View source for Southern Cone

{{Short description|Southern subregion of South America}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Redirect|Cono Sur|the area of Lima|Cono Sur (Lima)|the region of Cochabamba|Cochabamba Department#Regions{{!}}Cono Sur (Cochabamba)|the vineyards and winery|Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery|the congregation of monasteries|Cono-Sur Congregation}}

{{Infobox
| bodyclass        = geography
| above            = Southern Cone
| image            = [[Image:Cono Sur.svg|398x398px|]]
{{legend|#228B22|Countries always included in all definitions}}
{{legend|#49c846|Areas sometimes included}}
{{legend|#98FB98|[[Federative units of Brazil]] not included}}
| coordinates      = {{Coord|39.1000|S|67.9000|W|source:wikidata_dim:8,000km|display=title}}
| label1           = Area
| data1            = {{convert|5,712,034 |km2|abbr=on}}
| label2           = Population
| data2            = 135,707,204 (July 2010 est.)
| label3           = Density
| data3            = {{convert|27.45|/km2|abbr=on}}<ref name="density">This North American density figure is based on a total land area of 4,944,081 sq km</ref>
| label4           = [[List of sovereign states|Countries]]
| data4            = {{Collapsible list
 | titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
 | title      = 3–4
| {{flag|Brazil}}
 | {{flag|Argentina}}
 | {{flag|Chile}}
 | {{flag|Paraguay}}{{NoteTag|Sometimes included.|name="Regions"}}
 | {{flag|Uruguay}}
 }}
| label5           = [[Territory|Territories]]
| data5            = {{Collapsible list
 | titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
 | title      = [[Dependent territory|External]] (2)
 | {{flag|Falkland Islands}}{{NoteTag|Sometimes included. A [[list of territorial disputes|disputed territory]] administered by the [[United Kingdom]], claimed by [[Argentina]] as the ''Islas Malvinas''.}} ([[United Kingdom]])
 | {{flag|South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands}}{{NoteTag|Sometimes included. A [[list of territorial disputes|disputed territory]] administered by the [[United Kingdom]], claimed by [[Argentina]].}} ([[United Kingdom]])
 }}
 {{Collapsible list
 | titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
 | title      = [[List of administrative divisions by country|Internal]] (4)
 | {{flag|Paraná}}{{NoteTag|name="Regions"}} ([[Brazil]])
 | {{flag|Rio Grande do Sul}}{{NoteTag|name="Regions"}} ([[Brazil]])
 | {{flag|Santa Catarina}}{{NoteTag|name="Regions"}} ([[Brazil]])
 | {{flag|São Paulo}}{{NoteTag|name="Regions"}} ([[Brazil]])
 }}
| label6           = [[Languages of South America|Languages]]
| data6            = [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[English language|English]], [[German language|German]], [[Aymara language|Aymara]], [[Guarani language|Guaraní]], [[Mapuche language|Mapudungun]], and [[Quechuan languages|Quechuan]]
| label7           = [[Demonym]]
| data7            = [[Demographics of South America|South American]]
| label8           = [[List of cities in South America|Largest cities]]
| data8            = {{Collapsible list
 | titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
 | title      = [[List of cities in South America| Capitals in the Southern Cone]] (2015)
 | 
# {{flagicon|Chile}} [[Santiago]]
# {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Buenos Aires]]
# {{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Montevideo]]
 }}
}}

The '''Southern Cone''' ({{langx|es|Cono Sur}}, {{langx|pt|Cone Sul}}) is a geographical and cultural subregion composed of the southernmost areas of [[South America]], mostly south of the [[Tropic of Capricorn]]. Traditionally, it covers [[Argentina]], [[Chile]], and [[Uruguay]], bounded on the west by the [[Pacific Ocean]] and on the east by the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. In terms of geography, the Southern Cone comprises [[Argentina]], [[Chile]], [[Uruguay]] and [[Paraguay]], and sometimes includes [[Brazil]]'s four southernmost states ([[Paraná (state)|Paraná]], [[Rio Grande do Sul]], [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]], and [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]]). 

The Southern Cone is the second [[Subregion#South America|subregion]] with the highest [[Human Development Index]] and [[standard of living]] in [[the Americas]], after [[Northern America]].<ref name=bolperu>{{cite journal |last1=Steves |first1=F. |title=Regional Integration and Democratic Consolidation in the Southern Cone of Latin America |journal=Democratization |date=September 2001 |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=75–100 |doi=10.1080/714000210 |s2cid=42956310 }}</ref><ref name=Environmental>{{cite book
 |editor-last=Krech III |editor-first=Shepard
 |editor2-last=Merchant |editor2-first=Carolyn
 |editor3-last=McNeill |editor3-first=John Robert
 |title=Encyclopedia of World Environmental History
 |volume=3: O–Z, Index
 |year=2004
 |publisher=Routledge
 |isbn=978-0-415-93735-1
 |pages=1142–
 |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=Dmky95hwKr0C |page=1142 }} }}</ref>

==Geography and extent==
[[File:Köppen-Geiger Southern Cone Map.png|thumb|550x550px|Köppen Climate Zone Classification map of Southern Cone.]]

=== Countries ===
In most cases, the term "Southern Cone" refers specifically to [[Chile]], [[Argentina]], and [[Uruguay]], due to their geographical, cultural, ethnic, and economic similarities.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="border:1px solid #aaa;"
|- style="background:#ececec;"
! [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
! [[List of countries and dependencies by area|Area]]<br />(km<sup>2</sup>)
! [[List of countries and dependencies by population|Population]]<br />(2020)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population by Country (2021) - Worldometer |url=https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/ |access-date=2021-01-29 |website=www.worldometers.info |language=en}}</ref>
! [[List of countries and dependencies by population density|Population density]]<br />(per km<sup>2</sup>)
! [[List of countries by Human Development Index|HDI]] (2019)<ref name="HDI">{{cite web |year=2018 |title=2018 Human Development Report |url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2018_human_development_statistical_update.pdf |access-date=14 September 2018 |publisher=United Nations Development Programme}}</ref>
! [[Capital city|Capital]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Argentina]]
| style="text-align:right;" | {{nts|2,780,092 (3,761,274)}}
| style="text-align:right;" |45,195,774
| style="text-align:right;" |16.26 (12.02)
| 0.845 <br /> (<span style="color:#090">very high</span>)
| [[Buenos Aires]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Chile}} [[Chile]]
| style="text-align:right;" |756,102 (''2,006,360)''
| style="text-align:right;" |19,116,201
| style="text-align:right;" |25.28 (9.53)
| 0.851 <br /> (<span style="color:#090">very high</span>)
| [[Santiago]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Uruguay]]
| style="text-align:right;" | {{nts|176,215}}
| style="text-align:right;" |3,473,730
| style="text-align:right;" |19.71
| 0.817 <br /> (<span style="color:#090">very high</span>)
| [[Montevideo]]
|- style=" font-weight:bold; " class="sortbottom"
! Total
| style="text-align:right;" |3,712,409 (5,943,849)
| style="text-align:right;" |67,785,705
| style="text-align:right;" |18.26 (11.40)
| 0.845 <br /> (<span style="color:#090">very high</span>)
|
|}

=== Other regions ===

==== Brazil ====
Brazil's four southernmost states ([[Paraná (state)|Paraná]], [[Rio Grande do Sul]], [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]] and [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]]) share characteristics with Argentina, and Uruguay (similar local climate, high [[standard of living]], high levels of [[industrialisation|industrialization]] and greater percentage European ethnic component due to [[immigration]]). Brazil's other states are more similar to the [[list of sovereign states and dependent territories in South America|other South American countries]] in these issues.

