Capitals of South America: quiz and list of all 12 countries
Five questions to see where you stand, then the full list to review. A country lights up on the map: name its capital.
Every country of South America, then their flags and shapes. Practice comes back to the ones you miss.
Download on theApp StoreAll 12 countries of South America and their capitals
In alphabetical order. Population: World Bank, 2024.
| Flag | Country | Capital | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Buenos Aires | 45.7 M | |
| Bolivia | Sucre | 12.4 M | |
| Brazil | Brasília | 212.0 M | |
| Chile | Santiago | 19.8 M | |
| Colombia | Bogotá | 52.9 M | |
| Ecuador | Quito | 18.1 M | |
| Guyana | Georgetown | 831,000 | |
| Paraguay | Asunción | 6.9 M | |
| Peru | Lima | 34.2 M | |
| Suriname | Paramaribo | 634,000 | |
| Uruguay | Montevideo | 3.4 M | |
| Venezuela | Caracas | 28.4 M |
Capitals that trip people up
The largest city is not always the capital. These catch almost everyone out.
- Bolivia
- Sucre is the constitutional capital, La Paz the seat of government.
- Brazil
- Brasília since 1960, not Rio de Janeiro.
- Ecuador
- Quito, not Guayaquil, the largest city.
- Chile
- Santiago, though Congress sits in Valparaíso.
- Uruguay and Paraguay
- Montevideo for Uruguay, Asunción for Paraguay.
- The Guianas
- Georgetown (Guyana), Paramaribo (Suriname). French Guiana is part of France, not a country.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries are in South America?
12 sovereign states. French Guiana is part of France and the Falklands are a British territory.
What is the most populous country of South America?
Brazil, about 212 million people, ahead of Colombia and Argentina.
What is the largest country of South America?
Brazil, at 8,515,767 km², nearly half the continent.
What is the capital of Bolivia?
Sucre is the constitutional capital; La Paz is the seat of government.
How can I learn the 12 South American capitals?
In small batches: a few countries at a time, coming back to your mistakes the next day. In Geodyssey, Adventure mode splits it up for you and practice targets the capitals you miss most.
Other continents: Africa Europe Asia North America Oceania
All 194 countries, in your pocket
Geodyssey, the offline geography quiz for iPhone and iPad. Free.
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