South America is a continent in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the
Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern
Hemisphere. It may also be considered a subcontinent of the Americas,
or America, which is how it is viewed in Spanish and
Portuguese-speaking regions of the Americas. The reference to South
America instead of other regions (like Latin America or the Southern
Cone) has increased in the last decades due to changing geopolitical
dynamics (in particular, the rise of Brazil).[additional citation(s)
needed]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 sovereign states:
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana,
Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, and a part of France :
French Guiana. In addition, the ABC islands of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands, the Falkland Islands (a British Overseas Territory),
Trinidad and Tobago, and Panama may also be considered part of South
America.South America has an area of 17,840,000 square kilometers
(6,890,000 sq mi). Its population as of 2018[update] has been
estimated at more than 423 million. South America ranks fourth in area
(after Asia, Africa, and North America) and fifth in population (after
Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America). Brazil is by far the most
populous South American country, with more than half of the
continent's population, followed by Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela and
Peru. In recent decades Brazil has also concentrated half of the
region's GDP and has become a first regional power.
Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern
Hemisphere. It may also be considered a subcontinent of the Americas,
or America, which is how it is viewed in Spanish and
Portuguese-speaking regions of the Americas. The reference to South
America instead of other regions (like Latin America or the Southern
Cone) has increased in the last decades due to changing geopolitical
dynamics (in particular, the rise of Brazil).[additional citation(s)
needed]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 sovereign states:
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana,
Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, and a part of France :
French Guiana. In addition, the ABC islands of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands, the Falkland Islands (a British Overseas Territory),
Trinidad and Tobago, and Panama may also be considered part of South
America.South America has an area of 17,840,000 square kilometers
(6,890,000 sq mi). Its population as of 2018[update] has been
estimated at more than 423 million. South America ranks fourth in area
(after Asia, Africa, and North America) and fifth in population (after
Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America). Brazil is by far the most
populous South American country, with more than half of the
continent's population, followed by Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela and
Peru. In recent decades Brazil has also concentrated half of the
region's GDP and has become a first regional power.
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