Chile

South America
Santiago

Population

19.09M

Area

756,102 km²

GDP

$330.27B

GDP Per Capita

$30,200

Quick FAQs

Region

South America

Capital

Santiago

ISO 3166

cl

Government Type

presidential republic

Language

Spanish 99.5% (official), English 10.2%, Indigenous Learn more

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About Chile

Chile is a long, narrow country located in South America along the Pacific Ocean, stretching over 4,300 kilometers from Peru in the north to Cape Horn in the south, covering an area of approximately 756,102 square kilometers. As of 2025, Chile has a population of over 19.6 million, with Spanish as the official language. The country features one of the most diverse geographies in the world, including the Atacama Desert, Andes Mountains, fertile Central Valley, and Patagonian fjords. Santiago serves as the capital.

Chile is one of South America’s most stable and prosperous nations, with a diversified economy driven by copper mining, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and services. The country is the world’s largest copper producer and a major exporter of wine, fruit, and salmon. Chile has achieved significant poverty reduction and development, with strong institutions and a growing middle class. Challenges include income inequality, water scarcity, and the need for continued economic diversification beyond natural resources.

Geography & Environment

Geographic Location

Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru

Geographic Coordinate

30 00 S, 71 00 W

Geographic Area

756,102 km²

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 Hazards

N/A

Natural Resources

copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower

Geography Note

N/A

People & Society

Ave. Life Expentancy at Birth

81.4 years

Urbanization

88%

Population Growth Rate

0.46% (2025 est.)

Literacy Rate

30.6% (2019 est.)

Health Expendeture

N/A

Education Expenditure

3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Languages

Spanish 99.5% (official), English 10.2%, Indigenous 1% (includes Mapudungun, Aymara, Quechua, Rapa Nui), other 2.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2012 est.)

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

Country Name

conventional long form: Republic of Chile
conventional short form: Chile
local long form: RepĂºblica de Chile
local short form: Chile
etymology: derivation of the name is unclear; it may come from a local word meaning either "land's end" or "cold," or a local word that was confused with the Mexican Spanish word chili, meaning a chili pepper, in reference to the area's shape

Economy

Economic Overview

export-driven economy; leading copper producer; though hit by COVID-19, fairly quick rebound from increased liquidity and rapid vaccine rollouts; decreasing poverty but still lingering inequality; public debt rising but still manageable; recent political violence has had negative economic consequences

GDP Per Capita

$30,200

Unemployment Rate

4.6% (2025 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

6.5% (2022 est.)

Industries

copper, lithium, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles

Agricultural Products

grapes, milk, apples, wheat, tomatoes, potatoes, chicken, maize, sugar beets, pork (2023)

Location

Organizations Making an Impact in Chile

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