República de Chile

Note: In the second round of balloting on January 17, 2010, Sebastián PIÑERA (National Renovation) was elected president, defeating former President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (Christian Democratic Party) and succeeding Michelle BACHELET (Socialist Party of Chile) on March 11. On February 27, 2010, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of the Maule region. The disaster killed at least 500 people and caused an estimated $20 billion in damage.

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: 15,116,435 (2002C); 16,765,000 (2008E). The 2002 figure lacks an adjustment for underenumeration.

Major Urban Centers (2005E): ...