The economy of South America comprises around 382 million people living in twelve nations and three territories. It contributes 6% of the world's population.

Economic development[link]

São Paulo, Brazil. One of the financial centers of South America, and also the fifth biggest city in the world. See List of metropolitan areas by population.

Since the 1990s, South America has experienced great economic development, with Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay and Peru growing their economies by over 8% per annum. Brazil's economy, on the other hand, is expected to grow by a more sluggish pace in the near future.^[1]

South America relies heavily on the exporting of goods. On an exchange rate basis Brazil (the seventh largest economy in the world and the second largest in the Americas) leads the way in total amount of exports at $137.8 billion dollars followed by Chile at $58.12 billion and Argentina with $46.46 billion.^[2]

GDP ranks as of 2011[link]

GDP (PPP) 2011
Note: French Guiana, unlisted here, had a total GDP of US$3.52 billion in 2006.^[3]

Rank in world	Country	GDP
8	Brazil	$2,102,018 million
21	Argentina	$694,690 million
26	Colombia	$484,960 million
34	Venezuela	$369,324 million
41	Peru	$300,114 million
44	Chile	$281,368 million
62	Ecuador	$125,066 million
88	Uruguay	$52,111 million
89	Bolivia	$51,478 million
100	Paraguay	$36,235 million
152	Guyana	$5,842 million
154	Suriname	$5,069 million
Source: CIA World Factbook[4]

GDP per capita (PPP) 2011
Note: French Guiana, unlisted here, had a GDP per capita of US$17,336 in 2006.^[3]

Rank in world	Country	GDP per capita
52	Argentina	$17,376
57	Chile	$16,171
61	Uruguay	$15,469
71	Venezuela	$12,407
76	Brazil	$11,845
85	Peru	$10,001
86	Colombia	$9,992
87	Suriname	$9,492
92	Ecuador	$8,335
98	Guyana	$7,541
110	Paraguay	$5,548
119	Bolivia	$4,843
Source: List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita

GNI per capita (PPP)[link]

• Gross national income (GNI) at PPP is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad.

Country	GNI per capita (PPP)
Argentina	$15,150
Chile	$13,890
Uruguay	$13,890
Venezuela	$11,950
Brazil	$10,920
Ecuador	$9,270
Colombia	$9,000
Peru	$8,940
Suriname	$7,610
Paraguay	$5,430
Bolivia	$4,560
Guyana	$3,530
Source: World Bank, 1 July 2011 [5]

External debt 2009[link]

• External debt (or foreign debt) is that part of the total debt in a country that is owed to creditors outside the country. The debtors can be the government, corporations or private households. The debt includes money owed to private commercial banks, other governments, or international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

Rank in world	Country	External Debt
26	Brazil	$216.1 billion
33	Argentina	$118.0 billion
47	Chile	$49.18 billion
48	Colombia	$46.44 billion
49	Venezuela	$43.30 billion
63	Peru	$27.81 billion
73	Ecuador	$13.28 billion
75	Uruguay	$12.61 billion
108	Bolivia	$3.80 billion
117	Paraguay	$3.220 billion
152	Guyana	$804.3 million (30 September 2008 est.)
159	Suriname	$504.3 million (2005 est.)
Source: CIA World Factbook[6]

Annual economic growth[link]

• Estimated 2011 according to the CIA.

Country	Annual economic growth (%)
Peru	6.2%
Uruguay	6.0%
Argentina	8.0%
Colombia	4.9%
Chile	6.5%
Suriname	5.0%
Bolivia	5.0%
Paraguay	6.4%
Brazil	2.8%
Guyana	5.3%
Ecuador	5.8%
Venezuela	2.8%
Source: List of countries by GDP (real) growth rate[7]

National banks offer other figures.

Unemployment rate (lowest to highest)[link]

Unemployment rate
(%)

Brazil	5.4
Peru	6.6
Uruguay	6.7
Paraguay	7.0
Chile	7.1
Argentina	7.8
Bolivia	7.8
Venezuela	8.5
Ecuador	8.6
Suriname	9.5
Guyana	11.0
Colombia	11.8
Source: CIA World Factbook[8]

Poverty line (lowest to highest)[link]

Country	ECLAC[9]	Year	Factbook[10]	Year
Chile	11.5	2009	11.5	2009
Uruguay	10.7	2009	20.9	2009
Argentina	11.3	2009	30	2010
Brazil	24.9	2009	26	2008
Venezuela	27.6	2008	37.9	2005 est.
Peru	34.8	2009	34.8	2009
Ecuador	40.2	2009	33.1	June 2010
Paraguay	56.0	2009	18.8	2009
Bolivia	54.0	2007	30.3	2009 est.
Colombia	45.7	2009	45.5	2009
Suriname	—	—	70	2002 est.
Guyana	—	—	—	—

Annual inflation[link]

Country	Annual inflation(%)
Peru	1.80%
Ecuador	2.20%
Brazil	9.60%
Chile	4.40%
Colombia	3.30%
Suriname	6.40%
Paraguay	8.10%
Uruguay	8.10%
Bolivia	8.70%
Argentina	8.80%
Guyana	12.20%
Venezuela	23.70%
Source: CIA World Factbook[11]

Public debt (lowest to highest)[link]

• Refers to what is owed by the combined public sector to both domestic and foreign creditors.

