Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
Indigenous groups inhabited central and southern Chile for several thousand years, living in mixed pastoralist and settled communities. The Inca then ruled the north of the country for nearly a century prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. In 1541, the Spanish established the Captaincy General of Chile, which lasted until Chile declared its independence in 1810. The subsequent struggle with the Spanish became tied to other South American independence conflicts, with a decisive victory not being achieved until 1818.
- Capital
- Santiago; note - Valparaiso is the seat of the national legislature
- Government
- presidential republic
- Population
- 19,091,343
- Area
- 756,102 sq km
- Location
- Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
- Climate
- temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south
- Natural resources
- copper; timber; iron ore; nitrates; precious metals; molybdenum…
- Languages
- Spanish 99.5% (official); English 10.2%; Indigenous 1% (includes Mapudungun; Aymara…
- Religions
- Catholic 57%; none 25.7%; Evangelical or Protestant 16.2%; other Christians and traditions related to Christ 1.3%…
- Independence
- 18 September 1810 (from Spain)
- Administrative divisions
- 16 regions (regiones, singular - region); Antofagasta, Araucanía, Arica y Parinacota, Atacama, Aysén, Biobío, Coquimbo,…
- Currency
- Chilean pesos (CLP)
- Export partners
- China 39%; USA 16%; Japan 7%; S. Korea 6%…
- Import partners
- China 23%; USA 20%; Brazil 10%; Argentina 7%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain