South America: Continent Overview – Countries, Geography & Key Facts

Continent Definition

South America is a continent located entirely in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. It borders North America (via Central America) to the northwest and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

Countries (13)

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana (France), Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Key Statistics

• Land Area: ~17.84 million km² (6.89 million sq mi)
• Population: ~422.5 million (2020 est.)
• Languages: Spanish (most widely spoken), Portuguese, English, Dutch, French, and numerous indigenous languages

Major Geographic Regions

• Andean Region (western mountain spine)
• Amazon Basin (north-central rainforest)
• Brazilian Highlands (eastern plateau)
• Southern Cone (temperate southern tip)

Major Rivers

Amazon, Paraná, São Francisco, Orinoco, Uruguay.

Major Mountain Ranges

Andes (world’s longest continental range), Brazilian Highlands, Guiana Highlands.

Climate

Extremely varied: tropical rainforest (Amazon), arid desert (Atacama), high-altitude alpine (Andes), temperate (Southern Cone).