Chile

Full name of country: Republic of Chile

Region: South America

Official language: Spanish

Population: 18,664,652 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Chilean(s) (noun), Chilean (adjective)

Land area: 743,812 sq km (287,187 sq miles)

Water area: 12,290 sq km (4,745 sq miles)

Capital: Santiago

National anthem: "Himno Nacional de Chile" (National Anthem of Chile), by Eusebio Lillo Robles and Bernardo De Vera y Pintado/Ramon Carnicer y Battle

National holiday: Independence Day, September 18 (1810)

Population growth: 0.61% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC –3

Flag: The flag of Chile features a horizontal band of red beneath a horizontal band of white. The left section of the white band includes a blue square and a five-pointed star. The red represents the blood that was shed during the Chile’s fight for independence. The white represents the snow-covered Andes mountain range. The blue square is a representation of the sky. The national values of progress and honor are symbolized by the five-pointed star.

Motto: “Por la razon o la fuerza” (By reason or by force)

Independence: September 18, 1810 (from Spain)

Government type: republic

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal system: civil law system influenced by several West European civil legal systems; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Tribunal

Chile is a country in South America, noted for its long, narrow shape following the continent's entire southwestern coast. It is bordered by neighboring countries Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. Chile's terrain is dominated by the Andes Mountains, and the climate varies from temperate to desert-like conditions in the north and cooler weather in the south.

Long inhabited by various Indigenous peoples, including part of the Inca Empire, most of modern-day Chile was ruled by Spain from the 1500s through the early 1800s. After declaring independence, the country grew into one of the most economically successful nations in South America, known for its exports of fruit, wine, and copper. Although a military coup in 1973 led to an oppressive dictatorship, democratic rule was restored in 1990. Chile has since enjoyed relative stability and prosperity.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: The people in Chile are known as Chileans. Ethnically, most citizens are White or Mestizo (of mixed European and Indigenous descent). Spaniards came to Chile looking for gold in the sixteenth century and quickly saw the agricultural potential in central Chile. In the nineteenth century, many other Europeans settled in Chile, including Germans, Italians, and Croatians. The largest minority group is the Mapuche. Other major Indigenous groups include Aymara, Rapa Nui, Likan Antai, Quechua, and Colla.

Spanish is the official language of Chile, and it is spoken by nearly all of the population. Indigenous populations often speak Spanish in addition to their traditional languages, such as Mapudungun, Aymara, Quechua, and Rapa Nui. According to 2012 estimates, more than 10 percent of Chileans also speak English.

Christianity is the dominant religion in Chile. Most Chileans are Catholic, accounting for an estimated 42 percent in 2021. About 14 percent of the population follows various Evangelical Christian denominations, 37 percent profess no religion, and 6 percent identify as specifically atheist or agnostic (2021 estimates).

The majority of Chileans (an estimated 88 percent in 2023) live in urban areas. The largest city is Santiago, the capital, home to an estimated 6.903 million people in 2023. Other large cities include Valparaíso and Concepcíon.

Indigenous People: A variety of Indigenous groups controlled land in modern-day Chile before European colonists arrived. Many of these peoples were subsequently decimated by disease, warfare, and enslavement as the Spanish attempted to claim rule over the area in the sixteenth century. However, in many cases Indigenous groups offered profound resistance, especially in the south among the Araucanian or Mapuche people, whose active protest against Spanish rule persisted for 350 years. After wars of resistance in the nineteenth century, the Mapuche were moved into some two thousand reservations. Some of the reservations on which they were settled include Caitin, Meleco, Valdivia, Arauco, Bio Bio, and Llanquihue.

Today, Chile's Indigenous peoples live mainly in the south, on Rapa Nui (also known as Easter Island), and in the mountains in the north. The Mapuche are the most populous Indigenous group in Chile, though they include several other native groups in their numbers. The Mapuche, whose name means "people of the land," live primarily in the southern Lake District. Temuco, a city in this region, is often considered the cultural capital of the Mapuche.

