South America is the fourth largest continent of the Earth. Its length is about 700 kilometers from north to south and 5000 kilometers from west to east. The total area of South America is 17.8 square kilometers. The main part of the mainland falls on the southern hemisphere. The continent is washed by the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
- Number and density, place in the population
- South America’s population density
- Population of the countries of South America
- The indigenous population
- The composition of the population of South America
- Types of races living in the territory of South America:
- Languages of the population of South America
- Features of the population
- The formation of the population
- Population migration and population growth
Number and density, place in the population
The total number of inhabitants of South America is 385 million people. It takes 4th place in the world in terms of population among other continents. In terms of number and medium density, South America surpasses only Australia.
In most of the territory, the population density is 1 person per square kilometer. The outskirts of the mainland are densely populated. The average density fluctuates in the range from 10 to 25 people per square kilometer. About 35 percent of the total population of South America lives in the coastal strip of the Atlantic Ocean. Significant settlement of mountainous areas is the main feature of the location of the population of South America.
The least people fall on the vast forests of the Amazon, as well as in some areas. Part of many spaces is completely deserted. The development of most of South America is very weak.
South America’s population density
Population of the countries of South America
| one |  |
Argentina | 45 680 300 | ten.368% |
| 2 |  |
Bolivia | 11 575 232 | 2.627% |
| 3 |  |
Brazil | 217 367 715 | 49.335% |
| four |  |
Chile | 18 911 637 | four.292% |
| 5 |  |
Colombia | 50 616 192 | eleven.488% |
| 6 |  |
Ecuador | 17 421 107 | 3.954% |
| 7 |  |
Guiana | 307 349 | 0.070% |
| eight |  |
Guyana | 780 569 | 0.177% |
| 9 |  |
Paraguay | 7 087 308 | one.609% |
| ten |  |
Peru | 33 467 482 | 7.596% |
| eleven |  |
Surinam | 568 583 | 0.129% |
| 12 |  |
Uruguay | 3 488 314 | 0.792% |
| 13 |  |
Venezuela | 33 326 197 | 7.564% |
| South America | 440 597 985 | 100 % |
The indigenous population
Before the advent of Europeans, various Indian peoples and tribes lived in South America. They spoke the languages of Kechua, Aravak, Chibcha and others. The population was located very uneven. The upcoming valleys of the Central Andian Highlands were more densely populated, and the least of all the lowlands of the Amazon basin.
A distinctive feature of the formation of the population of South America is its relative immaturity.
The composition of the population of South America
The racial composition of the inhabitants of South America is very complicated. This is largely due to the history of the development of the continent. At the moment, 250 of various nationalities and peoples live there, which interact closely with each other for many years.
Types of races living in the territory of South America:
- Equatorial (indigenous population is the Indians);
- Caucasoid (descendants of immigrants from Europe);
- Negroid (descendants of black slaves who were brought from Africa).
In addition to the above races, mestizos, mulattos and sambo spread on the mainland. They are mixed groups.
Languages of the population of South America
The most common language of South America is Portuguese and Spanish. Almost all of Brazil speaks Portuguese, and its population is 50 percent of the total continent. Spanish is also an official language for many countries. In French Guiana, they speak exclusively in French. Languages of the indigenous population have official status in paragraph and Bolivia.
Many European immigrants retain their language, so in a number of countries they often speak Italian and German.
Features of the population
The main religion of South America is Catholicism. It was brought here by Spanish and Portuguese colonialists. About 82 percent of the total population of the continent professes Catholicism. The remaining 8 percent include other Christian movements. In particular, this Protestant and Orthodoxy.
Paganism can only be found among the indigenous population living in very deaf areas. Most of the Indians adopted Christianity as faith. For a long time, Catholicism was the main religion at the state level. Only in 2008 in Bolivia, as a result of amendments to the Constitution, began to guarantee freedom of religion.
The formation of the population
At the end of the 15th century, as noted above, Indian peoples and tribes lived in South America. Then there was a capture of the mainland by the Spaniards and Portuguese, as a result of which the main population began to quickly mix. The ethnic structure was greatly changed after the brief of the black slaves. They made a serious contribution to the culture of the peoples of South America.
After the independence of the countries of South America, there was another leap in the development of the ethnic structure. During this period, the continent became a refuge for most refugees who came from Eastern and Western Europe, as well as from China and India.
Population migration and population growth
All migration flows of this region are concentrated on the United States. Both legal and illegal migrants are directed here. A third of migrants in the United States are immigrants from South America. Mexicans also move there. This situation is due to the fact that the countries of South America are closely related to the US market. They focus on their culture and are involved in the political processes passing there.
Another feature of migration from South America is that the main part of the inhabitants crosses the border illegally. The main part of illegal migrants is also represented by young people of working age. This situation describes serious problems of the social and humanitarian plan in South America. Even children run to the USA to reunite with previously migrated families or with the goal of finding a better life in another country.
Quite often women migrate. This situation is due to the fact that the labor market of developed countries has a high salary and great opportunities.
Internal migration is associated with frequent moves to cities from villages. Every year, about 10 million people move to cities. Most often, women and youth move.
The natural increase in South America until the 1920s was at a fairly low level and amounted to 20 people per 1000 inhabitants. This was due to a high mortality rate 30 people per 1000 inhabitants. The birth rate was at the peak-40-50 per 1000 people.
Only recently natural growth took a decisive position. The largest percentage of birth rate is noted in the Dominican Republic.
