South America Population Pyramid 2012

South America
2012
Population: 398,255,258

Year

-5 -1   2012  +1 +5

Country

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embed this population pyramid ×

Copy the code below and paste it into your website or LMS.

South America in 2012

The population of South America in 2012 was 398,255,259. A decade earlier, in 2002, the population was 357,458,431; it has grown by 11.4% since.

Half of the population was younger than 29.1 years; 25.5% were children under 15 and 7.4% were 65 or older. The pyramid is stationary: cohort sizes are roughly even through the younger ages, reflecting fertility close to replacement level and slow population change.

Share of the population by age group, 1950–2100

Data source: United Nations World Population Prospects, 2024 revision (medium variant) — last updated July 2024.

Population
398,255,259
Median age
29.1
0-14 %
25.5%
65+ %
7.4%
Child dependency
38.0
Old-age dependency
11.1
Pyramid shape
Births per woman

The World Bank does not publish this indicator for regions or continents.

Life expectancy at birth

The World Bank does not publish this indicator for regions or continents.

People supported per 100 workers
Dependency ratios, 1950–2100
Children Older adults
20406080
19502100
Where immigrants come from (2024)

12,230,850 immigrants live in South America.

Venezuela6,268,352
Colombia1,317,258
Paraguay587,559
Bolivia561,026
Peru516,754
Where emigrants live (2024)

21,233,109 people born in South America live in other countries.

United States of America4,112,869
Spain3,246,905
Colombia2,951,953
Peru1,719,519
Argentina1,550,287
Explore
Immigration statistics

Source: United Nations International Migrant Stock 2024.

What was the population of South America in 2012?
South America had a population of 398,255,259 in 2012.
What is the median age in South America?
The median age in South America is 29.1 years — half the population is younger, half older.
What share of South America's population is over 65 or under 15?
7.4% of South America's population is 65 or older, and 25.5% is under 15.
What shape is South America's population pyramid, and what does it mean?
South America has a stationary pyramid: cohort sizes are roughly even through the younger ages, reflecting fertility close to replacement level.

Check our other visualizations