Country	Public debt (% of GDP)
Chile	6.10
Venezuela	18.0
Ecuador	22.10
Paraguay	24.10
Peru	24.80
Bolivia	42.00
Colombia	45.80
Argentina	48.60
Uruguay	56.60
Brazil	60.00
Guyana	N/A
Suriname	N/A
Source: CIA World Factbook[12]

Trade blocks[link]

The biggest trade block in South America is Mercosur (or Mercosul in Portuguese), comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. Associate states include Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The second-biggest trade bloc is the Andean Community of Nations comprising Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and as of 2006 Chile. The Union of South American Nations is expected to merge both trade blocs.

Currency[link]

Below is a list of the currencies of South America, with exchange rates between each currency and both the euro and US dollars.

Country	Currency	1 Euro =	1 USD =	Central bank
Argentina	Argentine peso (ARS)	5.72079	4.34950	Central Bank of Argentina [1]
Bolivia	Bolivian boliviano (BOB)	9.02081	6.86000	Central Bank of Bolivia [2]
Brazil	Brazilian real (BRL)	2.25592	1.71577	Central Bank of Brazil [3]
Chile	Chilean peso (CLP)	635.134	483.050	Central Bank of Chile [4]
Colombia	Colombian peso (COP)	2,353.40	1,790.00	Bank of the Republic [5]
Ecuador	U.S. dollar (USD)	1.46611	1	Federal Reserve [6]
Guyana	Guyanese dollar (GYD)	264.192	200.950	Bank of Guyana [7]
Paraguay	Paraguayan guaraní (PYG)	4,500.00	5,916.27	Central Bank of Paraguay [8]
Peru	Peruvian nuevo sol (PEN)	3.53004	2.68500	Central Reserve Bank of Peru [9]
Suriname	Surinamese dollar (SRD)	4.27296	3.25000	Central Bank of Suriname [10]
Uruguay	Uruguayan peso (UYU)	25.3797	19.3000	Central Bank of Uruguay [11]
Venezuela	Venezuelan bolívar fuerte (VEF)	5.65462	4.30000	Central Bank of Venezuela [12]

Table correct as of February 15, 2012; click price to obtain a current quote

Country	Currency	1 Euro =	1 USD =	Central bank
Argentina	Argentine peso (ARS)	5.65	4.20	Central Bank of Argentina [13]
Bolivia	Bolivian boliviano (BOB)	11.0985	7.57080	Central Bank of Bolivia [14]
Brazil	Brazilian real (BRL)	2.58963	1.76650	Central Bank of Brazil [15]
Chile	Chilean peso (CLP)	701.020	$507.580	Central Bank of Chile [16]
Colombia	Colombian peso (COP)	2,593.20	1,885.74	Bank of the Republic [17]
Ecuador	U.S. dollar (USD)	1.46611	1	Federal Reserve [18]
Guyana	Guyanese dollar (GYD)	297.547	202.950	Bank of Guyana [19]
Paraguay	Paraguayan guaraní (PYG)	6,802.74	4,640.00	Central Bank of Paraguay [20]
Peru	Peruvian nuevo sol (PEN)	4.26966	2.72440	Central Reserve Bank of Peru [21]
Suriname	Surinamese dollar (SRD)	4.10543	2.80000	Central Bank of Suriname [22]
Uruguay	Uruguayan peso (UYU)	31.1529	21.2470	Central Bank of Uruguay [23]
Venezuela	Venezuelan bolívar fuerte (VEF)	6.16331	4.30000	Central Bank of Venezuela [24]

Table correct as of June 20, 2011; click price to obtain a current quote

References[link]

• xe.com Universal Currency Converter provides latest figures.

Economic sectors[link]

Agriculture[link]

Main products include: Coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus, beef, bananas and shrimp are also important agricultural products for many countries

Manufacturing[link]

Industries are also important to South America’s economy. Most South American factories produce food items, consumer goods, or building materials. More developed countries also produce cars, trucks, and airplanes. Some of these companies import all the parts and raw materials needed for manufacturing which limits the amount of profits they can receive for the item. An important factor that is crucial to the success of industries is importing and exporting. The organization called Mercosur helps to expand trade, improve transportation, and reduce tariffs among member countries. The Andean Community mimics such cooperation, but limits exist due to crucial road barriers.

Transport[link]

At the beginning of August 2008 Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez and his colleagues from Argentina and Brazil spoke about Latin American integration and Chavez threw an ambitious idea out: a train that would connect Venezuela's capital (Caracas) with Argentina's (Buenos Aires), and cities in between.^[13]

Economy by country[link]

Economy of:

See also[link]

• South America

Notes[link]

References[link]

v t e Union of South American Nations Member states Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Guyana Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Summits 2004 South American Summit 2008 South American Summit 2009 South American Summit 2010 South American Summit 2011 South American Summit Topics Cusco Declaration Constitutive Treaty President Pro Tempore Secretary General Bank of the South South American Parliament Initiative for Infrastructure Integration of South America Mercosur Andean Community

South America

Area	17,840,000 km2 (6,890,000 sq mi)
Population	387,489,196 (2011, 5th)
Pop. density	21.4 per km2 (56.0 per sq mi)
Demonym	South American, American[1]
Countries	12 (list of countries)
Dependencies	3
Languages	List of languages
Time Zones	UTC-2 to UTC-5
Largest cities	São Paulo Buenos Aires Rio de Janeiro Lima Bogotá Santiago Belo Horizonte Caracas Porto Alegre Brasilia Guayaquil

South America (Spanish: América del Sur, Sudamérica, or Suramérica; Portuguese: América do Sul; Quechua and Aymara: Urin Awya Yala; Guarani: Ñembyamérika; Dutch: Zuid-Amerika; French: Amérique du Sud) is a continent located in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas.^[2][3] It 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. It includes twelve independent countries—Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela—and French Guiana, which is an overseas region of France. The South American countries that border the Caribbean Sea—Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana—are also known as Caribbean South America.

