Largest Countries in South America by Area

A ranked list of South America’s largest countries by total surface area, based on the most consistent international geographic data.

Surface area refers to the combined land and inland water area within a country’s internationally recognized boundaries. This includes lakes and rivers but excludes overseas territories unless otherwise stated.

Largest country in South America

Brazil is the largest country in South America by total surface area and the 5th-largest country in the world.

Covering nearly half of the continent, Brazil spans a vast range of ecosystems, including the Amazon Rainforest, the Brazilian Highlands, and extensive Atlantic coastline.

It shares land borders with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.

Largest countries in South America by area

These are the 10 largest sovereign countries in South America, ranked by total surface area:

1. Brazil
2. Argentina
3. Peru
4. Colombia
5. Bolivia
6. Venezuela
7. Chile
8. Paraguay
9. Ecuador
10. Guyana

Complete ranking of South American countries by area

The table below ranks South American countries by total surface area in square kilometers (sq km) and square miles (sq mi).

Total area figures can vary slightly between sources due to differences in how inland waters and boundary definitions are treated.

For consistency and comparability, this ranking uses data from the Central Intelligence agency (CIA) World Factbook, one of the most widely cited global geographic datasets.

Global ranking refers to each country’s position worldwide when all countries are ranked by total surface area.

For a broader comparison, see North America’s largest countries.

Notes on South American geography and size

South America is the fourth-largest continent by land area, but its countries show some of the widest contrasts in size and geography of any continent. Brazil alone accounts for nearly half of South America’s total land area, while several neighboring countries are less than one-tenth its size.

Much of the continent’s surface area is shaped by a small number of dominant geographic features, including the Amazon Basin, which spans multiple countries, and the Andes Mountains, the longest continental mountain range in the world. These features significantly influence national borders, climate zones, and land use patterns.

Because of this, large land area in South America does not automatically translate into higher population density, economic output, or political influence.

However, total surface area remains an important geographic metric for understanding regional scale, environmental distribution, and continental comparisons.