Chile Capitals

The capital city of Chile is Santiago, also known as Santiago de Chile. This city is located at 1,706 feet above sea level between the Chilean Coastal and the Andes mountains in the Chilean Central Valley. Pedro de Valdivia, a Spanish conquistador, officially founded Santiago on February 12, 1541. At that time, the city was known as Santiago del Nuevo Extremo. Despite dangers faced by natural disasters and indigenous attacks, Santiago has served as the capital since the 16th century.

Santiago de Chile has a city population of over 200,000. The entire metropolitan area, however, has a population size of over 7.3 million individuals. This number makes Santiago the most populated city in the country. In fact, a little more than one-third of the country lives in its capital. This city serves as the economic, cultural, and political center for the country. As such, many people have moved to Santiago from rural areas in recent years, searching for economic opportunities.

Santiago is a popular destination for tourists from around the world. It is home to a number of theaters, restaurants, museums, and historic buildings that make it entertaining to visit this city. Additionally, its location in the valley means that visitors can take a day trip to go skiing in the Andes or to the beach for swimming and relaxation. Some of the most popular attractions in Santiago de Chile include: the Plaza de Armas (where the national cathedral is located), La Chascona (an artistic neighborhood), the National Museum of Fine Arts, and the Cerro Santa Lucia (which offers views over the city).

Santiago de Chile is considered to have a semi-arid, almost Mediterranean-type climate. This means that the summers are warm and dry, while the winters are cool and humid. Temperatures can range anywhere from 32° to 95° fahrenheit throughout the year. The mountains surrounding the city may receive some snowfall during the winter. Santiago registers just over 11 inches of precipitation annually. Due to its coastal location on the Pacific, this city is highly susceptible to the weather changes brought on by El Niño. Additionally, Santiago has a significant amount of pollutants in the air. This can make the atmosphere dangerous for people with respiratory problems, particularly in the winter when the humidity is highest.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Santiago
Languages	Spanish 99.5% (official), English 10.2%, indigenous 1% (includes Mapudungun, Aymara, Quechua, Rapa Nui), other 2.3%, unspecified 0.2%
Ethnic Groups	White and non-indigenous 88.9%, Mapuche 9.1%, Aymara 0.7%, other indigenous groups 1% (includes Rapa Nui, Likan Antai, Quechua, Colla, Diaguita, Kawesqar, Yagan or Yamana), unspecified 0.3% (2012 est.)
Religion	Roman Catholic 66.7%, Evangelical or Protestant 16.4%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, other 3.4%, none 11.5%, unspecified 1.1% (2012 est.)
Government	Presidential republic
Independance	18 September 1810 (from Spain)
Area	756,102.00 km²
Water Area	12,290.00 km²
Land Area	743,812.00 km²
Population	17,650,114.00 90% of the population is located in the middle third of the country around the capital of Santiago; the far north (anchored by the Atacama Desert) and the extreme south are relatively underpopulated
Location	Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
No. Bordering Countries	3
Bordering Countries	Argentina 6,691 km, Bolivia 942 km, Peru 168 km
GDP(PPP)	$436,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$24,000.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are China, the United States, and Japan.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are copper, fruit, fish products, paper, and pulp.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are China, Brazil, and Argentina.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include petroleum and petroleum products, and chemicals.
Climate	Temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south
Terrain	Low coastal mountains, fertile central valley, rugged Andes in east
Learn More	Chile

Chile Capitals

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