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Biggest Cities in Latin America Quiz

Can you name the most populous urban areas in Latin America?
According to citypopulation.de, January 2024
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: March 6, 2024
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First submittedJuly 28, 2012
Times taken47,623
Average score80.8%
Rating4.39
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Population
City
25.1 m
Mexico City
22.1 m
São Paulo
16.7 m
Buenos Aires
12.5 m
Rio de Janeiro
11.8 m
Lima
10.4 m
Bogotá
8.25 m
Santiago
6.00 m
Monterrey
5.85 m
Guadalajara
Population
City
4.93 m
Belo Horizonte
4.28 m
Medellín
4.23 m
Puebla
3.98 m
Brasília
3.93 m
Porto Alegre
3.85 m
Santo Domingo
3.83 m
Caracas
3.68 m
Recife
3.63 m
Port-au-Prince
Population
City
3.58 m
Fortaleza
3.43 m
Curitiba
3.35 m
Guatemala City
3.30 m
Guayaquil
3.25 m
Campinas
3.20 m
Salvador
2.95 m
Cali
2.83 m
Quito
+7
Level 66
Sep 9, 2012
Havana?
+77
Level 74
May 17, 2018
Nanana
+6
Level 56
Dec 30, 2022
half of my heart is in havana o nana
+1
Level 92
Mar 14, 2024
^ this took me back to east atlanta
+6
Level 50
Sep 9, 2012
according to the site they used, Havana only has 2,135,498
+8
Level 78
Oct 22, 2012
Haiti is a very odd anomaly - it shouldn't be in there, but is generally included on the list - Cuba and the Dominican Republic are the ONLY two other countries in the Caribbean considered part of Latin America. The other countries all speak English, Dutch or French and are not considered part of Latin America - I guess Haiti is included due to sharing an island with the Dominican Republic. But Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, Kitts & Nevis, Vincent & Grenadines, Antigua & Barbuda and the Bahamas are NOT part of Latin America and not grouped in. Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Belize are also not included despite being contiguous.
+34
Level 54
Jun 15, 2014
The whole reason the region is called Latin America is to include french and portuguese speaking countries, you are thinking of Hispanic America, which is spanish speaking countries only.
+2
Level 60
Nov 20, 2018
Actually the Portuguese are Hispanic as well.
+26
Level 49
Apr 2, 2020
portuguese are NOT hispanic. that comes from hispania (spain)

So latin america technily includes haiti and quebec, but hispanoamerica excludes brazil.

I think a much more useful term and the one people actually mean when they say latinoamerica is IBERO america, from iberia, so that includes only portuguese and spanish speaking coutries.

+1
Level 59
Mar 10, 2024
Portuguese and Portugal are indeed Hispanic. Hispanic does not equate with Spanish. Originally Hispania meant the same as Iberia (the peninsula itself), but with the Iberian Union and the Castillian rule over the entire peninsula, the idea of being Hispanic and being Castillian-speaking or under Castillian rule were mixed up, so colloquially speaking you could say Hispanic and Spanish are the same thing but in reality they're not. The equation of the two terms was a political thing only.
+18
Level 32
May 15, 2020
So, Montreal should be included?
+4
Level 81
May 15, 2020
I studied Portuguese, and we were taught that Brazil was not considered Hispanic, but rather Lusitan, and Anglo-, Latin- and Luso-America were all distinct.
+4
Level 45
May 15, 2020
No, when I say latin america, i mean the americas excluding the us and canada.
+2
Level 82
May 15, 2020
Canada is not a majority French-speaking country, and therefore not part of Latin America. Several Caribbean island countries are also not part of Latin America, and neither is Guyana or Suriname.
+3
Level 72
May 15, 2020
French-speaking would include St. Lucia, then.
+1
Level 65
May 16, 2020
They don't speak portuguese in suriname.. or spanish..
+5
Level 82
Mar 29, 2019
French is a Romance language
+1
Level 43
Feb 5, 2022
There are varying definitions of what defines Latin America. The general definition is that it includes all of the countries in America south of the US where Latin-derived languages (sometimes including their creole languages) prevail or are designated as national/official languages: Spanish, Portuguese, French. So, countries like Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica, Belize and some others in the Caribbean are not included as either English or Dutch prevails there (but if you count the creole languages as well, then St. Lucia & Dominica would be part of it, as French-based languages are dominantly spoken there. The same case with ABC Islands as well, as Papiamento is dominant there, which is a Portuguese-Spanish-based creole). Quebec in Canada and St. Pierre & Miquelon are usually not included due to cultural and geographic differences.

