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Historical map · 1830

Map of South America in 1830

In 1830, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 13 states, empires and other polities in South America. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were the Empire of Brazil, Gran Colombia and Bolivia. The British Empire reached well beyond South America: its whole territory measured about 9.4 million km².

See this map live. The interactive map opens on South America in 1830. Zoom in, move the year slider to watch the borders change, or ask the history guide a question and it draws the answer on the map.

OPEN 1830 ON THE MAP →Ask the history guide about 1830
Atlas map: The Age of Restoration (Aug 1830)
FROM THE ATLAS · THE AGE OF REVOLUTIONS, CHAPTER 11: THE AGE OF RESTORATION (AUG 1830)

States and empires in South America in 1830

StateIn this regionWhole stateIn the data
Empire of Brazil Wikipedia7.8 million km²7.8 million km²1822–1889
Gran Colombia Wikipedia2.9 million km²2.9 million km²1822–1833
Bolivia Wikipedia1.8 million km²1.8 million km²1825–2024
Río de la Plata Wikipedia1.4 million km²1.4 million km²1811–1833
Republic of Peru Wikipedia1.1 million km²1.1 million km²1822–2024
Paraguay Wikipedia323,000 km²323,000 km²1811–2024
Republic of Chile Wikipedia305,000 km²305,000 km²1812–2024
Oriental Republic of Uruguay Wikipedia181,000 km²181,000 km²1828–2024
Surinam (Dutch colony) Wikipedia150,000 km²150,000 km²1820–2024
British Empire Wikipedia98,000 km²9.4 million km²1706–1999
Kingdom of France (July Monarchy) Wikipedia86,000 km²1.3 million km²990–1848
Spanish Empire Wikipedia19,000 km²1.5 million km²1516–1931
United Provinces of Central America Wikipedia3,790 km²445,000 km²1824–1839

"In the data" gives the first and last year the dataset draws the state under this identity; states often existed earlier or later in another form.

What changed since 1815

New on the map: Empire of Brazil, Gran Colombia, Bolivia, Republic of Peru, Republic of Chile, Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Surinam (Dutch colony), United Provinces of Central America.

Gone from the map: Portuguese Empire, Federal League, New Granada, Company rule in India (British East India Company), Netherlands Antilles.

What comes next: 1850

Appear by 1850: Argentina, Republic of New Granada, Venezuela, Republic of Ecuador, French Second Republic, Republic of Costa Rica.

Gone by 1850: Gran Colombia, Río de la Plata, Kingdom of France (July Monarchy), United Provinces of Central America.

Read the history of 1830

Guided atlas chapters set near this date, each with its own map, causes and consequences:

Questions about this map

Which countries were in South America in 1830?

The map data draws 13 states and other polities in South America in 1830. The largest by land were the Empire of Brazil, Gran Colombia, Bolivia, Río de la Plata and the Republic of Peru.

What was the largest empire in South America in 1830?

Of the states on this map, the British Empire held the most land in total: about 9.4 million km² in the reconstruction used here. Ancient and frontier borders are approximate, so treat areas as estimates.

Can I explore South America in 1830 interactively?

Yes. Open the interactive map at 1830, zoom into any region, move through the years, and ask the history guide questions: it answers in plain words and draws places, armies and borders on the map.

About these borders

The borders come from Cliopatria (v0.2.1, Seshat Global History Databank, CC BY 4.0), the dataset behind our interactive map, with our audited name and border corrections. It records each state's territory year by year from 3400 BC to 2024. Borders before modern surveys are reconstructions: the data draws a state where it held control, and frontier zones, nomadic realms and loose overlordships are approximate. Areas are measured on an equal-area projection. Read how we make our maps.

South America in other years

Other regions in 1830