When the definition is not limited to entire countries, the states of the [[South Region, Brazil|South Region]] and the state of [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]] are generally included.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="border:1px solid #aaa;"
|- style="background:#ececec;"
! [[Federative units of Brazil|State]]
! [[List of countries and dependencies by area|Area]]<br />(km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="factbook2008">Land areas and population estimates are taken from ''The 2008 World Factbook'' which currently uses July 2008 data, unless otherwise noted.</ref>
! [[List of countries and dependencies by population|Population]]<br />(2019)<ref name="factbook2008" />
! [[List of countries and dependencies by population density|Population density]]<br />(per km<sup>2</sup>)
! [[List of countries by Human Development Index|HDI]] (2017)<ref name="HDI" />
! [[Capital city|Capital]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Paraná}} [[Paraná (state)|Paraná]]
| style="text-align:right;" | {{nts|199,314}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 11.434.000
| style="text-align:right;" | 59.80
| 0.796 <br /> (<span style="color:#0c0">high</span>)
| [[Curitiba]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Rio Grande do Sul}} [[Rio Grande do Sul]]
| style="text-align:right;" | {{nts|291,748}}
| style="text-align:right;" | {{nts|11.378.000}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 39.10
| 0.792 <br /> (<span style="color:#0c0">high</span>)
| [[Porto Alegre]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Santa Catarina}} [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]]
| style="text-align:right;" | {{nts|95,346}}
| style="text-align:right;" | {{nts|7.165.000}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 71.18
| 0.808 <br /> (<span style="color:#090">very high</span>)
| [[Florianópolis]]
|-
| {{flagicon|São Paulo}} [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]]
| style="text-align:right;" | {{nts|248,222}}
| style="text-align:right;" | {{nts|45,920,000}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 95.83
| 0.826 <br /> (<span style="color:#090">very high</span>)
| [[São Paulo]]
|- style=" font-weight:bold; " class="sortbottom"
! Total
| style="text-align:right;" | {{nts|834,630}}
| style="text-align:right;" | {{nts|75.897.000}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 90.35
| 0.806 <br /> (<span style="color:#090">very high</span>)
|
|}

==== Paraguay ====
Due to the geographical proximity, common history, geography and political cycles, [[Paraguay]] is sometimes included in what is meant by Southern Cone, geographically speaking, but excluded due to differences in climate, economy and development, and cultural identity. 
While Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Southern Brazil are located in the southernmost part of South America, with temperate climates and a dominant European ancestry shaping their demographics and culture, Paraguay is a landlocked country further north, with a subtropical climate and a unique cultural identity rooted in its Guaraní heritage.
Economically, Paraguay has a lower Human Development Index (HDI) compared to the Southern Cone countries, which rank among the highest in Latin America. Paraguay’s economy, focused on agriculture and hydroelectric power, is also less diversified and globally integrated.

=== Climate ===
The climates are mostly Mediterranean temperate, but include humid subtropical, highland tropical, maritime temperate, sub-Antarctic temperate, highland cold, desert and semi-arid temperate regions. (Except for the northern regions of Argentina ([[thermal equator]] in January), the whole country of Paraguay, the Argentina-Brazil border and the interior of the [[Atacama Desert]]). The region rarely suffers from heat. In addition to that, the winter presents mostly cold temperatures. Strong and constant wind and high humidity are what brings low temperatures in the winter. 

One of the most peculiar plants of the region is the ''[[Araucaria]]'' tree, which can be found in Chile, Argentina and parts of Brazil. The only native group of [[Pinophyta|conifers]] found in the southern hemisphere had its origin in the Southern Cone. ''[[Araucaria angustifolia]]'', once widespread in Southern Brazil, is now a critically endangered species, protected by law. The [[prairies]] region of central Argentina, Uruguay and southern Brazil is known as the [[Pampas]].

Central Chile has [[Mediterranean vegetation]] and a [[Mediterranean climate]], grading southward into an [[oceanic climate]]. The Atacama, [[Patagonian Desert|Patagonian]] and [[Monte Desert|Monte]] deserts form a [[Arid Diagonal|diagonal of arid lands]] separating the woodlands, croplands and pastures of [[Río de la Plata Basin|La Plata basin]] from Central and Southern Chile. Apart from the desert diagonal, the north–south running Andes form a major divide in the Southern Cone and constitute, for most of its part in the southern cone, the [[Argentina–Chile border]]. In the east the river systems of the [[La Plata]] basin form natural barriers and sea lanes between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

The [[Atacama Desert]] is the driest place on Earth, with some regions having no recorded rainfall in history.

===Image gallery===
<gallery widths="200" heights="200">
File:Cono-sur-anual-sat.gif|Satellite images of the Southern Cone month by month.
File:Ischigualasto national park.jpg|Landforms in the [[Monte Desert]] at [[Ischigualasto]], Argentina. Much of the southern cone is covered by the [[Arid Diagonal]] of which Monte Desert is part.
File:Cabanas curarrehue.jpg|Snow in the [[winter]] in [[Curarrehue]], [[Chile]].
File:L' automne rouge.JPG|[[Autumn]] in [[Bariloche]], [[Argentina]].
File:Aconcagua (aerial).jpg|Located in between Chile and Argentina, [[Aconcagua]], almost 7000 meters high, is the highest mountain on Earth outside the Himalayas, and continues to rise.
File:Neve na SC-438 em São Joaquim.JPG|Snow in the [[winter]] of the ''Planalto Serrano'' mountain range of the state of [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]], southern [[Brazil]].
File:Jacarandas at Plaza Miserere.jpg|[[Jacaranda]]s in bloom in [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]] during [[Spring (season)|spring]].
File:Campo Departamento Conhelo.jpg|The extensive temperate prairies of the [[Pampas]] in the center of [[Argentina]].
</gallery>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Average temperatures for some urban areas of the Southern Cone
|-
!Location
!January
!April
!July
!October
|-
| [[Buenos Aires]]<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.smn.gov.ar/?mod=clima&id=5 |title=Servicio Meteorológico Nacional|website=smn.gov.ar}}</ref>
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|30.1|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|20.1|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|22.9|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|13.8|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|15.4|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|7.4|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|22.6|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|13.3|C|1}}}}
|-
| [[Santiago de Chile]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://164.77.222.61/climatologia/|title=Climatología|first=Luis|last=Lazcano|website=164.77.222.61|access-date=2015-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916180838/http://164.77.222.61/climatologia/|archive-date=2016-09-16|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|22.3|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|6.5|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|14.3|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|1.6|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|22.8|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|8.4|C|1}}}}
|-
| [[Montevideo]]
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|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|21.7|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|12.9|C|1}}}}
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|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|20.3|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|11.5|C|1}}}}
|-
| [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]]
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|31.1|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|18.1|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|24.9|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|12.3|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|18.5|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|5.5|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|26.1|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|12.6|C|1}}}}
|-
| [[Valparaiso]]
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|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|18.3|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|11.4|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|14.3|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|9.2|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|17.0|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|10.5|C|1}}}}
|-
| [[Concepción, Chile|Concepción]]
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|22.8|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|10.9|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|18.3|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|8.1|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|13.2|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|5.8|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|17.2|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|7.4|C|1}}}}
|-
| [[Mar del Plata]]
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|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|20.5|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|9.1|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|13.1|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|3.8|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|18.5|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|7.6|C|1}}}}
|-
| [[Neuquén]]
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|32.0|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|16.2|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|22.0|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|7.0|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|12.2|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|0.0|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|23.4|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|8.2|C|1}}}}
|-
| [[Iquique]]
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|25.3|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|19.2|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|22.7|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|16.9|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|18.0|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|14.0|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|20.1|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|15.4|C|1}}}}
|-
| [[San Carlos de Bariloche|Bariloche]]
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|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|14.8|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|1.8|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|6.4|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|-1.3|C|1}}}}
|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|13.9|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|1.3|C|1}}}}
|-
| [[Ushuaia]]
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|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|9.6|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|2.3|C|1}}}}
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|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|10.5|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|2.3|C|1}}}}
|-
| [[Porto Alegre]]
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|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|25.2|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|16.3|C|1}}}}
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|| {{Font color|white|#CE2029|{{convert|24.4|C|1}}}} <br /> {{Background color|#89CFF0|{{convert|15.0|C|1}}}}

|}
[[Image:Planisferio Latitud templada comparada.png|thumb|center|800px|Planisphere of moderate latitudes in which the equivalent location of most of the Southern Cone can be observed as if it was in the Northern Hemisphere. The highest latitudes of the Southern Cone overlap among others with [[Southeast Alaska]] and central region of Canada in North America, Ireland, England, the Netherlands, [[Northern Germany]], Poland and Belarus in Europe, and the [[Altai Mountains]] and [[Lake Baikal]], [[Sakhalin]] and the [[Kuril Islands]] in Asia.]]

== Culture ==
[[Image:Mate-gourds.jpg|thumb|200px|[[mate (beverage)|Mate]], as shown in the picture, is a typical beverage from the Southern Cone. ]]

Besides sharing languages and colonial heritage, in this area, there was extensive European immigration during the 19th- and 20th-centuries, who, with their descendants, have strongly influenced the culture, social life and politics of these countries. Immigration reshaped the modern-day societies of Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, countries where the influx of newcomers was massive.

The residents of the states of the Southern Cone are avid players and fans of [[soccer|football]], with top-notch teams competing in the sport. [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] has won the [[FIFA World Cup]] three times, while [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] has won the cup twice; they are the only national teams along with Brazil outside [[UEFA|Europe]] to have won the cup. Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil have all hosted the World Cup. Additionally, national teams from the region have won several [[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic medals]] in football. Also, football clubs from the Southern Cone countries have won large numbers of club competitions in [[Copa Libertadores|South]]-[[Copa Sudamericana|American]] competitions, [[Copa Interamericana|Pan-American]] competitions, and [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|world-FIFA Club World Cup-level]] competitions.

''[[Gaucho]]s'' (Argentina and Uruguay) and ''[[Huaso]]s'' (Chile) are horsemen that are considered icons of [[national identity]] (like cowboys); they are featured in the [[epic poem]] ''[[Martín Fierro]]''.

=== Gastronomy ===
The ''[[Asado]]'' (barbecue) is a culinary tradition typical of the Southern Cone main countries and was developed by ''[[gaucho]]s'' and ''[[huaso]]s''. 