South America has an area of 17,840,000 square kilometers (6,890,000 sq mi), which is slightly larger than Russia. Its population as of 2005 has been estimated at more than 371,090,000. South America ranks fourth in area (after Asia, Africa, and North America) and fifth in population (after Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America). The word America was coined in 1507 by cartographers Martin Waldseemüller and Matthias Ringmann, after Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to suggest that the lands newly discovered by Europeans were not India, but a New World unknown to Europeans.

Geography[link]

A composite relief image of South America

South America occupies the southern portion of the American landmass. The continent is generally delimited on the northwest by the Darién watershed along the Colombia–Panama border. Some sources^{[citation needed]} instead suggest the Panama Canhggfal. Geopolitically and geographically^[4] all of Panama – including the segment east of the Panama Canal in the isthmus – is typically included in North America alone^[5][6][7] and among the countries of Central America.^[8][9] Almost all of mainland South America sits on the South American Plate. South America's triangular shape gives it the shortest coastline, for its size, of any of the continents.

Traditionally, South America also includes some nearby islands. Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Trinidad, Tobago, and the federal dependencies of Venezuela sit on the northerly South American continental shelf and are often considered part of the continent. Geo-politically, the island states and overseas territories of the Caribbean are generally grouped as a part or subregion of North America, since they are more distant on the Caribbean Plate, even though San Andreas^{[disambiguation needed ]} and Providencia are politically part of Colombia and Aves Island is controlled by Venezuela.^[7][10][11] Other islands that are included with South America are the Galápagos Islands that belong to Ecuador and Easter Island (in Oceania but belongs to Chile), Robinson Crusoe Island, Chiloé are also Chilean islands, while Tierra del Fuego is split between that country and Argentina. In the Atlantic, Brazil owns Fernando de Noronha, Trindade and Martim Vaz, and the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, while the Falkland Islands are governed by the United Kingdom, whose sovereignty over the islands is disputed by Argentina. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands may be associated with either South America or Antarctica.^{[citation needed]}

South America is home to the world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls in Venezuela; the largest river (by volume), the Amazon River; the longest mountain range, the Andes (whose highest mountain is Aconcagua at 6,962 m [22,841 ft]); the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert;^[12][13][14] the largest rainforest, the Amazon Rainforest; the highest capital city, La Paz, Bolivia; the highest commercially navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca; and, excluding research stations in Antarctica, the world's southernmost permanently inhabited community, Puerto Toro, Chile.

The Andes are the world's longest continental mountain range.

South America's major mineral resources are gold, silver, copper, iron ore, tin, and petroleum. These resources found in South America have brought high income to its countries especially in times of war or of rapid economic growth by industrialized countries elsewhere. However, the concentration in producing one major export commodity often has hindered the development of diversified economies. The fluctuation in the price of commodities in the international markets has led historically to major highs and lows in the economies of South American states, often causing extreme political instability. This is leading to efforts to diversify production to drive away from staying as economies dedicated to one major export.

South America is one of the most biodiverse continents on earth. South America is home to many interesting and unique species of animals including the llama, anaconda, piranha, jaguar, vicuña, and tapir. The Amazon rainforests possess high biodiversity, containing a major proportion of the Earth's species.

Brazil is the largest country in South America, encompassing around half of the continent's land area and population. The remaining countries and territories are divided among three regions: The Andean States, the Guianas and the Southern Cone.

History[link]

Prehistory[link]

The prehistoric Cueva de las Manos, or Cave of the Hands, in Argentina

South America was joined with Africa from the late Paleozoic Era to the early Mesozoic Era, until the supercontinent Pangaea began to rift and break apart about 225 million years ago. Therefore, South America and Africa share similar fossils and rock layers.

South America is thought to have been first inhabited by humans when people were crossing the Bering Land Bridge (now the Bering Strait) at least 15,000 years ago from the territory that is present-day Russia. They migrated south through North America, and eventually reached South America through the Isthmus of Panama. Some archaeological finds do not fit this theory and have led to an alternative theory of pre-Siberian American aborigines.

The first evidence for the existence of the human race in South America dates back to about 9000 BC, when squashes, chillies and beans began to be cultivated for food in the highlands of the Amazon Basin. Pottery evidence further suggests that manioc, which remains a staple food today, was being cultivated as early as 2000 BC.^[15]

By 2000 BC, many agrarian communities had been settled throughout the Andes and the surrounding regions. Fishing became a widespread practice along the coast, helping establish fish as a primary source of food. Irrigation systems were also developed at this time, which aided in the rise of an agrarian society.^[15]

South American cultures began domesticating llamas, vicuñas, guanacos, and alpacas in the highlands of the Andes circa 3500 BC. Besides their use as sources of meat and wool, these animals were used for transportation of goods.^[15]

Pre-Columbian civilizations[link]

The Inca estate of Machu Picchu, Peru

The rise of plant growing and the subsequent appearance of permanent human settlements allowed for the multiple and overlapping beginnings of civilizations in South America.

