Capital Cities of South America — All 12 Countries

South American Countries and Capitals

On smaller screens, scroll horizontally to see the coordinates and time zones.

Coordinates represent approximate city-center locations. Time zones refer to the listed capital cities. Santiago observes seasonal clock changes between UTC−4 and UTC−3. Paraguay adopted UTC−3 as its permanent official time zone under Law 7354/2024.

South America Capital Profiles and Related Articles

22 articles in South America

What Counts as South America in This List

This article focuses on the 12 independent countries of South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Some maps also show French Guiana and the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) within the South American region. French Guiana is an overseas department and region of France. The Falkland Islands are administered by the United Kingdom and claimed by Argentina. Neither is an independent country, so they are not included in the 12-country list.

Regional maps may include these territories and their administrative centers, but national-capital lists generally distinguish them from the capitals of sovereign states.

Capital Cities by Country

Argentina: Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina and one of the major urban centers of South America. It sits on the western shore of the Río de la Plata estuary, in the eastern part of the country. The city is a national government center and a major cultural, transport, education, and publishing hub.

The name Buenos Aires means “good airs” or “fair winds” in Spanish. In capital-city lists, it should not be confused with Buenos Aires Province, which is a separate administrative jurisdiction surrounding the autonomous city. Buenos Aires was federalized in 1880, while La Plata became the provincial capital in 1882.

Bolivia: Sucre and La Paz

Bolivia has the principal special capital arrangement in South America. Sucre is the constitutional capital, as established by Article 6 of the Bolivian Constitution, while La Paz is the seat of government where the executive and legislative branches operate. Sucre remains an important judicial center, housing the Supreme Court of Justice and the Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal.

La Paz is known for its high elevation in the Andes. Its central government district lies at approximately 3,600 meters above sea level, although elevation varies across the city. Sucre, meanwhile, retains the constitutional capital title and is located in a lower Andean valley.

For a question asking only for Bolivia’s constitutional capital, the answer is Sucre. A country-and-capital reference explaining the location of Bolivia’s government should also identify La Paz.

Brazil: Brasília

Brasília is the capital of Brazil. Unlike many older South American capitals, Brasília was planned and built inland before becoming the capital in 1960. The move placed the national government closer to the interior of the country rather than keeping it on the Atlantic coast.

Brazil’s former capitals included Salvador and Rio de Janeiro. Brasília is located in the Federal District and is known for its planned urban design, civic buildings, and role as the seat of Brazil’s federal government. Its central urban plan was designed by Lúcio Costa, while Oscar Niemeyer designed many of its public buildings.

Chile: Santiago

Santiago is the capital of Chile and the country’s largest metropolitan center. It lies in central Chile, close to the Andes Mountains. Most national government functions are centered in Santiago, making it the standard answer for Chile’s capital.

Chile also has an institutional distinction: Valparaíso is the principal seat of the National Congress. This does not replace Santiago as the national capital. The separation reflects the location of the legislature rather than a division of Chile’s constitutional capital status.

Colombia: Bogotá

Bogotá is the capital of Colombia. It sits high on a plateau in the Andes, approximately 2,600 meters above sea level, giving it a cooler climate than many lowland cities near the equator. The city is the seat of national government and one of the largest metropolitan centers in northern South America.

Bogotá is designated as a Capital District and serves as the administrative center of the national government. Its name is written with an accent in Spanish. In English-language lists, both “Bogotá” and “Bogota” appear, but the accented spelling reflects the official Spanish form.

Ecuador: Quito

Quito is the capital of Ecuador. It is located very close to the equator and sits at an elevation of approximately 2,850 meters in the Andes. Its mountain setting and near-equatorial location give the city a distinctive climate and geography.

The city is also the capital of Pichincha Province. Ecuador has another major city, Guayaquil, which is an important port and commercial center, but Quito is the national capital and the seat of the country’s central government.

Guyana: Georgetown

Georgetown is the capital of Guyana. It is located on the Atlantic coast, near the mouth of the Demerara River. Guyana is the only independent South American country with English as its official language, which distinguishes Georgetown linguistically from most of the continent’s capitals.

The city is the center of national administration and connects the coastal population zone with the country’s wider interior. Much of Georgetown is situated on low-lying coastal land, making drainage and flood protection important aspects of its urban geography.

Paraguay: Asunción

Asunción is the capital of Paraguay. It is located on the Paraguay River and has long served as the country’s main political and urban center. Paraguay is one of the two landlocked countries in South America, along with Bolivia.

The city’s name is written with an accent in Spanish: Asunción. In English lists, “Asuncion” may appear without the accent, but the accented form is preferred for accuracy.

Paraguay recognizes both Spanish and Guaraní as official languages. The country’s official time zone is UTC−3 throughout the year, following the adoption of Law 7354 in 2024, which ended the former seasonal change between UTC−3 and UTC−4.

Peru: Lima

Lima is the capital of Peru. It sits on the Pacific coast and is the country’s main political, economic, and transport center. Unlike highland capitals such as Quito, Bogotá, and La Paz, Lima is a coastal capital.

