Top twenty largest cities in South America based on land size
By CitiView Team
5 March 2026
Last Updated:
New Year S Eve São Paulo by Flavia Ottaviani
South America is one of the most urbanized regions on Earth, with over 80% of its population residing in cities. This urban expansion is not uniform; it is characterized by "urban sprawl"—the outward growth of low-density housing—and the integration of satellite municipalities into massive "conurbations." In many cases, the physical footprint of a city (its built-up area) expands faster than its population, driven by economic decentralization, improved transportation networks, and the development of suburban industrial hubs. Understanding land size is critical for regional planning, as larger footprints increase the demand for infrastructure, energy, and environmental management across diverse biomes, from the Atlantic coast to the high Andes.
Top five largest cities in South America
Altamira, Brazil
Barcelos, Brazil
Sāo Gabriel da Cachoeira, Brazil
Oriximiná, Brazil
Tapauá, Brazil
This list explores the twenty largest administrative and metropolitan entities in South America, highlighting the sheer scale of governance and land management required to sustain the continent's most expansive urban centers.
1. Altamira, Brazil
Approx. 159,533 km2 Altamira is the largest municipality in Brazil and one of the largest in the world. Its land area is greater than that of Greece or South Korea. However, the actual urban city center is a tiny fraction of this space; the vast majority is comprised of the Amazon rainforest and indigenous territories.
2. Barcelos, Brazil
Approx. 122,476 km2 Located in the state of Amazonas, Barcelos is a massive territory primarily covered by dense jungle. It is historically significant as the first capital of the Captaincy of São José do Rio Negro and is today a major hub for ornamental fish exports.
3. São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Brazil
Approx. 109,185 km2 This is the third-largest municipality in Brazil and is unique for being the most indigenous city in the country. It borders Colombia and Venezuela and is almost entirely occupied by environmental reserves and indigenous lands.
4. Oriximiná, Brazil
Approx. 107,603 km2 Situated in Pará, this municipality is larger than many European nations. It is a center for bauxite mining, though most of its territory remains unpopulated forest.
5. Tapauá, Brazil
Approx. 89,324 km2 Located in the Purus River basin in Amazonas, Tapauá’s administrative size is staggering compared to its small population, illustrating the "municipality-as-territory" model common in Northern Brazil.
6. São Félix do Xingu, Brazil
Approx. 84,213 km2 This region is a major frontier for cattle ranching. Its massive size has made it a focal point for land-use debates in the Amazon, as the administrative reach of the city struggles to cover such a vast expanse.
7. Atalaia do Norte, Brazil
Approx. 76,355 km2 This municipality contains the Javari Valley, home to the largest concentration of isolated indigenous groups in the world. The "city" administration officially governs a territory roughly the size of Panama.
8. Almeirim, Brazil
Approx. 72,960 km2 Located in northern Pará, Almeirim stretches from the Amazon River to the border with Suriname. It is known for the Jari project, a massive industrial and forestry initiative.
9. Jutaí, Brazil
Approx. 69,552 km2 Another Amazonas giant, Jutaí is characterized by its deep river networks and lack of road connectivity to the rest of Brazil, making the "land size" almost entirely water and forest.
10. Lábrea, Brazil
Approx. 68,508 km2 Marking the end of the Trans-Amazonian Highway, Lábrea is a critical gateway to the southern Amazon, with a territory that spans a significant portion of the Purus River region.
11. Itaituba, Brazil
Approx. 62,041 km2 Known as the "City of Gold" due to its history of garimpo (informal mining), Itaituba's administrative borders cover a massive section of the Tapajós River valley.
12. Coari, Brazil
Approx. 57,922 km2 Coari is a strategic energy hub for Brazil, housing major natural gas and oil reserves. Its administrative land encompasses vast wetlands and forest south of the Amazon River.
13. Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
Approx. 38,596 km2 (Metropolitan/Department influence) While the city proper is smaller, the municipality and its immediate administrative reach represent the largest urban-adjacent landmass in Bolivia. It is the country’s economic engine, defined by flat, expansive plains.
14. Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela
Approx. 33,000 km2 (Atures Municipality) The capital of Amazonas State in Venezuela, its administrative boundary includes vast stretches of the Orinoco River and the Guiana Shield.
15. Porto Velho, Brazil
Approx. 34,091 km2 Porto Velho is one of the few large-land-area municipalities with a significant urban population. It serves as a major logistical hub for the Madeira River and the soybean trade.
16. Corumbá, Brazil
Approx. 64,960 km2 Located in the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, Corumbá is the largest municipality in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Its "land" is seasonally underwater, making it a unique geographical entity.
17. Campo Grande, Brazil
Approx. 8,092 km2 Unlike the rainforest giants, Campo Grande is a planned city with a massive administrative footprint that consists largely of open Cerrado (savanna) used for agribusiness.
18. Brasília, Brazil
Approx. 5,761 km2 The Federal District of Brazil was designed to be expansive. The city is a masterpiece of modern urbanism, with its administrative borders encompassing satellite cities and environmental protection zones.
19. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Approx. 3,830 km2 (Greater Buenos Aires area) While the Autonomous City (CABA) is small (203 km2), the functional administrative sprawl of the metropolitan area is massive, covering the flat pampas of Argentina.
20. São Paulo, Brazil
Approx. 1,521 km2 (City Proper) / 7,947 km2 (Metropolitan Area) São Paulo is the quintessential megacity. While it ranks lower on a "total land" list compared to rainforest municipalities, its built-up urban area is the largest in South America, a concrete jungle that stretches nearly 100 kilometers across.