01
Physical geography
Low coastal mountains, fertile central valley, rugged Andes in east.
Local timeSantiago ·
South America · Card 004
Chile
Chile is a country in South America. Its capital is Santiago.
Find Chile
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers. The main map shows continental Chile. The inset shows Rapa Nui (Easter Island) at a separate scale. Antarctic claims are not shown.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers. The main map shows continental Chile. The inset shows Rapa Nui (Easter Island) at a separate scale. Antarctic claims are not shown.
At a glance
- Capital
- Santiago
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Chilean peso (CLP)
- Population
- 19.9 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 756,102 km²291,932.49 square miles
- Independence
- 1818The independence process began with the 1810 governing junta.
Chile in context
South America and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Santiago; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
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Languages
Spanish is the main language of public life. Indigenous languages include Mapudungun, Aymara and Rapa Nui.
03
Location
Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru.
Flag
Two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; a blue square sits in the top left corner of the flag, the same height as the white band; the square has a five-pointed white star in the center
History & independence
Indigenous peoples, including the Mapuche, shaped the region before Spanish colonisation. A governing junta formed in 1810, beginning the process toward independence. Independence was formally declared in 1818, and military victories secured the break with Spain. A military coup in 1973 began a dictatorship marked by severe human-rights abuses. Elected civilian government returned in 1990.
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The first national governing junta is formed
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Chile formally declares independence
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A military coup begins a dictatorship
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Elected civilian government returns
Economy
Main activities
Copper mining is central to Chile’s exports, alongside lithium, fruit, wine, forestry products and seafood. Services account for a large part of domestic activity. Mining revenues are sensitive to global prices, while water scarcity, energy needs and environmental concerns influence production. Agriculture and aquaculture connect regional economies to overseas markets.
Industry and production
Copper and lithium mining, food and wine production, forestry products and aquaculture.
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people19.92025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9,845,344 | 9.845 |
| 1980 | 11,508,550 | 11.509 |
| 1990 | 13,437,176 | 13.437 |
| 2000 | 15,503,635 | 15.504 |
| 2010 | 17,181,464 | 17.181 |
| 2020 | 19,370,624 | 19.371 |
| 2025 | 19,859,921 | 19.860 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars296.02025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 71,089,876,110 | 71.090 |
| 1991 | 76,603,750,426 | 76.604 |
| 1992 | 85,414,661,278 | 85.415 |
| 1993 | 91,125,130,549 | 91.125 |
| 1994 | 95,751,374,591 | 95.751 |
| 1995 | 104,613,573,720 | 104.614 |
| 1996 | 112,056,685,780 | 112.057 |
| 1997 | 120,339,623,826 | 120.340 |
| 1998 | 125,370,887,065 | 125.371 |
| 1999 | 125,027,832,954 | 125.028 |
| 2000 | 131,243,743,563 | 131.244 |
| 2001 | 135,383,217,072 | 135.383 |
| 2002 | 139,719,269,577 | 139.719 |
| 2003 | 146,318,553,367 | 146.319 |
| 2004 | 156,084,225,514 | 156.084 |
| 2005 | 165,194,933,118 | 165.195 |
| 2006 | 175,189,211,416 | 175.189 |
| 2007 | 184,243,394,523 | 184.243 |
| 2008 | 191,225,100,461 | 191.225 |
| 2009 | 189,087,132,633 | 189.087 |
| 2010 | 200,151,851,762 | 200.152 |
| 2011 | 212,609,096,429 | 212.609 |
| 2012 | 225,695,909,225 | 225.696 |
| 2013 | 233,163,076,995 | 233.163 |
| 2014 | 237,342,873,662 | 237.343 |
| 2015 | 242,450,355,831 | 242.450 |
| 2016 | 246,700,604,516 | 246.701 |
| 2017 | 250,050,047,210 | 250.050 |
| 2018 | 260,027,117,803 | 260.027 |
| 2019 | 261,702,273,349 | 261.702 |
| 2020 | 245,634,546,877 | 245.635 |
| 2021 | 273,483,125,956 | 273.483 |
| 2022 | 279,127,595,176 | 279.128 |
| 2023 | 281,017,358,308 | 281.017 |
| 2024 | 288,900,250,333 | 288.900 |
| 2025 | 296,005,043,456 | 296.005 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.878Very High human developmentRank 45 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.718
20000.771
20100.823
20200.856
20230.878
81.2 yearsLife expectancy at birth
11.3 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
A presidential republic. An elected President heads the executive, and the National Congress has a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate. The executive is based in Santiago; Congress meets in Valparaíso.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Chile.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which mineral is central to Chile’s exports?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.