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How many countries are in South America?

Countries in South America with Explanation

There are 12 officially recognized sovereign independent states along with 3 dependent territories. Located in the western part of the Southern Hemisphere, South America is the fourth largest continent of the world that occupies the southern part of the huge supercontinent identified as New World or Americas. It is a homeland to 12 officially recognized sovereign independent states. The flags of South America together constitute of the national Flags of South American countries and does not have any specific flag of South America Continent. Widely known as the continent of huge diversity and fascinating facts South America is a continent that occupies an area of about 6,878,000 sq. mi or 17,814,000 sq. km i.e. acquire about one-eighth of earth’s total landmass. The continent comprises of 12 sovereign nations within it along with 3 dependent territories. The Pacific Ocean surrounds South America from the west, Atlantic ocean from north and east and the Caribbean Sea borders it from the northwest and is connected to North America in its northeast part. There exists an overland border between North and south America connecting them and stretches along the Panama-Colombian state boundary. The South America continent is roughly triangular in shape and contracts with its longest north-south extent of about 4,700 miles right from Gallinas in Colombia to Cape Horn in Chile and the larges east-west extent being about 4700 miles from Cape Branco, Brazil to Point Parinas in Peru.

List of countries in South America - Updated 2024

Country Capital Language/Currency/Time Zone/ Calling Code
Argentina Buenos Aires
  • The official language of the nation is Spanish
  • The currency Peso.
  • The calling code is +54
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -3 hours.
Bolivia Sucre
  • The official language of the nation is Spanish
  • The currency Boliviano.
  • The calling code is +591
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -4 hours.
Brazil Brasilia
  • The official language of the nation is Portuguese
  • The currency Real.
  • The calling code is +55
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -3 hours.
Chile Santiago
  • The official language of the nation is Spanish
  • The currency Peso.
  • The calling code is +56
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -4 hours.
Colombia Bogota
  • The official language of the nation is Spanish
  • The currency Peso.
  • The calling code is +57
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -5 hours.
Ecuador Quito
  • The official language of the nation is Spanish
  • The currency Dollar.
  • The calling code is +593
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -5 hours.
Falkland Islands (UK) Stanley
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency Pound.
  • The calling code is +500
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -3 hours.
French Guiana (France) Cayenne
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency Euro.
  • The calling code is +594
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -4 hours.
Guyana Georgetown
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency Dollar.
  • The calling code is +592
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -4 hours.
Paraguay Asuncion
  • The official language of the nation is Spanish
  • The currency Guarani.
  • The calling code is +595
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -4 hours.
Peru Lima
  • The official language of the nation is Spanish
  • The currency SOL.
  • The calling code is +51
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -5 hours.
Suriname Paramaribo
  • The official language of the nation is Dutch
  • The currency Dollar.
  • The calling code is +597
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -3 hours.
Uruguay Montevideo
  • The official language of the nation is Spanish
  • The currency Peso.
  • The calling code is +598
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -3 hours.
Venezuela Caracas
  • The official language of the nation is Spanish
  • The currency Bolivar.
  • The calling code is +58
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -4 hours.

South America Facts

All you need to know about the South American Continent!

There are several interesting facts about South America. This huge diverse continent comprises of the huge range of climates, geographies, cultures, wildlife and even more. It is home to 12 different countries and also 3 dependent territories. Let us see more about this vast continent. While we talk about the South American continent, in total there are about 12 officially recognized independent countries along with 3 dependent territories. The 12 independent sovereign states comprise of 12 Flags of South America with each country having its own national flag. We would further see about flags of South America in detail. The 12 countries here in South America include Colombia, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, Paraguay, Venezuela, and Ecuador. The largest country both by area as well as the most populated one is Brazil that occupies over 50% of the total mainland area of South America and accounts for about more than 52% of the total population in this continent. The smallest independent country here is Suriname and is the only nation in this continent that uses Dutch as its official language. The most visited countries amongst the South American countries is Brazil followed by Argentina and Peru and Peru is home to some of the major tourist attractions like Machu Picchu is also known as the mysterious city of the Incas. There is no specific flag of South America, as the continents do not have any particular flag. However, the 12 independent countries within this continent do have. Thus, when we say Flags of South America, it is inclusive of the national flags of South American countries. The Flags of South America are symbol or emblem of the South American countries that represents each country’s vision and strength. Each Flag of South America has its own distinctive combination of shapes, symbols, and colors but by convention almost every Flag of South America is rectangular in shape. Flags of South America comprise of the flags of all 12 sovereign nations of South America with some exceptions.

Languages of South America

The most widely spoken languages of South American countries are Spanish, and English is the secondary language here. It is only in Brazil where Portuguese is widely spoken. And Surinam which was earlier a Dutch Colony uses Dutch as its official language. Apart from this Quechua is the language used in Inca and is one of the most common indigenous languages in South America.

The population of South America

South America is the fourth largest continent of the World and accommodates approximately 414.663 million people. The five most populous countries of North America arranged in the order of largest population to smallest one are Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, and Venezuela. The population density of South America is nearly 152.7 persons per sq. mi. Brazil is the most populated country of North America with about 204.519 million people and this accounts for about 49.36% of the continent’s total population. The least populated country in North America is Suriname with a population of about 56000 people and a population density of 7.5 people per sq. mi.

Time Zones used in North America

The South America continent and all the countries here use five standard time zones that range from UTC -5, UTC-4, UTC-04:30, UTC-3 and UTC-2.

Highest Point in North America

The highest point in South America is Aconcagua in Argentina with a height of about 6,961 meters or 22,837 ft. lying in the Andes mountain range. The Aconcagua is known to be the second highest amongst the world's Seven Summits right after Mount Everest which is in Asia.

Largest Lake in South America

Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in the South American continent lying at 12,500 ft. or 3,810m above the sea level and is shared by Peru and Bolivia.

Longest River in North America

The Amazon river with a length of around 6,437 km/4,000 is the longest river in North America and also the second longest in the world after the Nile. River Amazon contains water which is much more than the world’s 10 largest rivers in combination.

Conclusion

The best answer to the question that how many countries are there in South America is that South America is a land of diversity in culture, people and languages and is a home to 12 independent countries recognized by the UN along with 3 dependent territories that do not hold recognition from UN but are recognized by some of its member countries. Located both in the Southern and western hemisphere South America is the world’s fourth largest continent. Brazil is the largest and most populous country here. The list of South America Flags is inclusive of the national flags of South American countries. South America is also the site of tourist attractions.