Countries in South America by urban population
The share of people living in urban areas, as each country defines them — the World Bank does not impose one definition. 12 countries in South America, highest first. World Bank, 2025
Median country
82%
half above, half below| # | Country | % urban | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Uruguay | 96% | South America |
| 2 |  Argentina | 92% | South America |
| 3 |  Venezuela | 89% | South America |
| 4 |  Chile | 89% | South America |
| 5 |  Brazil | 88% | South America |
| 6 |  Peru | 86% | South America |
| 7 |  Colombia | 79% | South America |
| 8 |  Bolivia | 72% | South America |
| 9 |  Paraguay | 70% | South America |
| 10 |  Suriname | 66% | South America |
| 11 |  Ecuador | 63% | South America |
| 12 |  Guyana | 27% | South America |
Questions
- Which country in South America has the most urban population?
- Uruguay has the most urban population in South America: 96% urban (2025). Next come Argentina (92% urban) and Venezuela (89% urban).
- Which country in South America has the most rural population?
- Guyana, with 27% urban (2025).
- What is the typical urban population of a country in South America?
- The median of the 12 countries in South America is 82% urban: half are above it, half below. The median, not the average, because a few countries at the top would drag an average far above almost everyone.
- Where do the figures come from?
- The share of people living in urban areas, as each country defines them — the World Bank does not impose one definition. Source: World Bank, 2025. Only independent states are ranked; territories are listed separately. A country’s continent follows Natural Earth; the handful of island states it files under the open ocean are placed by their UN subregion.
Source: World Bank (CC BY 4.0). Figures more than 5 years older than the newest are left out rather than shown beside current ones. Countries sharing a value share a rank. All sources.