[[Mate (beverage)|Mate]] is a popular infusion throughout the Southern Cone.

=== Religion ===
[[Image:Nercón.jpg|thumb|A history of Catholicism has left landmarks like the [[Churches of Chiloé]] (pictured) in the Southern Cone]]
Like the rest of Latin America, most residents of the Southern Cone are members of the [[Catholic Church]],<ref name="Global Christianity">{{cite web |author=Analysis |date=19 December 2011 |title=Global Christianity |url=http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Global-Christianity-exec.aspx |access-date=17 August 2012 |publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref> with a minority of Protestants, including a significant [[Lutheran]] population in South Brazil and South Chile. Other religions also present in the southern cone include [[Islam]], [[Anglican Province of the Southern Cone|Anglicanism]], [[Eastern Orthodoxy]], [[Buddhism]], [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] and [[Tao|Daoism]]. [[Jewish]] communities have thrived in cities of Argentina and Uruguay.

While the Southern Cone has been conservative in some aspects of religion, it has had a tradition of social reform and [[liberation theology]] has been followed by many in the Catholic Church. [[Uruguay]], where [[agnosticism]] and [[atheism]] is common, has a policy of strong separation of church and state; it is one of the most [[secular]] countries in the [[Americas]].<ref>[http://www.morris.umn.edu/academic/laas/Uruguay.html Latin American Area Studies: Uruguay] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714153604/http://www.morris.umn.edu/academic/laas/Uruguay.html|date=2010-07-14}}, University of Minnesota</ref> Uruguay, Chile and Argentina, in that order, have the least religious residents in South America, according to their responses about the significance of religion in their lives. According to the Pew Research Center, 28% of Uruguayans, 43% of Argentines, and 41% of Chileans think of religion 'very important in their lives,' contrasting with the higher values given by the residents of countries such as Peru (72%), Colombia (77%) and Ecuador (76%).<ref name="PEWLatin">{{cite web |date=13 November 2014 |title=Religion in Latin America, Widespread Change in a Historically Catholic Region |url=http://www.pewforum.org/2014/11/13/religion-in-latin-america/# |access-date=March 4, 2015 |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]]}}</ref>

The Southern Cone produced the first pope from the Western Hemisphere, [[Pope Francis]], elected in 2013, born in [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Stefon |first=Matt |date=14 September 2023 |title=Francis |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francis-I-pope |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+Religion in the Southern Cone
|-
! Area !! Catholic (%) !! Protestant (%) !! Irreligious (%) !! Others <br /> !! Unspecified (%) !! Source
|- style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Argentina]]
| 62.9
| 15.3
| 18.9
| 2.6
| 0.3
| <ref name="CONICET">[http://www.ceil-conicet.gov.ar/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/ii25-2encuestacreencias.pdf Segunda Encuesta Nacional Sobre Creencias y Actitudes Religiosas en Argentina 2019]</ref>
|- style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Chile}} [[Chile]]
| 42.0
| 14.0
| 37.0
| 6.0
| 0.0
| <ref name="ChileCensus">{{cite web |date=7 September 2015 |title=Population 15 years of age or older, by religion, region, sex and age groups. (censused population) |url=http://plazapublica.cl/wp-content/uploads/658799.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207182725/http://plazapublica.cl/wp-content/uploads/658799.pdf |archive-date=7 February 2017 |access-date=23 March 2018 |language=es |format=.pdf}}</ref>
|- style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Paraguay}} [[Paraguay]]
| 88.3
| 6.8
| 2.6
| 1.7
| 0.8
| <ref>[https://www.statista.com/statistics/1067159/paraguay-religion-affiliation-share-type// Religion affiliation in Paraguay as of 2018. Based on Latinobarómetro.] Survey period: June 15 to August 2, 2018, 1,200 respondents.</ref>
|- style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Uruguay]]
| 42.0
| 15.0
| 37.0
| 6.0
| 0.0
| <ref name="PEWLatin" />
|- style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Paraná}} [[Paraná (state)|Paraná, Brazil]]
| 69.6
| 22.2
| 4.6
| 3.6
| 0.0
| <ref name="BRAZILReligion1">«[https://www.ibge.gov.br/estadosat/index.php Censo 2010]». IBGE</ref><ref name="BRAZILReligion2">«[https://biblioteca.ibge.gov.br/visualizacao/periodicos/94/cd_2010_religiao_deficiencia.pdf Análise dos Resultados/IBGE Censo Demográfico 2010: Características gerais da população, religião e pessoas com deficiência]» (PDF)</ref>
|- style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Rio Grande do Sul}} [[Rio Grande do Sul|Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil]]
| 68.8
| 18.3
| 5.3
| 5.2
| 0.0
| <ref name="BRAZILReligion1" /><ref name="BRAZILReligion2" />
|- style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Santa Catarina}} [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina, Brazil]]
| 73.1
| 20.4
| 3.2
| 3.3
| 0.0
| <ref name="BRAZILReligion1" /><ref name="BRAZILReligion2" />
|- style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| align="left" | {{flagicon|São Paulo}} [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo, Brazil]]
| 60.1
| 24.1
| 8.1
| 7.7
| 0.0
| <ref name="BRAZILReligion1" /><ref name="BRAZILReligion2" />
|}

=== Other Cultural ===
In a 2014 social survey, residents rated their countries as 'good places for gay or lesbian people to live;' the following percentages said 'yes' in Uruguay (71%), Argentina (68%), and Chile (52%).<ref>{{cite web |last=Mccarthy |first=Justin |date=27 August 2014 |title=Nearly 3 in 10 Worldwide See Their Areas as Good for Gays |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/175520/nearly-worldwide-areas-good-gays.aspx |access-date=6 January 2021 |publisher=[[Gallup (company)|Gallup]]}}</ref>

==Language==
The overwhelming majority, including those of recent [[immigration|immigrant]] background, speak [[Spanish language|Spanish]] (in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay) or [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] in the case of Southern Brazil.  The Spanish-speaking countries of the Southern Cone are divided into two main dialects:

*[[Rioplatense Spanish|Castellano Rioplatense]] (River Plate Spanish), spoken in Argentina and Uruguay, where the accent and daily language is heavily influenced by 19th-20th century Italian immigrants, has a particular intonation famously recognized by Spanish speakers from around the world. It is sometimes unofficially referred to as "Castellano Argentino/Argentine Spanish" due to the majority of the speakers (by population) being Argentines. Preliminary research has shown that [[Rioplatense Spanish]] has intonation patterns that resemble those of [[Regional Italian|Italian dialects]] in the Naples region, differing markedly from those of other forms of Spanish.<ref name="Colantoni & Gurlekian 2004">{{cite journal |last1=Colantoni |first1=Laura |last2=Gurlekian |first2=Jorge |title=Convergence and intonation: historical evidence from Buenos Aires Spanish |journal=Bilingualism: Language and Cognition |date=August 2004 |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=107–119 |doi=10.1017/S1366728904001488 |s2cid=56111230 |hdl=11336/118441 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Buenos Aires, [[Rosario, Santa Fe|Rosario]], and Montevideo had a massive influx of Italian immigrant settlers from the mid-19th until mid-20th centuries. Researchers note that the development of this dialect is a relatively recent phenomenon, developing at the beginning of the 20th century with the main wave of [[Italian Argentines|Italian immigration]].<ref name="Colantoni & Gurlekian 2004"/>
*[[Chilean Spanish|Castellano Chileno]] (Chilean Spanish), spoken in Chile, features multiple accents, but one of its most common characteristics is the omission of the letter "s" when pronouncing words. For example, "Los chilenos" is pronounced as "Lo' chileno'." Additionally, in informal and colloquial speech (especially among close friends), the use of '''reverential voseo''' is common. This phenomenon changes phrases like "¿Dónde estás?" ("Where are you?") into "¿Dónde estáis?". However, since Chileans often omit the final "s," the resulting pronunciation is "¿Dónde estai?"

These dialects share common traits, such as a number of [[Lunfardo]] and [[Quechua language|Quechua]] words.

Minor languages and dialects include [[Cordobés]], Cuyo, and [[Portuñol]], a hybrid between Rioplatense and [[Brazilian Portuguese]] that is spoken in Uruguay on the border with Brazil.

===Native American languages===
Some [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] groups, especially in rural areas, continue to speak [[autochthonous language]]s, including [[Mapudungun]] (also known as [[Mapuche]]), [[Quechua language|Quechua]], [[Aymara language|Aymara]], and [[Guarani language|Guarani]]. The first is primarily spoken in [[Araucanía (historic region)|Araucanía]] and adjacent areas of [[Patagonia]], in southern Argentina and Chile. Guarani is the official language of Paraguay, the most widely spoken language in that country, and in 2010, the city of [[Tacuru]], in the Brazilian state of [[Mato Grosso do Sul]], adopted Guarani as the official language, besides [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]. It is also a co-official language in the northeastern Argentine provinces of [[Corrientes Province|Corrientes]] and [[Misiones]].<ref>[http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=36670 "Official languages include indigenous"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220132046/http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=36670 |date=2012-02-20 }}, IPS News</ref>

===Non-Iberian languages===
[[Italian language|Italian]] (mostly its [[Northern Italy|Northern]] dialects, such as [[Venetian language|Venetian]]), is spoken in rural communities across [[Argentina]], [[Southern Brazil]], and [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]] where immigrants had settled.

