Country
Countries A-Z
Chile
Republic of Chile
República de Chile
Political Status: Independent republic since 1818; present constitution approved September 11, 1980 (in effect from March 11, 1981), partially superseding military regime instituted in 1973; fully effective as of March 11, 1990.
Area: 292,256 sq. mi. (756,945 sq. km).
Population: 18,197,000 (2018E—World Bank); 17,925,262 (2018E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (2017E—UN): SANTIAGO (5,613,962), Puente Alto (625,551), Antofagasta (388,545), Viña del Mar (289,478), Valparaíso (247,695), Concepción (260,746).
Official Language: Spanish.
Monetary Unit: Peso (market rate October 19, 2018: 673.82 pesos = $1US).
President: Sebastián PIÑERA (ind., endorsed by Chile Vamos); elected in the second round of a presidential runoff election on December 17, 2017, and inaugurated on March 11, 2018, to succeed Michelle BACHELET (New Majority).
The Country
Occupying a narrow strip along about 2,700 miles of South America’s west coast, ...