Oh, and sometimes French-speaking regions are not considered part of Latin America. This is why many question people like Haitians as being "Latinos".

+1
Level 43
Feb 5, 2022
Another problem is whether Latin America is defined by language or culture. If we look from the cultural side, Haiti often won't fit in, because as far as I know, their culture are distinct from countries usually considered part of Latin America such as Cuba or Dominican Republic.

Anyway, these are my thoughts on the definition of Latin America. Its meaning is still ambiguous and can be interpreted in a lot of ways.

+12
Level 74
Nov 17, 2012
Re: the Haiti debate - French is a Romance language, derived from Latin, just like Spanish and Portuguese. So even though it is different, it still fits as part of "Latin America."
+6
Level 45
Apr 27, 2020
So that's why when we say "Latin Music" we famously mean musettes and the cancan, right?
+1
Level 12
Jul 31, 2014
I looked up Latin America and it said Central America so I only got ones in Central America
+10
Level 88
Mar 29, 2019
Tegucigalpa is a long way from 20 million people, so there's that hint that Latin America is broader.
+1
Level 66
Dec 21, 2014
This is my firts comment here, love this site but have to say. I'm brazilian, I live near to Campinas and I study there, the information is wrong. nowadays, the city has about 1 million and hundred thousand inhabitants, far away from that. Hugs.
+3
Level 77
Apr 13, 2017
The disclaimer says "urban areas", so it's adding the population of towns around Campinas, too.
+1
Level 43
May 15, 2020
I agree with Bebedouro that Campinas has 1 million inhabitants. In addition, being the largest in the interior of Brazil and the second largest non-capital, losing to Guarulhos. But I also agree with contos.

They spoke in urban areas, and the case of Campinas is correct in the quiz. If it were the municipality, I would have complained about my city, Belo Horizonte, because BH, has half the population said in the quiz. And its urban area has 5 million inhabitants.

+3
Level 75
May 15, 2020
I always get confused about the terms city proper, metro areas, and urban areas. Even after looking them up I'm still confused.
+2
Level 58
Oct 22, 2021
City (or município in brazilian portuguese) and Metropolitan Areas are two different concepts. Usually jetpunk considers the metropolitan area, I personally like it better this way.

Campinas metropolitan area is made by 20 cities and totals more than 3 mi habitants. Guarulhos is part of São Paulo metropolitan area, so it's every habitant of Guarulhos was counted by São Paulo.

You can check it even on wikipedea. Campinas was officially turned into a metropolitan area in 2000.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campinas_metropolitan_area

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regi%C3%A3o_Metropolitana_de_Campinas

The City of São Paulo (just the municipio) for instance has about 12 mi habitants, but when you count the metro area it counts about 21 mi habitants (Guarulhos included).

Therefore, The quiz is correct.

