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These rankings are based on populations contained within city administrative boundaries, as opposed to urban areas or metropolitan areas, which necessarily have larger populations than the cities at their core.
This is a list of the fifty most populous metropolitan areas in South America as of 2015, the most recent year for which official census results, estimates or projections are available for every major metropolitan area in South America. All figures refer to mid-year populations.
This list includes all South American cities with a population within city limits exceeding 500,000 according to official census figures, estimates or projections as of 2015, the most recent year for which official population census results, estimates or short-term projections are available for all of these cities.
Although among the nations of South America, Buenos Aires in Argentina tops the list of most populous cities with its thirteen million residents, it is Brazil that features most heavily, with a total of nine cities in the top twenty. These include Sao Paulo, with a population of ten million, Rio de Janeiro (six million) and Salvador (2.7 million).
Across most high-income countries – across Western Europe, the Americas, Australia, Japan, and the Middle East – more than 80% of the population lives in urban areas. Across most upper-middle-income countries – in Eastern Europe, East Asia, North and Southern Africa, and South America – between 50% to 80% of people do.
27 mar 2024 · This list includes all South American cities with a population within city limits exceeding 500,000 according to official census figures, estimates or projections as of 2015, the most recent year for which official population census results, estimates or short-term projections are available for all.
São Paulo, Brazil and Lima, Peru are the biggest cities in South America by population, boasting 12.0 million and 8.8 million people respectively. Other major cities include Bogotá, Colombia (7.8 million), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (6.5 million), and Santiago, Chile (5.5 million).
