What Is America? 11 Maps Show The Different Americas That Exist - Brilliant Maps (2024)

Last Updated: May 20, 2024 Leave a Comment

The map above shows various regional and cultural definitions of the term “America” within the continents of North and South America. Each map highlights different areas in red and provides population and area statistics.

Here is a detailed breakdown:

1. The Americas
   • Population: 964,920,000
   • Area: 42,549,000 km²
   • Description: Includes all of North America, Central America, and South America.
2. North America
   • Population: 592,296,000
   • Area: 24,709,000 km²
   • Description: Includes Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
3. Central America
   • Population: 52,176,000
   • Area: 523,000 km²
   • Description: The region between Mexico and South America, including countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Belize.
4. South America
   • Population: 434,254,000
   • Area: 17,840,000 km²
   • Description: Includes countries like Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, and others.
5. Latin America
   • Population: 656,096,000
   • Area: 20,111,000 km²
   • Description: Includes all of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, where Romance languages (Spanish, Portuguese, and French) are predominantly spoken.
6. Hispanic America
   • Population: 420,289,000
   • Area: 11,458,000 km²
   • Description: Regions where Spanish is the primary language, covering most of Central and South America, and parts of the Caribbean.
7. Iberian America
   • Population: 637,529,000
   • Area: 19,737,000 km²
   • Description: Includes countries in the Americas where the primary languages are Spanish and Portuguese, deriving from the Iberian Peninsula.
8. Anglo-America
   • Population: 355,024,000
   • Area: 19,418,000 km²
   • Description: Regions where English is the dominant language, mainly the United States and Canada.
9. Middle America
   • Population: 298,390,000
   • Area: 4,787,000 km²
   • Description: Comprises Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean islands.
10. French America
    • Population: 20,237,000
    • Area: 1,730,000 km²
    • Description: Areas where French is spoken, including parts of Canada (Quebec), some Caribbean islands, and French Guiana in South America.
11. United States of America
    • Population: 331,893,000
    • Area: 9,833,000 km²
    • Description: The country consisting of 50 states, located mainly in central North America.

Why is it called America When It Was Discovered By Columbus

The name “America” is attributed to the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci rather than Christopher Columbus for several reasons related to their respective contributions and the dissemination of their discoveries:

1. Amerigo Vespucci’s Contributions: While Christopher Columbus is credited with the discovery of the New World in 1492, he believed until his death that he had found a new route to Asia. Amerigo Vespucci, on the other hand, was one of the first explorers to suggest that the lands discovered by Europeans were part of a separate continent, not Asia. Vespucci’s voyages along the coast of South America provided significant evidence that these lands were part of a new, previously unknown continent.
2. Vespucci’s Published Letters: Vespucci wrote detailed letters describing his voyages and the geography of the new lands, which were widely published and circulated in Europe. His letters, such as “Mundus Novus” (New World), described the new continent in a way that captured the public and scholarly imagination.
3. Martin Waldseemüller’s Map: The German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller published a world map in 1507, “Universalis Cosmographia,” which is the first known map to use the name “America.” In the accompanying text, “Cosmographiae Introductio,” Waldseemüller explained that he named the new continent “America” in honour of Amerigo Vespucci, who had identified it as a new landmass distinct from Asia.
4. Historical Timing and Influence: Vespucci’s recognition of the new continent and the timing of Waldseemüller’s influential map contributed to the adoption of the name “America.” Columbus’s discoveries were indeed ground breaking, but it was Vespucci’s identification and description of the continent as a separate entity that led to it being named after him.

How many countries are in North America?

North America consists of 23 countries. Here is a list of the countries in North America, organized by region:

North America Proper:

1. Canada
2. United States of America
3. Mexico

Central America:

1. Belize
2. Costa Rica
3. El Salvador
4. Guatemala
5. Honduras
6. Nicaragua
7. Panama

Caribbean:

1. Antigua and Barbuda
2. Bahamas
3. Barbados
4. Cuba
5. Dominica
6. Dominican Republic
7. Grenada
8. Haiti
9. Jamaica
10. Saint Kitts and Nevis
11. Saint Lucia
12. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
13. Trinidad and Tobago

How many countries are in South America?

