Which country is the largest in South America?

Brazil is the largest country in South America by area.

Brazil covers about 8.5 million square kilometres, occupying roughly 47.7% of the continent. It is also South America’s most populous country. Its territory stretches from the Amazon Basin in the north to subtropical regions in the south and includes tropical forests, wetlands, savannas, plateaus, and a long Atlantic coastline.

Brazil borders every independent South American country except Chile and Ecuador. The Amazon River system and most of the Amazon rainforest lie within its borders, making Brazil especially important to global discussions about biodiversity, water, and climate. Portuguese is the official language, a legacy of Portuguese colonisation.

Brasília became the national capital in 1960, replacing Rio de Janeiro. São Paulo is the country’s largest city by population, while Rio remains internationally famous for its beaches, Carnival, and landmarks. Argentina is South America’s second-largest country, but Brazil is substantially larger.