South America is home to 420 million people and offers some of the most scenic landscapes in the world. The incredible snowy mountain ranges of the Andes in the West are just as exciting as the lush green reainforests of the Amazon. There are 12 independent countries in South America. Below, you can find a list of South American countries and capitals as well as their currencies and population.
List of South American Countries and Capitals
| Country | Capital | Population (2019) | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Buenos Aires | 43,590,368 | Argentine peso |
| Bolivia | Sucre | 11,248,864 | Bolivian boliviano |
| Brazil | Brasília | 21,1513,000 | Brazilian real |
| Chile | Santiago | 18,191,884 | Chilean peso |
| Colombia | Bogotá | 48,258,494 | Colombian peso |
| Ecuador | Quito | 17,362,900 | United States dollar |
| Guyana | Georgetown | 747,884 | Guyanese dollar |
| Paraguay | Asunción | 7,152,703 | Paraguayan guaraní |
| Peru | Lima | 32,162,184 | Peruvian nuevo sol |
| Suriname | Paramaribo | 541,638 | Surinamese dollar |
| Uruguay | Montevideo | 3,480,222 | Uruguayan peso |
| Venezuela | Caracas | 31,028,637 | Venezuelan bolivar |
This list of all South American countries by population shows that Brazil is by far the most populated country in South America with over 200 million inhabitants. The small nation of Suriname is the least populated country in South America with just over 500,000 inhabitants.
Since many people are concerned with travel safety in South America, we have created a safety score for every country in South America. Chile is the safest country in South America. Click here for the full listing and safety tips.
If you want to learn more about the countries in South America and their capitals, try our South American capitals quiz here and find out if you’ve remembered all the capital cities of South America.
Map of all countries in South America
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