South America: List of the Largest Cities by Population

Sunset view of São Paulo skyline with dramatic orange and purple sky, showing the beauty of this concrete metropolis

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1. São Paulo, Brazil – 22,000,000
South America’s largest city and financial center.


2. Buenos Aires, Argentina – 15,300,000
Capital city known for tango and European architecture.


3. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 13,500,000
Famous for its beaches, carnival, and Christ the Redeemer.


4. Lima, Peru – 11,200,000
Capital and coastal city with colonial heritage.


5. Bogotá, Colombia – 10,900,000
High-altitude capital known for culture and politics.


6. Santiago, Chile – 7,300,000
Modern capital nestled in the Andes.


7. Belo Horizonte, Brazil – 6,100,000
Mining region capital with colonial roots.


8. Brasília, Brazil – 4,800,000
Planned capital known for its modernist architecture.


9. Salvador, Brazil – 4,100,000
Afro-Brazilian cultural hub with colonial charm.


10. Fortaleza, Brazil – 4,000,000
Popular coastal city with beaches and tourism.


11. Medellín, Colombia – 3,900,000
Innovative city reborn from its turbulent past.


12. Recife, Brazil – 3,900,000
Historic port city known for canals and festivals.


13. Guayaquil, Ecuador – 3,200,000
Ecuador’s largest city and main port.


14. La Paz, Bolivia – 2,700,000
High-altitude seat of government.


15. Quito, Ecuador – 2,700,000
Capital near the equator with a colonial old town.


16. Manaus, Brazil – 2,600,000
Amazon River city and industrial zone.


17. Curitiba, Brazil – 2,500,000
Known for sustainable urban planning.


18. Caracas, Venezuela – 2,400,000
Capital in a valley with modernist landmarks.


19. Cali, Colombia – 2,200,000
Known for salsa dancing and warm climate.


20. Montevideo, Uruguay – 1,900,000
Laid-back capital on the Río de la Plata.


21. Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia – 1,800,000
Economic engine of Bolivia.


22. Maracaibo, Venezuela – 1,700,000
Oil city on Lake Maracaibo.


23. Campinas, Brazil – 1,700,000
Tech hub in São Paulo state.


24. São Luís, Brazil – 1,600,000
Island capital with colonial Portuguese architecture.


25. Barquisimeto, Venezuela – 1,500,000
Music and industrial center.


26. Belém, Brazil – 1,500,000
Amazon delta city with strong indigenous roots.


27. Goiania, Brazil – 1,500,000
Planned city and agricultural center.


28. Teresina, Brazil – 1,300,000
Capital of Piauí with strong inland culture.


29. Rosario, Argentina – 1,300,000
River port city and birthplace of Che Guevara.


30. Cuiabá, Brazil – 1,300,000
Gateway to the Pantanal and center of agribusiness.


31. Campo Grande, Brazil – 1,200,000
Capital of Mato Grosso do Sul near wildlife zones.


32. Maceió, Brazil – 1,200,000
Beautiful coastal city in northeastern Brazil.


33. Natal, Brazil – 1,200,000
Sun-soaked capital in Brazil’s northeast.


34. João Pessoa, Brazil – 1,100,000
Easternmost city in the Americas.


35. Asunción, Paraguay – 1,100,000
Riverside capital and economic hub.


36. Aracaju, Brazil – 1,000,000
Smallest state capital in Brazil.


37. Arequipa, Peru – 1,000,000
Volcanic stone city in southern Peru.


38. Trujillo, Peru – 950,000
City of eternal spring with colonial charm.


39. Cochabamba, Bolivia – 950,000
Valley city with mild climate.


40. Valencia, Venezuela – 900,000
Industrial hub in central Venezuela.


41. Pereira, Colombia – 800,000
Coffee region city with a growing economy.


42. San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina – 800,000
Historic site of Argentine independence.


43. Santos, Brazil – 800,000
Major port city in São Paulo state.


44. Cúcuta, Colombia – 750,000
Border city with important trade links.


45. Neuquén, Argentina – 700,000
Gateway to Patagonia’s lakes and energy fields.


46. Ribeirão Preto, Brazil – 700,000
Rich agricultural region and business center.


47. Posadas, Argentina – 700,000
City on the Paraná River near Paraguay.


48. Iquitos, Peru – 500,000
Largest city unreachable by road.


49. Pasto, Colombia – 450,000
Mountain city with colonial and indigenous mix.


50. Sucre, Bolivia – 400,000
Constitutional capital with whitewashed buildings.

The above is subject to change.

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