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Land area — all countries

Land area — South America

Land area in South America in 2023 — 17,383,551 km². Since 1961, the indicator has fallen by 0.1%.

2023 17.38M km² −0% vs 2022
World rank —
Period maximum 17.4M km²1975
Period minimum 17.37M km²2014

Trend over time

1961–2023 · km²

Land area — South America, 1961–202317.36M17.37M17.38M17.39M17.4M19611968197519821989199620032010201720231961: 17,399,590 km²1963: 17,399,590 km²1965: 17,399,590 km²1967: 17,399,590 km²1969: 17,399,590 km²1971: 17,399,590 km²1973: 17,399,590 km²1975: 17,399,730 km²1977: 17,399,730 km²1979: 17,399,730 km²1981: 17,399,730 km²1983: 17,399,730 km²1985: 17,399,730 km²1987: 17,399,730 km²1989: 17,399,730 km²1991: 17,399,730 km²1993: 17,399,730 km²1995: 17,399,730 km²1997: 17,399,730 km²1999: 17,371,250 km²2001: 17,371,250 km²2003: 17,371,250 km²2005: 17,371,250 km²2007: 17,371,250 km²2009: 17,371,250 km²2011: 17,371,250 km²2013: 17,371,250 km²2015: 17,369,400 km²2017: 17,370,004 km²2019: 17,370,549 km²2021: 17,384,839 km²2023: 17,383,551 km²
Change over the period: −16,038 (−0.09%) Average annual rate: 0 %

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South America

South America 17.38M km²
World 130M km²
Land area — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year km² Change Change, %
2023 17.38M −0 −0%
2022 17.38M −1,288 −0.01%
2021 17.38M +0 +0%
2020 17.38M +14,290 +0.08%
2019 17.37M +545 +0%
2018 17.37M +0 +0%
2017 17.37M +0 +0%
2016 17.37M +604 +0%
2015 17.37M +0 +0%
2014 17.37M −1,849 −0.01%
2013 17.37M +0 +0%
2012 17.37M +0 +0%
2011 17.37M +0 +0%
2010 17.37M +0 +0%
2009 17.37M +0 +0%
2008 17.37M +0 +0%
2007 17.37M +0 +0%
2006 17.37M +0 +0%
2005 17.37M +0 +0%
2004 17.37M +0 +0%
2003 17.37M +0 +0%
2002 17.37M +0 +0%
2001 17.37M +0 +0%
2000 17.37M +0 +0%
1999 17.37M +0 +0%
1998 17.37M −28,480 −0.16%
1997 17.4M +0 +0%
1996 17.4M +0 +0%
1995 17.4M +0 +0%
1994 17.4M +0 +0%
1993 17.4M +0 +0%
1992 17.4M +0 +0%
1991 17.4M +0 +0%
1990 17.4M +0 +0%
1989 17.4M +0 +0%
1988 17.4M +0 +0%
1987 17.4M +0 +0%
1986 17.4M +0 +0%
1985 17.4M +0 +0%
1984 17.4M +0 +0%
1983 17.4M +0 +0%
1982 17.4M +0 +0%
1981 17.4M +0 +0%
1980 17.4M +0 +0%
1979 17.4M +0 +0%
1978 17.4M +0 +0%
1977 17.4M +0 +0%
1976 17.4M +0 +0%
1975 17.4M +140 +0%
1974 17.4M +0 +0%
1973 17.4M +0 +0%
1972 17.4M +0 +0%
1971 17.4M +0 +0%
1970 17.4M +0 +0%
1969 17.4M +0 +0%
1968 17.4M +0 +0%
1967 17.4M +0 +0%
1966 17.4M +0 +0%
1965 17.4M +0 +0%
1964 17.4M +0 +0%
1963 17.4M +0 +0%
1962 17.4M +0 +0%
1961 17.4M — —

About the indicator

Land area: the entire territory of a country excluding inland water bodies, major rivers and coastal waters. This is the figure the World Bank uses to calculate the shares of forest, agricultural and arable land, so it is needed not only in itself but also as a denominator. It differs from surface area by the area of inland waters — for most countries the gap stays within a percent, but for Canada, Finland or Kazakhstan it is noticeable.

Important: Not to be confused with surface area, which includes inland waters. The indicator changes only when borders change, so the series is nearly constant.

Source: FAOSTAT (FAO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for South America

Environment Surface area

The full area of a country — land together with inland water bodies.

South America by year Environment Forest cover

What share of a country's territory is covered by forest.

South America by year Agriculture Agricultural land

How much land is taken up by arable land, permanent crops and pasture.

South America by year Demography Population density

How many people there are per square kilometer of a country's territory.

South America by year
All indicators for South America