The earliest known settlements, and culture in South America and America altogether, are the Valdivia on the Southwest coast of Ecuador.

One of the earliest known South American civilizations was at Norte Chico, on the central Peruvian coast. Though a pre-ceramic culture, the monumental architecture of Norte Chico is contemporaneous with the pyramids of Ancient Egypt. Norte Chico governing class established a trade network and developed agriculture then followed by Chavín by 900 BC, according to some estimates and archaeological finds. Artifacts were found at a site called Chavín de Huantar in modern Peru at an elevation of 3,177 meters. Chavín civilization spanned 900 BC to 300 BC.

In the central coast of Peru, around the beginning of the 1st millennium AD, Moche (100 BC – 700 AD, at the northern coast of Peru), Paracas and Nazca (400 BC – 800 AD, Peru) cultures flourished with centralized states with permanent militia improving agriculture through irrigation and new styles of ceramic art. At the Altiplano, Tiahuanaco or Tiwanaku (100 BC – 1200 AD, Bolivia) managed a large commercial network based on religion.

Around 7th century, both Tiahuanaco and Wari or Huari Empire (600 – 1200, Central and northern Peru) expanded its influence to all the Andean region, imposing the Huari urbanism and tiahuanaco religious iconography.

The Muisca were the main indigenous civilization in what is now modern Colombia. They established a confederation of many clans, or cacicazgos, that had a free trade network among themselves. They were goldsmiths and farmers.

Other important Pre-Columbian cultures include: the Cañaris (in south central Ecuador), Chimu Empire (1300–1470, Peruvian northern coast), Chachapoyas, and the Aymaran kingdoms (1000–1450, Bolivia and southern Peru).

Holding their capital at the great city of Cusco, the Inca civilization dominated the Andes region from 1438 to 1533. Known as Tawantin suyu, and "the land of the four regions," in Quechua, the Inca civilization was highly distinct and developed. Inca rule extended to nearly a hundred linguistic or ethnic communities, some 9 to 14 million people connected by a 25,000 kilometer road system. Cities were built with precise, unmatched stonework, constructed over many levels of mountain terrain. Terrace farming was a useful form of agriculture.

The Mapuche in Central Chile resisted the European and Chilean settlers, waging the Arauco War for more than 300 years.

European colonization[link]

A representation of a Mestizo, in a "Pintura de Castas" in the Colonial era. "From Spaniard and Amerindian woman, begets Mestizo".

In 1494, Portugal and Spain, the two great maritime European powers of that time, on the expectation of new lands being discovered in the west, signed the Treaty of Tordesillas, by which they agreed, with the support of the Pope, that all the land outside Europe should be an exclusive duopoly between the two countries.

The Treaty established an imaginary line along a north-south meridian 370 leagues west of Cape Verde Islands, roughly 46° 37' W. In terms of the treaty, all land to the west of the line (known to comprise most of the South American soil) would belong to Spain, and all land to the east, to Portugal. As accurate measurements of longitude were impossible at that time, the line was not strictly enforced, resulting in a Portuguese expansion of Brazil across the meridian.

Beginning in the 1530s, the people and natural resources of South America were repeatedly exploited by foreign conquistadors, first from Spain and later from Portugal. These competing colonial nations claimed the land and resources as their own and divided it into colonies.

European infectious diseases (smallpox, influenza, measles, and typhus)—to which the native populations had no immune resistance—and systems of forced labor, such as the haciendas and mining industry's mita, decimated the native population under Spanish control. After this, African slaves, who had developed immunities to these diseases, were quickly brought in to replace them.

The Spaniards were committed to convert their native subjects to Christianity and were quick to purge any native cultural practices that hindered this end; however, most initial attempts at this were only partially successful, as native groups simply blended Catholicism with traditional idolatry and their polytheistic beliefs. Furthermore, the Spaniards brought their language to the degree they did with their religion, although the Roman Catholic Church's evangelization in Quechua, Aymara, and Guaraní actually contributed to the continuous use of these native languages albeit only in the oral form.

Eventually, the natives and the Spaniards interbred, forming a mestizo class. At the beginning, the mestizos of the Andean region were offspring of Amerindian mothers and Spanish fathers. After independence, most mestizos had native fathers and white or mestizo mothers.

Many native artworks were considered pagan idols and destroyed by Spanish explorers; this included many gold and silver sculptures and other artifacts found in South America, which were melted down before their transport to Spain or Portugal. Spaniards and Portuguese brought the western European architectural style to the continent, and helped to improve infrastructures like bridges, roads, and the sewer system of the cities they discovered or conquered. They also significantly increased economic and trade relations, not just between the old and new world but between the different South American regions and peoples. Finally, with the expansion of the Portuguese and Spanish languages, many cultures that were previously separated became united through that of Latin American.

Guyana was a Portuguese, Dutch, and eventually a British colony. The country was once partitioned into three parts, each being controlled by one of the colonial powers until the country was finally taken over fully by the British.

Independence[link]

Guayaquil conference, between José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar.

The European Peninsular War (1807-1814), a theater of the Napoleonic Wars, changed the political situation of both the Spanish and Portuguese colonies. First, Napoleon invaded Portugal, but the House of Braganza avoided capture by escaping to Brazil. Napoleon also captured King Ferdinand VII of Spain, and appointed his own brother instead. This appointment provoked severe popular resistance, which created Juntas to rule in the name of the captured king.

