Official Name: Republika de Chile (Republic of Chile)
Currency: Chilean peso
Current Exchange Rate: |
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Hemisphere: South
Continent: South America
Location: Occupies western coast of S South America. Neighbors; Peru on N, Bolivia on NE, Argentina on E.
Area: 291,930 sq mi, 756,096 sq km
Form of Government: Multiparty republic with a two legislative houses (Senate 38), (Chamber of Deputies 120)
Population: (2007) 16,598,000
Population Density: (2007) persons per sq mi 56.9, persons per sq km 22.0
Principal Language(s): Spanish (official) Mapudungun, German, English
Religions: Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15%, none 8%
Capital: Santiago
Capital Population: 5,428,590
Capital Average Temperature: N/A
Major Cities: Valparaiso/Vina de Mar 803,683, Concepcion 666,381, La Serena/ Coquimbo 296,253, Antofagasta 285,255
Topography: Andes Mts. on E border including some of the world’s highest peaks; on W is 2,650 mi Pacific coast. Width varies 100-250 mi. in N is Atacama Desert, in center are agricultural regions, in S, forests and grazing lands.
Economy: G.D.P. $ 234.4 billion
G.D.P. per Capita: $ 14,400
Vital Statistics: Birth rate per 1,000 population (2006): 15.2 (world avg. 20.3) Death rate per 1,000 population (2006); 5.8 (world avg. 8.6) Total fertility rate (avg. births per childbearing woman 2006) 2.00. Life expectancy at birth (2005) male 73.5 years; female 80.2 years
Government Website: www.chileangovernment.cl
Reference Sources: The World Almanac 2009, The New York Times Almanac 2009, Time Almanac 2009, World Climate Website.
