Chile: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 11, 2026

News •

After 40 years apart, a Chilean mother reunites with two children stolen during dictatorship • Nov. 11, 2026, 8:23 PM ET (AP)

Oscar-winning Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio dies at 52 • Nov. 6, 2026, 3:28 PM ET (AP)

In southern Chile, locals push to protect oceans that have been hurt by intensive salmon farming • Oct. 28, 2026, 11:32 AM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Republic of Chile • República de Chile
Head Of State And Government	President: José Antonio Kast
Capital	Santiago¹
Population	(2026 est.) 18,795,000
Currency Exchange Rate	1 USD equals 994.890 Chilean peso
Form Of Government	multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Senate [38]; Chamber of Deputies [120])
Official Language	Spanish
Official Religion	none
Official Name	República de Chile (Republic of Chile)
Total Area (Sq Km)	756,096
Total Area (Sq Mi)	291,930
Monetary Unit	peso (Ch$)
Population Rank	(2026) 69
Population Projection 2030	19,477,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 64.4
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 24.9
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2019) 88.4% • Rural: (2019) 11.6%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2019) 77.9 years • Female: (2019) 83.4 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 311,280
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 15,750
¹Legislative bodies meet in Valparaíso.

Photos and Videos

Political map of Chile showing its international boundaries with Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, as well as major cities and regions along the length of the country from north to south. The map includes a locator inset highlighting Chile's position along the southwestern coast of South America, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Chile: Lake Villarrica

Map of South America highlighting Chile in tan, showing its long, narrow shape along the continent's southwestern edge between the Pacific Ocean and Argentina, with neighboring countries Peru and Bolivia to the north. The capital city, Santiago, is marked.

Map of Chile highlighting major physical features such as the Andes Mountains, Atacama Desert, salt flats, volcanoes, and notable peaks. The map shows Chile's narrow, elongated shape along the Pacific coast of South America, bordered by Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, with a small locator map indicating Chile's position on the continent.

Chile: Lake Nordenskjöld

Chile: glacial lake

Santiago: University of Chile

Predicting an eruption of the Llaima volcano in Chile

Discover one key source of Chile's mineral wealth

Sail around fearsome Cape Horn

Experience a day in the life of a penguin researcher

Discover Chile's copper industry, from mining in the Atacama Desert to refining on the Pacific coast

National anthem of Chile

See All Videos, Images, Audio and Interactives →

Topics

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