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Surface area — all countries

Surface area — South America

Surface area in South America in 2023 — 17,702,662 km². Since 1961, the indicator has fallen by 0.2%.

2023 17.7M km² −0% vs 2022
World rank —
Period maximum 17.74M km²1961
Period minimum 17.7M km²2023

Trend over time

1961–2023 · km²

Surface area — South America, 1961–202317.7M17.71M17.72M17.73M17.74M19611968197519821989199620032010201720231961: 17,735,186 km²1963: 17,735,186 km²1965: 17,735,186 km²1967: 17,735,186 km²1969: 17,735,186 km²1971: 17,735,186 km²1973: 17,735,186 km²1975: 17,735,186 km²1977: 17,735,186 km²1979: 17,735,186 km²1981: 17,735,186 km²1983: 17,735,186 km²1985: 17,735,186 km²1987: 17,735,186 km²1989: 17,735,186 km²1991: 17,735,186 km²1993: 17,735,186 km²1995: 17,735,186 km²1997: 17,735,186 km²1999: 17,707,996 km²2001: 17,707,996 km²2003: 17,707,996 km²2005: 17,707,996 km²2007: 17,707,996 km²2009: 17,707,996 km²2011: 17,707,998 km²2013: 17,707,997 km²2015: 17,707,997 km²2017: 17,708,601 km²2019: 17,709,147 km²2021: 17,708,016 km²2023: 17,702,662 km²
Change over the period: −32,524 (−0.18%) Average annual rate: 0 %

Comparison, 2023

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

South America 17.7M km²
World 141M km²
Surface area — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year km² Change Change, %
2023 17.7M −4 −0%
2022 17.7M −5,350 −0.03%
2021 17.71M +0 +0%
2020 17.71M −1,131 −0.01%
2019 17.71M +545 +0%
2018 17.71M +1 +0%
2017 17.71M +0 +0%
2016 17.71M +604 +0%
2015 17.71M +0 +0%
2014 17.71M +0 +0%
2013 17.71M +1 +0%
2012 17.71M −2 −0%
2011 17.71M +0 +0%
2010 17.71M +2 +0%
2009 17.71M +0 +0%
2008 17.71M +0 +0%
2007 17.71M +0 +0%
2006 17.71M +0 +0%
2005 17.71M +0 +0%
2004 17.71M +0 +0%
2003 17.71M +0 +0%
2002 17.71M +0 +0%
2001 17.71M +0 +0%
2000 17.71M +0 +0%
1999 17.71M +0 +0%
1998 17.71M −27,190 −0.15%
1997 17.74M +0 +0%
1996 17.74M +0 +0%
1995 17.74M +0 +0%
1994 17.74M +0 +0%
1993 17.74M +0 +0%
1992 17.74M +0 +0%
1991 17.74M +0 +0%
1990 17.74M +0 +0%
1989 17.74M +0 +0%
1988 17.74M +0 +0%
1987 17.74M +0 +0%
1986 17.74M +0 +0%
1985 17.74M +0 +0%
1984 17.74M +0 +0%
1983 17.74M +0 +0%
1982 17.74M +0 +0%
1981 17.74M +0 +0%
1980 17.74M +0 +0%
1979 17.74M +0 +0%
1978 17.74M +0 +0%
1977 17.74M +0 +0%
1976 17.74M +0 +0%
1975 17.74M +0 +0%
1974 17.74M +0 +0%
1973 17.74M +0 +0%
1972 17.74M +0 +0%
1971 17.74M +0 +0%
1970 17.74M +0 +0%
1969 17.74M +0 +0%
1968 17.74M +0 +0%
1967 17.74M +0 +0%
1966 17.74M +0 +0%
1965 17.74M +0 +0%
1964 17.74M +0 +0%
1963 17.74M +0 +0%
1962 17.74M +0 +0%
1961 17.74M — —

About the indicator

Total surface area: land together with inland water bodies and, where applicable, coastal waters. This is the figure usually quoted as the area of a country in reference books and encyclopedias. It is the basis for the share of protected natural areas, because protected areas include marine waters, which land area leaves out.

Important: This is the “encyclopedic” area of a country. Land shares — forest, arable and agricultural land — are calculated against land area, not against this figure.

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

Other indicators for South America

Environment Land area

The area of a country excluding inland water bodies — the denominator for every land share.

South America by year Environment Protected areas

The share of land and sea under protection — nature reserves, national parks, sanctuaries.

South America by year Demography Population density

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

South America by year Environment Forest cover

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

South America by year Environment Forest area

The absolute area of forest in square kilometers.

South America by year Environment Freshwater withdrawal as a share of resources

How much water is withdrawn relative to the internal resources available.

South America by year
All indicators for South America