Republic of Chile República de Chile (Spanish) | |
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Motto: | |
Anthem: | |
Capital and largest city | Santiago1 |
Spanish | |
Demonym(s) | Chilean |
Government | Unitary presidential constitutional republic |
Sebastián Piñera | |
Adriana Muñoz D'Albora | |
Diego Paulsen Kehr | |
Legislature | National Congress |
Senate | |
Chamber of Deputies | |
Independence from Spain | |
• | September 18, 1810 |
• Declared | February 12, 1818 |
• Recognized | April 25, 1844 |
• Current constitution | September 11, 1980 |
Area | |
• Total | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1850: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). (38th) |
• Water (%) | 1.07² |
Population | |
• 2011 estimate | 16,888,760 (60th) |
• 2002 census | 15,116,435 |
• Density | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1850: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). (194th) |
GDP (PPP) | 2011 estimate |
• Total | $281,368 billion |
• Per capita | $16,172 |
GDP (nominal) | 2011 estimate |
• Total | $243,049 billion |
• Per capita | $13,970 |
Gini (2006) | 52.0 high |
HDI (2012) | 0.819 very high · 40th |
Currency | Peso (CLP) |
Time zone | UTC−4 to −6 (CLT or EAST 3) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−3 to −5 (CLST or EASST) |
Driving side | right |
Calling code | +56 |
ISO 3166 code | CL |
Internet TLD | .cl |
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Chile (officially called Republic of Chile) is a country on the south-western side of South America. Most people there speak Spanish.
Chile, which claims a part of the Antarctic continent, is the longest country on earth. The Atacama Desert, in the north of the country, is the driest place on earth. The average rainfall there is less than 0.05 mm (0.0020 in) per year. The center of Chile, with the two cities Santiago and Valparaíso, has a Mediterranean climate with an average temperatures of 28 °C (82 °F) in January and 11 °C (52 °F) in July. In the middle of Chile, the country is very good for growing things.