+3
Level 75
Dec 23, 2014
This quiz is so much easier after the 2014 World Cup.
+1
Level 24
Dec 31, 2014
Is Cali, Santiago de Cali?
+2
Level 84
Jan 15, 2017
No, Cali in Colombia.
+6
Level 59
Mar 29, 2019
Yes, it is
+5
Level 43
Apr 3, 2015
"Latin America is a region of the Americas, that comprises countries where Romance languages are spoken; primarily Spanish and Portuguese, but also French. It consists of twenty sovereign states which cover an area that stretches from the southern border of the United States to the southern tip of South America, including the Caribbean." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_America
+3
Level 32
Jul 3, 2015
Technically speaking, Haiti is part of Latin America but as we know society and truth don't always get along. It's more about social paradigms and lines that were drawn in the sand a long time ago. Dominicans who are afro-latino sometimes will refuse to admit it...even though with some of them it's obvious that they have some african heritage. Also culturally Haiti is different from the rest of Latin America, indentifying best with Jamaica, Belize and it's land neighbor D.R., even though the majority of Dominicans dislike Haitians and normally get along better with Puerto Ricans and other Hispanic countries.
+6
Level 71
Jul 4, 2015
Would you call a Haitian a latino? I dont think so. Not even they call themselves that way. Haitians are Caribbeans (by culture), whereas Dominicans are fully latinos, regardless of race.

Saying that French speaking countries fall in the concept of Latin America is not correct at all. Latin America is about the culture, not about the language. If it were solely about the language, then I expect Quebec to be considered as latin american also.

And BTW, there are many American cities which are already latin american by culture, like Miami for example. I just dont think you could include Miami on this list, because the USA as a whole is not Latin American.

+3
Level 45
Apr 27, 2020
Also latino is not a race. Indigenous people from latin countries are latino. European-descended people from those countries are latino. African-descended people from those countries are latino. My friend who was born in Venezuela to Chinese immigrant parents is still latina. All of the mixed-race families that come out of those cultures are latino. Cousins could be separated across Haiti and DR and one of them will be latino because he was raised in that culture and the one raised in Haiti wouldn't be latino. Afro-latino just means someone has African descent and was raised in a Latin American culture. It doesn't actually mean anything about mixed race.

Latino is about culture and nationality, not race.

+1
Level 22
Sep 23, 2015
didn't know it included mexico and such, thought it was just south america
+8
Level 67
Jun 4, 2017
Then the quiz would be called: Biggest Cities in South America.
+3
Level 77
Mar 7, 2016
I am surprised not to find Quito on the list and Maracaibo instead? The Biggest Cities of the World (extreme) includes Quito? And if I remember right Maracaibo is not on that one?
+3
Level ∞
Jan 12, 2017
Quito has now passed Maracaibo.
+1
Level 92
Jan 27, 2017
I did a LOT better once I remembered to include Mexico. Not sure why I didn't include it at first...
+1
Level 76
Apr 13, 2017
I can never remember how to spell Guayaquil...
+2
Level 56
Apr 13, 2017
Although I agree with your definition of Latin America, I think it would be nice to state it somewhere to clear things up for all the others.
+2
Level 68
Apr 13, 2017
San Salvador doesn't work but Salvador does ? Come on...
+8
Level 85
Apr 13, 2017
You should have typed in San Salvador sans San.
+1
Level 65
May 15, 2020
bravo!
+1
Level 72
Jan 25, 2024
+1
+15
Level ∞
Apr 13, 2017
Brazil's Salvador is a bigger Salvador than El Salvador's San Salvador. I hope that clears up your confusion.
+2
Level 89
May 15, 2020
That's a lot of Salvadors.
+1
Level 60
May 15, 2020
Well, that means "savior" in Spanish and Portuguese.
+1
Level 43
May 15, 2020
Yes. Salvador was capital of Brazil from 1549 to 1763, when the capital pass for Rio de Janeiro, and this fact atract many people to over there. Many people go to Salvador too, because the beaches, the monuments, etc. Actually, Salvador has 2.9 million of people.
+1
Level 85
Jan 4, 2022
If that doesn't work as a salve, there's the door.
+7
Level 21
Apr 13, 2017
What about Montreal? It's in the America's and speaks a romance language... right?
+3
Level 60
May 15, 2020
Yes, it should be here.
+1
Level 66
May 24, 2020
Canada is usually not considered Latin America because they mostly speak English.
+1
Level 83
Mar 12, 2024
The term doesn't seem to be used now for Canada, but it was coined specifically by the French in the 19th century and at the time did include the French speaking parts of Canada
+1
Level 60
Apr 19, 2017
Belo Horizonte ?

