Where is Chile?

Chile is located in the South America region at latitude -35.675147 and longitude -71.542969 and is part of the South American continent.

The DMS coordinates for the center of the country are:

  • 35° 40' 30.53'' S
  • 71° 32' 34.69'' W

You can see the location of Chile on the world map below:

Pin showing Chile on a map

Chile Neighboring Countries

The neighboring countries of Chile (CL) are:

  1. Argentina (AR)
  2. Bolivia (Plurinational State Of) (BO)
  3. Peru (PE)

Maritime Borders

Chile borders with the Pacific Ocean.

Chile Related Content

Chile Key Facts

CountryChile
CoordinatesLatitude: -35.675147
Longitude: -71.542969
Country CodesAlpha 2: CL
Alpha 3: CHL
Country Flag Emoji🇨🇱
Int. Phone Prefix+56
Capital citySantiago
Continent
Subcontinent
South America
South America
Country Area756,102 sq km
Population 202119,212,362
World Rank: 61
Median Age34.9
Life expectancy78.9
Major languagesSpanish 99.5% (official), English 10.2%, indigenous 1% (includes Mapudungun, Aymara, Quechua, Rapa Nui), other 2.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2012 est.)
UTC/GMT TimeNumber of time zones: 3
  • UTC−06:00 — Easter Island
  • UTC−04:00 — main territory of Chile
  • UTC−03:00 — Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica
Internet TLD.cl
Biggest AirportArturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL)
Average temperature8.45 °C
47.21 °F
Administrative Divisions16 regions
Political systemPresidential representative democratic republic

Chile Economy Facts

World Bank Income GroupHigh income
World Bank RegionLatin America & Caribbean
CurrencyChilean Peso (CLP)
GDP in 2020$252.7 (billions of USD)
World Rank: 43
GDP per capita in 2020$13,221
World Rank: 57
Major Industries / Economic SectorsMining, agriculture, manufacturing, energy
Top 5 Import CountriesChina, United States, Argentina, Brazil, Japan
Top 5 Export CountriesChina, United States, Japan, South Korea, Brazil

Biggest Cities in Chile

Here are the largest cities in Chile based on 2021 data:

City Population
Santiago 7,026,000
Puente Alto 573,935
Maipu 521,627
La Florida 366,916
Antofagasta 348,517
Vina del Mar 332,875
San Bernardo 301,313
Valparaiso 296,655
Temuco 282,415
Las Condes 249,893

Map of Chile with the Largest Cities

Other Countries in the South America Region

Chile: Overview

  • Population: 19,068,597 (March 2020) [1] 
  • Capital: Santiago 
  • Language: Spanish  
  • Bordering Countries: Peru, Bolivia, Argentina     
  • Land Area: 292,183 square miles (756,950 square km) [2]
  • Coastline: 6,435km (3,998 miles)  
  • Highest Point: Nevado Ojos del Salado at 6,880m   
  • Latitude & Longitude: 35.6751 Degrees South, 71.5430 Degrees West  
Chile Region Map
Chile Region Map

Important Sites

  Chile has 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, all of which are cultural. It also has 17 sites that have been considered for nomination. The following are the current UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Chile  

Sites listed for consideration include La Moneda Palace, San Pedro de Atacama, and Torres del Paine National Park. You can see the full details of Chile UNESCO information here

Torres del Paine National Park landscapes
Torres del Paine National Park landscapes

Transport Systems

  The main transport method in Chile is the roads. Chile used to have an extensive rail network, but this has largely been abandoned. Due to its irregular shape and immense distance between major cities (as seen on the above map of Chile), air travel is also highly important.  

Roads – Chilean roads are mainly highways and freeways. There are 79km of highways that connect major cities. It is important to note that central Chile is not connected by road to the southern part of the country – you can see this on the above Chile Map. Freeways are smaller roads that connect regional and local areas.

Chile has hundreds of airports that are used to make travel possible between the northern, central, and southern regions of the country. The main international airport is located in Santiago and accommodates over 2.4 million passengers per year. Other notable airports include Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt, and Antofagasta.

