encyclopedic sources.