Human Geography of
South America
Population: As of 2003, about 355 million people live in South America. Of these, more than half
live in the country of Brazil. South America is part of the region known as Latin America, which alSo
includes the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, and Central America. Most of the people of this region are
descendants of European, American Indian, African, or mixed ancestry.
Lifestyles: About 75% (215 million) of South America's population lives in urban areas. The larger
cities are similar in appearance to cities in the United States, with highrise office buildings, apartments,
and single-family homes. In older sections of cities, the houses were built in the Spanish style, using
adobe, stone, and wood. Large slum areas often border South American cities.
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The people of rural South America are usually poorer than those living in cities. They live in small
wood or mud-brick houses, usually lacking electricity and indoor plumbing. Few own their own land,
having instead to work on the large farms and ranches of wealthy landowners.
Clothing in South America varies with the region and ethn.icgroup. Many people living in urban areas
wear clothing like that worn in cities of the United States. Traditional clothing includes hats, loosefitting cotton shirts and pants, and sandals for men and long skirts, loose-fitting blouses, and shawls for
women. Ponchos are popular with both men and women. Wheat, potatoes, fish, cassava, and fruits are
common in the diets of South Americans. Meat is generally too ~xpensive for most South Americans,
although people of the far south eat more beef because many cattle are raised in this area. Foods are
often seasoned with onions and peppers.
Languages: Most of the people of South America speak either Spanish or Portuguese. About twothirds speak Spanish and most of the one-third who speak Portuguese live in Brazil. Traditional
languages are still spoken by many Native Americans. A smaller number of South Americans speak
English or Dutch as their principal language.
Education: South American governments have been working very hard to provide education to all of
their people. Over the past few decades, many more children have been given the opportunity to
receive at least an elementary education. More and more South Americans are continuing on to high
school and college. Still, in many rural areas and city slums, children are unable to attend school
because there are not enough available schools or because they are needed to help make money for
their families.
Religious Beliefs: A great majority of South Americans are Christians. Of these, most are Roman
Catholics, with a growing percentage of the population joining Protestant faiths. Some South
Americans are Jewish, Hindu, or Moslem, especially in the north.
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