[[German language|German]], in various dialects, is mostly spoken in Southern Chile and Southern Brazil. As well as in the [[Chaco (Paraguay)]] by [[Mennonites in Paraguay|Mennonites]].<ref name=":0" /> It is the second most spoken mother tongue in Brazil.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/language/hrx|title=Hunsrückish|publisher=Ethnologue|access-date=20 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/country/BR|title=Standard German|publisher=Ethnologue|access-date=20 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="olivet.edu">{{cite web|url=http://graduate.olivet.edu/news-events/news/second-most-spoken-languages-around-world|title=Olivet Second Most Spoken Languages Around the World|date=7 April 2015|publisher=olivet.edu|access-date=29 March 2016|archive-date=29 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729003624/https://graduate.olivet.edu/news-events/news/second-most-spoken-languages-around-world|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Southern Cone is also known to have high [[English language|English]] proficiency compared to other South American countries. This language is spoken in the [[Falkland Islands]], a [[British Overseas Territories|British Overseas Territory]] (disputed by Argentina).

[[Polish language|Polish]], [[Dutch language|Dutch]] and [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] are also spoken in Southern Brazil. Dutch is spoken in Chile as well, and Ukrainian is used in Argentina as well. [[Croatian language|Croatian]] and other [[Slavic languages]] are also spoken in the southernmost areas of [[Chilean Patagonia]], reflecting patterns of immigration and settlement. [[Yiddish]] can be heard mainly in [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina and [[São Paulo]], Brazil. In Brazil, [[Japanese language|Japanese]] is spoken by [[Japanese Brazilian|immigrant communities]] in the states of São Paulo and [[Paraná (state)|Paraná]]. By descendants in Argentina and Chile, [[Welsh language|Welsh]] is spoken by descendants of [[immigrant]]s in the [[Patagonia]] region.

Comparison of selected words

Below there are selected words to show vocabulary in the dialects of the countries of the Southern Cone and other Spanish-speaking countries in South America and the dialect of Portuguese spoken in Brazil.

{|class=wikitable
|+
|-
! || [[Chilean Spanish|Chile]] || [[Rioplatense|Argentina]] || [[Uruguayan Spanish|Uruguay]] || [[Paraguayan Spanish|Paraguay]] || [[Brazilian Portuguese|Brazil]] || [[Bolivian Spanish|Bolivia]] || [[Colombian Spanish|Colombia]] || [[Ecuadorian Spanish|Ecuador]] || [[Peruvian Spanish|Peru]] || [[Venezuelan Spanish|Venezuela]]
|-
| [[apartment]] || departamento || departamento || apartamento || departamento || apartamento ||  departamento || apartamento || departamento || departamento || apartamento
|-
| [[artichoke]] || alcachofa || alcaucil || alcaucil || alcachofa || alcachofra || alcachofa || alcachofa || alcachofa || alcachofa || alcachofa
|-
| [[avocado]] || palta || palta || palta || aguacate || abacate || palta || aguacate || aguacate || palta || aguacate
|-
| [[banana]] || plátano || banana || banana || banana || banana || plátano || banano || banano || plátano || cambur
|-
| [[bean]] || poroto || poroto || poroto || poroto || feijão || frijol || fríjol || frijol || frijol || caraota
|-
| [[bell pepper]] || pimentón || morrón || morrón  || locote || pimentão || pimiento || pimentón || pimiento || pimiento || pimientón
|-
| [[butter]] || mantequilla || manteca || manteca || manteca || manteiga || mantequilla || mantequilla || mantequilla || mantequilla || mantequilla
|-
| [[car]] || auto || auto || auto || auto || carro || auto || carro || auto || auto || carro
|-
| [[corn on the cob|corn on <br>the cob]] || choclo || choclo || choclo || choclo || espiga de <br /> milho ||  choclo || mazorca || choclo || choclo || jojoto
|-
| [[drinking straw]] || bombilla || pajita || pajita || pajita || canudo || bombilla || pitillo || sorbete || sorbete || pitillo
|-
| [[earring]] ||| aro || aro || caravana || aro || brinco || arete || arete || arete || arete || zarcillo
|-
| [[grapefruit]] || pomelo || pomelo || pomelo || pomelo || toranja || pomelo || toronja || toronja || toronja || toronja
|-
| [[green bean]] || poroto verde || chaucha || chaucha || chaucha || vagem || vainita || habichuela || vainita || vainita || vainita
|-
| [[jacket]] || chaqueta || campera || campera || campera || jaqueta || chamarra || chaqueta || chompa || casaca || chaqueta
|-
| [[kitchen stove]] || cocina || cocina || cocina || cocina || fogão || cocina || estufa || cocina || cocina || estufa
|-
| [[papaya]] || papaya || papaya || papaya || mamón || mamão || papaya || papaya || papaya || papaya || lechosa
|-
| [[pea]] || arveja || arveja || arveja || arveja || ervilha || arveja || arveja || arveja || arevja || guisante
|-
| [[peanut]] || maní || maní || maní || maní || amendoim || maní || maní || maní || maní || maní
|-
| [[popcorn]] || cabritas || pochoclo || pop/pororó || pororó || pipoca || pipocas || crispetas/<br>maíz pira || canguil || canchita || cotufas
|-
| [[sneakers]] || zapatillas || zapatillas || championes || championes || tênis || tenis || tenis || zapatillas || zapatillas || gomas
|-
| [[socks]] || calcetines || medias || medias || medias || meias || medias || medias || medias || medias || medias
|-
| [[sweet potato]] || camote || batata || boniato || batata || batata doce || camote || batata || camote || camote || batata
|-
| [[swimming pool]] || piscina || pileta || piscina || pileta || piscina || piscina || piscina || piscina || piscina || piscina
|-
| [[t-shirt]] || polera || remera || remera || remera || camiseta || polera || camiseta || camiseta || polo || franela
|-
| [[washing machine| washing  <br> machine]] || lavadora || lavarropas || lavarropas || lavarropas || máquina de <br /> lavar roupa ||  lavadora || lavadora || lavadora || lavadora || lavadora
|-
|}
==Demography==
{{Main|Demographics of the Southern Cone}}

[[Image:Southern cone density.png|thumb|220px|right|Population density of the Southern Cone by first-level national administrative divisions. Population/km<sup>2</sup>]]
[[File:Southern Cone at night.jpg|thumb|220px|View of the Southern Cone at night, where there are population densities in the accumulation of light from cities.]]
[[Image:CS_aglo.png|thumb|220px|right|Major agglomerations of the Southern Cone]]
The population of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay is 40, 16.8 and 3.6 million respectively. [[Buenos Aires]] is the largest metropolitan area at 13.1 million and [[Santiago, Chile]] has 6.4 million. Uruguay's capital and largest city, [[Montevideo]], has 1.8 million, and it receives many visitors on ferry boats across the [[Río de la Plata]] from Buenos Aires, {{convert|200|km|mi|abbr=on}} away.

By contrast, the [[Patagonia]] region of southern Chile and Argentina is very sparsely populated, with a [[population density]] of less than two people per square kilometer.

===Ethnicity===
[[File:Ethnic map of the Southern Cone.png|thumb|Ethnoracial map of the Southern Cone and surroundings.]]

