- Source: List of predecessors of sovereign states in South America
- List of predecessors of sovereign states in South America
- List of sovereign states and dependent territories in South America
- List of predecessors of sovereign states in North America
- List of sovereign states and dependent territories in North America
- List of political entities in the 19th century
- List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe
- List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Oceania
- List of sovereign states by date of formation
- Succession of states
- List of state leaders in the 18th century
This is a list of all present sovereign states in South America and their predecessors. The division between North and South America is unclear, generally viewed as lying somewhere in the Isthmus of Panama, however, the whole of Panama is considered to be part of North America as its southernmost nation. The continent was colonized by the Europeans: First by the Spaniards, and the Portuguese; and later by the Dutch, the French, and the English. Most of the present-day nations gained independence in the early 19th century, all of Latin America except for two Spanish colonies in North America gained independence between 1808 and 1826. Today, South America consists of twelve sovereign states with common government system being some form of presidential republic.
References
See also
List of sovereign states and dependent territories in South America
Succession of states
Decolonization of the Americas