South American Countries & Capitals
South America is a continent of diverse cultures and landscapes. It is also home to a collection of nations with their own unique identity.
From the dense Amazon Rainforest to the majestic Andes mountains, the countries of South America have a major impact on our global society.
Argentina
Argentina is home to about 45 million people with a diverse economy that is strong in agriculture and industry. Its capital is Buenos Aires, home to its federal presidential republic government. Although democratic, Argentina has experienced periods of transition with military rule. Its history includes indigenous cultures, Spanish colonization, and periods of economic and political instability.
The culture of Argentina is influenced by European immigrants and indigenous traditions. Historically, Argentina is known for the politician and actress Eva Peron and the controversial Falklands War. Current Argentine culture is also known for the tango and their love of soccer, especially the great Lionel Messi.
Bolivia
La Paz is the capital of Bolivia where it houses a unitary presidential republic. The country is home to 11 million people with a tradition rooted in indigenous culture mixed with influence from Spanish colonization. The country is home to the world’s highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca, which it shares with Peru.
The Bolivian economy relies primarily on natural resources including mining and gas. However, the country continues to face challenges in economic development and poverty reduction.
Brazil
Brazil is the largest South American country in both area and population. Over 213 million people live in Brazil, with roots influenced by indigenous, African, and Portuguese traditions.
Brazil’s official language is Portuguese, and the capital city of Brasilia houses a federal presidential republic. The country is also home to the Amazon Rainforest, the largest rainforest in the world.
Brazil has the largest economy in South America with diverse sectors that include agriculture, mining, and manufacturing, with a trend leaning toward export-oriented industries and natural resources.
Chile
Chile is the longest country in the world from north to south, stretching 2,670 miles from the Atacama Desert to Antarctica. However, its width varies from 217 miles at its widest point to just 40 miles at its narrowest. Chile is also home to Easter Island, famous for its mysterious Moai statues.
The country is a unitary presidential republic and is home to 19 million people. The capital is Santiago, and historically has had a stable democracy with some periods of military rule. Chile has a market-oriented economy known for copper production and agricultural services.
Colombia
Colombia is home to 50 million people who are represented by a unitary presidential republic with a capital in Bogota.
Colombia is known for its diverse ecosystems, including parts of the Amazon Rainforest and the Andes Mountains. The country has a historic economy based in agriculture, including some of the finest coffee beans in the world, as well as mining and manufacturing. However, their growing economy is now focusing on diversification and trade.
Ecuador
Ecuador’s economy relies on oil, agriculture, and tourism, and operates on the US Dollar. Their tourism industry focuses on the Galapagos Islands, famous for their unique and diverse wildlife.Â
The country also has a rich history influenced by the Inca Empire and Spanish colonization. There are approximately 17 million people in Ecuador, represented by a unitary presidential republic in the capital city of Quito, which is one of the highest capital cities in the world.
Guyana
The population of Guyana is around 800,000, with English as the official language. Guyana is a cooperative republic with the capital in Georgetown.
Guyana has a history driven by indigenous cultures, Dutch and British colonization, up until their independence in 1966. The economic landscape in Guyana has centered around natural resources with recent rapid economic growth due to oil discoveries.
Paraguay
There are about 7 million people in Paraguay under a unitary presidential republic that is housed in the capital city of Asuncion.
Although landlocked, Paraguay is known for its large rivers including the Paraguay and Parana Rivers which allows the country to be a major exporter of hydroelectric power.
The Paraguayan economy is mostly agricultural with soybeans and cattle serving as major exports. Even with hydroelectric power and agricultural exports, the country is still facing economic challenges due to lack of diversification.
Peru
Peruvian culture is rich with history dating back to the ancient civilizations of the Inca and Moche, through Spanish colonization, and later independence in 1821. Peru is home to Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city high in the mountains. The country is also home to the source of the Amazon River.
Peru’s population is 32 million with a capital located in Lima. The Peruvian government is a unitary semi-presidential republic but has seen its periods of political instability. The Peruvian economy is diverse with strengths in mining and agriculture, but has seen recent growth due to its emerging tourism industry.
Suriname
Suriname is the smallest country in South America and is located on the northeastern coast of the continent.
Like Guyana, Suriname’s history involved British and Dutch colonization until gaining independence in 1975. However, Dutch is its official language.
The unitary presidential republic is housed in the capital of Paramaribo. Suriname’s economy is dependent on natural resource exports including bauxite and gold.
Uruguay
With 3.5 million people, the unitary presidential republic of Uruguay has a strong emphasis on social welfare. The country is listed as the least corrupt in South America.
The capital city of Montevideo is the hub for a stable Uruguayan economy with strengths in agriculture and tourism. It ranks high on global measures of personal rights, tolerance, and inclusion issues, including its acceptance of the LGBT community.
Venezuela
The perception of the political landscape of Venezuela is often misleading. Although socialist dictators have ruled the country for decades, Venezuela is technically a federal presidential republic with the United Socialist Party controlling government.
The country is home to 28 million people with its capital located in Caracas. The Venezuelan economy has been historically dependent on oil with up to 90% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) based on oil. This lack of economic diversification and socialist practices has been major influences on the country’s economic decline.