How Many Countries Are There in South America?12 sovereign states
There are 12 countries in South America — that is, 12 sovereign states. South America has the fewest countries of any inhabited continent. All twelve are UN member states, so the count is not disputed.
The countries
All 12 sovereign states of South America, A–Z. Each traces to the UN list of member and observer states.
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
How we count South America
We count the twelve sovereign states of South America, all of which are UN members. French Guiana is not on the list — it is an overseas region of France, not an independent country, so it is counted with France (Europe). The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory, not a sovereign state, and are likewise not counted. There are no observer states or microstates to add.
FAQ
What is the largest country in South America?
Brazil is by far the largest country in South America by both area and population — it covers almost half the continent.
What is the smallest country in South America?
Suriname is the smallest sovereign state in South America by both area and population, at about 164,000 square kilometers.
Is French Guiana a country?
No. French Guiana is an overseas region of France, so it is part of France rather than an independent South American country. That is why there are 12 sovereign states here, not 13.
Why does South America have so few countries?
The continent was shaped by a small number of large colonial empires — chiefly Spain and Portugal — whose territories became a handful of large nations rather than many small ones, unlike Africa or Europe.
Antarctica has 0 countries — it is governed by the Antarctic Treaty, not by any sovereign state.
More, by numbers
The other continents
Cite this page
CC BY 4.0Our compilation on this page — the figures as arranged, ranked and dated here — is published under CC BY 4.0. Reuse it anywhere, including commercially, with a link back. The underlying data belongs to the organizations credited below.
Us, by Numbers. "Us, by Numbers." https://usbynumbers.com
Sources
Every number here traces to an official body.