Indigenous peoples of South America

Total population
approx. 18 million
Regions with significant populations
Peru	5.9 million (2017)[1]
Bolivia	4.1 million (2012)[2]
Chile	2.4 million (2017)[3]
Brazil	1.7 million (2022)[4]
Colombia	1.9 million (2018)[5]
Argentina	1.3 million (2022)[6]
Ecuador	1.3 million (2023)[7]
Venezuela	724,592 (2011)[8]
Uruguay	223,964 (2023)[9]
Paraguay	117,150 (2012)[10]
Guyana	78,492 (2012)[11]
Suriname	20,344 (2012)[12]
French Guiana	approx. 19,000[13]
Languages
Indigenous languages of the Americas, including Quechua, Aymara, Guarani, Mapuche
Religion
Native American religions[14] Christianity Others

InSouth America,Indigenous peoples comprise thePre-Columbian peoples and their descendants, as contrasted with people of European ancestry and those of African descent. In Spanish, Indigenous peoples are referred to aspueblos indígenas (lit. 'Indigenous peoples'), orpueblos nativos (lit. 'native peoples'). The termaborigen (lit. 'aborigine') is used inArgentina, andpueblos aborígenes (lit. 'aboriginal peoples') is commonly used inColombia. The English termAmerindian (short for "Indians of the Americas") is often used inthe Guianas.Latin Americans ofmixed European and Indigenous descent are usually referred to asmestizos (Spanish) andmestiços (Portuguese), while those of mixed African and Indigenous ancestry are referred to aszambos.

It is believed that the first human populations of South America either arrived fromAsia intoNorth America via theBering Land Bridge and migrated southwards or alternatively fromPolynesia across the Pacific.^[15][16][17] The earliest generally accepted archaeological evidence for human habitation in South America dates to 14,000 years ago, and is located at theMonte Verde site in southernChile.^[18] The descendants of these first inhabitants would become the Indigenous populations of South America.

Before theSpanish colonization of the Americas, many of the Indigenous peoples of South America werehunter-gatherers and indeed many still are, especially in theAmazon rainforest. Others, especially theAndean cultures, practised sophisticated agriculture, utilized advanced irrigation and keptdomesticated livestock, such asllamas andalpacas.^[19][20][21]

The only South American country that presently has a majority-Indigenous population is Bolivia, with 62% of Bolivians identifying as a member of an Indigenous group.^[22]

South American Indigenous peoples include:

• Indigenous peoples in Argentina
• Indigenous peoples in Bolivia
• Indigenous peoples in Brazil
• Indigenous peoples in Chile
• Indigenous peoples in Colombia
• Indigenous peoples in Ecuador
• Indigenous peoples in French Guiana
• Indigenous peoples in Guyana
• Indigenous peoples in Paraguay
• Indigenous peoples in Peru
• Indigenous peoples in Suriname
• Indigenous peoples in Uruguay
• Indigenous peoples in Venezuela

• Indigenous peoples of North America
• Native American religions
• Wars involving Indigenous peoples of South America
• List of Indigenous peoples
• Ceramics of Indigenous peoples of the Americas

Wikimedia Commons has media related toIndigenous peoples of South America.

• ATLILLA – Association for Teaching and Learning Indigenous Languages of Latin AmericaArchived 2012-12-01 at theWayback Machine

• Indigenous peoples of South America
• Ethnic groups in South America
• History of South America
• Ethnic groups in French Guiana
• Indigenous peoples in French Guiana

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