A blank map of South America is a useful resource for geography lessons, classroom activities, study guides, quizzes, and printable worksheets. These maps allow students and teachers to identify countries, borders, capitals, major geographical features, and regional locations.
You can download and print the South America outline map versions below as PDF files. Choose a simple continent outline, an unlabeled country map, a map with capitals, or a practice worksheet depending on your activity.
The United Nations’ South America map identifies the continent’s countries, capitals, French Guiana, and surrounding Atlantic and Pacific waters.
South America Outline Map
Our first blank map of South America shows the outer outline of the continent without country names. It is useful when students need to draw or identify countries, regions, oceans, or other geographical features themselves.
You might also want to take a look at our other continent maps.
What Can You Do With a South America Outline Map?
A blank outline map can be used to:
- Practice locating South American countries
- Label countries and capitals
- Identify neighboring countries
- Mark oceans and seas
- Add major rivers and mountain ranges
- Create geography quizzes
- Prepare classroom worksheets
- Complete school or homeschool assignments
South America contains 12 sovereign countries. French Guiana is an overseas department of France rather than a sovereign South American country.
Blank Map of South America With Countries
This blank map of South America includes country boundaries while leaving the country names blank. It is particularly useful for geography practice because students can write the names directly onto the map.
A country-border map can be used for classroom exercises such as:
- Country identification
- Border practice
- Map labeling
- Geography tests
- Homework
- Coloring activities
The United Nations’ South America map also identifies Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, and French Guiana.
South America Map Outline
A more detailed South America map outline can include the mainland as well as selected islands and surrounding geographical areas.
When using maps for teaching, remember that different maps may show different levels of geographic detail. Political boundaries, territories, islands, and map labels can vary depending on the map’s purpose and source.
For authoritative geographic reference material, the United Nations provides continent and country maps through its UN Geospatial resources.
Map of South America Unlabeled
An unlabeled map of South America is ideal for students who need to practice geography without seeing the answers.
Teachers can ask students to label:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Guyana
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Suriname
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Students can also add French Guiana, which is located on the northeastern coast of the continent and is administered by France.
South America Geography Practice
Use the unlabeled map to create activities such as:
Activity 1: Label all 12 sovereign countries.
Activity 2: Add the capitals.
Activity 3: Mark the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean.
Activity 4: Draw the Andes Mountains.
Activity 5: Mark the Amazon River.
Activity 6: Identify countries that border Brazil.
This makes a blank map more useful than simply providing a downloadable image.
Blank Map of South America Printable
A blank map of South America printable can be used at home, in classrooms, tutoring sessions, homeschool lessons, and geography study.
Print the map and ask students to complete it by adding country names, capitals, borders, rivers, mountain ranges, or other features.
South America has a wide range of physical geography, including the Andes Mountains, Amazon Basin, Atacama Desert, and large river systems. A blank map gives learners a simple base for adding these features.
Unlabeled Map of South America
An unlabeled map of South America is particularly useful for geography tests because students can demonstrate what they know without country names already displayed.
The continent extends between the Pacific Ocean to the west and Atlantic Ocean to the east. The Andes run along much of the western side of the continent, while the Amazon Basin occupies a large part of northern South America.
For geographic reference, the United Nations publishes maps showing South American countries, capitals, international boundaries, and major geographic context.
Printable Blank Map of South America
There are several ways to use a printable blank map:
For Students
Students can practice:
- Countries
- Capitals
- Borders
- Rivers
- Mountains
- Oceans
- Regions
For Teachers
Teachers can use printable maps for:
- Geography worksheets
- Classroom quizzes
- Homework
- Revision exercises
- Map-labeling activities
- Geography tests
For Homeschooling
Parents can print a blank map and gradually add geographical information as children learn about the continent.
South America Countries and Capitals
Here is a list of all the capitals of the South American countries:
The following table provides a useful reference when completing a blank map.
| Country | Capital |
|---|
| Argentina | Buenos Aires |
| Bolivia | Sucre / La Paz |
| Brazil | Brasília |
| Chile | Santiago |
| Colombia | Bogotá |
| Ecuador | Quito |
| Guyana | Georgetown |
| Paraguay | Asunción |
| Peru | Lima |
| Suriname | Paramaribo |
| Uruguay | Montevideo |
| Venezuela | Caracas |
Important: Bolivia has Sucre as its constitutional capital, while La Paz is the seat of government. The UN South America map identifies both La Paz and Sucre.