The population of the Southern Cone has been strongly influenced by waves of immigration from [[Europe]] in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. People of direct [[European diaspora|European descent]], make up 88% of total population of [[Uruguay]], 85% of the total population of [[Argentina]] and 65% of the total population of [[Chile]]. The remainder of the population in these countries consists predominantly of mestizos with a significant proportion of European ancestry.<ref name="Lizcano">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LcabJ98-t1wC&pg=PA93 |title=Composición Étnica de las Tres Áreas Culturales del Continente Americano al Comienzo del Siglo XXI|isbn=978-970-757-052-8|language=es|author1=Fernández, Francisco Lizcano|year=2007|publisher=Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México }}</ref><ref name="umng.edu.co">[http://www.umng.edu.co/www/resources/idsocial.doc SOCIAL IDENTITY Marta Fierro Social Psychologist.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225203250/http://www.umng.edu.co/www/resources/idsocial.doc |date=February 25, 2009 }}{{unreliable source?|date=November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{in lang|es}} [http://www.iidh.ed.cr/comunidades/diversidades/docs/div_docpublicaciones/Derecho%Braziliana/Cap.%202.%20Pensar%20a%20los%20indios,%20tarea%20de%20criollos.pdf massive immigration of European Argentina Uruguay Chile Brazil]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{unreliable source?|date=November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Waiss |first1=Oscar |title=La literatura hispanoamericana y el exilio |trans-title=Spanish American literature and exile |language=es |journal=Anales de Literatura Hispanoamericana |volume=12 |year=1983 |pages=228–234 |url=https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/ALHI/article/download/ALHI8383110228A/24330 }}</ref> In [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]], [[Paraná (state)|Paraná]], [[Rio Grande do Sul]], and [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]] self-identified [[white people]] are 61.3%; 70.0%; 82.3%; and 86.8% of the population respectively, with people of [[Italian Brazilians|Italian]], Polish and [[German Brazilians|German]] ancestry predominating.<ref name="ibge3">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/condicaodevida/indicadoresminimos/sinteseindicsociais2010/SIS_2010.pdf|date=15 September 2010|title=Síntese de Indicadores Sociais &#124; Uma Análise das Condições de Vida da População Brasileira 2010|access-date=12 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104153035/http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/condicaodevida/indicadoresminimos/sinteseindicsociais2010/SIS_2010.pdf|archive-date=4 January 2012}}</ref><ref name=Italian>{{cite web|url=http://www.immigrazione-altoadige.net/personal/ensayo/migraciones/italiani%20sudamerica.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195630/http://www.immigrazione-altoadige.net/personal/ensayo/migraciones/italiani%20sudamerica.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-02-21|title=Immigrazione Italiana nell'America del Sud (Argentina, Uruguay e Brasile)|first=Miguel|last=Angel García|year=2003}}</ref><ref name=International-Migration-to-Brazil>{{cite journal |last1=Levy |first1=Maria Stella Ferreira |title=O papel da migração internacional na evolução da população brasileira (1872 a 1972) |journal=Revista de Saúde Pública |date=June 1974 |volume=8 |pages=49–90 |doi=10.1590/S0034-89101974000500003 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

[[Italians]] started to emigrate to the Southern Cone as early as the second half of the 17th century,<ref name=INET>{{cite web |url=http://www.oni.escuelas.edu.ar/olimpi98/BajarondelosBarcos/Colectividades/Italia/itaprin.htm |title=Colectividad Italiana |access-date=2011-09-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612125453/http://www.oni.escuelas.edu.ar/olimpi98/BajarondelosBarcos/Colectividades/Italia/itaprin.htm |archive-date=2014-06-12 }}</ref> and it became a mass phenomenon between 1880 and 1920 when Italy was facing social and economic disturbances.<ref>[http://www.oni.escuelas.edu.ar/olimpi98/BajarondelosBarcos/frames.htm O.N.I.-Department of Education of Argentina] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915043427/http://www.oni.escuelas.edu.ar/olimpi98/BajarondelosBarcos/frames.htm |date=2008-09-15 }}</ref> As a consequence of mass Italian immigration, the Southern Cone has the largest [[Italian diaspora]] in the world,<ref name=Italian/> with people of Italian descent being the majority in many places, with the highest percentage being in [[Argentina]] (62.5% [[Italian Argentines|Italian]]),<ref name=LaMatanza>{{cite web|url =http://infouniversidades.siu.edu.ar/noticia.php?titulo=historias_de_inmigrantes_italianos_en_argentina&id=1432#.U2cKkYHa70s |title=Historias de inmigrantes italianos en Argentina |date=14 November 2011 |author =Departamento de Derecho y Ciencias Políticas de la [[National University of La Matanza|Universidad Nacional de La Matanza]] |publisher=infouniversidades.siu.edu.ar |language=es |quote=Se estima que en la actualidad, el 90% de la población argentina tiene alguna ascendencia europea y que al menos 25 millones están relacionados con algún inmigrante de Italia.}}</ref> and in the southern Brazilian state of [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]] (60% Italian).<ref name="ItáliaNossa">{{cite web |url=http://www.italianossa.com.br/estatistica.asp |title=Imigração italiana por Estados e Regiões do Brasil |access-date=2 December 2014 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129031845/http://www.italianossa.com.br/estatistica.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> Among all Italians who immigrated to Brazil, 70% went to the [[State of São Paulo]]. In consequence, the State of São Paulo has more people with Italian ancestry than any [[region of Italy]] itself,<ref name="pereira">{{cite web|first=Liésio|last=Pereira|url=http://www.radiobras.gov.br/especiais/saopaulo450/sp450_mat10_2004.htm|title=A capital paulista tem sotaque italiano|language=pt|publisher=radiobras.gov.br|access-date=10 September 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060728203731/http://www.radiobras.gov.br/especiais/saopaulo450/sp450_mat10_2004.htm|archive-date=28 July 2006}}</ref> with [[São Paulo city]] being the most populous city with Italian ancestry in the world,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brazil – the Country and its People |url=http://www.brazil.org.uk/resources/documents/bs-primary03.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021152752/http://www.brazil.org.uk/resources/documents/bs-primary03.pdf |archive-date=October 21, 2014 |access-date=November 26, 2014 |publisher=www.brazil.org.uk}}</ref> of the 10 million inhabitants of São Paulo city, 60% (6 million people) have full or partial Italian ancestry (the largest city of Italy is Rome, with 2.5 million inhabitants).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiobras.gov.br/especiais/saopaulo450/sp450_mat10_2004.htm|language=pt|title=A capital paulista tem sotaque italiano|last=Pereira|first=Liésio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623002947/http://www.radiobras.gov.br/especiais/saopaulo450/sp450_mat10_2004.htm|archive-date=2008-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tudo sobre São Paulo SP |url=http://www.encontrasaopaulo.com.br/sobre-sao-paulo.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323153154/http://www.encontrasaopaulo.com.br/sobre-sao-paulo.html |archive-date=March 23, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2016 |publisher=EncontraSP}}</ref> Small towns, such as [[Nova Veneza, Santa Catarina|Nova Veneza]], have as much as 95% of their population of Italian descent.<ref name="Nova Veneza">{{Cite web|url=http://www.portalveneza.com.br/a_cidade.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819191657/http://www.portalveneza.com.br/a_cidade.php|url-status=dead|title=Nova Veneza (in Portuguese)|archive-date=August 19, 2008}}</ref>

The region also has a large [[German diaspora]] (second largest after the [[German Americans|United States]]),<ref name="Handwörterbuch">{{cite web|author=Wilhelm Bleek |url=http://www.bpb.de/wissen/08937231579775312662617270950640,1,0,Auslandsdeutsche.html#art1 |title=Auslandsdeutsche |trans-title=Germans abroad |language=de |publisher=German Federal Agency for Civic Education |date=2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310052559/http://www.bpb.de/wissen/08937231579775312662617270950640%2C1%2C0%2CAuslandsdeutsche.html |archive-date=2011-03-10 }}</ref> with People of German descent being 25% of the population of [[Rio Grande do Sul]] and 35% of the population of [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://estado.rs.gov.br/final-da-copa-tem-torcida-especial-de-descendentes-de-alemaes-e-imigrantes-argentinos-no-estado|language=pt|title=Final da Copa tem torcida especial de descendentes de alemães e imigrantes argentinos no Estado
|year=2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Santa Catarina|url=http://www.cbo2015.com.br/temas/cbo2015/arquivos/hospedagem/santa-catarina.pdf|publisher=[[O Estado de S. Paulo]]|language=pt|year=2015}}</ref> Residents of German descent even predominate in South Chile due to [[German colonization of Valdivia, Osorno and Llanquihue]]. 

[[Mestizo]]s make up 15.8% of the population and are a majority in [[Paraguay]]. [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] make up 3% of the population, living in communities in Araucanía region in Chile. [[Mulatto]]es (people of European and African ancestry) mostly in Uruguay (0.2%), and [[Asians]] (1.0%), mostly in Argentina, the remaining 1.2%.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=GZBnvD3b_qQC&pg=PA238 ''Historia de las repúblicas de la Plata''], Manuel González Llana</ref>

