🗺️ MapQuiz

South America Map Quiz — Can You Find All 12 Countries?

South America has 12 sovereign nations spanning from the Caribbean coast of Venezuela to the tip of Patagonia at Cape Horn. This free online South America map quiz tests your ability to identify every country — including the easy giants like Brazil and Argentina, and the trickier ones like Guyana, Suriname, and Uruguay.

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12 questions · 3:00

South America Map Quiz: The 3 Most Missed Countries

Experienced geography players consistently struggle with three South American countries: Suriname (former Dutch colony, wedged between Guyana and French Guiana), Paraguay (landlocked, easy to confuse with Bolivia), and Uruguay (small, sandwiched between giants Argentina and Brazil). Focus on these three first.

South America Geography: Quick Facts for Your Quiz

Key facts to remember: Brazil speaks Portuguese (all others speak Spanish except Guyana/Suriname). The Andes mountain range runs the entire length of the Pacific coast. The Amazon River is the world's largest river by discharge. Bolivia and Paraguay are the only two landlocked countries in South America.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many countries are in South America? ▾
South America has 12 sovereign countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Brazil is by far the largest, occupying about 47% of South America's total land area.
What is the largest country in South America? ▾
Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest country in the world by both area (3.29 million sq mi) and population (215 million). It is so large that it borders every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.
Which South American countries are the hardest to find on a map? ▾
Guyana, Suriname, and Uruguay are the most commonly missed. Guyana and Suriname are small countries on the northern coast often overlooked between Venezuela and Brazil. Uruguay is small and tucked between Argentina and Brazil on the Atlantic coast. Paraguay is landlocked and easy to confuse with Bolivia.
What is the only South American country where English is the official language? ▾
Guyana is the only South American country with English as its official language — a legacy of British colonial rule. Suriname (Dutch) and French Guiana (French, an overseas territory of France) are the other non-Spanish/Portuguese countries in the region.
What are the benefits of learning South American geography? ▾
Understanding South American geography aids comprehension of international news, environmental issues (Amazon deforestation, Atacama Desert), economic geography (copper in Chile, soybeans in Brazil), and cultural understanding of the continent's extraordinary diversity.