Many cities in the Spanish colonies, however, considered themselves equally authorized to appoint local Juntas like those of Spain. This began the Spanish American wars of independence between the patriots, who promoted such autonomy, and the royalists, who supported Spanish authority over the Americas. The Juntas, in both Spain and the Americas, promoted the ideas of the Enlightenment. Five years after the beginning of the war, Ferdinand VII returned to the throne and began the Absolutist Restoration as the royalists got the upper hand in the conflict.

The independence of South America was secured by Simón Bolívar (Venezuela) and José de San Martín (Argentina), the two most important Libertadores. Bolívar led a great uprising in the north, then led his army southward towards Lima, the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru. Meanwhile, San Martín led an army across the Andes Mountains, along with Chilean expatriates, and liberated Chile. He organized a fleet to reach Peru by sea, and sought the military support of various rebels from the Viceroyalty of Peru. The two armies finally met in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where they cornered the Royal Army of the Spanish Crown and forced its surrender.

In the Portuguese kingdom of Brazil and Algarve, Dom Pedro I (also Pedro IV of Portugal), son of the Portuguese King Dom João VI, proclaimed the independent Kingdom of Brazil in 1822, which later became the Empire of Brazil. Despite the Portuguese loyalties of garrisons in Bahia and Pará, independence was diplomatically accepted by the crown in Portugal, on condition of a high compensation paid by Brazil.

The newly independent nations began a process of Balkanization, with several civil and international wars. However, it was not as strong as in Central America. Some countries created from provinces of larger countries stayed as such up to modern day (such as Paraguay or Uruguay), while others were reconquered and reincorporated into their former countries (such as the Republic of Entre Ríos and the Riograndense Republic).

Recent history[link]

The Brazilian Minas Geraes class kindled an Argentine–Brazilian–Chilean naval arms race

Early in the 20th century, the three wealthiest South American countries engaged in a vastly expensive naval arms race which was catalyzed by the introduction of a new warship type, the "dreadnought". At one point, the Argentine government was spending a fifth of its entire yearly budget for just two dreadnoughts, a price that did not include later in-service costs, which for the Brazilian dreadnoughts was sixty percent of the initial purchase.^[16][17]

The continent became a battlefield of the Cold War in the late 20th century. Some democratically elected governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay were overthrown or displaced by military dictatorships in the 1960s and 1970s. To curtail opposition, their governments detained tens of thousands of political prisoners, many of whom were tortured and/or killed on inter-state collaboration. Economically, they began a transition to neoliberal economic policies. They placed their own actions within the U.S. Cold War doctrine of "National Security" against internal subversion. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Peru suffered from an internal conflict.

Argentina and Britain fought the Falklands War in 1982.

Colombia has had an ongoing, though diminished internal conflict, which started in 1964 with the creation of Marxist guerrillas (FARC-EP) and then involved several illegal armed groups of leftist-leaning ideology as well as the private armies of powerful drug lords. Many of these are now defunct, and only a small portion of the ELN remains, along with the stronger, though also greatly reduced FARC. These leftist groups smuggle narcotics out of Colombia to fund their operations, while also using kidnapping, bombings, land mines and assassinations as weapons against both elected and non-elected citizens.

Revolutionary movements and right-wing military dictatorships became common after World War II, but since the 1980s, a wave of democratization came through the continent, and democratic rule is widespread now.^[18] Nonetheless, allegations of corruption are still very common, and several countries have developed crises which have forced the resignation of their governments, although, in most occasions, regular civilian succession has continued this far.

Presidents of UNASUR member states at the Second Brasília Summit on 23 May 2008.

International indebtedness turned into a severe problem in late 1980s, and some countries, despite having strong democracies, have not yet developed political institutions capable of handling such crises without recurring to unorthodox economic policies, as most recently illustrated by Argentina's default in the early 21st century.^[19] The last twenty years have seen an increased push towards regional integration, with the creation of uniquely South American institutions such as the Andean Community, Mercosur and Unasur. Notably, starting with the election of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela in 1998, the region experienced what has been termed a pink tide - the election of several leftist and center-left administrations to most countries of the area, except for the Guianas, Peru and Colombia.

Politics[link]

Union of South American Nations member states

During the first decade of the 21st century, South American governments have drifted to the political left, with socialist leaders being elected in Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. Despite the move to the left, South America for the most part still embraces free market policies, and it is taking an active path toward greater continental integration.

Recently, an intergovernmental entity has been formed which aims to merge the two existing customs unions: Mercosur and the Andean Community, thus forming the third-largest trade bloc in the world.^[20] This new political organization known as Union of South American Nations seeks to establish free movement of people, economic development, a common defense policy and the elimination of tariffs.

Ethnic demographics[link]

Descendants of Indigenous peoples, such as the Quechua and Aymara, or the Urarina^[21] of Amazonia make up the majority of the population in Bolivia (56%) and, per some sources, in Peru (44%).^[22][23] In Ecuador, Amerindians are a large minority that comprises two-fifths of the population. The white/European population is also a significant element in most other former Portuguese colonies.