There is also a strong [[Arab diaspora|Arab]] presence in the Southern Cone, with people of full or at least partial Arab ancestry being 5% of the population of [[Arab Uruguayans|Uruguay]] and [[Arab Chileans|Chile]], 9.8% of the population of [[Arab Brazilians|Brazil]], and 11% of the population of [[Arab Argentines|Argentina]].<ref>{{cite web|date=10 October 2013|access-date=7 January 2021|work=[[International Business Times]]|title=Arabs In The Andes? Chile, The Unlikely Long-Term Home Of A Large Palestinian Community|url=https://www.ibtimes.com/arabs-andes-chile-unlikely-long-term-home-large-palestinian-community-1449718#:~:text=On%20the%20whole%2C%20some%20800%2C000,percent%20of%20the%20total%20population.}}</ref><ref name="FRURU">{{cite web|url=https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1710/Les_Libanais_d%2527Uruguay%252C_la_troisieme_communaute_du_pays_apres_les_Espagnols_et_les_Italiens.html|year=2008|title=Les Libanais d'Uruguay, la troisième communauté du pays après les Espagnols et les Italiens
|language=fr|publisher=[[L'Orient-Le Jour]]}}</ref><ref name="Ferabolli2014"/><ref name="Fearab.org.ar">{{cite web|url=http://www.fearab.org.ar/inmigracion_sirio_libanesa_en_argentina.php |title=Inmigración sirio-libanesa en Argentina |language=es |publisher=Fearab.org.ar |access-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620004217/http://www.fearab.org.ar/inmigracion_sirio_libanesa_en_argentina.php |archive-date=20 June 2010 }}</ref> Brazil has the largest number of Arabs outside the [[Middle East]], with 20 million Brazilians being descendants of Arabs,<ref name="Ferabolli2014">{{cite book|author=Silvia Ferabolli|title=Arab Regionalism: A Post-Structural Perspective|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R5CbBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA151|date=25 September 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-65803-0|page=151|quote=According to estimates by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), countersigned by the League of Arab States, Brazil has the largest Arab colony outside their countries of origin. There are estimated 15 million Arabs living in Brazil today, with some researchers suggesting numbers around 20 million.}}</ref><ref name="Amar2014">{{cite book|author=Paul Amar|title=The Middle East and Brazil: Perspectives on the New Global South|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XGKuCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA40|date=15 July 2014|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-01496-2|page=40|quote=there are, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than sixteen million Arabs and descendants of Arabs in Brazil, constituting the largest community of Arabs descent outside of the Middle East.}}</ref> while the [[Palestinian community in Chile]] is considered the largest outside the [[Arab world]].<ref>{{citation|periodical=El Economista|url=http://ecodiario.eleconomista.es/sociedad/noticias/1028142/02/09/Los-palestinos-miran-con-esperanza-su-futuro-en-Chile-sin-olvidar-Gaza-e-Irak.html|date=2009-02-11|access-date=2009-07-29|title=Los palestinos miran con esperanza su futuro en Chile sin olvidar Gaza e Irak}}</ref>

===Genetic and historical roots===
[[File:Ethnic map of Argentina and Uruguay.png|thumb|Ethnic map of Argentina and Uruguay.]]

Since interethnic marriages are widespread in Latin America, complex ethnic classifications emerged, including more than a dozen of "racial" categories created in 18th century [[Hispanic America]], with notorious examples being ''[[castizo]]'', ''morisco'' and {{lang|es|cambujo}}. In Brazil, about 190 "racial" categories were detected by the Census of 1976.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Salzano |first1=Francisco M |title=Interethnic variability and admixture in Latin America - social implications |journal=Revista de Biología Tropical |date=24 July 2014 |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=405–15 |doi=10.15517/rbt.v1i2.15273 |pmid=17361535 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

A study conducted on 218 individuals in 2010 by the Argentine geneticist [[Daniel Corach]], has established that the genetic map of Argentina is composed of 79%  different European ethnicities (mainly Spanish and Italian ethnicities), 18% of different indigenous ethnicities, and 4.3% of African ethnic groups, in which 63.6% of the tested group had at least one ancestor who was [[Indigenous peoples in Argentina|Indigenous]].<ref name="pmid20059473">{{cite journal |last1=Corach |first1=Daniel |last2=Lao |first2=Oscar |last3=Bobillo |first3=Cecilia |last4=Van Der Gaag |first4=Kristiaan |last5=Zuniga |first5=Sofia |last6=Vermeulen |first6=Mark |last7=Van Duijn |first7=Kate |last8=Goedbloed |first8=Miriam |last9=Vallone |first9=Peter M. |last10=Parson |first10=Walther |last11=De Knijff |first11=Peter |last12=Kayser |first12=Manfred |date=January 2010 |title=Inferring Continental Ancestry of Argentines from Autosomal, Y-Chromosomal and Mitochondrial DNA: Genetic Ancestry in Extant Argentines |journal=Annals of Human Genetics |volume=74 |issue=1 |pages=65–76 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-1809.2009.00556.x |pmid=20059473 |s2cid=5908692 |hdl-access=free |hdl=11336/14301}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Avena |first1=Sergio A. |last2=Goicoechea |first2=Alicia S. |last3=Rey |first3=Jorge |last4=Dugoujon |first4=Jean M. |last5=Dejean |first5=Cristina B. |last6=Carnese |first6=Francisco R. |date=April 2006 |title=Mezcla génica en una muestra poblacional de la ciudad de Buenos Aires |trans-title=Gene mixture in a population sample from Buenos Aires City |url=http://www.scielo.org.ar/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0025-76802006000200004 |journal=Medicina (Buenos Aires) |language=es |volume=66 |issue=2 |pages=113–118 |pmid=16715758}}</ref>
An autosomal DNA study from 2009 found the composition of the Argentine population to be 78.5% European, 17.3% Amerindian, and 4.2% [[Sub-Saharan African]] (SSA).<ref name="pmid20059473" /> Blacks made up 25% of the population of Buenos Aires in 1810, 1822 and 1838. In 1887, the government decided to cease asking Argentine citizens about their race. According to Laura López, it was a way to "hide" the Black population, not only from the Census, but also from public opinion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clarin.com/diario/2005/04/02/sociedad/s-04815.htm|title=Negros en el país: censan cuántos hay y cómo viven|last=Clarin.com|date=2 April 2005|access-date=13 April 2012|archive-date=13 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413152641/http://www.clarin.com/diario/2005/04/02/sociedad/s-04815.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Argentina.html|title=Argentina|first=Ben|last=Cahoon|website=www.worldstatesmen.org}}</ref> 

Multiple studies concluded that Whites make 50-65% of the [[demographics of Chile|Chilean population]] and the CIA concluded that 89% are Whites, Castizos and Mestizos.<ref name="UC">{{cite web |title=5.2.6. Estructura racial |url=http://mazinger.sisib.uchile.cl/repositorio/lb/ciencias_quimicas_y_farmaceuticas/medinae/cap2/5b6.html |work=La Universidad de Chile |access-date=2007-08-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016124831/http://mazinger.sisib.uchile.cl/repositorio/lb/ciencias_quimicas_y_farmaceuticas/medinae/cap2/5b6.html |archive-date=2007-10-16}} ([http://mazinger.sisib.uchile.cl/repositorio/lb/ciencias_quimicas_y_farmaceuticas/medinae/ Main page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916211140/http://mazinger.sisib.uchile.cl/repositorio/lb/ciencias_quimicas_y_farmaceuticas/medinae/ |date=2009-09-16 }})</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/chile/ |title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency |website=www.cia.gov |date=12 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="pmid25052264">{{cite journal |last1=Fuentes |first1=Macarena |last2=Pulgar |first2=Iván |last3=Gallo |first3=Carla |last4=Bortolini |first4=María-Cátira |last5=Canizales-Quinteros |first5=Samuel |last6=Bedoya |first6=Gabriel |last7=González-José |first7=Rolando |last8=Ruiz-Linares |first8=Andrés |last9=Rothhammer |first9=Francisco |date=March 2014 |title=Geografía génica de Chile: Distribución regional de los aportes genéticos americanos, europeos y africanos |trans-title=Gene geography of Chile: regional distribution of American, European and African genetic contributions |journal=Revista médica de Chile |language=es |volume=142 |issue=3 |pages=281–289 |doi=10.4067/S0034-98872014000300001 |pmid=25052264 |doi-access=free |hdl-access=free |hdl=10183/118734}}</ref> The use of mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome test results show the following: The European component is predominant (91.0%, versus 9.0% of the aboriginal one) in the Chilean upper class,<ref name="pmid12360796">{{cite journal |last1=Zemelman |first1=Viviana |last2=von Beck |first2=Petra |last3=Alvarado |first3=Orlando |last4=Valenzuela |first4=Carlos Y |date=August 2002 |title=Dimorfismo sexual en la pigmentación de la piel, color de ojos y pelo y presencia de pecas en adolescentes chilenos en dos estratos socioeconómicos |trans-title=Sexual dimorphism in skin, eye and hair color and the presence of freckles in Chilean teenagers from two socioeconomic strata |journal=Revista médica de Chile |language=es |volume=130 |issue=8 |pages=879–84 |doi=10.4067/S0034-98872002000800006 |pmid=12360796 |doi-access=free}}</ref> the middle classes, 66.8%-62.3% European component<ref name="pmid12360796" /><ref name="Medical">{{cite journal |last1=Acuña |first1=M |last2=Jorquera |first2=H |last3=Cifuentes |first3=L |last4=Armanet |first4=L |date=30 June 2002 |title=Frequency of the hypervariable DNA loci D18S849, D3S1744, D12S1090 and D1S80 in a mixed ancestry population of Chilean blood donors |url=http://www.funpecrp.com.br/gmr/year2002/vol2-1/gmr0004_abstract.htm |journal=Genetics and Molecular Research |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=139–46 |pmid=14963840 |hdl=2250/163988}}</ref> and 37.7%-33.2 of mixed aboriginal<ref name="pmid12360796" /><ref name="autogenerated2">{{Cite journal |author1=M. Acuña |author2=H. Jorquera |author3=L. Cifuentes |author4=L. Armanet |date=2002 |title=Frequency of the hypervariable DNA loci D18S849, D3S1744, D12S1090 and D1S80 in a mixed ancestry population of Chilean blood donors |url=http://www.funpecrp.com.br/gmr/year2002/vol2-1/gmr0004_full_text.htm |journal=Genet. Mol. Res. |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=139–146 |issn=1676-5680}}</ref> and lower classes at 55–52.9% European component<ref name="pmid12360796" /><ref name="Medical" /> and 47.1%-45% mix of Aboriginal.<ref name="pmid12360796" /><ref name="Medical" />

