Chile

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief
  - The Chilean Andes
  - The intermediate depression
  - The coastal cordilleras
- Drainage
- Soils
- Climate
  - The northern desert
  - Mediterranean central Chile
  - Southern Chile
- Plant and animal life
- Settlement patterns
People
Economy
- Resources
  - Mineral resources, noncarboniferous
  - Energy resources
  - Forestry resources
  - Fishing resources
- Agriculture
- Industry
- Trade and finance
- Transportation
Administration and social conditions
- Government
- Education
- Health and welfare
Cultural life
- The arts
- Cultural institutions
- Recreation
- Press and broadcasting
History
- Precolonial period
- Colonial period
- Struggle for independence
- Chile from 1818 to 1920
  - The conservative hegemony, 1830–61
    - Economic prosperity
    - Political diversification
  - The widening of liberal influence, 1861–91
    - Political factions
    - European influences
    - The War of the Pacific (1879–83)
  - Political development, 1891–1920
    - Growth of the middle and lower classes
    - Formation of new political parties
    - Decline of the ruling class
- Chile after 1920
  - Political uncertainty, 1920–38
    - Effects of the world depression
    - Return to constitutional normality
  - The Radical presidencies, 1938–52
    - The presidencies of Aguirre Cerda and Ríos
    - The presidency of Gabriel González Videla
  - Political stagnation, 1952–64
    - The presidency of Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez
    - New political groupings
  - A period of change, 1964–73
    - The presidency of Frei Montalva
    - The socialist experiment
  - The military dictatorship, from 1973
- Chile in the 21st century
  - The return of socialist rule: The presidencies of Ricardo Lagos (2000–06) and Michelle Bachelet (2006–10)
  - The first presidency of Sebastián Piñera (2010–14)
  - The second presidency of Michelle Bachelet (2014–18)
  - The second presidency of Sebastián Piñera (2018–22)
  - The presidency of Gabriel Boric (2022–25)
  - José Antonio Kast (2026)

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images, Videos & Interactives

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.

Predicting an eruption of the Llaima volcano in Chile

Chile: Lake Nordenskjöld

Chile: glacial lake

At a Glance

default image

Chile: Media

country, South America

Videos

Predicting an eruption of the Llaima volcano in Chile

Predicting an eruption of the Llaima volcano in Chile

Learn about monitoring the Llaima volcano in Chile for signs of an impending eruption.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Discover one key source of Chile's mineral wealth

Discover one key source of Chile's mineral wealth

Learn about mining and refining copper from Chile's Atacama Desert.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Sail around fearsome Cape Horn

Sail around fearsome Cape Horn

Learn about the journey around Cape Horn, once among the most challenging sea routes...

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Experience a day in the life of a penguin researcher

Experience a day in the life of a penguin researcher

Learn about researching Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) on...

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

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

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

Learn about mining and refining copper from the Atacama Desert, northern Chile.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

The tradition of wine production in Chile

The tradition of wine production in Chile

Learn about Chile's wine industry.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Observe threshing-day traditions in Chile's Olmué valley

Observe threshing-day traditions in Chile's Olmué valley

Learn about threshing-day traditions in a Chilean village.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Explore the traditional life of Mapuche people in Chile

Explore the traditional life of Mapuche people in Chile

Learn about the traditional life of Mapuche (Araucanian) people in Chile.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Travel to Santiago, Chile, to explore its spectacular vistas and parks in the a modern environment

Travel to Santiago, Chile, to explore its spectacular vistas and parks in the a modern environment

Explore Santiago, Chile, a thriving modern city.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Images

Chile

Flag of Chile

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Chile: Lake Villarrica

Chile: Lake Villarrica

Lake Villarrica with the Villarrica Volcano in the background, Araucanía region,...

Fenno Jacobs/Photo Researchers

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.

Santiago, Chile

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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.

Physical features of Chile

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Licancábur

Licancábur

The extinct volcano Licancábur, in the area of San Pedro de Atacama, Atacama Desert...

ESO/NAOJ/NRAO

Chile: Lake Nordenskjöld

Chile: Lake Nordenskjöld

Rugged granite cliffs border Lake Nordenskjöld in Torres del Paine National Park...

© agustavop— iStock/Getty Images

Chile: glacial lake

Chile: glacial lake

Lago de Grey, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile.

© Lisa Lubin - www.llworldtour.com (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

Chile

Chile

Laguna Miscanti and the Atacama Desert lie in the northern part of Chile.

Jeremy Woodhouse—Digital Vision/Getty Images

Santiago: University of Chile

Santiago: University of Chile

University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.

GameOfLight (CC-BY-3.0) (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

Chile

Chile

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map showing the epicenter and affected regions of the 2010 Chile earthquake, with color-coded zones indicating levels of perceived shaking from severe near the coast to moderate further inland. The map highlights major cities impacted, fault lines, and tectonic plate boundaries between the Nazca and South American plates.

Chile earthquake of 2010

Map depicting the intensity of shaking experienced during the Chile earthquake, February...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Kenny Chmielewski

Physical map of the Southern and Central Andes and Patagonia, highlighting elevation with color gradients from lowlands to high mountain peaks. The Andes mountain range runs along the western edge of South America through Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and parts of Peru, with major peaks and volcanoes labeled. Key cities, rivers, lakes, and international boundaries are marked, and a locator map in the corner shows the region's position in South America.

Southern and Central Andes and Patagonia

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Audio

National anthem of Chile

The instrumental version of the national anthem of Chile.

Interactives

Chile: Ethnic composition

Chile: Ethnic composition

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Chile: Religious affiliation

Chile: Religious affiliation

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Chile: Age breakdown

Chile: Age breakdown

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Chile: Urban-rural

Chile: Urban-rural

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Chile: Major export destinations

Chile: Major export destinations

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Chile: Major import sources

Chile: Major import sources

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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