The city is closely connected with Callao, Peru’s principal port area. Callao has a separate administrative status as a constitutional province, although it forms part of the wider Lima metropolitan region. For country-capital lists, Lima is the national capital.

Suriname: Paramaribo

Paramaribo is the capital of Suriname. It is located on the Suriname River, near the country’s northern Atlantic coastal plain. Suriname is the only independent country in South America with Dutch as its official language.

The city is the country’s administrative and cultural center. Its location near the Atlantic coast reflects the settlement pattern of much of Suriname’s population. The historic inner city of Paramaribo was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2002.

Uruguay: Montevideo

Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay. It stands on the northern shore of the Río de la Plata and is the country’s main urban, administrative, port, and cultural center.

Uruguay is one of South America’s smaller countries by land area, and Montevideo contains a large share of the country’s urban population. The city also serves as the capital of Montevideo Department. In standard geography tables, the country-capital pairing is Uruguay — Montevideo.

Venezuela: Caracas

Caracas is the capital of Venezuela. It is located in a valley near the Caribbean coast, in the northern part of the country. Caracas is the seat of national government and one of the major metropolitan centers of northern South America.

The city lies within a mountain valley separated from the Caribbean shoreline by the coastal mountain range. Its location has shaped urban development, transport routes, and connections with the nearby port of La Guaira. In national-capital lists, Venezuela is paired with Caracas.

Capital Cities Grouped by Language

The language groups describe principal languages used in national administration. Several countries also recognize Indigenous languages. Bolivia recognizes multiple Indigenous languages alongside Spanish, while Paraguay has Spanish and Guaraní as official languages.

Spanish is used in national administration in nine of South America’s independent countries. Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, which covers approximately half of the continent’s land area. Guyana and Suriname add English and Dutch to the mainland political map.

Capitals by Location Type

Andean Capitals

Several capitals are tied to the Andes or highland geography. Bogotá, Quito, La Paz, Sucre, and Santiago are all shaped by mountain settings. Elevation affects local climate, and cities such as Quito, Bogotá, and La Paz generally have cooler temperatures than nearby lowland locations at comparable latitudes.

Coastal and River Capitals

Buenos Aires, Lima, Georgetown, Paramaribo, and Montevideo are strongly linked to coasts, estuaries, or river mouths. Asunción also developed along a major inland river. These locations helped the cities grow as ports, administrative centers, and connections for trade and travel.

Inland Planned Capital

Brasília is the clearest planned-capital example in South America. Its inland location was chosen to support national integration and reduce the longstanding concentration of government and economic activity in coastal cities. It became Brazil’s federal capital in 1960.

Why Some South America Capital Lists Look Different

Not every South American capital list uses the same geographic scope. Some include dependent territories, others include only independent countries, and some simplify countries with unusual government arrangements. As a result, lists may contain different numbers of entries.

A country-only list contains 12 independent countries. A broader regional map may add French Guiana, the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), or other territories. Bolivia also affects the number of capital-city names because Sucre and La Paz have different constitutional and administrative functions.

A school quiz may identify Sucre as Bolivia’s capital without mentioning La Paz. A more detailed political geography reference generally includes both cities and explains their respective roles.

Common Questions About South American Capitals

How Many Capital Cities Are in South America?

South America has 12 independent countries, each with a national capital arrangement. Bolivia is the special case because Sucre is its constitutional capital and La Paz is its seat of government. A basic country-capital list therefore has 12 country entries, while a list naming both Bolivian cities contains 13 capital-related city names.

What Is the Largest Capital City in South America?

Buenos Aires, Lima, Bogotá, and Santiago are among South America’s largest capital metropolitan areas. Brasília is also a major population center, although its Federal District and metropolitan-area definitions differ from those used for other capitals.

An exact ranking requires a consistent population year and geographic boundary. City proper, municipality, urban area, and metropolitan area figures are not interchangeable. Rankings may change when different administrative limits or census definitions are used.

What Is the Highest Capital in South America?

La Paz, Bolivia, is the highest seat of national government in South America and is commonly identified as the world’s highest administrative capital. Its central government district is approximately 3,600 meters above sea level. Quito, Bogotá, and Sucre are also high-elevation capital-related cities.

La Paz’s designation as an administrative capital should be distinguished from Sucre’s constitutional status as Bolivia’s national capital.

Which South American Country Has Two Capitals?

Bolivia has the continent’s best-known division of capital functions. Sucre is the constitutional capital and judicial center, while La Paz houses the executive and legislative branches of national government.

Is Rio de Janeiro the Capital of Brazil?

No. Rio de Janeiro was Brazil’s capital from 1763 until 1960, when Brasília became the new federal capital. Rio remains one of Brazil’s major cities, but it is no longer the seat of national government.

Is São Paulo the Capital of Brazil?

No. São Paulo is Brazil’s largest city and a major economic center, but the national capital is Brasília. São Paulo is the capital of the Brazilian state of the same name.

Is Guayaquil the Capital of Ecuador?

No. Guayaquil is Ecuador’s principal port city and a major commercial center, but Quito is the national capital.

Is Valparaíso the Capital of Chile?

No. Santiago is the capital of Chile. Valparaíso serves as the principal seat of Chile’s National Congress, but it does not hold the country’s national capital designation.