South Americans

South Americans
by Luan · CC BY 3.0 · source
Name	South Americans
Population	Varied; hundreds of millions across sovereign states and territories
Regions	Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, French Guiana
Languages	Spanish language, Portuguese language, Quechua, Aymara language, Guarani language, indigenous and immigrant languages
Religions	Roman Catholic Church, Protestantism, syncretic indigenous religions, Islam in South America, Judaism in South America

South Americans are the inhabitants and peoples originating from the continent of South America and its political subdivisions. They encompass diverse ethnic, linguistic, and cultural groups, including indigenous nations, descendants of European colonists, African diasporas, and waves of Asian immigrants. South Americans live in national populations of countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Peru and participate in regional organizations like Union of South American Nations and Mercosur.

Definition and Demographics

The term refers to residents and citizens of sovereign states on the southern portion of the Americas, including populations of French Guiana (an overseas department of France). Major demographic centers include metropolitan areas such as São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Bogotá, Lima, and Santiago. Ethnic composition reflects mixtures of indigenous groups like the Quechua people, Aymara people, Guarani people, Afro-descendant communities shaped by the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and immigrant communities from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Japan, China, and Lebanon. National censuses reveal varying proportions of self-identified groups in states such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Venezuela and recognize minority rights in constitutions like those of Bolivia and Ecuador.

History and Pre-Columbian Peoples

Before European contact, the continent hosted complex societies including the Inca Empire, the Muisca Confederation, the Tairona, the Mapuche, and the Amazonian cultures along the Amazon River. Archaeological sites such as Machu Picchu, Tiwanaku, Cerro Sechín, and Cueva de las Manos document urbanism, agriculture, metallurgy, and textile production. Trade networks connected coastal polities like the Chimú with highland centers in the Andes. Oral histories and material culture preserved by groups such as the Yanomami and Guajajara inform contemporary claims before legal arenas including the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Colonization and Nation-Building

European colonization began after voyages by Christopher Columbus and expanded with expeditions by Pedro Álvares Cabral, Francisco Pizarro, Hernán Cortés (whose campaign extended influence), and Vasco Núñez de Balboa. Colonial administrations like the Viceroyalty of Peru, the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, and the Captaincy General of Venezuela imposed Spanish and Portuguese rule, while the Dutch West India Company and the French colonial empire established footholds in Guianas. Independence movements led by figures such as Simón Bolívar, José de San Martín, Bernardo O'Higgins, and Antonio José de Sucre produced new republics in the 19th century. Nation-building involved contested treaties like the Treaty of Tordesillas legacies, border wars including the War of the Pacific and the Chaco War, and state formation processes in Brazil and Argentina.

Culture, Languages, and Religion

Cultural life blends indigenous traditions, European influences from Spain and Portugal, African diasporic practices from regions like Bahia, and immigrant customs from Italy and Japan. Literary figures such as Gabriel García Márquez, Jorge Luis Borges, Pablo Neruda, Mario Vargas Llosa, and Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis shaped language and identity, while composers and performers from Astor Piazzolla to Caetano Veloso contributed to musical innovation. Languages include continental lingua francas like Spanish language and Portuguese language, state-recognized indigenous languages such as Quechua and Aymara language, and creole languages like Papiamento. Religious life centers on institutions like the Roman Catholic Church, evangelical movements, Afro-descendant syncretic faiths such as Candomblé, and Jewish communities in cities like São Paulo and Buenos Aires.

Economy and Urbanization

South American economies are diverse: resource-rich exporters (e.g., Venezuela with oil, Chile with copper, Brazil with soy and iron ore), agricultural producers in the Pampas and Amazon frontiers, and industrial and service hubs in Santiago de Chile and Montevideo. Urbanization accelerated during 20th-century industrialization, producing megacities such as São Paulo and Buenos Aires with sprawling suburbs and favelas like those in Rio de Janeiro. Infrastructure projects such as the Pan-American Highway corridors and riverine transport on the Amazon River shape internal mobility, while economic institutions like Mercosur and the Andean Community influence trade policy.

Politics and Regional Integration

Political systems range from presidential republics to varying degrees of federalism exemplified by Brazil and unitary states like Chile. Political leaders from Getúlio Vargas to Juan Perón, Hugo Chávez, Alberto Fujimori, and Michelle Bachelet have shaped 20th- and 21st-century governance. Regional integration efforts include the Union of South American Nations, Mercosur, and bilateral initiatives such as Pacific Alliance participation by coastal states. Cross-border issues include environmental governance of the Amazon rainforest, transnational organized crime affecting the Andean region, and diplomatic disputes adjudicated through bodies like the Organization of American States and the International Court of Justice.

Migration and Diaspora

South Americans have migrated internally from rural areas to cities and externally to destinations such as United States, Spain, Italy, Japan, and Canada. Historical migrations include 19th- and 20th-century European settlement projects in Argentina and Uruguay, the Great European Migration influences on Brazilian demography, and recent movements of Venezuelans to neighboring states like Colombia and Peru. Diaspora communities maintain transnational ties through remittances, cultural institutions, sports federations, and participation in international organizations including UNASUR forums and consular networks.

Category:Demographics of South America