The thriving capital of Santiago
The thriving capital of Santiago

Famous Tourist Attractions

 Chile is quickly becoming a popular tourist destination. It draws explorers and adventurers from around the world who want to delve into its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Cities like Santiago and Valparaiso are fantastic places to visit, whilst Chile also has a host of gorgeous national parks. The following are famous tourist attractions in Chile [5]:   

  • Atacama Desert
  • Easter Island
  • City of Santiago
  • Valparaiso
  • Torres Del Paine National Park
  • Lauca National Park
  • Valle Nevado
  • Mylodon Cave Natural Monument
  • Cochamo Valley

 The Torres Del Paine National Park and Patagonia draw thousands of tourists and those who love hiking and the outdoors. Locations like Santiago and Chiloe Island also cater to those who love culture and history.

The beautiful coastal city of Valparaiso
The beautiful coastal city of Valparaiso

Currency

 The official currency of Chile is the Chilean peso. The main unit of currency is 1 Peso, and the subunit is 100 centavos. Issued banknotes include 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, and 20000 pesos. Coins are issued too, but these are not often used – coins include 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 pesos – there are no centavos coins or notes.   The Peso was first introduced in the 1800s and has remained the national currency of Chile since (except between 1960-1975 where the Escudo was used). The Banco Central de Chile is responsible for inflation, interest rates, and the issue of the Chilean Peso.      

Political System & Economy

 Chile is classed as a representative democratic republic – the president of Chile is both the Head of State and the Head of Government. The government is formed via a multi-party system and general elections. Government powers are split into three main sections:  

  • Executive Power: President & Cabinet
  • Legislative Power: Cabinet & National Congress
  • Judicial Power – Independent Judiciary

The current constitution was formed in 1981 by dictator Augusto Pinochet and has since been revised to reflect modern society.

The administration of Chile is primarily split into 16 regions. The regions of Chile are divided into 56 provinces, which are then further divided into 346 individual communes. Regional governments are led by an intendant who is chosen by the President.    In terms of economy, Chile is highly developed – it has a stable economy, and is considered to be high-income. It has a relatively low unemployment rate for South America of less than 7%. Moreover, it has a high HDI of 0.847. The main industries and services of Chile include:  

  • Agriculture
  • Forestry
  • Wine
  • Mining
  • Services
  • Tourism

Copper mining is extremely important, as is salmon fishing, and the Chilean forestry industry which exports Radiata Pine, and Eucalyptus.

The coastal town of Vina del Mar
The coastal town of Vina del Mar

Geography

 Due to its extreme length, and long, narrow borders, the geography of Chile is diverse. In the southern regions, you can find snow-capped mountains and the rugged terrain of Patagonia, leading to Antarctica.

Alternatively, Chile also has expanses of desert – such as the Atacama region and Norte Grande.

Chile also has land located on three separate continents. Easter Island, in the Pacific Ocean, is located in Oceana. The main part of the country is located in South America, but Chile also has territory in Antarctica. Its diverse landscape includes the epic Andes mountains, stunning glaciers, active volcanoes and more.  

Stunning lake Leija located in the Atacama region
Stunning lake Leija located in the Atacama region

Sources

  1. https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/chile-population/
  2. https://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/samerica/chile/cllandst.htm
  3. https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/cl
  4. https://news.southamerica.travel/what-is-chile-famous-for
  5. https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/chile-chi.htm

Chile FAQs

What is Chile most famous for?

Chile is possibly best known for its amazing landscapes – from Patagonia to the Andes, and the Atacama Desert. Furthermore, it is widely known for its excellent beer and wine. Perhaps most of all, although people may not know it, Chile is famous for Easter Island and the mysterious Napa Rui statues.

Where is Chile located?

Chile is a country in South America – it is located on the western coast of South America and stretches from Peru in the north, down to the southern tip of South America. It has a long land border with Argentina.

Is Chile the longest country in the world?

Chile is a country in South America – it is located on the western coast of South America and stretches from Peru in the north, down to the southern tip of South America. It has a long land border with Argentina.

Is Chile the longest country in the world?

No – Russia from east to west has a distance of over 9,000km in comparison to Chile which runs for 4,270km from north to south. It is the second-longest country running north to south – first place is taken by Brazil which is longer at 4,395km.

What food is popular in Chile?

Chilean food is heavily influenced by Spanish cuisine. It does have a variety of traditional dishes, however, including Pastel de Choclo, Empanadas, Cazuela, Asafo, Renata, and Locos.