A DNA study from 2009, published in the [[American Journal of Human Biology]], showed the genetical composition of Uruguay to be mainly European, but with Native American (which varies from 1% to 20% in different parts of the country) and also SSA (7% to 15% in different parts of the country).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bonilla |first1=Carolina |last2=Bertoni |first2=Bernardo |last3=González |first3=Susana |last4=Cardoso |first4=Horacio |last5=Brum-Zorrilla |first5=Nadir |last6=Sans |first6=Mónica |title=Substantial native American female contribution to the population of Tacuarembó, Uruguay, reveals past episodes of sex-biased gene flow |journal=American Journal of Human Biology |date=2004 |volume=16 |issue=3 |pages=289–297 |doi=10.1002/ajhb.20025 |pmid=15101054 |s2cid=34341356 }}</ref>

Similar to the rest of Latin America, the genetic ancestry of the population of the Southern Cone reflects the history of the continent: the Iberian colonizers were mostly men who arrived without women. European immigration to this part of the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries <ref name="umng.edu.co" /><ref>[http://www.oni.escuelas.edu.ar/olimpi98/fronterasculturales/datos/cap-pop.html Juan Bialet Massé en su informe sobre "El estado de las clases obreras en el interior del país"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927103010/http://www.oni.escuelas.edu.ar/olimpi98/fronterasculturales/datos/cap-pop.html |date=September 27, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cepal.org/es/publicaciones/2394-etnicidad-y-ciudadania-en-america-latina-la-accion-colectiva-de-los-pueblos|title=Etnicidad y ciudadanía en América Latina: la acción colectiva de los pueblos indígenas|first=Comisión Económica para América Latina y el|last=Caribe|date=27 October 2014|website=www.cepal.org|access-date=2016-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901022609/http://www.cepal.org/es/publicaciones/2394-etnicidad-y-ciudadania-en-america-latina-la-accion-colectiva-de-los-pueblos|archive-date=2017-09-01|url-status=dead}}</ref> brought more European and Middle Eastern components to the local population.

==Education and standards of living==
[[File:Human Development Index of Southern Cone Subregions..png|thumb|328x328px|HDI map of the Southern Cone, including Paraguay, southern Brazil and the State of Sao Paulo.]]
The Southern Cone is the most prosperous region in Latin America. The region has relatively high [[list of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|standard of living]] and [[Human Development Index|quality of life]]. Chile's, Argentina's, and Uruguay's [[Human Development Index|HDIs]] — (0.860), (0.849) and (0.830) — are the highest in Latin America, similar to [[Europe|European]] countries like [[Croatia]], [[Portugal]], [[Slovakia]], [[Hungary]] or [[Romania]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data#/countries/URY|title=Human Development Report 2021/2022|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=8 September 2022|access-date=16 November 2023}}</ref> 

The region has a high [[life expectancy]], and access to health care and education.<ref name="HIRU">{{cite web|url=http://www.hiru.com/es/geografia/geografia_05000.html|title=El Cono Sur|language=es|date=4 September 2006|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060904085421/http://www.hiru.com/es/geografia/geografia_05000.html|archive-date=4 September 2006}}</ref> In [[Uruguay]], illiteracy technically does not exist. 

From an economic point of view, the Southern Cone countries has been praised for being the most [[Libertarianism|Libertarian]] and pro [[Free market]] in [[Latin America]] that gave them the profile of "emerging economies".

[[Crime rate]] is significantly lower in this region compared other countries in Latin America.

Since the [[Augusto Pinochet|return to democracy]], Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay have experienced significant democratic stability. After enduring military dictatorships during the 1970s and 1980s, each country transitioned to democratic governance, leading to a more open and participatory political environment.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|- style="background:#ececec;"
<caption>Summary of socio-economic performance indicators for Latin American countries<br /></caption>
! Country
! GDP per<br />capita<br />(PPP)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2014/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=57&pr.y=10&sy=2015&ey=2015&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=311%2C336%2C213%2C263%2C313%2C268%2C316%2C343%2C339%2C273%2C218%2C278%2C223%2C283%2C228%2C288%2C233%2C293%2C238%2C361%2C321%2C362%2C243%2C364%2C248%2C366%2C253%2C369%2C328%2C298%2C258%2C299&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a= |title= World Economic Outlook Database|date=October 2014 |website=imf.org |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |access-date=February 15, 2015}}</ref><small><br />(2015 estimates)</small><br /><small>''USD''</small>
! Income<br />equality<ref name="Gini">{{cite web|url=http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI/|title=UNDP}}</ref><small><br />(2015)</small><br /><small>[[Gini index]]</small>
! Human <br />Develop.<ref>{{cite web|title=Table 1: Human Development Index Trends|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr_2015_statistical_annex.pdf|access-date=2015-12-15| author=UNDP Human Development Report 2015 Update}} page 25–26</ref><small><br />(2014 estimates)</small><br /><small>[[Human Development Index|HDI]]</small>
! Environmental <br /> Perform.<ref>{{cite web |title=Environmental Performance Index 2014 |url=http://epi.yale.edu/epi |access-date=2015-02-15 |publisher=Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy; Center for International Earth Science Information Network at Columbia University |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140126083909/http://epi.yale.edu/epi |archive-date=2014-01-26 }}</ref><br />(2014)<br /><small>[[Environmental Performance Index|EPI]]</small> !! [[Failed States Index]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ffp.statesindex.org/rankings-2014 |title=Failed States Index Scores 2014 |publisher=The Fund for Peace |date=2015-02-15 |access-date=2015-02-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215183647/http://ffp.statesindex.org/rankings-2014 |archive-date=February 15, 2015 }}</ref><br />2014 !! [[Corruption Perceptions Index|Lack of Corruption]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transparency.org/cpi2014/results/|title=How corrupt is your country?|first=Transparency International|last=e.V.|website=www.transparency.org|access-date=2015-02-16|archive-date=2018-07-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718083411/https://www.transparency.org/cpi2014/results|url-status=dead}}</ref> <br />2014 !! [[Index of Economic Freedom|Economic Freedom]]<br />2015 !! [[Global Peace Index|Peace]]<br />2014 !! [[Democracy Index|Democracy]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy_Index_2010_web.pdf |title=Democracy Index 2010 |access-date=2011-01-07}}</ref><br />2010
|-
| Brazil|| 15,518 || style="background:#ffc;"| '''52.7''' || 0.759 (<span style="color:#090;">H</span>) || 52.9 || 64.8|| 43 || 56.6 || 2.073 || 7.12
|-
| Central America{{NoteTag|Excluding [[Belize]].}} || style="background:#ffc;"| '''10,502''' || 49.7 || style="background:#ffc;"| '''0.678''' (<span style="color:#fc0;">M</span>) || 51.0 || 68.8 || 37 || 62.2 || 2.058 || 6.45
|-
| Mexico || 18,714 || 48.1 || 0.774 (<span style="color:#090;">H</span>) || 55.0 || 71.1 || 35 || | '''66.4''' || style="background:#ffc;"| '''2.500''' || 6.91
|-
| South America{{NoteTag|Excluding the [[ABC countries]], the [[Falkland Islands]], [[The Guianas]], and [[Uruguay]].}} || 11,955 || 47.5 || 0.715 (<span style="color:#090;">H</span>) || style="background:#ffc;"| '''50.3''' || style="background:#ffc;"| '''76.7''' || style="background:#ffc;"| '''31''' || style="background:#ffc;"| '''55.0''' || 2.233 || style="background:#ffc;"| '''6.01'''
|-
| Southern Cone{{NoteTag|Excluding the [[Falkland Islands]], [[Paraguay]], [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo State]], and [[South Region, Brazil|South Brazil]].}} || style="background:#cfc;"| '''22,493''' || style="background:#cfc;"| '''45.2''' || style="background:#cfc;"| '''0.820''' (VH) || style="background:#cfc;"| '''57.7''' || style="background:#cfc;"|'''42.4''' || style="background:#cfc;"|'''60''' || style="background:#cfc;" 75.2 style="background:#cfc;"| '''1.648''' || style="background:#cfc;"| '''7.60''' || style="background:#cfc;" |7.84
|}
==Politics==
{{See also|Politics of Argentina|Politics of Chile|Politics of Uruguay}}

During the second half of 20th century, these countries were in some periods ruled by [[right-wing]] [[Military dictatorship|junta]]s, military nationalistic dictatorships.
Around the 1970s, these regimes collaborated in [[Operation Condor|Plan Cóndor]] against [[leftist]] opposition, including [[urban guerrilla warfare|urban guerrillas]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.el-universal.com.mx/editoriales/34023.html | author = [[Victor Flores Olea]] | title = Editoriales - El Universal - 10 de abril 2006 : Operacion Condor | publisher = [[El Universal (Mexico)]] | access-date = 2009-03-24 | language = es | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070628021303/http://www.el-universal.com.mx/editoriales/34023.html | archive-date = 2007-06-28 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
However, by the early 1980s Argentina and Uruguay restored their democracies; Chile followed suit in 1990.

