Chile
country in South America
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World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
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
Terrain
low coastal mountains, fertile central valley, rugged Andes in east
Natural resources
copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower
People & Society
Religions
Catholic 57%, none 25.7%, Evangelical or Protestant 16.2%, other Christians and traditions related to Christ 1.3%; less than 1%: Buddhist, Catholic Orthodox, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Islam, Judaism, other religions, no religion (2024)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Independence
18 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday
Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Legal system
civil law system influenced by several Western European civil legal systems; Constitutional Tribunal reviews legislative acts
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$596.556 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$30,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
2.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
9.1% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 39%, USA 16%, Japan 7%, S. Korea 6%, Brazil 4% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 23%, USA 20%, Brazil 10%, Argentina 7%, Germany 5% (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Summary
Chile is a sovereign state[1]. Chile draws 120,291 Wikipedia views per month (sovereign state category, ranking #91 of 197).[2]
Key Facts
- Ethnic group: Chileans[3]
- Member of: United Nations[4], Union of South American Nations[5], Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development[6], World Trade Organization[7], Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation[8], International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[9], International Development Association[10], International Finance Corporation[11]
- Country: Chile[12]
- Located in or next to body of water: Pacific Ocean[13]
- Head of government: José Antonio Kast[14]
- Continent: South America[15], Insular Oceania[16]
- Instance of: country[17], nation[18], democratic republic[19], transcontinental country[20]
- Head of state: Gabriel Boric[21], José Antonio Kast[22]
- Capital: Santiago[23]
- Official language: Spanish[24]
- Currency: Chilean peso[25], Unidad de Fomento[26]
- Shares border with: Argentina[27], Bolivia[28], Peru[29]
- Top-level Internet domain: .cl[30]
- Anthem: National Anthem of Chile[31]
- Basic form of government: democratic republic[32]
- Contains the administrative territorial entity: Arica y Parinacota Region[33], Tarapacá Region[34], Antofagasta Region[35], Atacama Region[36], Coquimbo Region[37], Valparaíso Region[38], O'Higgins Region[39], Maule Región[40], Biobío Region[41], Araucanía Region[42], Los Ríos Region[43], Los Lagos Region[44], Aysén Region[45], Magellan and the Chilean Antarctic Region[46]
- Follows: Captaincy General of Chile[47]
- Flag: flag of Chile[48]
- Legislative body: National Congress of Chile[49]
- Executive body: Cabinet of Chile[50]
- Highest judicial authority: Supreme Court of Chile[51]
- Coat of arms: coat of arms of Chile[52]
- Part of: Southern Cone[53]
- Commons category: Chile[54]
- Licence plate code: RCH[55]
Body
Cultural Significance
Things named for Chile include bicycle kick[56]; Chileans[57], a human population[58]; Peru–Chile Trench[59], an oceanic trench[60]; Tollo de agua dulce[61], a taxon[62]; and Caponina chilensis[63], a taxon[64].
Why It Matters
Chile has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[65] Chile is known by 44 alternative names across languages and contexts.[66]
Entities named for Chile include bicycle kick[56]; Chileans[57], a human population[58]; Peru–Chile Trench[59], an oceanic trench[60]; Tollo de agua dulce[61], a taxon[62]; and Caponina chilensis[63], a taxon[64].