The demographics of Venezuela and Colombia include approximately 20% white and European descendants,^[24] while in Peru, European descendants are the third group in importance (15%).^[25] Compared to other South American countries, the people of European descent are more of a majority in Argentina,^[26] Chile,^[27][28] and Uruguay,^[27] and are about half of the population of Brazil.^[29][30][31]

South America is also home to one of the largest populations of Africans. This group is also significantly present in Guyana, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, French Guiana, and Ecuador. Mestizos (mixed white and Amerindian) are the largest ethnic group in Paraguay, Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador and the second group in Peru. East Indians form the largest ethnic group in Guyana. Brazil followed by Peru also have the biggest Japanese, Korean and Chinese communities in South America.^[32]

Brazil is the most diverse country in South America and arguably the world, with large population of Whites, Mulattos, Mestizos, a significant population of Blacks, as well as a sizeable community of Middle Easterners and East Asians.

Country or territory with flag	Area (km²)[33] (per sq mi)	Population (July 2009 est.)[33]	Population density per km²	Capital
Argentina ! Argentina	2766890 !2,766,890 km2 (1,068,300 sq mi)	40,482,000	1430 !14.3/km² (37/sq mi)	Buenos Aires
Bolivia ! Bolivia	1098580 !1,098,580 km2 (424,160 sq mi)	9,863,000	0810 !8.4/km² (21.8/sq mi)	La Paz and Sucre [34]
Brazil ! Brazil	8514877 !8,514,877 km2 (3,287,612 sq mi)	191,241,714	2200 !22.0/km² (57/sq mi)	Brasília
Chile ! Chile[35]	0756950 !  756,950 km2 (292,260 sq mi)	16,928,873	2110 !22/km² (57/sq mi)	Santiago
Colombia ! Colombia	1138910 !1,138,910 km2 (439,740 sq mi)	45,928,970	3770 !40/km² (103.6/sq mi)	Bogotá
Ecuador ! Ecuador	0283560 !  283,560 km2 (109,480 sq mi)	14,573,101	4710 !53.8/km² (139.3/sq mi)	Quito
Falkland Islands ! Falkland Islands (United Kingdom)[36]	0012173 !   12,173 km2 (4,700 sq mi)	3,140[37]	0026 !0.26/km² (0.7/sq mi)	Port Stanley
French Guiana ! French Guiana (France)	0091000 !   91,000 km2 (35,000 sq mi)	221,500[38]	0210 !2.7/km² (5.4/sq mi)	Cayenne
Guyana ! Guyana	0214999 !  214,999 km2 (83,012 sq mi)	772,298	0360 !3.5/km² (9.1/sq mi)	Georgetown
Paraguay ! Paraguay	0406750 !  406,750 km2 (157,050 sq mi)	6,831,306	1560 !15.6/km² (40.4/sq mi)	Asunción
Peru ! Peru	1285220 !1,285,220 km2 (496,230 sq mi)	29,132,013	2170 !22/km² (57/sq mi)	Lima
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ! South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (United Kingdom)[39]	0003093 !    3,093 km2 (1,194 sq mi)	20	0000 !0/km² (0/sq mi)	Grytviken
Suriname ! Suriname	0163270 !  163,270 km2 (63,040 sq mi)	472,000	0270 !3/km² (7.8/sq mi)	Paramaribo
Uruguay ! Uruguay	0176220 !  176,220 km2 (68,040 sq mi)	3,477,780	1940 !19.4/km² (50.2/sq mi)	Montevideo
Venezuela ! Venezuela	09116445 !  912,050 km2 (352,140 sq mi)	26,814,843	2780 !30.2/km² (72/sq mi)	Caracas
Total	&1000000001782451300000017,824,513	&10000000385742554000000385,742,554	21.5/km²

Indigenous people[link]

This section is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this section to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (November 2011)

Urarina shaman, 1988

In many places indigenous people still practice a traditional lifestyle based on subsistence agriculture or as hunter-gatherers. There are still some uncontacted tribes residing in the Amazon Rainforest.

In countries such as Chile, Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina indigenous peoples make up a minority of the population.

Economy[link]

Rafael Correa, Evo Morales, Néstor Kirchner, Cristina Fernández, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, Nicanor Duarte, and Hugo Chávez at the signing of the founding charter of the Bank of the South.

During the last two decades, South American countries have experienced significant economic growth, which can be seen in many of these countries with the construction of new skyscrapers like the Gran Costanera tower in Chile, and also transportations systems like the Bogota Metro. However, because of histories of high inflation in nearly all South American countries, interest rates remain high and investment remains low. Interest rates are usually twice that of the United States. For example, interest-rates are about 22% in Venezuela and 23% in Suriname. The exception is Chile, which has been implementing free market economic policies since establishing military dictatorship in 1973 and has been increasing its social spending since the return of democratic rule in the early 1990s. This has led to economic stability and interest rates in the low single digits.

