| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
South America |
| Geographical Location |
30° 00' South Latitude
71° 00' West Longitude |
| Surface Area |
756,950 sq km |
| 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 |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Republic of Chile |
| Capital City |
Santiago |
| Government Type |
Republic |
| Administrative Divisions |
13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio,
Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso
Note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica |
| Independence Day |
18 September 1810 (from Spain) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
15,980,912 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Chilean |
| Ethnic Groups |
White and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2% |
| Religion |
Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL% |
| Languages |
Spanish |
| Population Growth Rate |
0.97% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Chilean peso (CLP) |
| Industries |
Copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles |
| Labor Force |
6.2 million (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 13.6%, industry 23.4%, services 63% (2003) |
| Agriculture Products |
Grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, beans, beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber |
| Export Commodities |
Copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine |
| Export Partners |
US 14%, Japan 11.4%, China 9.9%, South Korea 5.5%, Netherlands 5.1%, Brazil 4.3%, Italy 4.1%, Mexico 4% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical and telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles, natural gas |
| Import Partners |
Argentina 17%, US 14.1%, Brazil 11.1%, China 7.1% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
6,585 km |
| Highways |
79,605 km |
| Pipelines |
Gas 2,583 km; gas/lpg 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil 1,003 km; refined products 757 km (2004) |
| Airports |
364 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Antofagasta, Arica, Huasco, Iquique, Lirquen, San Antonio, San Vicente, Valparaiso |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+56 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.cl |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
A three-year-old Marxist government was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990.
Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth and have 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. |
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