The 10 Richest Countries In South America

Paraguay is a landlocked country between Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia, home to large swaths of swampland, subtropical forest and chaco, wildernesses comprising savanna and scrubland. The capital, Asunción, on the banks of the Paraguay River, is home to the grand Government Palace and the Museo del Barro, displaying pre-Columbian ceramics and ñandutí lacework, the latter available in many shops.

Ecuador is a country straddling the equator on South America’s west coast. Its diverse landscape encompasses Amazon jungle, Andean highlands and the wildlife-rich Galápagos Islands. In the Andean foothills at an elevation of 2,850m, Quito, the capital, is known for its largely intact Spanish colonial center, with decorated 16th- and 17th-century palaces and religious sites, like the ornate Compañía de Jesús Church.

Peru is a country in South America that's home to a section of Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city high in the Andes mountains. The region around Machu Picchu, including the Sacred Valley, Inca Trail and colonial city of Cusco, is rich in archaeological sites. On Peru’s arid Pacific coast is Lima, the capital, with a preserved colonial center and important collections of pre-Columbian art.

Chile occupies a long and narrow strip of territory between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountain range in southern South America. It is the fifth richest country in the continent in terms of GDP (PPP) at $436.1 billion USD. Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina are the immediate neighbors of Chile. The country covers an area of about 756,096.3 square km. As of 2012, it has a population of 16,341,929.

Chile is one of the most prosperous and stable economies of the continent and the World Bank ranks the Chilean economy as a high-income economy. It is the world’s 30th most competitive country. As of 2012, the largest economic sectors by GDP in Chile are mining, business and personal services, wholesale, retail trade, and manufacturing. Only 4.9% of the GDP is contributed by the agricultural and allied sectors.

The country is located in South America’s southeastern region where it occupies an area of about 176,000 square km. The population of the country is 3.42 million.

Uruguay has a stable economy with a literate workforce and an export-oriented agricultural sector serving as the pillars of the country’s economy. Beef and wool are the most powerful export-oriented industries in the country. Some mining activities are also carried out. Plastics are the most significant manufactured exports of the country. The telecommunications sector is also well-developed. Travel and tourism contribute to 9.4% of the country's GDP.

Spanning an area of 2,780,400 square km, Argentina is the 8th largest country in the world. It is the third richest country in South America in terms of GDP per capita at $20,170 USD and the second largest country in the continent by GDP (PPP) at $879.4 billion USD. The country is located in the continent’s southern part where it is bordered by Chile, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It has an extensive coastline along the Atlantic Ocean to the east. As of 2010, the country had a population of 40,117,096.

The economy of Argentina is based on the country’s rich natural resources, export-oriented agriculture, an educated population, and a diversified industrial sector. The economic performance of the country has gone through several ups and downs in the past few decades. Currently, it is classified as a middle emerging economy. High rates of inflation, unequal distribution of wealth, and a high technical debt are barriers to the economic growth of the nation. The leading industries in Venezuela include beverages, motor vehicles, and auto parts, leather, textiles, food processing, pharmaceuticals, cement, furniture, etc.

Brazil, the largest country in South America by both size and population, is also the richest country in the continent in terms of GDP (PPP) at $3,081billion USD. The country is the fourth richest nation in South America by GDP per capita at $15,211 USD. Brazil has a long coastline along the Atlantic Ocean and is bounded by most of the South American countries with the exception of Chile and Ecuador.

The economy of Brazil is the 8th largest in the world by GDP (PPP) and can be described as an inward-oriented economy. The country’s economy suffered a major setback in 2013 and entered a recession the next year. It is currently recovering from the recession. The service sector contributes 67.0% of the GDP and the industrial sector accounts for 27.5%. Agriculture accounts for a mere 5.5% of the country’s GDP.

Colombia, located in the northwest of South America, is the third richest country in South America in terms of GDP (PPP). The country occupies an area of about 1,141,748 square km and has a population of 42,888,592 (as of 2005).

The main export item of Colombia which makes up 45% of all exports of the country is petroleum. The next big sector is the manufacturing industry. The country also has the world’s fastest growing information technology sector and the largest shipbuilding industry outside Asia. The country is going through a period of economic boom with a rapid increase in GDP and decrease in poverty levels.

Suriname, located on South America’s northeastern Atlantic coast, occupies an area of 165,000 square km and houses a population of 566,000. Brazil, Guyana, and French Guiana border Suriname. The country has the fifth highest GDP per capita among the South American nation at $15,179 USD. The country, however, ranks 11 among the 12 countries of the continent in terms of GDP (PPP).

The bauxite industry dominates Suriname’s economy and accounts for 15% of the country’s GDP and 70% of the export revenue. Shrimp, bananas, and rice are the other major exports of Suriname. The country also has significant oil and gold reserves which are still underexploited.

Located on the northern coast of South America, Venezuela is the fourth richest nation in South America both in terms of GDP per capita at $15,102 and GDP (PPP) at $468.6 billion USD. The country is bordered by Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana. Trinidad and Tobago lie offshore to the north-east. The country encompasses an area of 916,445 square km and houses a population of 31 million.

The petroleum and the manufacturing sectors form the pillars of the Venezuelan economy. Almost 50% of the country’s GDP is from the export of petroleum which accounts for 95% of total exports. The country’s economy suffered a major setback in the 1980’s due to the collapse of oil prices. Other major industries and exports of the country include cement, steel, automobiles, electronics, and aluminum. The agricultural sector in the country only contributes about 3% to the GDP. The US is the biggest trading partner of the country.