South America relies less on the export of both manufactured goods and natural resources than the world average; merchandise exports from the continent were 16% of GDP on an exchange rate basis, compared to 25% for the world as a whole.^[40] Brazil (the seventh largest economy in the world and the largest in South America) leads in terms of merchandise exports at $251 billion, followed by Venezuela at $93 billion, Chile at $86 billion, and Argentina at $84 billion.^[40]

The economic gap between the rich and poor in most South American nations is larger than in most other continents. The richest 10% receive over 40% of the nation's income in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Paraguay,^[41] while the poorest 20% receive 3% or less in Bolivia, Brazil, and Colombia.^[42] This wide gap can be seen in many large South American cities where makeshift shacks and slums lie in the vicinity of skyscrapers and upper-class luxury apartments; nearly one in nine in South America live on less than $2 per day (on a purchasing power parity basis).^[43]

Country	GDP (nominal) in 2011[44]	GDP (PPP) in 2011[44]	GDP (PPP) per capita in 2011[44]	Merchandise exports ($bn), 2011[40]	HDI in 2011 (rank)[45]	Percent with less than $2 (PPP) per person per day[43]
Argentina	&10000000000447644000000447,644	&10000000000716419000000716,419	&1000000000001751600000017,516	&1000000000000008370000083.7	&100000000000000007970000.797	&100000000000000018999991.9
Bolivia	&1000000000002460400000024,604	&1000000000005090400000050,904	&100000000000047890000004,789	&100000000000000090999999.1	&100000000000000006630000.663	&1000000000000002489999924.9
Brazil	&100000000024929080000002,492,908	&100000000022942430000002,294,243	&1000000000001176900000011,769	&10000000000000250800000250.8	&100000000000000007180000.718	&1000000000000001080000010.8
Chile	&10000000000248411000000248,411	&10000000000299632000000299,632	&1000000000001722200000017,222	&1000000000000008609999986.1	&100000000000000008050000.805	&100000000000000027000002.7
Colombia	&10000000000328422000000328,422	&10000000000471964000000471,964	&1000000000001024900000010,249	&1000000000000005650000056.5	&100000000000000007100000.710	&1000000000000001580000015.8
Ecuador	&1000000000006638100000066,381	&10000000000127426000000127,426	&100000000000084920000008,492	&1000000000000002230000022.3	&100000000000000007200000.720	&1000000000000001059999910.6
Falkland Islands[46] (U.K)	&10000000000000165000000165	&10000000000000165000000165	&1000000000005540000000055,400	&100000000000000001000000.1
French Guiana[47] (France)	&100000000000044560000004,456	&100000000000044560000004,456	&1000000000001972800000019,728	&100000000000000013000001.3
Guyana	&100000000000024800000002,480	&100000000000057830000005,783	&100000000000074650000007,465	&100000000000000009000000.9	&100000000000000006330000.633	&1000000000000001800000018.0
Paraguay	&1000000000002123600000021,236	&1000000000003534600000035,346	&100000000000054130000005,413	&100000000000000098000009.8	&100000000000000006650000.665	&1000000000000001319999913.2
Peru	&10000000000173502000000173,502	&10000000000301967000000301,967	&1000000000001006200000010,062	&1000000000000004629999946.3	&100000000000000007250000.725	&1000000000000001269999912.7
Suriname	&100000000000037900000003,790	&100000000000050600000005,060	&100000000000094750000009,475	&100000000000000016000001.6	&100000000000000006800000.680	&1000000000000002719999927.2
Uruguay	&1000000000004687200000046,872	&1000000000005090800000050,908	&1000000000001511300000015,113	&100000000000000080000008.0	&100000000000000007830000.783	&100000000000000011999991.2
Venezuela	&10000000000315841000000315,841	&10000000000374111000000374,111	&1000000000001256800000012,568	&1000000000000009259999992.6	&100000000000000007350000.735	&1000000000000001290000012.9
Total	&100000000041767120000004,176,712	&100000000047383840000004,738,384	&1000000000001196200000011,962	&10000000000000669100000669.1	&100000000000000007290000.729	&1000000000000001080000010.8

Economically largest cities in South America 2010[link]

Rank	City	Country	GDP in Int$ bn[48]	Population (mil)[49]	GDP per capita
1	São Paulo	Brazil	$ 388	20,186,000	$ 19,221
2	Buenos Aires	Argentina	$ 362	13,639,000	$ 26,542
3	Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	$ 201	12,043,000	$ 16,690
4	Santiago	Chile	$ 120	6,015,000	$ 19,950
5	Brasilia	Brazil	$ 110	2,362,000	$ 46,571
6	Lima	Peru	$ 109	9,121,000	$ 11,950
7	Bogota	Colombia	$ 100	8,702,000	$ 11,492
8	Caracas	Venezuela	$ 99	5,965,000	$ 25,646
9	Belo Horizonte	Brazil	$ 61	5,523,000	$ 11,045
10	Medellín	Colombia	$ 50	3,686,000	$ 13,565

Tourism[link]

Tourism has increasingly become a significant source of income for many South American countries.^[50][51] Historical relics, architectural and natural wonders, a diverse range of foods and culture, vibrant and colorful cities, and stunning landscapes attract millions of tourists every year to South America. Some of the most visited places in the region are Machu Picchu, the Amazon Rainforest, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Fortaleza, Maceió, Bogota, Florianópolis, Isla Margarita, Nova Santa Rita, Natal, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Angel Falls, Cuzco, Lake Titicaca, Patagonia, Cartagena and the Galápagos Islands.^[52][53]

Iguazu Falls on the border between Argentina and Brazil, are one of the New Seven World Natural Wonders.

Culture[link]

Fiesta in Palenque. Afro-Colombian tradition from San Basilio de Palenque, a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity since 2005.

The Diablada, dance primival, typical and main of Carnival of Oruro a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity since 2001 in Bolivia (Image: Fraternidad Artística y Cultural "La Diablada").

South Americans are culturally influenced by the historic connection with Europe, especially Spain and Portugal, and the impact of mass culture from the United States of America.

