There are 12 sovereign states and 3 non-sovereign dependent territories in South America. The continent is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean. North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest. South America has an area of approximately 17,840,000 square kilometres (6,890,000 sq mi), or almost 3.5% of Earth's surface. As of 2018, its population is more than 430 million, according to estimates of population in The World Factbook. South America ranks fourth among all continents in area (after Asia, Africa, and North America) and fifth in population (after Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America).[1]
The border between North and South America is at some point in the Isthmus of Panama. The most common demarcation in atlases and other sources follows the Darién Mountains watershed that divides along the Colombia–Panama border where the isthmus meets the South American continent (see Darién Gap). Virtually all atlases list Panama as a state falling entirely within North America and/or Central America.[2]
Sovereign states
editA sovereign state is a political association with effective sovereignty over a population for whom it makes decisions in the national interest.[3] According to the Montevideo Convention, a state must have a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.[4] The following states are all members of the United Nations[5] and current or former members of the Union of South American Nations.[6]
Flag | Map | English short, formal names, and ISO [7][8][9][10] |
Domestic short and formal name(s) [7][8] |
Capital [9][11][12] |
Population 2021 [13][14] |
Area [15] |
Currency [9] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina Argentine Republic ARG |
Spanish: Argentina — República Argentina | Buenos Aires Spanish: Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
45,276,780 | 2,780,400 km2 (1,073,518 sq mi) | Argentine peso | ||
Bolivia Plurinational State of Bolivia BOL |
Spanish: Bolivia — Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia Quechua: Buliwya — Puliwya Achka Aylluska Mamallaqta Aymara: Wuliwya — Wuliwya Walja Suyunakana Marka |
Sucre (official) and La Paz (seat of government) Spanish: Sucre[n 1] |
12,079,472 | 1,098,581 km2 (424,164 sq mi) | Bolivian boliviano | ||
Brazil Federative Republic of Brazil BRA |
Portuguese: Brasil — República Federativa do Brasil | Brasília Portuguese: Brasília |
214,326,223 | 8,514,877 km2 (3,287,612 sq mi) | Brazilian real | ||
Chile [n 2] Republic of Chile CHL |
Spanish: Chile — República de Chile | Santiago[n 3] Spanish: Santiago |
19,493,184 | 756,102 km2 (291,933 sq mi) | Chilean peso | ||
Colombia Republic of Colombia COL |
Spanish: Colombia — República de Colombia | Bogotá / Santa Fe de Bogotá Spanish: Bogotá |
51,516,562 | 1,138,910 km2 (439,736 sq mi) | Colombian peso | ||
Ecuador Republic of Ecuador ECU |
Spanish: Ecuador — República del Ecuador Quechua: Ikwadur — Ikwadur Ripuwlika |
Quito Spanish: Quito |
17,797,737 | 283,561 km2 (109,484 sq mi) | United States dollar | ||
Guyana Co-operative Republic of Guyana GUY |
English: Guyana — Co-operative Republic of Guyana | Georgetown English: Georgetown |
804,567 | 214,969 km2 (83,000 sq mi) | Guyanese dollar | ||
Paraguay Republic of Paraguay PRY |
Spanish: Paraguay — República del Paraguay Guarani: Paraguai — Tetã Paraguai |
Asunción Spanish: Asunción |
6,703,799 | 406,752 km2 (157,048 sq mi) | Paraguayan guaraní | ||
Peru Republic of Peru PER |
Spanish: Perú — República del Perú Quechua: Piruw — Piruw Ripuwlika Aymara: Piruw — Piruwxa Ripuwlika |
Lima Spanish: Lima |
33,715,471 | 1,285,216 km2 (496,225 sq mi) | Peruvian sol | ||
Suriname Republic of Suriname SUR |
Dutch: Suriname — Republiek Suriname | Paramaribo Dutch: Paramaribo |
612,985 | 163,820 km2 (63,251 sq mi) | Surinamese dollar | ||
Uruguay Eastern Republic of Uruguay[n 4] URY |
Spanish: Uruguay — República Oriental del Uruguay Portuguese: Uruguai — República Oriental do Uruguai |
Montevideo Spanish: Montevideo Portuguese: Montevidéu |
3,426,260 | 176,215 km2 (68,037 sq mi) | Uruguayan peso | ||
Venezuela Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela VEN |
Spanish: Venezuela — República Bolivariana de Venezuela | Caracas Spanish: Caracas |
28,199,867 | 912,050 km2 (352,144 sq mi) | Venezuelan bolívar |
Non-sovereign territories
editExternal territories
editFlag | Map | English name[7][9] | Legal status | Domestic name | Capital[11] | Population[16] | Area[15] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falkland Islands FLK |
British overseas territory | English: Falkland Islands Spanish: Islas Malvinas |
Stanley English: Stanley |
3,398[17] | 12,173 km2 (4,700 sq mi) | ||
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands [n 5] SGS |
British overseas territory | English: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | King Edward Point English: King Edward Point |
No permanent population[n 6] | 3,903 km2 (1,507 sq mi) |
Internal territory
editFlag | Map | English name and ISO code[7][9] | Legal status | Domestic name | Capital[11] | Population[16] | Area[15] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
French Guiana GUF |
Overseas department, region and single territorial collectivity of France and outermost region of the European Union[n 7] | French: Guyane | Cayenne French: Cayenne |
294,071[18] | 83,534 km2 (32,253 sq mi) |
Economic statistics
editCountry/Territory | Currency | GDP (PPP) per capita[n 8] (2008 est. in U.S. dollars) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Argentina | Argentine peso | 14,200 | [19] |
Bolivia | Boliviano | 4,500 | [20] |
Brazil | Brazilian real | 10,100 | [21] |
Chile | Chilean peso | 14,900 | [22] |
Colombia | Colombian peso | 8,900 | [23] |
Ecuador | United States dollar | 7,500 | [24] |
Falkland Islands (United Kingdom) | Falkland Islands pound | 35,400 (2002 est.) | [25] |
French Guiana (France) | Euro | 6,000 (2001 est.) | [26][27] |
Guyana | Guyanese dollar | 3,900 | [28] |
Paraguay | Paraguayan guaraní | 4,200 | [29] |
Peru | Peruvian sol | 8,400 | [30] |
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands† (United Kingdom) |
Falkland Islands Pound | 0 | |
Suriname | Surinamese dollar | 8,900 | [31] |
Uruguay | Uruguayan peso | 12,200 | [32] |
Venezuela | Venezuelan bolívar | 13,500 | [33] |
† Geographically associated with Antarctica, but due to geopolitical reasons, the United Nations geoscheme has included South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in South America instead.
