Dialing code +56
ISO 2 code CL
ISO 3 code CHL
Capital Santiago
Main Language Spanish
Currency Peso (CLP)
GDP $245.3 billion 42nd
Population 16,746,491 59th

Geography

Continent South America
Location Southern South America bordering the South Pacific Ocean between Argentina and Peru
Land 756,950 km2 38th
Terrain Low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east
Climate Temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south
Natural Hazards Low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east
Note: Strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan Beagle Channel Drake Passage); Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions

Neighbouring Countries

Argentina Bolivia Peru

History

Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century northern Chile was under Inca rule while the indigenous Mapuche inhabited central and southern Chile. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810 decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83) Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern regions. It was not until the 1880s that the Mapuche Indians were completely subjugated. After a series of elected governments a three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a military coup led by Augusto PINOCHET who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies maintained consistently since the 1980s have contributed to steady growth reduced poverty rates by over half and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable democratic nation.
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Demographics

Life Expectancy 77.34 years 48th
Median Age 31.4 years 73rd
Birth Rate 14.64 births/1,000 population 134th
Death Rate 5.84 births/1,000 population 153rd
Sex Ratio 0.72 male(s)/female 137th
Literacy 95.7% 84th
Population

16.7 million

Transportation

Roadways 80505 km 57th
Railways 5481 km 32nd
Airports 357 21st
Waterways None km
Heliports None
Airports paved 5 22nd

Economy

Currency Peso (CLP)
GDP $245.3 billion 42nd
GDP per capita (PPP) $14900 69th