South America consists of 12 countries. Here is a list of the countries in South America:

1. Argentina
2. Bolivia
3. Brazil
4. Chile
5. Colombia
6. Ecuador
7. Guyana
8. Paraguay
9. Peru
10. Suriname
11. Uruguay
12. Venezuela

Additionally, the region includes French Guiana, which is an overseas department of France and not an independent country.

The Languages of The Americas

The Americas are home to a diverse array of languages, with Spanish, English, and Portuguese being the most widely spoken.

Here is an overview of the major languages spoken in the Americas and their approximate number of speakers:

Spanish

• Total Speakers: Approximately 460 million
• Countries: Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Guatemala, Ecuador, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Paraguay, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico (U.S. territory), Panama, Uruguay.

English

• Total Speakers: Approximately 360 million
• Countries: United States, Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Portuguese

• Total Speakers: Approximately 215 million
• Country: Brazil

French

• Total Speakers: Approximately 14 million
• Countries and Regions: Haiti, French Guiana (France), Guadeloupe (France), Martinique (France), Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France), Canada (primarily Quebec).

Dutch

• Total Speakers: Approximately 500,000
• Countries: Suriname, Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten (all part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands).

Indigenous Languages

There are numerous indigenous languages spoken across the Americas, with varying numbers of speakers. Some of the most widely spoken include:

• Quechua: Approximately 8-10 million speakers (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia).
• Guarani: Approximately 6 million speakers (Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina).
• Aymara: Approximately 2 million speakers (Bolivia, Peru).
• Nahuatl: Approximately 1.5 million speakers (Mexico).

Other Languages

• Italian: Significant communities in Argentina, Brazil, and the United States.
• German: Communities in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.
• Chinese: Significant communities in the United States, Canada, Peru, and Brazil.
• Arabic: Communities in the United States, Canada, and various countries in South America (notably Brazil and Argentina).

Largest Economies in the Americas by Total GDP

1. United States
   • GDP (Nominal): Approximately $26 trillion
   • The largest economy not only in the Americas but also in the world.
2. Brazil
   • GDP (Nominal): Approximately $2.05 trillion
   • The largest economy in South America.
3. Canada
   • GDP (Nominal): Approximately $2 trillion
   • Known for its vast natural resources and a strong service sector.
4. Mexico
   • GDP (Nominal): Approximately $1.3 trillion
   • A major manufacturing and export hub, with a strong automotive industry.
5. Argentina
   • GDP (Nominal): Approximately $640 billion
   • An economy with significant agricultural exports and industrial activity.

Largest Economies in the Americas by GDP per Capita (Nominal)

1. United States
   • GDP per Capita: Approximately $79,000
2. Canada
   • GDP per Capita: Approximately $51,000
3. Bahamas
   • GDP per Capita: Approximately $34,000
   • A small economy heavily reliant on tourism and financial services.
4. Trinidad and Tobago
   • GDP per Capita: Approximately $23,000
   • An economy benefiting from rich oil and gas reserves.
5. Puerto Rico (U.S. territory)
   • GDP per Capita: Approximately $32,000
   • Though it is a territory, Puerto Rico’s economy is notable in the region.
6. Chile
   • GDP per Capita: Approximately $16,000
   • Known for its stable economy and significant exports, particularly copper.

Other Notable Economies by GDP per Capita

• Uruguay
  • GDP per Capita: Approximately $18,000
  • A small but stable economy with a high standard of living.
• Argentina
  • GDP per Capita: Approximately $14,000
  • Despite economic challenges, it remains one of the higher GDP per capita countries in South America.
• Panama
  • GDP per Capita: Approximately $17,000
  • Benefits from the Panama Canal and a growing financial services sector.

Regional Economic Overview

• North America: Dominated by the U.S. and Canada, both with high total GDP and GDP per capita.
• South America: Brazil and Argentina lead in total GDP, while smaller countries like Chile and Uruguay have relatively high GDP per capita.
• Central America and the Caribbean: Economies like Panama and the Bahamas stand out in terms of GDP per capita, while Mexico is notable for its total GDP.

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