šØš± 26 Fascinating Facts about Chile
Home of the beloved writers Pablo Neruda and Gabriela Mistral, Chile is known to its inhabitants as āpais del poetas,ā or country of poets. Aside from its contribution to literature, the country is also visited for its remote getaways, memorable landscapes, food and nightlife.
Boost your local knowledge of South America with these 26 fun facts about Chile.
Geographical statsā¦
Chileās location on the map is a rich source ofĀ funĀ facts about the country. Learn how its geography has shaped its history, culture and people.
1. Chile is long and narrow
Chile is a long and narrow country on the western edge ofĀ South America.
2. In fact, Chile is longer than you think!
Chile is the longest country in the world at an incredible 2,647 miles (4,620 kilometers) long!
3. Chile has a rather unique shape
This unusually shaped country has an area of 291,930 square miles (756,096 square kilometers). Ā Experts have referred to its unique shape as āribbon-likeā because of the way it curves, like a ribbon tied into a bow.

The National Flag of Chile
4. Chileās neighboring countries
It shares a border with Peru to the north, Bolivia to the north-east and Argentina to the east.
5. Brazil is NOT a neighbor
Chile and EcuadorĀ are the only countries in South America that donāt border Brazil!
6. Easter Islandās famous archaeological sites
Easter Island is located 2,200 miles west of Chile. It is famously home to the captivating statues called Moai –Ā monolithic human figures carved from stone over 500 years ago.
7. Chile is home to the southernmost naval base
The worldās southernmost village,Ā Puerto WilliamsĀ is in Chile!Ā Located on Navarino Island, this village continues to serve as a naval base for the country.
8. Chileās population is on the rise!
Chileās population was 18.95 million in 2019. Ā This has since increased to 19.27 million people according to the latestĀ United Nations data.
9. Chile is actually pretty easy to find
Should you wish to explore this unique country (and we recommend you do!) the coordinates to get there are 33.4333° S, 70.6667°

Patagonian glaciers, Chile
10. Chileās capital city
Chile’s capital city is Santiago; it covers an area of 247.5 square miles (641 square kilometers) and has a population of 5.614 million (2017).
11. Chile has a varied terrain
The terrain here is a mix of low coastalĀ mountains, a central valley and the Andes Mountains in the east.
12. Chile has more mountains than you can imagine
Mountains cover around 80% of Chileās landscape; The Andes mountain range extends the entire length of thisĀ amazingĀ country!
13. It also has the driest desert
The ChileanĀ Atacama DesertĀ is the driest desert in the world ā parts of which have never seen a drop of rain since records began!Ā It is nestled between the Andes Mountains and the coastal mountains that overlookĀ the PacificĀ Ocean.
The Atacama Desert, otherwise known asĀ Valle deĀ laĀ LunaĀ (MoonĀ Valley), is a popular tourist destination. Visitors from all over the world regularly make the trek to explore itsĀ saltĀ flats and caves.
14. The biggest copper mines in the world
ChileĀ housesĀ two of the largest copper mines in the world!Ā ChuquicamataĀ andĀ Escondida.
15. Chile proudly presents three well-defined climates
Residents here enjoy an overall temperate climate with three distinct climates due to the shape of the country; thereās arid desert in the north, a Mediterranean climate in the central region and itās cool and damp in the south.

ValparaĆso, Chile
Social intricaciesā¦
Much like different countries across Southern America, Chile has a history of Spanish Colonization. It has led to a population where most are a mix of Native American and Spanish ancestries. Learn moreĀ interesting factsĀ about the countryās history to get to know its people.
16. Native Chileans
Approximately 9% of Chileās current population is made up of several indigenous groups. These include the Mapuche, the Aymara, the Diaguita, the Lickanantay and the Quecha.
17. Chileans LOVE football
FootballĀ is one of the popular sports in Chile. The country even has a premier league calledĀ Copa Scotiabank.

Alpaca or llama?
18. Chile Is UFO-friendly
Chile is one of only a few countries that have a government supported UFO research organization.
19. Chileans live long healthy lives!
The averageĀ lifeĀ expectancy here is 80.18 years (2019).
20. Chile has a low divorce rate
Divorce has only been legal in Chile since 2005 and it has one of the lowest divorce rates in the world!

1000 Chilean pesos is worth around $1 US dollar
21. If youāre heading here, pack some Chilean Pesos
Should you wish to sip a coldĀ āCervezaāĀ (Spanish for ābeerā) upon these glorious shores, remember to pack a fewĀ ChileanĀ Pesoās!
22. Hablas espaƱol?
Spanish is the official language of Chile.
Industry insightsā¦
Chileās unique geography gives it access to natural resources that contribute to several of its industries. Find out more facts about these and its economy.

Santiago city center, Chile
23. Chile has a booming production portfolio
The countryās vast plains of flat land give the people ampleĀ spaceĀ to grow wheat, corn, beans and grapes. In addition to these, they rearĀ cattleĀ or labor, food and other products.
Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean gives Chileans the ability to catch fish all-year-round. Chile is the worldās second-largest producer of salmon.
24. Seriously, its industry is impressive!
The countryās forestry industry makes up approximately 13% of its total exports. The most popular types of timber they export areĀ Radiate PineĀ andĀ Eucalyptus.
The countryās industry consists of copper, food products, fish processing, cement, transport equipment, iron and steel.
Chile exports copper, fish, chemicals,Ā fruits, paper and pulp.
25. Are you a wine lover? Try Chilean wine
The countryās unusual geography makes it the ideal environment forĀ wineĀ growing. Chileās wine is often part of the worldās top ten rankings of best wines. Thumbs up for the wine!
26. Its easy to call here…
Want to call your family or friends in Chile? Ā Youāll need to dial the international code +56.
FAQs about Chile
Is it safe for me to travel to Chile?
On the whole, yes, Chile is considered one of the safest countries to visit in South America.
Is Chile an American ally?
Yes, Chile is one of the USā main partners in the southern continent.
How strong is Chileās army?
Chileās army is ranked highly in the worldās armed forces - itās in the top 50 out of 140.
Do you know any fun facts about Chile? Ā Share them in the comments below!
Are you fascinated with South America and want to discover more? Check out these interesting facts about Peru!
This page was last modified on October 29, 2022. Suggest an edit