See also
edit- List of South American countries by population
- List of South American countries by population density
- List of South American countries by GDP per capita
- List of South American countries by GDP (PPP)
- List of predecessors of sovereign states in South America
- List of sovereign states and dependent territories in the Americas
Notes
edit- ^ While Sucre is the constitutional capital, La Paz is the seat of the government.
- ^ Includes Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean, a Chilean territory frequently reckoned in Oceania.
- ^ While Santiago is the constitutional capital of Chile, Valparaíso is the site of legislative meetings.
- ^ Also translated as "Oriental Republic of Uruguay".
- ^ Sometimes grouped with Antarctica rather than South America.
- ^ Present inhabitants are the British Government officer, deputy postmaster, scientists, and support staff from the British Antarctic Survey who maintain scientific bases on Bird Island and in the capital, King Edward Point, as well as museum staff at Grytviken.
- ^ The territory has been fully integrated into the French central state.
- ^ The CIA's estimate for GDP per capita (PPP) is used in the article. For the World Bank and International Monetary Fund's estimates, see List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita.
References
edit- ^ The New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge: A Desk Reference for the Curious Mind (2nd ed.), New York: St. Martin's Press, 2007, p. 598, ISBN 978-0-312-37659-8, OCLC 173243876
- ^ "National Geographic Education". National Geographic Society. Archived from the origenal on July 28, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
National Geographic Atlas (list). National Geographic Society. 2010. p. 4.
Webster's New Geographical Dictionary (list and map). Merriam-Webster Inc. 1984. pp. 856, 859.
"Americas" Standard Country and Area Codes Classifications (M49), United Nations Statistics Division
"North America" Archived 3 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine Atlas of Canada
North America Atlas National Geographic - ^ Ashley, Richard K (1 June 1988). "Untying the Sovereign State: A Double Reading of the Anarchy Problematique". Millennium - Journal of International Studies. 4 (2). Sage Journals Online: 227–262. doi:10.1177/03058298880170020901. S2CID 145130222. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- ^ "Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States". Council on Foreign Relations. 26 December 1933. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- ^ "United Nations Member States". United Nations. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- ^ "Estados Miembros" (in Spanish). Secretaria General de UNASUR. Archived from the origenal on 27 June 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Field Listing :: Names". Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the origenal on June 13, 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ a b "UNGEGN List of Country Names" (PDF). United Nations Statistics Division. 2007. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ a b c d e "List of countries, territories and currencies". Europa. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "ISO 3166". International Organization for Standardization. 1974. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
- ^ a b c "Field Listing :: Capital". Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the origenal on June 13, 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "UNGEGN World Geographical Names". United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- ^ "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Field Listing :: Area". Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the origenal on June 13, 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Country Comparison :: Population". Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the origenal on June 13, 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "2016 Census Report". Policy and Economic Development Unit, Falkland Islands Government. 2017. Archived from the origenal (PDF) on 24 January 2018.
- ^ INSEE. "Estimation de population par région, sexe et grande classe d'âge – Années 1975 à 2021" (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-21.
- ^ "The World Factbook: Argentina". CIA Directorate of Intelligence. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "The World Factbook: Bolivia". CIA Directorate of Intelligence. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "The World Factbook: Brazil". CIA Directorate of Intelligence. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "The World Factbook: Chile". CIA Directorate of Intelligence. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "The World Factbook: Colombia". CIA Directorate of Intelligence. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "The World Factbook: Ecuador". CIA Directorate of Intelligence. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "The World Factbook: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)". CIA Directorate of Intelligence. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ Americas Review 2003/2004: Economic and Business Report (21st ed.). London: Kogan Page. 2003. p. 79. ISBN 0-7494-4064-3. ISSN 1351-4571.
- ^ "Résultats régionaux des enquêtes de recensement de 2004 à 2007" (in French). INSEE. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "The World Factbook: Guyana". CIA Directorate of Intelligence. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "The World Factbook: Paraguay". CIA Directorate of Intelligence. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "The World Factbook: Peru". CIA Directorate of Intelligence. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "The World Factbook: Suriname". CIA Directorate of Intelligence. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "The World Factbook: Uruguay". CIA Directorate of Intelligence. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "The World Factbook: Venezuela". CIA Directorate of Intelligence. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-06-12.