Miami ?

+5
Level 67
Jun 4, 2017
Yes, Belo Horizonte is on there. Don't get me started on Miami.
+4
Level 82
Mar 29, 2019
Is the site no longer accepting "Belo" as a type-in for Belo Horizonte?
+1
Level 88
Mar 29, 2019
I was going to comment this is the only time Belo hasn't auto filled.
+3
Level 72
Mar 30, 2019
I never understood why Belo was accepted as a type-in for Belo Horizonte. It'd be similar to accepting Buenos for Buenos Aires or Salt for Salt Lake City.
+6
Level ∞
Mar 12, 2020
A Brazilian told me that Belo makes no sense as a type-in. We do allowed BH now however.
+2
Level 60
May 15, 2020
The most common language in the Miami urban area is English, though Spanish is more common in the city proper.
+1
Level 43
May 15, 2020
Yeah. I live in Belo Horizonte, and the city, is most populous that Paris for example. BH has 2.5 million people, but I never imagine BH among the first. And here, is BH, no Belo KKKKKKKKK
+1
Level 22
Apr 21, 2017
wow! almost half of the cities are in Brazil
+5
Level 76
May 15, 2020
Why, it's almost as if Brazil is one of the biggest and most-populous countries in the world. :O
+1
Level 37
Aug 3, 2019
Latin America, as stated in another post, is distinct from Hispanic America. "Hispanic America" are those countries in the Americas which speak Spanish; whereas "Latin America" includes those that speak French and Portuguese.
+2
Level 45
Apr 27, 2020
A definition of "Latin America" in the description would be helpful to clear up the extremely debatable issue.
+1
Level 76
Nov 5, 2020
I agree with this comment. Latin America is often used interchangeably with "Central America" (whether or not that's correct is another conversation) so providing a definition of what "Latin America" is for this quiz would be helpful.
+2
Level 52
May 15, 2020
Can you accept CDMX for Mexico and Belo for Belo Horizonte?
+1
Level 68
May 15, 2020
Even shorter than Belo is BH, the new type-in for Belo Horizonte.
+7
Level 84
May 15, 2020
Can you accept L for Lima?
+1
Level 59
Feb 9, 2022
what
+2
Level 45
May 15, 2020
For some reason I did it like South America. Oops...
+1
Level 41
May 21, 2020
I'm so mad at myself. Haha I thought I was doing south america. Didn't read it right.
+1
Level 49
Oct 20, 2020
May I introduce y'all to the term "Iberoamerica"

Whereas Latin America problematicly includes french speaking places like Quebec and Haiti; and Hispano América excludes brazil; Iberoamerica refers only to those languages originating in the iberian peninsula.

So Iberoamerica = hipanoamerica + brazil

+1
Level 56
May 23, 2022
Gibraltar - UK - English
+1
Level 45
Jan 4, 2021
What is latin america?
+2
Level 58
Jan 23, 2023
It would probably take less time to use Google
+2
Level 88
Mar 7, 2022
Haiti is not in Latin America
+1
Level 85
May 26, 2022
Well, it's in the Americas and its primary language is based on Latin.

Therefore...

+1
Level 46
Aug 8, 2023
Then why isnt Montreal here?!
+1
Level ∞
Mar 6, 2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_America
+1
Level 78
Mar 6, 2024
As New Orleans has a Latin Quarter, would the whole city count if it were big enough? Or would just the Latin Quarter itself have to qualify?
+1
Level 78
Mar 7, 2024
Aaah, not Pueblooooo :/
+1
Level 81
Mar 7, 2024
I did't in first try