Indigenous peoples of South America Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Indigenous peoples of South America
Total population
Approximately 18 million
Regions with significant populations
Peru	5.9 million (2017)
Bolivia	4.1 million (2012)
Chile	2.1 million (2017)
Colombia	1.9 million (2018)
Ecuador	1 million (2010)
Argentina	955,032 (2010)
Brazil	817,963 (2010)
Venezuela	724,592 (2011)
Paraguay	117,150 (2012)
Guyana	78,492 (2012)
Uruguay	~100
Suriname	20,344 (2012)
French Guiana	~19,000
Languages
Indigenous languages of the Americas, English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch
Religion
Native American religion Christianity Others
Related ethnic groups
Indigenous people of the Americas

Native rights activist Félix Díaz meets Argentine President Mauricio Macri.

Indigenous peoples in Colombia

The Indigenous peoples of South America or South American Indigenous peoples, are the pre-Colombian peoples of South America and their descendants. These peoples contrast with South Americans of European ancestry and those of African descent.

In Spanish, Indigenous people are often referred to as indígenas or pueblos indígenas (lit. Indigenous peoples). They may also be called pueblos nativos or nativos (lit. Native peoples). The term aborigen (lit. aborigine) is used in Argentina and pueblos aborígenes (lit. aboriginal peoples) is commonly used in Colombia. The English term "Amerindian" (short for "Indians of the Americas") is often used in the Guianas. Latin Americans of mixed European and Indigenous descent are usually referred to as mestizos (Spanish) and mestiços (Portuguese). While those of mixed African and Indigenous ancestry are referred to as zambos.

It is believed that the first human populations of South America either arrived from Asia into North America via the Bering Land Bridge and migrated southwards or alternatively from Polynesia across the Pacific. The earliest generally accepted archaeological evidence for human habitation in South America dates to 14,000 years ago, the Monte Verde site in Southern Chile. The descendants of these first inhabitants would become the indigenous populations of South America.

Before the Spanish colonization of the Americas, many of the indigenous peoples of South America were hunter-gatherers and indeed many still are, especially in the Amazonian area. Others, especially the Andean cultures, practised sophisticated agriculture, utilized advanced irrigation and kept domesticated livestock, such as llamas and alpacas.

In the present day, there are two South American countries where indigenous peoples constitute the largest ethnic group. These are Peru, where 45% are indigenous and Bolivia, where 62% of people identify as feeling a part of some indigenous group.

South American indigenous peoples include:

Indigenous peoples of South America facts for kids

See also