Below is a list of countries and territories which have serious disputes, with other states, over large parts of their claimed land in South America, or over their territory in full. Disputes relating to overseas territories which are claimed by more than one state, are also included. This list includes recognised, partially-recognised and non-recognised states, along with exiled governments, independence-seeking nations, states with major border disagreements and small island disputes.

Whilst disputes over inland areas generally involve minority ethnic groups wanting to be fully independent from a larger power, differences of opinion over small uninhabited islands, or isolated mounds of sand in the sea, or even just a lone rock in the middle of the ocean, often have a completely different set of motives. If a country claims an island, under the Law Of The Sea, an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is granted for 200 nautical miles from it's coast. Only the nation which controls the island, can explore for oil, gas and other natural resources in that geographic area, or can exploit any fish stock which may be present in those particular waters.