Data at glance of Chile - average on period

History

Indigenous groups inhabited central and southern Chile for several thousand years, living in mixed pastoralist and settled communities. The Inca then ruled the north of the country for nearly a century prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. In 1541, the Spanish established the Captaincy General of Chile, which lasted until Chile declared its independence in 1810. The subsequent struggle with the Spanish became tied to other South American independence conflicts, with a decisive victory not being achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia to win its current northernmost regions. By the 1880s, the Chilean central government cemented its control over the central and southern regions inhabited by Mapuche Indigenous peoples. Between 1891 and 1973, a series of elected governments succeeded each other until the Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 in a military coup led by General Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a democratically elected president was inaugurated in 1990. Economic reforms that were maintained consistently since the 1980s contributed to steady growth, reduced poverty rates by over half, and 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.

Environment

Area: 756,102 sq km km2

Climate: temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south

Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower

Ethnic characteristics

Groups: White and non-Indigenous 88.9%, Mapuche 9.1%, Aymara 0.7%, other Indigenous groups 1% (includes Rapa Nui, Likan Antai, Quechua, Colla, Diaguita, Kawesqar, Yagan or Yamana), unspecified 0.3% (2012 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

Capital: Santiago; note - Valparaiso is the seat of the national legislature

Government type: presidential republic

Executive branch

Chief of state: President Gabriel BORIC (since 11 March 2022)

Head of government: President Gabriel BORIC (since 11 March 2022)

Legislative branch

Description: National Congress (Congreso Nacional) - bicameral

Industries

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

GDP by sector: Agriculture: 3.9% (2024 est.), Industry: 30.1% (2024 est.), Services: 56.1% (2024 est.)

Trade

Export partners: China 39%, USA 16%, Japan 7%, S. Korea 6%, Brazil 4% (2023)

Export commodities: copper ore, refined copper, fish, carbonates, pitted fruits (2023)

Import partners: China 23%, USA 20%, Brazil 10%, Argentina 7%, Germany 5% (2023)

Import commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, garments, trucks (2023)

Geography

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

Defence

Military expenditure: 2024: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)