All capitals of South America

Capital cities of South America: key facts and context

South America's 12 capitals range from Lima, with over 10.7 million residents, to Georgetown in Guyana, the smallest at around 118,000. Bolivia is the only country in the world with two official capitals: Sucre holds constitutional capital status, but La Paz has functioned as the seat of government and legislature since a civil war in 1899. La Paz, at roughly 3,640 meters above sea level, is the world's highest-altitude seat of government. Brasilia was purpose-built and inaugurated in 1960, developed from largely uninhabited cerrado scrubland in central Brazil; the decision to relocate the capital inland from Rio de Janeiro was partly political, intended to shift development and population away from the Atlantic coast. Paramaribo became an independent national capital in 1975 when Suriname gained independence from the Netherlands, making it the most recently independent capital on the continent. One fact that receives little attention: Ecuador's capital Quito sits at 2,850 meters above sea level, making it the second-highest capital city in the world after La Paz.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why does Bolivia have two official capitals, and what function does each serve?

  Bolivia is the only country in the world with two official capitals. Sucre is the constitutional capital where the Supreme Court sits; La Paz is the seat of the government and parliament. This division dates from 1899, when a civil war ended in a power-sharing arrangement between the tin-mining elite around La Paz and the silver-mining elite in Sucre. Both cities hold constitutionally recognized capital status.

• Why was Brasília built inland rather than expanding Rio de Janeiro?

  The decision to build Brasília, inaugurated in 1960, was both political and economic in motivation. President Kubitschek wanted to stimulate development of the underused interior and shift power away from the coast-concentrated elite in Rio de Janeiro. Architects Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa were given free rein in the largely uninhabited cerrado for a modernist urban design that gained international recognition.

• What makes La Paz the world's highest-altitude seat of government?

  La Paz sits at approximately 3,640 meters above sea level in a deep bowl surrounded by the Andes. At this altitude, the air contains about 40% less oxygen than at sea level, which can cause altitude sickness — locally known as 'soroche' — in newcomers. Despite these extreme conditions, over 800,000 people live in La Paz, which serves as the seat of Bolivia's government and parliament alongside Sucre as constitutional capital.

• How did Lima become the dominant city on South America's Pacific coast?

  Lima was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro as the administrative and commercial center of Spain's colonial possessions across South America. The Viceroyalty of Peru, governed from Lima, initially covered much of the continent. After independence in 1821, Lima remained Peru's dominant city and now houses more than a third of the country's total population.

• Why is Quito known for its exceptionally well-preserved colonial architecture?

  Quito's historic center was one of the first sites placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. The city has preserved its 16th and 17th-century monasteries, churches, and plazas exceptionally well. The location at 2,850 meters in the Andes has limited large-scale urban expansion, and active heritage policies have prevented historic buildings from being demolished for modern development.

• Which South American capital has the largest share of its country's total population?

  Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, is home to approximately 1.4 million people — more than 40% of Uruguay's total population. Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Lima (Peru) also have disproportionately large populations relative to their national totals, but Uruguay's degree of concentration is exceptionally high for a mid-sized South American country.

• Why is Paramaribo architecturally unique among South American capitals?

  Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, is distinguished by its blend of 17th and 18th-century Dutch colonial wooden architecture combined with tropical elements. The historic inner city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List for the unique preservation of this type of colonial urban planning in a tropical setting. Suriname was a Dutch colony until 1975, and the Dutch architectural style is clearly visible throughout the city.

• At what altitude does Bogotá sit, and how does this affect the climate and daily life?

  Bogotá sits at 2,625 meters above sea level in the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. At this altitude, the climate is mild and stable year-round, with average temperatures between 7°C and 19°C — despite being only four degrees from the equator. Newcomers may experience breathlessness, but most residents appreciate the Andean climate as a welcome relief from the tropical heat of the coast.

• Which two South American capitals have the highest elevation above sea level?

  La Paz in Bolivia sits at approximately 3,640 meters and is the world's highest-altitude seat of government. Quito in Ecuador follows at 2,850 meters as the second highest. Bogotá (2,625 m), Caracas (900 m), and Brasília (1,172 m) are also elevated capitals. The Andes mountain range produces the world's greatest concentration of high-altitude national capitals.

• Why is Paramaribo the most recently independent capital city in South America?

  Suriname gained independence from the Netherlands on 25 November 1975, at which point Paramaribo formally acquired the status of an independent national capital. This makes it the most recently independent capital on the continent. Suriname has a remarkable ethnic diversity as a colonial legacy, with communities of Indian, Javanese, African, Chinese, European, and indigenous origin giving the city its multicultural character.

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