South America Countrie and Region : Complete Li t

If you’ve ever tried to list all the countries of South America from memory, you probably got stuck after Brazil and Argentina. There are exactly 12 sovereign states, and this guide sorts them from territories that sometimes muddy the count, while also covering traveler friendliness, languages, and remarkable facts.

Number of sovereign countries: 12 ·
Total area: 17.84 million km² ·
Population (approx.): 438 million (2024 estimate) ·
Largest country by area: Brazil ·
Most spoken language: Spanish ·
Highest point: Aconcagua (6,961 m)

Six key facts at a glance: the continent’s extremes are concentrated in a handful of countries.

What are the 12 countries of South America?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (government source) lists the 12 sovereign states in alphabetical order: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. This aligns with the standard used by Facts Institute (geography reference) and Britannica (encyclopedia). The continent is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, with the Caribbean Sea forming part of its northern edge (Facts Institute (geography reference)).

Which countries are dependencies or territories?

• French Guiana – an overseas département of France (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) – a British Overseas Territory (UCF Research Guides (academic library))
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands – also under British jurisdiction

Some resources, like CountriesSouthAmerica.com (country list), count these dependencies as separate entries, raising the total to 14. But among sovereign states, the number remains 12.

What is the alphabetical order of South American countries?

The standard alphabetized list is: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (government source)).

Which is the largest and smallest country?

Brazil is the largest by area, covering about 8.5 million km² – nearly half the continent. Suriname is the smallest sovereign state, at approximately 163,820 km² (Facts Institute (geography reference)).

The implication: travelers and students should verify which sources include dependencies to avoid confusion.

Which country is most friendly to Americans?

Friendliness is subjective, but surveys from World Population Review (demographic research site) consistently rank Uruguay, Chile, and Peru among the most welcoming for U.S. visitors. These countries score high on hospitality metrics and have significant expat communities. Safety correlates strongly with friendliness – travelers feel more at ease where crime is lower (see the safety section below).

What does “friendly” mean in this context?

Measures include positive attitudes toward Americans, ease of integration, and low levels of anti-U.S. sentiment. The World Population Review (demographic research site) notes that these countries also have strong diplomatic and economic ties with the United States.

Which South American countries rank highest in friendliness surveys?

• Uruguay – often cited for its stable democracy and welcoming culture
• Chile – high English proficiency and modern infrastructure
• Peru – known for hospitality toward tourists, especially in Cusco and Lima

According to the Britannica (encyclopedia) regional overview, these countries also attract the most U.S. expatriates per capita.

How does safety relate to friendliness?

Safety and friendliness often overlap. Travelers who feel safe are more likely to perceive locals as friendly. The Global Peace Index (independent research institute) ranks Chile and Uruguay as the most peaceful South American nations, reinforcing their reputation as friendly destinations.

The pattern: friendliness correlates with safety, but travelers should still exercise caution in urban areas.

What are 5 facts about South America?

The continent holds world records in geography, biodiversity, and natural phenomena. Here are five standout facts, each backed by authoritative sources.

• Amazon Rainforest – the largest tropical rainforest, spanning about 5.5 million km² across nine countries (Facts Institute (geography reference))
• Andes Mountains – the longest continental mountain range in the world, stretching over 7,000 km (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• Amazon River – the largest river by volume, discharging about 209,000 cubic meters per second (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• Angel Falls – the highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world, with a drop of 979 meters, located in Venezuela (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• Tapirs – the largest land mammals native to South America (Facts Institute (geography reference))

What this means: South America contains single-landmark extremes that are unmatched anywhere else on the planet.

Which language is mostly spoken in South America?

Spanish is the most widespread official language, spoken in 9 of the 12 countries (Britannica (encyclopedia)). Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, which holds more than half the continent’s population. English is official in Guyana, Dutch in Suriname, and French in French Guiana. Indigenous languages like Quechua, Guarani, and Aymara have millions of speakers across the Andes (Britannica (encyclopedia)).

What are the official languages of South American countries?

The official languages vary by country, with Spanish dominating.

How many people speak Spanish vs Portuguese?

Approximately 214 million South Americans speak Portuguese (mostly in Brazil) and about 210 million speak Spanish (Britannica (encyclopedia)). The numbers are close, but Portuguese has the edge because of Brazil’s population.

What about indigenous languages?

Quechua has about 8 million speakers across Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia. Guarani is co-official in Paraguay and spoken by 5 million people (Britannica (encyclopedia)).

The catch: Spanish may be more widespread, but Portuguese holds the population advantage.

What is the safest South American country?

Based on the Global Peace Index (independent research institute), Uruguay and Chile consistently rank as the safest South American countries. Argentina also scores well, though crime rates vary by city. The U.S. Overseas Security Advisory Council (government advisory) notes that tourist destinations in these countries generally have lower violent crime rates than regional averages.

Which countries have the lowest crime rates?

• Uruguay – lowest homicide rate in South America (about 7 per 100,000 people) (UNODC (crime data agency))
• Chile – homicide rate around 4 per 100,000, stable over the last decade
• Argentina – higher in some provinces, but Buenos Aires has moderate crime comparable to many U.S. cities

How does safety compare to the US?

The U.S. homicide rate (about 6.5 per 100,000) sits between Uruguay and Chile. However, the distribution is different – violent crime in South America is often concentrated in specific neighborhoods and border regions, while the U.S. has a more even spread (Global Peace Index (independent research institute)).

What factors contribute to safety?

Economic stability, strong police presence, and low inequality correlate with lower crime. Uruguay and Chile have the highest GDP per capita in South America and the lowest Gini coefficients (Britannica (encyclopedia)). The trade-off: tourists pay higher prices in these safer countries than in riskier destinations.

Uruguay is often described as the Switzerland of South America – stable, peaceful, and expensive for tourists.

– Britannica (encyclopedia)

What this means: Uruguay and Chile offer the best safety but at a higher cost; budget travelers should consider Peru and Colombia with precautions.

The 12 South American sovereign countries are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

– Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (government source)

French Guiana is a département of France, not a sovereign country.

– Britannica (encyclopedia)

For any traveler or student sorting through South America countries and regions, the distinction between sovereign states and territories matters. The 12-country list is the standard, but dependencies add nuance – especially for maps, visa rules, and cultural exploration. The safest bets for Americans remain Uruguay and Chile, but friendliness and safety are not always the same thing. Spanish opens doors in nine countries, but Portuguese is essential for Brazil. Knowing these regional dynamics turns a simple list into a practical travel compass.

For travelers and students alike, a complete list of South American countries is an essential starting point before diving into the continent’s diverse regions and cultures.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: See our guides for other continents – 2025 Asia Cup Schedule and FIFA World Cup African Qualifiers Standings.