Education: Children typically begin school at the age of six in Chile. After that point, school attendance is mandatory until age eighteen. Due to the Chilean seasons, the school calendar runs from March to December. Students have their summer break from January to March and a winter vacation for two weeks in July. To accommodate all of the students, many schools operate during two shifts.

Private schools enjoy a high enrollment rate. Foreign language instruction often includes English, French, and sometimes German. High schools are either geared toward the arts and sciences or vocational training.

The Prueba de Aptitud Académica is a required test for those students who wish to continue on to university. There are many state-run colleges and universities as well as private institutions of higher learning in Chile, including Universidad de Chile, Universidad Central de Chile, and Universidad de las Americas. By 2021, the literacy rate among Chileans aged fifteen and older was estimated at 97 percent.

Health Care: The Chilean Health Care System has several interwoven branches but is primarily based on the Sistema Nacional de Servicios de Salud (SNSS, National System of Health Services). The SNSS is almost entirely funded and controlled by the government and serves every Chilean citizen. It is either partially subsidized or free of charge depending on the patient's income and ability to pay. The system also oversees fundamental public health services and manages public inoculations as well as maternal-infant care.

Other important branches of health care augment the initiatives of the SNSS. The National Health Fund (Fondo Nacional de Salud-Fonasa) allows citizens to direct some of their income to the fund and choose their primary care doctors. However the fund is still run under the auspices of the SNSS.

The Security Assistance Institutions (Mutuales de Seguridad, MS), funded primarily by employers, is made up of hospitals and treatment centers that treat work-related accidents. The Institute of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (Instituto de Salud y Previsional Prevencion, Isapre) allows workers to direct their income toward private insurance. Most professionals in the health-care field maintain a private practice and work within the SNSS.

Chile ranked 44 out of 193 countries on the 2022 UN Human Development Index, which measures quality-of-life indicators.

Food: Food in Chile is a product of a variety of cultural influences. Part American Indian, Spanish, German, English, and Italian, Chilean food is an amalgam of locally available crops (potato, corn, pumpkin, chili peppers, and beans) and diverse culinary traditions.

Chile's ready access to the coast makes seafood a common menu choice, and wine and bread almost always accompany meals. Popular local dishes include humitas (mashed corn and other vegetables wrapped in corn husks), pastel de choclo (another recipe based on corn), and empanadas Chilenas (Chilean meat pies).

Arts & Entertainment: Chile is well known for its literature, especially its poetry. One of the most familiar Chilean literary figures is Pablo Neruda (1904–73), a poet who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. Gabriela Mistral, another Chilean poet, achieved that same notable distinction in 1945. Other writers of international acclaim include Isabel Allende (b. 1942), Luis Sepúlveda (1949–2020), Antonio Skármeta (b. 1940), and Roberto Bolaño (1953–2003).

Santiago is the major center for arts and entertainment in Chile. Many symphonies and operas, as well as contemporary musicians and dance companies, find large audiences for their productions in the capital. Santiago is also the main site for local, national, and international artists to display their work in museums and galleries.

Concepción is a major university town in Chile. Another cultural city is Valparaíso, a coastal resort.

The most popular professional sport in Chile is soccer (fútbol). Chile has a national team called La Roja, as well as city-based teams, the most famous of which are all located in Santiago. Other popular sports include horseback riding, horse racing, tennis, Palin (a Mapuche sport similar to field hockey), fishing, and rodeo.

Holidays: Chile celebrates many major public holidays. They include New Year's Day (January 1), Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, Labor Day (May 1), Navy Day (May 21), St. Peter and St. Paul (June 29), Virgen del Carmen (July 16), Assumption Day (August 15), Independence Day (September 18), Army Day (September 19), Encounter of Two Worlds (October 12), National Day of Evangelical and Protestant Churches (October 31), All Saints Day (November 1), Immaculate Conception (December 8), and Christmas Day (December 25).

Environment and Geography

Topography: The Pacific coast runs along the entire length of western Chile. On the east lie the Andes Mountains and the border with Argentina and Bolivia. The highest point in the country is Nevado Ojos del Salado (6,891 meters). The country borders Peru to the north.

