Population in South America
South America: Population was 362,840 in 2030. ▲ Rising
Population in South America, 1990–2030
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2030, population in South America stood at 362,840. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in South America peaked at 362,840 in 2030 and was at its lowest, 190,916, in 1990.
South America ranks 42nd of 91 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Population in South America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 190,916 | — |
| 1991 | 195,478 | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 200,140 | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 204,901 | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 209,716 | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 214,623 | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 219,596 | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 224,634 | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 229,759 | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 234,896 | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 239,950 | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 244,941 | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 249,891 | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 254,800 | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 259,665 | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 264,479 | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 269,244 | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 273,943 | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 278,569 | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 283,128 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 287,629 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 292,106 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 296,587 | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 301,082 | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 305,556 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 309,965 | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 314,315 | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 318,545 | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 322,514 | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 326,275 | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 329,777 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 332,846 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 335,973 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 339,484 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 343,071 | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 346,583 | +1.0% |
| 2026 | 350,002 | +1.0% |
| 2027 | 353,332 | +1.0% |
| 2028 | 356,564 | +0.9% |
| 2029 | 359,734 | +0.9% |
| 2030 | 362,840 | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 212,466 | 190,916 | 234,896 | 10 |
| 2000s | 261,861 | 239,950 | 283,128 | 10 |
| 2010s | 307,457 | 287,629 | 326,275 | 10 |
| 2020s | 344,737 | 329,777 | 359,734 | 10 |
| 2030s | 362,840 | 362,840 | 362,840 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South America
- 39 Malaysia 30,756 compare
- 40 Morocco 30,683 compare
- 41 Afghanistan 29,681 compare
- 42 Saudi Arabia 28,924 compare
- 43 Yemen 28,613 compare
- 44 Peru 28,205 compare
- 45 Uzbekistan 27,599 compare
More gender data for South America
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 85,918 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.25 % change on previous year (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 362,840 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.8634 % change on previous year (2030)
- Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) 36.64 (2027)
- SDG indicator 1.1.1: Working poverty rate 3.12 (2025)
- SDG indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in managerial positions 38.56 (2025)
- Number of seats held by women in national parliaments 667 (2026)
- Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments 31.7% (2026)
- Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia 21.8% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in South America?
- Population in South America was 362,840 in 2030, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest population recorded in South America?
- The highest recorded value was 362,840 in 2030.
- What is the lowest population recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 190,916 in 1990.
- How does South America rank for population?
- South America ranks 42nd out of 91 groups with data for 2030.
- Is population rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South America data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Population (UN estimates and projections). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. The total population comprises persons of all ages who were living in the country during the reference period, regardless of residency status or citizenship. The source for the population figures used is the United Nations' World Population Prospects. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.