Continent · South America
South America Population 2026
Total population
438,104,189
14
countries
5.3%
of world population
17.5M
km² land area
Every rate on this page is weighted by country population rather than averaged flat, so small states do not count the same as large ones. Coverage varies by indicator: each is computed across the countries in South America that publish it, and 14 of 14 publish a population figure at all.
Key figures
Population-weighted across every country in the continent that publishes the indicator.
Life expectancy
76.4 years
At birth, weighted
Fertility rate
1.69
Births per woman
Urban population
85.5%
Share living in urban areas
Countries with data
14
of 14 publish a population figure
Largest city
Cities listed
9
Metro areas we profile
Largest Countries in South America
By total population.
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Colombia | 53.4M |
| Argentina | 45.9M |
| Peru | 34.6M |
| Venezuela | 28.5M |
| Chile | 19.9M |
| Ecuador | 18.3M |
| Bolivia | 12.6M |
| Paraguay | 7.01M |
| Uruguay | 3.38M |
Population Distribution
How South America's population splits between its largest countries.
Fastest Growing Countries
Highest annual population growth in South America.
| Name | Annual growth |
|---|---|
| French Guiana | +2.57% |
| Bolivia | +1.35% |
| Paraguay | +1.20% |
| Peru | +1.04% |
| Colombia | +1.02% |
| Suriname | +0.85% |
| Ecuador | +0.85% |
| Guyana | +0.59% |
| Chile | +0.48% |
| Venezuela | +0.39% |
All Countries in South America
All countries14 countries and territories, largest first.
| # | Country | Population | Share | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 212,812,405 | 48.6% | +0.38% |
| 2 | Colombia | 53,425,635 | 12.2% | +1.02% |
| 3 | Argentina | 45,851,378 | 10.5% | +0.34% |
| 4 | Peru | 34,576,665 | 7.9% | +1.04% |
| 5 | Venezuela | 28,516,896 | 6.5% | +0.39% |
| 6 | Chile | 19,859,921 | 4.5% | +0.48% |
| 7 | Ecuador | 18,289,896 | 4.2% | +0.85% |
| 8 | Bolivia | 12,581,843 | 2.9% | +1.35% |
| 9 | Paraguay | 7,013,078 | 1.6% | +1.20% |
| 10 | Uruguay | 3,384,688 | 0.8% | −0.06% |
| 11 | Guyana | 835,986 | 0.2% | +0.59% |
| 12 | Suriname | 639,850 | 0.1% | +0.85% |
| 13 | French Guiana | 312,157 | 0.1% | +2.57% |
| 14 | Falkland Islands | 3,791 | 0.0% | +0.01% |
Major Cities in South America
All cities9 metropolitan areas in our dataset, largest first.
| # | City | Country | Metro population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | São Paulo | Brazil | 22,619,000 |
| 2 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | 15,369,000 |
| 3 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | 13,634,000 |
| 4 | Bogotá | Colombia | 11,344,000 |
| 5 | Lima | Peru | 11,044,000 |
| 6 | Santiago | Chile | 6,856,939 |
| 7 | Belo Horizonte | Brazil | 6,136,000 |
| 8 | Brasília | Brazil | 4,803,000 |
| 9 | Medellín | Colombia | 4,068,000 |
South America Population FAQ
- What is the population of South America in 2026?
- South America has about 438,104,189 people across 14 countries and territories, roughly 5.3% of the world total.
- Which is the largest country in South America by population?
- Brazil, with 212,812,405 people.
- What is the largest city in South America?
- São Paulo, Brazil, with a metro population of about 22.6M.
- How fast is South America's population growing?
- South America's population is changing by +0.57% a year, weighted by country population. The median age across the continent is 33.1 years.