South America Countries Quiz
Twelve countries, from Colombia to Chile. The globe highlights each one; name it, then name its capital.
How the South America quiz works
South America has 12 sovereign countries, and all of them are big enough to appear on the globe. Each round asks about ten of them: name the highlighted country from four options, then its capital. With only 12 countries, it is the fastest region to master, which makes it a good first step before the whole world.
French Guiana, on the north coast, is part of France, and the Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory, so neither counts as a country.
Tips for learning South America
Brazil is the key. It borders every South American country except Chile and Ecuador. Learn its neighbours in order around its border, starting in the north-east: French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay.
Two countries are landlocked: Bolivia and Paraguay. Everything else touches an ocean or the Caribbean.
Capital traps: Brazil's capital is Brasília, not Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. Ecuador's is Quito, not Guayaquil. Bolivia has two: Sucre is the constitutional capital and La Paz is the seat of government. GuessGlobe uses Sucre. On the north coast, Guyana's capital is Georgetown and Suriname's is Paramaribo.
All 12 South American countries and capitals
| Country | Capital |
|---|---|
| Argentina | Buenos Aires |
| Bolivia | Sucre |
| Brazil | Brasília |
| Chile | Santiago |
| Colombia | Bogotá |
| Ecuador | Quito |
| Guyana | Georgetown |
| Paraguay | Asunción |
| Peru | Lima |
| Suriname | Paramaribo |
| Uruguay | Montevideo |
| Venezuela | Caracas |
Frequently asked questions
How many countries are in South America?
12: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Which South American countries are landlocked?
Bolivia and Paraguay. Bolivia lost its coastline to Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879–1884).
What is the largest country in South America?
Brazil, at about 8.5 million km², covers nearly half of the continent.
Read our guide to the Americas for the history behind the borders.