South America Population (LIVE)

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South America Population (1950 - 2023)
Yearly Population Growth Rate (%)

Countries in South America

CountryPopulation (2023)
Brazil216,422,446
Colombia52,085,168
Argentina45,773,884
Peru34,352,719
Venezuela28,838,499
Chile19,629,590
Ecuador18,190,484
Bolivia12,388,571
Paraguay6,861,524
Uruguay3,423,108
Guyana813,834
Suriname623,236
French Guiana312,155
Falkland Islands3,791
  • The current population of South America is 441,957,654 as of Monday, March 18, 2024, based on the latest United Nations estimates.
  • South America population is equivalent to 5.47% of the total world population.
  • South America ranks number 1 in Latin America and the Caribbean among subregions ranked by Population.
  • The population density in South America is 25 per Km2 (65 people per mi2).
  • The total land area is 17,461,112 Km2 (6,741,770 sq. miles)
  • 0 % of the population is urban (0 people in 2023).
  • The median age in South America is 0.0years.

Population of South America (2023 and historical)

YearPopulationYearly %
Change
Yearly
Change
Migrants (net)Median AgeFertility RateDensity (P/Km²)Urban
Pop %
Urban PopulationSouth America's
Share of
World Pop
World PopulationSouth America
Rank within
Latin America and the Caribbean
2023 439,719,008 nan % 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 25 0 % 0 5.5 % 7,840,952,880 1
2020 431,530,044 0.75 % 3,211,884 -36,581 29.5 1.95 25 85.4 % 368,408,682 5.5 % 7,840,952,880 1
2015 413,134,396 1 % 4,011,229 -74,200 29.1 1.99 24 84.2 % 347,768,234 5.9 % 7,426,597,537 1
2010 393,078,249 1.08 % 4,115,156 -301,000 27.3 2.07 23 82.8 % 325,597,221 6.0 % 6,985,603,105 1
2005 372,502,471 1.28 % 4,573,638 -433,400 25.5 2.23 21 81.3 % 302,754,731 6.1 % 6,558,176,119 1
2000 349,634,282 1.54 % 5,137,628 -242,700 23.9 2.48 20 79.6 % 278,161,939 6.1 % 6,148,898,975 1
1995 323,946,143 1.74 % 5,359,946 -219,500 22.6 2.80 19 76.9 % 249,022,277 6.1 % 5,743,219,454 1
1990 297,146,415 1.99 % 5,565,178 -121,500 21.5 3.12 17 74.1 % 220,325,787 6.1 % 5,316,175,862 1
1985 269,320,525 2.18 % 5,506,304 -119,900 20.5 3.53 15 71.1 % 191,480,181 6.1 % 4,861,730,613 1
1980 241,789,005 2.26 % 5,107,452 -127,700 19.5 3.99 14 67.6 % 163,432,653 5.9 % 4,444,007,706 1
1975 216,251,746 2.31 % 4,660,918 -209,200 18.7 4.36 12 63.8 % 138,054,489 5.9 % 4,069,437,231 1
1970 192,947,155 2.48 % 4,448,061 -106,300 18.1 4.82 11 60 % 115,699,584 5.8 % 3,695,390,336 1
1965 170,706,851 2.73 % 4,296,528 -71,200 17.7 5.38 10 36 % 61,512,922 5.7 % 3,337,111,983 1
1960 149,224,211 2.8 % 3,847,659 -15,600 18.0 5.64 9 51.6 % 77,018,596 5.4 % 3,019,233,434 1
1955 129,985,918 2.75 % 3,293,048 5,400 18.4 5.64 7 47.3 % 61,512,922 5.2 % 2,746,072,141 1

Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)

Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2022 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).
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South America Population Forecast

YearPopulationYearly %
Change
Yearly
Change
Migrants (net)Median AgeFertility RateDensity (P/Km²)Urban
Pop %
Urban PopulationSouth America's
Share of
World Pop
World PopulationSouth America
Rank within
Latin America and the Caribbean
2025 445,938,694 0.66 % 2,881,730 7,100 32.7 1.78 26 86.8 % 387,287,563 5.7 % 8,191,988,453 1
2030 460,220,273 0.63 % 2,856,316 -10,200 34.6 1.77 26 87.8 % 404,258,259 5.6 % 8,546,141,327 1
2035 471,988,372 0.51 % 2,353,620 -41,500 36.4 1.74 27 88.8 % 419,148,163 5.3 % 8,879,397,401 1
2040 481,064,253 0.38 % 1,815,176 -48,200 38.1 1.73 28 89.8 % 431,887,607 5.4 % 9,188,250,492 1
2045 487,329,376 0.26 % 1,253,025 -48,100 39.7 1.72 28 90.8 % 442,400,549 5.3 % 9,467,543,575 1
2050 491,078,654 0.15 % 749,856 -47,900 41.2 1.71 28 91.8 % 450,619,257 5.2 % 9,709,491,761 1
Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)
Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2022 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).
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Notes

The South America Population (Live) counter shows a continuously updated estimate of the current population of South America delivered by Worldometer's RTS algorithm, which processes data collected from the United Nations Population Division.

The Population of South America (1950 - 2023) chart plots the total population count as of July 1 of each year, from 1950 to 2023.

The Yearly Population Growth Rate chart plots the annual percentage changes in population registered on July 1 of each year, from 1951 to 2023. This value can differ from the Yearly % Change shown in the historical table, which shows the last year equivalent percentage change assuming homogeneous change in the preceding five year period.

Definitions

Year: as of July 1 of the year indicated.

Population: Overall total population (both sexes and all ages) in the sub-region as of July 1 of the year indicated, as estimated by the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division.World Population Prospects: The 2022 Revision. For forecasted years, the U.N. medium-fertility variant is used.

Yearly % Change: For 2023: percentage change in total population over the last year (from July 1, 2022 to June 30 2023). For all other years: latest year annual percentage change equivalent assuming homogeneous change in the preceding five year period, calculated through reverse compounding.

Yearly Change: For 2023: absolute change in total population (increase or decrease in number of people) over the last year (from July 1, 2022 to June 30 2023). For all other years: average annual numerical change over the preceding five year period.

Migrants (net): The average annual number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants over the preceding five year period (running from July 1 to June 30 of the initial and final years), or subsequent five year period. A negative number means that there are more emigrants than immigrants.

Median Age: age that divides the population into two numerically equal groups: half of the people are older than the median age indicated and half are younger. This parameter provides an indication of age distribution.

Fertility Rate: (Total Fertility Rate, or TFR), it is expressed as children per woman. It is calculated as the average number of children an average woman will have during her reproductive period (15 to 49 years old) based on the current fertility rates of every age group in the countries within South America, and assuming she is not subject to mortality.

Density (P/Km²): (Population Density) Population per square Kilometer (Km²).

Urban Pop % : Urban population as a percentage of total population.

Urban Population: Population living in areas classified as urban according to the criteria used by each country.

South America's Share of World Pop: Total population as a percentage of total World Population as of July 1 of the year indicated.

World Population: Total World Population as of July 1 of the year indicated.

Rank within Latin America and the Caribbean: Position held by South America in the list of all regions within Latin America and the Caribbean ranked by population (from the highest population to the lowest population) as of July 1 of the year indicated.

See also