===Latest presidential elections===

====Argentina (2023)====
{{Main|2023 Argentine general election}}
<onlyinclude>{{Election results
|cand1=[[Javier Milei]]
|vp1=[[Victoria Villarruel]]
|party1=[[La Libertad Avanza]] (alliance)
|votes1= 14554560

|cand2=[[Sergio Massa]]
|vp2=[[Agustín Rossi]]
|party2=[[Union for the Homeland]] (alliance)
|votes2=11598720

|invalid=450746
|blank=417574

|electorate=35405398
}}</onlyinclude>

====Chile (2021)====
{{Main|2021 Chilean general election}}
<onlyinclude>{{Election results
|cand1=[[Gabriel Boric]]
|party1=[[Apruebo Dignidad]] (alliance)
|votes1= 4620890

|cand2=[[José Antonio Kast]]
|party2=[[Christian Social Front]] (alliance)
|votes2=3650088

|invalid=68802
|blank=24130

|electorate=15030974
}}</onlyinclude>

====Uruguay (2024)====
{{Main|2024 Uruguayan general election}}
<onlyinclude>{{Election results
|cand1=[[Yamandú Orsi]]
|vp1=[[Carolina Cosse]]
|party1=[[Broad Front (Uruguay)|Broad Front]] (alliance)
|votes1= 1212833

|cand2=[[Álvaro Delgado (politician)|Álvaro Delgado]]
|vp2=[[Valeria Ripoll]]
|party2=[[Republican Coalition]] (alliance)
|color2= #4169E1
|votes2=1119537

|invalid=64654
|blank=39542

|electorate=2727120
}}</onlyinclude>

===Governments===
'''Timeline of presidents'''
<div class="center">
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:1075 height:auto barincrement:25
PlotArea = left:60 bottom:60 top:0 right:10
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat  = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1950 till:01/01/2025
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors =
  id:lla    value:skyblue        legend:LLA
  id:peronist    value:pink        legend:Peronist
  id:colo      value:orange     legend:Colorado
  id:frenteamplio  value:green     legend:FA
  id:blanco    value:yellow        legend:Blanco
  id:radical      value:teal     legend:Radical
  id:dictatorship      value:black     legend:Dictator
  id:socialist      value:red     legend:Socialist
  id:PDC      value:purple     legend:DC
  id:PRN      value:blue     legend:Chilean_right_and_center-right

Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom

ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1950
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1951

BarData =

  bar:arg   text:"Argentina"
  bar:chi    text:"Chile"
  bar:uru   text:"Uruguay"

PlotData=

  width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
  bar:arg       from:01/01/1950 till:16/09/1955 color:peronist
  bar:arg       from:16/09/1955 till:01/05/1958 color:dictatorship
  bar:arg       from:01/05/1958 till:28/06/1966 color:radical
  bar:arg       from:28/06/1966 till:25/05/1973 color:dictatorship
  bar:arg       from:25/05/1973 till:24/03/1976 color:peronist
  bar:arg       from:24/03/1976 till:10/12/1983 color:dictatorship
  bar:arg       from:10/12/1983 till:08/07/1989 color:radical
  bar:arg       from:08/07/1989 till:10/12/1999 color:peronist
  bar:arg       from:10/12/1999 till:23/12/2001 color:radical
  bar:arg       from:23/12/2001 till:10/12/2015 color:peronist
  bar:arg       from:10/12/2015 till:10/12/2019 color:radical
  bar:arg       from:10/12/2019 till:10/12/2023 color:peronist
  bar:arg       from:10/12/2023 till:01/01/2025 color:lla
  bar:chi       from:03/11/1958 till:03/11/1964 color:PRN
  bar:chi       from:03/11/1964 till:03/11/1970 color:PDC
  bar:chi       from:03/11/1970 till:11/09/1973 color:socialist
  bar:chi       from:11/09/1973 till:11/03/1990 color:dictatorship
  bar:chi       from:11/03/1990 till:11/03/2000 color:PDC
  bar:chi       from:11/03/2000 till:11/03/2010 color:socialist
  bar:chi       from:11/03/2010 till:11/03/2014 color:PRN
  bar:chi       from:11/03/2014 till:11/03/2018 color:socialist
  bar:chi       from:11/03/2018 till:11/03/2022 color:PRN
  bar:chi       from:11/03/2022 till:01/01/2025 color:socialist
  bar:uru       from:01/01/1950 till:01/03/1951 color:colo
  bar:uru       from:01/03/1967 till:27/06/1973 color:colo
  bar:uru       from:27/06/1973 till:01/03/1985 color:dictatorship
  bar:uru       from:01/03/1985 till:01/03/1990 color:colo
  bar:uru       from:01/03/1990 till:01/03/1995 color:blanco
  bar:uru       from:01/03/1995 till:01/03/2005 color:colo
  bar:uru       from:01/03/2005 till:01/03/2020 color:frenteamplio
  bar:uru       from:01/03/2020 till:01/01/2025 color:blanco
</timeline></div>

<div class="center"><timeline>
ImageSize   = width:800 height:auto barincrement:25
PlotArea    = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:10
Alignbars   = justify
DateFormat  = dd/mm/yyyy
Period      = from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/2025
TimeAxis    = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Colors      =
  id:centerright  value:skyblue               legend:Centre-right
  id:right      value:blue                    legend:Right
  id:centerleft  value:pink               legend:Centre-left
  id:left        value:red    legend:Left

Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1990
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1990
BarData    =
  bar:arg   text:"Argentina"
  bar:chi   text:"Chile"
  bar:uru   text:"Uruguay"
PlotData   =
  width:16 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
  bar:arg       from:01/01/1990 till:10/12/1999 color:right  text:"Menem"  textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:arg       from:10/12/1999 till:21/12/2001 color:centerright  text:"Rua"  textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:arg       from:02/01/2002 till:25/05/2003 color:centerleft  text:"D."  textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:arg       from:25/05/2003 till:10/12/2007 color:left  text:"N. Kirchner"  textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:arg       from:10/12/2007 till:10/12/2015 color:left  text:"C. Fernández de Kirchner"  textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:arg       from:10/12/2015 till:10/12/2019 color:centerright  text:"Macri"  textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:arg       from:10/12/2019 till:10/12/2023 color:centerleft  text:"A. Fernández" textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:arg       from:10/12/2023 till:01/01/2025 color:right  text:"M."  textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:chi       from:01/01/1990 till:11/03/1990 color:right
  bar:chi       from:11/03/1990 till:11/03/1994 color:centerleft      text:"Aylwin"    textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:chi       from:11/03/1994 till:11/03/2000 color:centerleft      text:"Frei"    textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:chi       from:11/03/2000 till:11/03/2006 color:centerleft      text:"Lagos"    textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:chi       from:11/03/2006 till:11/03/2010 color:centerleft      text:"Bachelet" textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:chi       from:11/03/2014 till:11/03/2018 color:centerleft      text:"Bachelet" textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:chi       from:11/03/2010 till:11/03/2014 color:centerright      text:"Piñera"    textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:chi       from:11/03/2018 till:11/03/2022 color:centerright      text:"Piñera" textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:chi       from:11/03/2022 till:01/01/2025 color:centerleft      text:"Boric" textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:uru       from:01/01/1990 till:01/03/1990 color:centerright
  bar:uru       from:01/03/1990 till:01/03/1995 color:centerright    text:"A. Lacalle"  textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:uru       from:01/03/1995 till:01/03/2000 color:centerright    text:"Sanguinetti"  textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:uru       from:01/03/2000 till:01/03/2005 color:centerright    text:"Batlle"  textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:uru       from:01/03/2005 till:01/03/2010 color:centerleft    text:"Vázquez"  textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:uru       from:01/03/2010 till:01/03/2015 color:centerleft    text:"Mujica"   textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:uru       from:01/03/2015 till:01/03/2020 color:centerleft    text:"Vázquez"   textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  bar:uru       from:01/03/2020 till:01/01/2025 color:centerright      text:"L. Lacalle" textcolor:white  mark:(line,white)
  </timeline>
</div>

==See also==
* [[Caribbean South America]]
* [[The Guianas]]
* [[Northern Mexico]]
* [[Northern Triangle of Central America]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}

{{Regions of the world}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Southern Cone| ]]