South America Population & Countries
Updated April 2026 · World Bank country indicators · 12 countries
South America is home to 12 sovereign countries and roughly 440 million people. Brazil — by far the largest — accounts for nearly half the continent's population and area. Other major nations include Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, and Chile. The continent has urbanised rapidly since the 1960s and is now more than 80% urban.
432,717,296
Total population
12
Countries
63
People / sq mi
75.3
Avg life expectancy
Quick facts
- Most populous country: 🇧🇷 Brazil (211,140,729)
- Fastest-growing country: 🇧🇴 Bolivia (+1.37%/yr)
- Highest GDP per capita: 🇺🇾 Uruguay ($23,019)
- Longest-living population: 🇨🇱 Chile (81.2 years)
- Average GDP per capita: $9,768
- Average fertility rate: 1.90 births per woman
- Average urban population: 76.0%
All countries in South America by population
| # | Country | Population | Growth | Life exp. | GDP / capita |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇧🇷Brazil | 211,140,729 | +0.40% | 75.8 | $10,378 |
| 2 | 🇨🇴Colombia | 52,321,152 | +1.12% | 77.7 | $7,001 |
| 3 | 🇦🇷Argentina | 45,538,401 | +0.29% | 77.4 | $14,262 |
| 4 | 🇵🇪Peru | 33,845,617 | +1.10% | 77.7 | $7,888 |
| 5 | 🇻🇪Venezuela, RB | 28,300,854 | +0.31% | 72.5 | $3,617 |
| 6 | 🇨🇱Chile | 19,658,835 | +0.54% | 81.2 | $17,067 |
| 7 | 🇪🇨Ecuador | 17,980,083 | +0.87% | 77.4 | $6,738 |
| 8 | 🇧🇴Bolivia | 12,244,159 | +1.37% | 68.6 | $4,275 |
| 9 | 🇵🇾Paraguay | 6,844,146 | +1.23% | 73.8 | $6,300 |
| 10 | 🇺🇾Uruguay | 3,388,081 | -0.08% | 78.1 | $23,019 |
| 11 | 🇬🇾Guyana | 826,353 | +0.57% | 70.2 | $20,474 |
| 12 | 🇸🇷Suriname | 628,886 | +0.91% | 73.6 | $5,522 |
Other continents
Frequently Asked Questions
South America has a total population of approximately 432,717,296 people across 12 sovereign countries, with Brazil as the most populous nation at 211,140,729. Source: World Bank country population data.
South America has 12 sovereign countries listed in our dataset (sourced from World Bank country indicators). Boundary definitions follow the standard 6-continent model — see methodology for how Eurasia and the Caribbean are split.
Brazil is the most populous country in South America, with a population of 211,140,729. Its GDP per capita is $10,378.
Bolivia has the fastest annual population growth rate in South America at 1.37% per year.
Chile has the highest life expectancy in South America at 81.2 years.
Continent boundaries follow the 6-continent model. Country totals are sourced from World Bank Open Data.