Country Guide • Chile

Flag of Chile

Chile is on the extreme south western coast of South America. It is bound by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Argentina to the east, Bolivia to the northeast and Peru to the north west.

Official NameRepublic of Chile
Area756,950km² (292,258mile²)
Population15,665,000
ContinentSouth America
Population per mile²54
Capital CitySantiago
Religions80% Roman Catholic, 6% various Protestant Churches
LanguageSpanish
GovernmentRepublic
CurrencyChilean Peso
GDP$151 billion
GDP per Head$10,000
Natural ResourcesCopper, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals and timber
Land UseArable Land 3%
AgricultureWheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; livestock, wool; fish and timber
IndustryCopper, iron, food and fish processing, steel, lumber and wood products, transport equipment, and textiles
TourismChile has some of the most spectacular Pacific coastlines and in contrast inland it's Andean highlands. Opportunities abound in this country for adventure sports of all kinds. Chile also has some of South America's finest national parks
Natural HazardsActive volcanoes and severe earthquakes
Health RisksCholera
ClimateThe north of Chile which includes the Atacama Desert is dry and arid, but as you come towards the centre of the country the climate becomes that of a mediterranean feel with mild fairly wet winters and mild sunny summers. Venturing further south it gets colder and wetter with galeforce winds at times. Due to the length of the country weather from one end to the other is so diverse that in the north there is virtually no rain yet in the south rainfall in a year can be as much as 200 inches. Average annual temperature ranges in Santiago are from 3 to 14°C in July to 12 to 29°C in January
TimeGMT/UTC-4 hours
National DaysSeptember 18
VisasCitizens of most western countries, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand do not require a visa. A 90-day entry permit, renewable for another 90 days, is received on entering the country
British EmbassyEmbassy Details

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