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CHILE
The Republic of Chile
 Area:
756,626 sq km; 292,058 sq miles
Population: 15,823,957 million (July 2004 est). Two
thirds of the population is concentrated in the central zone.
Capital City: Santiago de Chile (6 million)
People: Many Chileans are descended from those Spaniards
and other immigrants, mainly Europeans, who settled in Chile
from the sixteenth century onwards, although a large number are
of mixed European and indigenous ancestry. Estimates of the size
of the indigenous community vary considerably but according to
the results of the 2002 census 692,192 people identified
themselves as belonging to an ethnic group (4.6% of the
population). The indigenous community is comprised of the
following groups: Mapuche (87.3%), Aymara (7.01%), Atacamenos
(3.04%), Quechua, Rapa Nui, Colla, Alacalufe and Yamana.
Languages: The official language is Spanish. The
indigenous community also speak Mapuche, Aymara and Quechua,
amongst others.
Religion(s): Roman Catholic 69.96%, Evangelical 15.14%
(officially defined in Chile as all non-Catholic Christian
churches except the Orthodox, the Mormons, the Seventh Day
Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses), other Christian churches
2.04%, other religions (including Jews and Muslims) 4.55%, and
atheists/indifferent 8.3%.
Basic
Economic Facts:
Currency:
Peso
Nominal GDP: 90 billion US dollars (2005)
Nominal GDP per head: 7,000 US dollars (2006)
Annual growth: 6% (2005) – 2006 estimate 5.5%
Currency: Chilean Peso (March 2006 £1 = 920 or U$1 = 526)
Inflation: 3.7% (end 2005)
Unemployment: 7.6% (end 2005)
Major industries: Copper mining; other mining (gold,
nitrates, molybdenum, iron and silver); wood and wood products;
fish and fishmeal; fruits and wine.
Major Political Parties: Partido
Demócrata Cristiano (DC) (Christian Democrats); Partido
Socialista (PS) (Socialists); Partido por la Democracia (PPD)
(Party for Democracy); Partido Radical Social Democrata (PRSD)
(Radical Social Democratic Party); Renovación Nacional (RN)
(National Renewal ); Unión Demócrata Independiente (UDI)
(Independent Democratic Union).
Government: Chile has a republican
system of government consisting of three separate and
independent branches: the Executive Branch, which is headed by
the President, who in turn is advised by a Cabinet of
(unelected) Ministers; the Legislative Branch, which consists of
a bicameral National Congress located in Valparaíso and
comprising the Senate and Chamber of Deputies; and the Judicial
Branch, headed by the Supreme Court. These institutions are
defined in the 1980 Constitution (amended 2005). The President
is directly elected for a four year term (reduced from six years
by the new government on 11 March 2006).
Head of State: President Michelle Bachelet Jeria.
Foreign Minister: Sr. Alejandro Foxley.
DID
YOU KNOW?
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Did you know that the driest place in
the world is the Atacama desert in Chile.
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Did you know that the biggest
earthquake in the world was in Valdivia, Chile, with 9,5
Richter grades, 37 epicenters and it last for 10 minutes.
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Did you know that in Chiloe Island in
Chile, was the place were the Spanish flag waved for the
last time in South America.
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