Chile

Government
Name	Republic of Chile
Spanish	República de Chile
Government type	Presidential republic
Capital	Santiago (5,428,590 (2002))
Currency	Peso (CLP)
People
Population (2020)	19,116,209 (64th)
Density of population	24 P/km² (198th)
Nationality	Chilean
Official languages
Spanish
Ethnic groups (2012)
Non-indigenous Chileans	89%
Mapuche	9.1%
Aymara	0.7%
Other indigenous groups	1.0%
Unspecified	0.3%
Religions (2012)
Roman Catholic	66.7%
Evangelical or Protestant	16.4%
Jehovah’s Witness	1%
Other	3.4%
None	11.5%
Unspecified	1.1%
Life expectancy (2020)
Male	76.3 years
Female	82.5 years
Total population	79.4 years (53rd)
Homicides
Total (2018)	4.4 per 100,000 people (69th)
Geography
Land area	743,812 km²
water area	12,290 km²
total area	756,102 km² (39th)
Mean elevation	1,871 m
Lowest point
Pacific Ocean	0 m
Highest point
Nevado Ojos del Salado	6,880 m
Land use (2011)
Agricultural land	21.1%
Arable land	1.7%
Permanent crops	0.6%
Permanent pasture	18.8%
Forest	21.9%
Other	57%
Urbanization
Urban population (2020)	87.7%
Rate of urbanization	0.87% annual rate of change (2015 – 2020)
Economy
Labor force (2017)	8.881 million (58th)
Labor force by occupation (2013)
Agriculture	9.2%
Industry	23.7%
Services	67.1%
Unemployment rate (2017)	6.7% (99th)
GDP (PPP) (estimate 2020)
Total	$528.300 billion (42nd)
Per capita	$27,150(57th)
GDP (nominal) (estimate 2020)
Total	$308.505 billion (41st)
Per capita	$15,854 (53rd)
GDP by sector (estimate 2017)
Agriculture	4.2%
Industry	32.8%
Services	63%
Exports (2017)	$69.23 billion (42nd)
Exports partners (2017)
China	27.5%
US	14.5%
Japan	9.3%
South Korea	6.2%
Brazil	5%
Imports (2017)	$61.31 billion (49th)
Imports partners (2017)
China	23.9%
US	18.1%
Brazil	8.6%
Argentina	4.5%
Germany	4%

Chile on the world map

Chile top 10 largest cities (2002)

Santiago (5,428,590)
Greater Valparaíso (803,683)
Greater Concepción (666,381)
Greater La Serena (296,253)
Antofagasta (285,255)
Greater Temuco (260,878)
Rancagua conurbation (236,363)
Talca (191,154)
Arica (175,441)
Chillán conurbation (165,528)

Demography

Population pyramid

Age structure data

Estimate for 2020:

0-14 years: 19.79% (male 1,836,240/female 1,763,124)
15-24 years: 13.84% (male 1,283,710/female 1,233,238)
25-54 years: 42.58% (male 3,882,405/female 3,860,700)
55-64 years: 11.98% (male 1,034,049/female 1,145,022)
65 years and over: 11.81% (male 902,392/female 1,245,890)

Remark: the age structure of a population affects a nation’s key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older populations (high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest.

Population from 1950 to 2020

CC BY

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. Rev. 1.

Evolution of the life expectancy from 1960 to 2018

CC BY

Source: World Development Indicators, The World Bank

Economy

Agriculture:

grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, beans, beef, poultry, wool, fish, timber

Industries:

copper, lithium, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles

Exports – commodities:

copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine

Imports – commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical and telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles, natural gas