South American nations have a rich variety of music. Some of the most famous genres include vallenato and cumbia from Colombia, samba and bossa nova from Brazil, and tango from Argentina and Uruguay. Also well known is the non-commercial folk genre Nueva Canción movement which was founded in Argentina and Chile and quickly spread to the rest of the Latin America. People on the Peruvian coast created the fine guitar and cajon duos or trios in the most mestizo (mixed) of South American rhythms such as the Marinera (from Lima), the Tondero (from Piura), the 19th century popular Creole Valse or Peruvian Valse, the soulful Arequipan Yaravi, and the early 20th century Paraguayan Guarania. In the late 20th century, Spanish rock emerged by young hipsters influenced by British pop and American rock. Brazil has a Portuguese-language pop rock industry as well a great variety of other music genres.

The literature of South America has attracted considerable critical and popular acclaim, especially with the Latin American Boom of the 1960s and 1970s, and the rise of authors such as Mario Vargas Llosa, Gabriel García Márquez in novels, and Pablo Neruda and Jorge Luis Borges in other genres. The Brazilian Machado de Assis, a 19th century realist writer, is widely regarded as the greatest Brazilian writer. His admirers include José Saramago, Carlos Fuentes, Susan Sontag and Harold Bloom.

Nowadays Paulo Coelho is one of the most read and translated authors. His bestseller The Alchemist has been translated into 73 languages and is one of the most read books in the world.

Because of South America's broad ethnic mix, South American cuisine has African, American Indian, Asian, and European influences. Bahia, Brazil, is especially well known for its West African–influenced cuisine. Argentines, Chileans, Uruguayans, Brazilians and Venezuelans regularly consume wine. Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and people in southern Chile and Brazil drink mate, a herb which is brewed. The Paraguayan version, terere, differs from other forms of mate in that it is served cold. Pisco is a liquor distilled from grapes in Peru and Chile. Peruvian cuisine mixes elements from Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, African, Andean, and Amazonic food.

Language[link]

Languages in South America.

Spanish (193,243,411 speakers)^[54] and Portuguese (193,197,164)^[55] are the most spoken languages in South America. Spanish is the official language of most countries, along with other native languages in some countries. Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. Dutch is the official language of Suriname; English is the official language of Guyana, although there are at least twelve other languages spoken in the country such as Hindi and Arabic. English is also spoken in the Falkland Islands. French is the official language of French Guiana and the second language in Amapa (Brazil).

Indigenous languages of South America include Quechua in Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and Bolivia; Wayuunaiki in northern Colombia (La Guajira); Guaraní in Paraguay and, to a much lesser extent, in Bolivia; Aymara in Bolivia, Peru, and less often in Chile; and Mapudungun is spoken in certain pockets of southern Chile and, more rarely, Argentina. At least three South American indigenous languages (Quechua, Aymara, and Guarani) are recognized along with Spanish as national languages.

Other languages found in South America include, Hindi and Javanese in Suriname; Italian in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Peru and Chile; and German in certain pockets of Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Peru and Paraguay. German is also spoken in many regions of the southern states of Brazil, Riograndenser Hunsrückisch being the most widely spoken German dialect in the country; among other Germanic dialects, a Brazilian form of Pomeranian is also well represented and is experiencing a revival. Welsh remains spoken and written in the historic towns of Trelew and Rawson in the Argentine Patagonia. There are also small clusters of Japanese-speakers in Brazil, Colombia and Peru. Arabic speakers, often of Lebanese, Syrian, or Palestinian descent, can be found in Arab communities in Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and less frequently in Paraguay.

In most of the continent's countries, the upper classes and well-educated people regularly study English, French, German, or Italian, and are typically well-traveled. In those areas where tourism is a significant industry, English and some other European languages are often spoken. There are small Portuguese speaking areas in northernmost Uruguay because of the proximity of Brazil, as well a small Spanish speaking minority in the other side in southernmost Brazil.^{[citation needed]}

Sport[link]

See also[link]

	Latin America portal
	Geography portal

• Americas (terminology)
• Bibliography of South America
• Flags of South America
• South American capital cities

References[link]

Content notes[link]

^ Continent Model: In some parts of the world South America is viewed as a subcontinent of America^[56][57] (a single continent in these areas), for example Latin America, Latin Europe, and Iran. In most of the countries with English as an official language, however, it is considered a continent. See Continent.

Notes[link]

Sources[link]

• "South America". The Columbia Gazetteer of the World Online. 2005. New York: Columbia University Press.
• GeoHive: The population of continents, regions and countries
• Latin American Network Information Database

External links[link]

The Wikibook wikibooks: has a page on the topic of Wikijunior South America

• Media related to South America at Wikimedia Commons

v t e Countries and dependencies of South America Sovereign states Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador France French Guiana Guyana Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Dependencies United Kingdom Falkland Islands South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

v t e Regions of the World Africa Northern Middle East Sub-Saharan Central Southern Western Eastern Oceania Australasia Australia Zealandia Melanesia Micronesia Polynesia America North Northern Middle Central Caribbean South Southern Northern Western Guianan States Anglo Latin (Hispanic) Polar regions Arctic Antarctic Asia Central Eastern Northeastern Northern Southeastern Mainland Maritime Southern Indian subcontinent Western Middle East Oceans World Arctic Atlantic Indian Pacific Southern Europe Central Eastern Northern Southeastern Middle East Southern Western Seas List of seas Related Continents of the world List of seas Physical Earth

lez:Кьиблепатан Америкаvep:Suviamerik