The geographical extremes of the country (mountains, low valleys, and coastal regions) create varying climates. In the north is the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places in the world. In the central region, the rich, temperate valleys are highly favorable to farmers. The city on the southern tip, Punta Arenas, is the southernmost city in the world.

The Andes Mountains cover one-third of Chile. In the southern part of the country, there are many active volcanoes including Cerro Azul, Copahue, Llaima, Villarrica, and Cerro Hudson. Chile is also prone to earthquakes, such as the 1960 Valdivia earthquake, the most powerful earthquake ever recorded with a 9.5 moment magnitude, and the 2010 earthquake, which had an 8.8 moment magnitude. The diverse landscape of Chile also experiences tidal waves, volcanic eruptions, floods, avalanches, and landslides.

Chile contains several Pacific islands, including Rapa Nui (Easter Island), the Juan Fernández Islands, and the Diego Ramírez Islands. Chile also claims a portion of Antarctica.

Flowing from the north, Chilean rivers include the Loa, Huasco, Coquimba, and Limari. In the central portion of the country, the major rivers include the Mapoche, Maule, and Maipo. Finally, the Bio-Bio is the major river in the south. The Lake District, a region in south-central Chile, is a popular vacation destination.

Natural Resources: Chile has abundant natural resources, including copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, and hydropower. Chile is among the top copper producers in the world, and the metal plays an important role in the country's economy.

There are more than forty national parks in Chile. In fact, national parks account for more than 10 percent of the country's entire area. However, mining and deforestation threaten many of Chile's natural resources. Increasing air and water pollution add to the country's environmental concerns, especially in the context of global climate change.

Plants & Animals: Some of the most common trees in Chile are the southern beech, the monkey puzzle tree, and maiten. Chile has a rainforest located in the Valdivian Coastal Range in which there are aleveee trees, with a lifespan of up to four thousand years. There are around 2,400 plant species in Chile, though there is much barren land in the north. The copihue is Chile's national flower.

In Chile, the diversity of wild animals is as wide ranging as the country's geography. Penguins abound in the southern tip of Chile, and mountain lions roam many of the mountainous regions. There are also four different types of camelids—llamas, alpacas, wild guacanos, and vicunas—in the north.

Some of the rare mammals found in Chile include chilote foxes, colo colo or mountain cats, and the chinchilla, an animal that almost went extinct due to the market value of its pelt. Rare birds found in the south include magellanic woodpeckers and green-backed firecrown humming birds, as well as pink flamingos. Whales and seals are abundant in the waters off Chile.

Climate: Because of Chile’s geographical extremes, the weather varies significantly throughout the country. Much of coastal Chile has mild weather all year round, while northern Chile is largely arid but generally cool. Northern Chile receives very little rain; averages are often just above 1 centimeter (0.5 inches). The average winter temperature in northern Chile is about 17 degrees Celsius (63 degrees Fahrenheit), while summer temperatures average near 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit).

Southern Chile has a significantly wetter climate; the area receives over 500 centimeters (200 inches) of rain every year. Summers are mild, with an average temperature around 17 degrees Celsius (63 degrees Fahrenheit). Winters are a little colder in southern Chile, with temperatures averaging around 8.5 degrees Celsius (47 degrees Fahrenheit). A major characteristic of southern Chile’s climate is the number of hours the sun is visible during each season; in summer, which occurs in December, the sun shines for nearly twenty hours.

Central Chile has a Mediterranean climate, characterized by very warm, arid summers. Winters, though mild, bring the most precipitation, including snow, which occurs mostly in inland Chile. At the beginning of winter in central Chile, temperatures hover around 14 degrees Celsius (58 degrees Fahrenheit). Summers are generally warm; the temperature is usually around 29 degrees Celsius (85 degrees Fahrenheit). In the mountains, temperatures are generally cooler, though the snow cover for most of Chile’s mountains is found at high altitudes.

