Top 20 Countries for Female Entrepreneurs in South America in 2025
The entrepreneurial landscape for women in South America is progressing, with various nations implementing initiatives to empower female business owners. The year 2025 is predicted to be pivotal in establishing a more supportive environment for female entrepreneurs. This article presents the Top 20 Countries for Female Entrepreneurs in South America in 2025, based on current trends and data.
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1. Peru
Percentage of Female-Owned Enterprises: 29.5% of all enterprises are owned by women, leading the region.
Entrepreneurial Activity Rate: Women actively run a considerable number of businesses.
Key Sectors: Dominantly in textiles, handicrafts, and small-scale agriculture.
Support Ecosystem: Notable existing financing programs and business training by both government and non-profit organizations.
Motivation: Increasingly, women are choosing entrepreneurship over seeking traditional employment.
2. Brazil
Number of Businesses: Home to approximately 10.1 million enterprises run by women, which makes up 23% of the country’s total.
Entrepreneurial Activity Rate: 23.1%, reflecting growth comparable to male entrepreneurs.
Key Sectors: Performance significant in social initiatives, fashion, and technology.
Support Ecosystem: A robust startup culture featuring several programs like EY's "Winning Women" providing funding and mentoring.
Impact of Pandemic: Over half of women-led businesses faced negative impacts due to COVID-19.
3. Colombia
Resilience and Growth: Following periods of conflict, substantial strides have been made to support female entrepreneurs.
Turning Challenges into Opportunities: Colombian women convert adversity into entrepreneurial ventures.
Female Business Leaders: Women lead 20.8% of businesses, marking the highest percentage in Latin America.
Innovation: Many female entrepreneurs contribute new innovations to the market.
Gender Parity: Inequality persists, particularly in education and the maternal responsibilities affecting business leadership.
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4. Chile
Entrepreneurial Climate: Distinct for its thriving startup ecosystem supported by initiatives such as Start-Up Chile.
Female Leadership: A significant advancement in women achieving leadership positions.
Innovation: As a key player in regional innovation, Chile continues to attract international investment.
5. Argentina
Challenges Post-Pandemic: Like other nations, more than 50% of companies led by women faced adverse effects from the pandemic.
Ecosystem: Despite challenges, initiatives for female entrepreneurs are on the rise.
6. Ecuador
Support and Challenges: More than half of female-led organizations were adversely impacted by the pandemic, yet efforts are ongoing to foster entrepreneurial growth.
7. Uruguay
Economic Resilience: Despite facing pandemic challenges affecting over 50% of women-led companies, Uruguay remains a promising environment for women entrepreneurs.
8. Venezuela
Innovation Focus: Venezuelan women are recognized for their capacity to innovate within challenging circumstances, fostering resilience.
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9. Paraguay
Background Building: Increasing support networks are appearing, which enhances opportunities for female entrepreneurs.
10. Bolivia
Opportunities for Growth: New initiatives are being developed to empower female-led startups and encourage entrepreneurial activities.
11. Suriname
Emerging Environment: Developing supportive environments is critical for promoting female entrepreneurship in Suriname.
12. Guyana
Supportive Ecosystem: Efforts are being made to create frameworks that cater to the unique challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in Guyana.
13. French Guiana
Resources Available: Efforts are underway to enhance female entrepreneurial ventures through resources and support.
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14. Netherlands
Highlighting Entrepreneurship: Initiatives are being introduced to facilitate female-led businesses amidst structural challenges.
15. Chile and Argentina (Joint Effort)
Cross-Border Initiatives: Programs focused on the connection between these two countries are nurturing networks for women entrepreneurs.
16. Venezuela
Entrepreneurial Innovations: Female entrepreneurs in Venezuela are continually working to create new services and products aimed at both domestic and international markets.
17. Colombia and Brazil (Partnership Initiatives)
Collaborative Ventures: Fostering partnerships between countries, with a focus on sharing best practices for empowering female entrepreneurs.
18. Investment from NGOs
Various Countries: Across different countries, NGOs are providing essential support through training programs and financial aid aimed at female entrepreneurs.
19. Sector-specific Projects
Diversity in Sectors: Key sectors—such as agriculture, retail, and technology—are seeing targeted initiatives to bolster female entrepreneurship.
20. Networking Opportunities
Regional Networks: The establishment of regional networks is vital for connecting women from various countries, providing them with resources and mentorship.
This overview highlights the diverse landscape supporting female entrepreneurship across South America. The region is actively creating opportunities and addressing challenges to ensure female entrepreneurs can thrive in 2025 and beyond.
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FAQ
Q: Which South American country has the highest percentage of female-owned enterprises?
A: Peru leads the region with 29.5% of all enterprises owned by women. Learn more about Peru's female entrepreneurship.
Q: How many businesses in Brazil are operated by women?
A: Approximately 10.1 million businesses, or 23% of all businesses in Brazil, are run by women. Discover more about women entrepreneurship in Brazil.
Q: What are key sectors for women entrepreneurs in Colombia?
A: Women in Colombia are particularly making strides in sectors related to innovation and converting challenges into entrepreneurial opportunities. Find out more about Colombian women entrepreneurs.
Q: What percentage of women in business leadership roles does Colombia have?
A: Colombia boasts a 20.8% share of business leaders who are women, the highest in Latin America. More on women's leadership in Colombia.
Q: What challenges do female entrepreneurs face in South America?
A: Challenges include inequality in access to education and funding, with many female-led businesses failing due to lack of financial resources. Learn about the challenges facing female entrepreneurs.
Q: How significantly did the pandemic affect businesses led by women?
A: More than 50% of companies led by women in countries like Brazil, Ecuador, and Uruguay experienced negative impacts from the pandemic. Discover the pandemic's impact on women-led businesses.
Q: What is the entrepreneurial activity rate for women in Brazil?
A: The entrepreneurial activity rate for women in Brazil stands at 23.1%, comparable to their male counterparts. Explore more about Brazil's entrepreneurial landscape.
Q: Which country is noted for its strong startup culture in South America?
A: Chile is recognized for its innovative startup culture, particularly through programs like Start-Up Chile. Learn about Chile's startup culture.
Q: What do women entrepreneurs in South America plan for their businesses?
A: 57% of women-owned businesses in South America plan to expand within the next year, focusing on growing their customer base and enhancing their online presence. Understand women entrepreneurs' growth plans.
Q: How are women leveraging digital tools for their businesses in South America?
A: A significant portion of women entrepreneurs are turning to digital platforms to reach more customers, with 48% planning to create an online presence as a part of their expansion strategy. Find out more about digital strategies for women entrepreneurs.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