French Guiana is not included in the sovereign-country list because it is an overseas department and region of France.
Blank Map of South America With Capitals
A blank map of South America with capitals is useful for advanced geography practice.
Students can first identify the countries and then add each country’s capital city. This creates a two-step exercise that can be used for classroom assessment or independent study.
Blank South America Map – Transparent PNG
A transparent PNG version can be useful when creating presentations, educational worksheets, digital projects, or customized geography graphics.
If you need transparency, download the PNG version rather than the PDF version.
Blank Map of South America for Practice Worksheet
A blank map of South America worksheet gives students a visual way to practice geographic knowledge.
eachers can create exercises by asking students to:
- Label every country.
- Add each capital city.
- Identify Brazil’s neighboring countries.
- Mark the Andes Mountains.
- Locate the Amazon River.
- Identify the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
- Color countries according to a specific category.
- Add major geographic regions.
South America Geography Facts
Here are some useful facts that can make the map exercises more meaningful:
- South America has 12 sovereign countries.
- Brazil is the largest country in South America by area.
- The Andes form a major mountain system along the western side of the continent.
- The Amazon Basin covers a large area of northern South America.
- The Atlantic Ocean lies east of the continent and the Pacific Ocean lies west.
- French Guiana is administered by France and is located on the northeastern coast of South America.
- South American countries include Spanish-, Portuguese-, Dutch-, English-, and other language traditions.
- Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking sovereign country in South America.
- Bolivia has Sucre as its constitutional capital and La Paz as the seat of government.
How to Use a Blank Map of South America
A simple five-step activity can turn the map into a geography lesson:
Step 1: Download and print the map.
Step 2: Label the 12 sovereign countries.
Step 3: Add the capitals.
Step 4: Mark major physical features such as the Andes and Amazon River.
Step 5: Use the completed map for revision or compare it with a labeled reference map.
This approach works for classroom instruction, homework, geography revision, and independent learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a blank map of South America?
A blank map of South America is a map with geographic information intentionally omitted, such as country names or capitals. It can be used for labeling, studying, testing, and geography worksheets.
How many countries are in South America?
South America has 12 sovereign countries. French Guiana is located on the continent but is an overseas department of France.
Can I print the South America blank map?
Yes. The maps on this page are provided in printable formats, including PDF versions. You can download the map and print it for classroom activities, homework, or personal study.
What are the countries of South America?
The 12 sovereign countries are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
What is the capital of Bolivia?
Sucre is Bolivia’s constitutional capital, while La Paz is the seat of government.
Is French Guiana a country?
No. French Guiana is an overseas department and region of France. It is geographically located in South America but is not one of the continent’s 12 sovereign countries.
What can students do with an unlabeled South America map?
Students can label countries, capitals, borders, rivers, mountains, oceans, and other geographical features. It can also be used for quizzes and worksheets.
Where can I find an official South America reference map?
The United Nations provides South America maps through its UN Geospatial website. The UN map includes countries, capitals, oceans, boundaries, and other geographic information.
What is the best format for printing a geography worksheet?
PDF is generally convenient for printing because the document layout can be preserved across devices and printers. PNG files can also be useful for digital worksheets and presentations.
Can a blank South America map be used for a geography quiz?
Yes. A blank map can be used to test students on country locations, capitals, borders, physical geography, and regional knowledge.
Reference Links
https://www.un.org/geospatial/content/south-america
https://www.un.org/geospatial/node/713
https://www.un.org/geospatial/mapsgeo
https://unstats.un.org/unsd/ungegn/divisions
More Free Maps to Download and Print
Below you’ll find a collection of links to other blank maps that you might be interested in. They all can be great tools to learn and teach about geography, history, politics, and social studies. You can also download a world map or continent maps. All maps on this website are available as PDF files.
Blank Country Maps
- Argentina Blank Map
- Map of Argentina with Provinces
- Uruguay Blank Map
- Blank Map of Bolivia
- Blank Map of Venezuela
- Panama Blank Map
- United States Blank Map
- Blank Map of France
- Italy Outline Map
World Maps
- World Map With Continents
- Political World Map
- Physical World Map
- World Map with Oceans
- World Map Poster
Continent Maps
- Labeled Map of Europe
- Blank Map of Europe
- Labeled Map of Asia
- Map of South America with Labels
- Labeled Map of Africa
- Labeled Map of Australia