Economy

Trade dominates the economy of Chile, which has long been among the most successful in South America. The nation's estimated gross domestic product (GDP; purchasing power parity) was US$579.201 billion in 2023, or US$29,500 per capita. Poverty declined steadily in the late twentieth century and into the twenty-first. However, sharp economic inequality has been a persistent challenge.

Industry: For centuries mining made up the backbone of Chile's economic output. Although the industry has declined in importance in recent decades, is still a major source of economic activity in the country. Copper is the most important mined product. Other important industries include fish processing, steel manufacture, transportation equipment manufacture, wood products, cement, and textile production.

Exports contribute substantially to the overall economy. In 2023, Chilean exports were valued at US$104.349 billion. Copper, wood pulp, fish products, pitted fruit, and wine are among the country's chief exports. Major export markets include China, the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

Agriculture: Though less influential than mining, agriculture remains a major source of exports and also contributes to the national food supply. In 2013, agriculture contributed 9.2 percent of employment.

Important crops include grapes, apples, wheat, sugar beet, milk, potatoes, tomatoes, and maize. Fruits are some of the leading exports of Chile. Livestock, including sheep, cattle, and poultry, are raised in rural areas.

Tourism: Tourism is a major industry in Chile that saw substantial growth in the twenty-first century. Many visitors come from other parts of South America, with the United States, Europe, and Asia other contributors. Although the global COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020 caused significant economic disruption, the tourist industry began to recover in the following years.

Popular destinations include Viña del Mar, the Andean lakes in south-central Chile, and Patagonia in the south. Chile is famous for its white-water rafting and kayaking, especially in the southern part of the country. Robinson Crusoe Island and Rapa Nui are two favorite Pacific vacation spots.

Government

Chile declared itself a republic in 1818, and a parliamentary system was introduced following the civil war of 1891. Among other democratic reforms, a new constitution was adopted in 1925. This held until major political power struggles in the early 1970s resulted in a military takeover in 1973 led by General Augusto Pinochet. The ensuing period of military rule was marked by violent oppression, disappearances, and other human rights abuses. Following a 1988 referendum that ended Pinochet's leadership, democracy was reestablished in 1990. (In 2023 the Chilean government officially launched an inquiry to formally trace and identify victims who went missing under Pinochet's dictatorship.)

Today, Chile is a federal republic with a constitution. Presidents are elected by a national vote held every four years. There is also a bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional), made up of a Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) and a Senate (Senado). Laws must be approved by both bodies of the National Congress, as well as the president. The judicial branch includes a Supreme Court (Corte Suprema) with a court president and twenty members, an independent Constitutional Court, and an Elections Qualifying Court.

On the local level, Chile is comprised of sixteen regions. These areas are governed by intendants and provincial governors. Chile also has fifty-six provinces that are headed by governors, but local politicians are overshadowed by the power of the federal government.

Interesting Facts

• Chile is the longest (north-south) country in the world, stretching 4,200 kilometers (2,604 miles).
• Chilean seasons are directly opposite those of North America. That is, the Chilean summer begins in the end of December, and winter begins in late June.
• Chilean Independence Day is September 18. On this day, the national dance, the Cueca, is traditionally performed.
• Punta Arenas, located in Chile's Magallanes Region, is the southernmost city in the world.
• In 2018, former American fashion executive Kristine Tompkins donated one million acres of Patagonian land to the Chilean government toward a ten-million-acre system of national parks, including five new ones and expansion of several others.

Bibliography

Bonnefoy, Pascale. "Decades After Dictatorship, Chile Mounts Search for Hundreds Who Vanished." The New York Times, 2 Sept. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/08/30/world/americas/chile-military-coup-disappeared-search.html. Accessed 14 Nov. 2023.

"Chile." The World Bank, 2024, data.worldbank.org/country/chile. Accessed 3 Jan. 2025.

"Chile." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 23 Dec. 2024, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/chile/. Accessed 3 Jan. 2025.

"Human Development Insights." Human Development Reports, 2022, UNDP, hdr.undp.org/data-center/country-insights#/ranks. Accessed 3 Jan. 2025.