Learn the Countries of South America
Learn to place every South American country on the map and name its capital, from Colombia and Venezuela in the north down to Chile and Argentina.
South America
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What you'll practice
- A manageable continentSouth America has only about a dozen countries, making it one of the quickest continents to master.
- South American capitalsLearn capitals including Bogotá, Lima, Santiago, Brasília, Montevideo, and Asunción.
- Similar flagsAdd the flag round to separate Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, which share yellow, blue, and red.
- Interior countriesBolivia and Paraguay are landlocked and easy to overlook, so the map view helps fix them in place.
How to learn the countries of South America
Choose the South America region and a mode that includes capitals. The map zooms to the continent, so you can clearly see how each country sits against its neighbours.
With only around a dozen countries, South America is a good continent to fully master early. Learn the Andean west, the Atlantic east, and the two landlocked interior countries as three small groups.
Tips for South American capitals and flags
Watch for Brazil, whose capital is Brasília rather than Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. It is the single most commonly missed capital on the continent.
Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela all use yellow, blue, and red bands from the historic Gran Colombia flag. The band proportions and central emblems are what distinguish them.
South American countries and their capitals
Every South American country featured in the quiz above, paired with its capital city.
- ArgentinaBuenos Aires
- BoliviaSucre
- BrazilBrasília
- ChileSantiago
- ColombiaBogotá
- EcuadorQuito
- ParaguayAsunción
- PeruLima
- UruguayMontevideo
- VenezuelaCaracas
Frequently asked questions
How many countries are in South America?
South America has 12 sovereign countries, plus French Guiana as an overseas department of France. That makes it one of the smallest continents by country count.
What is the capital of Brazil?
The capital of Brazil is Brasília, a purpose-built city that replaced Rio de Janeiro as capital in 1960. Rio and São Paulo are larger but are not the capital.
Which South American countries are landlocked?
Bolivia and Paraguay are the two landlocked countries in South America. Both are commonly overlooked because they sit in the continental interior.
Is the South America map quiz free?
Yes. The countries of South America quiz is free to play in your browser with no sign-up required.
More ways to learn geography
- Learn the Countries of EuropeLocate every European country and learn its capital and flag.
- Learn the Countries of AsiaLocate Asian countries from the Middle East to the Far East, plus their capitals.
- Learn World CapitalsName the capital city of every country, one region at a time.
- Learn the 50 U.S. StatesPlace every state on the map, then name its capital and flag.
Prefer to choose your own region and mode? Play all MapDuel geography games.