Chile

Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, extending along a narrow strip of land between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. According to the 2024 census, Chile had an enumerated population of 18.5 million. The country covers a territorial area of 756,102 square kilometers (291,933 sq mi), sharing borders with Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage to the south. It also administers several Pacific islands, including Juan Fernández, Isla Salas y Gómez, Desventuradas, and Easter Island, and claims about 1,250,000 square kilometers (480,000 sq mi) of Antarctica as the Chilean Antarctic Territory. The capital and largest city is Santiago, and the national language is Spanish. Spain conquered and colonized the region in the mid-16th century, replacing Inca rule; however, they failed to conquer the autonomous tribal Mapuche people who inhabited what is now south-central Chile. Chile emerged as a relatively stable authoritarian republic in the 1830s after their 1818 declaration of independence from Spain. During the 19th century, Chile experienced significant economic and territorial growth, putting an end to Mapuche resistance in the 1880s and gaining its current northern territory in the War of the Pacific (1879–83) by defeating Peru and Bolivia. In the 20th century, up until the 1970s, Chile underwent a process of democratization and experienced rapid population growth and urbanization, while relying increasingly on exports from copper mining to support its economy. During the 1960s and 1970s, the country was marked by severe left-right political polarization and turmoil, which culminated in the September 11, 1973 coup d'état that overthrew Salvador Allende's democratically elected left-wing government, with support from the United States. This was followed by a 16-and-a-half-year right-wing military dictatorship led by Augusto Pinochet, during which the 1980 Constitution was enacted, along with numerous political and economic reforms, and which was marked by widespread human rights violations, including more than 3,000 deaths and disappearances. The regime ended in 1990, following a referendum in 1988, and was succeeded by a center-left coalition, which ruled until 2010. Chile is a high-income economy and is one of the most economically and socially stable nations in South America. Chile also performs well in the region in terms of sustainability of the state and democratic development. Chile is a founding member of the United Nations, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Pacific Alliance, and joined the OECD in 2010.

Infobox

Capitaland largest city

Santiagoa 33°26′S 70°40′W / 33.433°S 70.667°W / -33.433; -70.667

National language

Spanish

Religion (2024)

mw- li 70% Christianity 54% Catholicism 16% Protestantism 26% no religion4% other

Demonym

Chilean

Government

Unitary presidential republic

• President

Gabriel Boric

• President of the Senate

Manuel José Ossandón

• President of the Chamber of Deputies

José Miguel Castro

• President of Supreme Court

Juan Fuentes Belmar

Legislature

National Congress

• Upper house

Senate

• Lower house

Chamber of Deputies

• Government Junta

18 September 1810

• Declared

12 February 1818

• Recognized

25 April 1844

• Current constitution

11 March 1981

• Total

$362.24 billion (45th)

• Water (%)

2.1 (as of 2015)

• 2023 estimate

19,629,588 (63rd)

• Density

24/km2 (62.2/sq mi) (198th)

GDP (PPP)

2024 estimate

• Per capita

$17,181 (66th)

GDP (nominal)

2024 estimate

Gini (2022)

44.8 } }medium inequality

HDI (2023)

0.878very high (45th)

Currency

Chilean peso (CLP)

Time zone

UTC−3, −4, −6 (CLST, CLT, EAST)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−3, −5 (CLST, EASST)

Date format

dd/mm/yyyy

Calling code

ISO 3166 code

Internet TLD

Other spoken languages

mw- Aymara Kawésqar Mapudungun Quechua Rapa Nui