Chile |
|
| OVERVIEW |
| Background |
A three-year-old
Marxist government was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial
military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a
freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic
policies, first implemented by the PINOCHET dictatorship,
led to unprecedented growth in 1991-97 and have helped secure
the country's commitment to democratic and representative
government. |
| Natural
resources |
copper, timber, iron ore,
nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower |
| Land
use |
arable land: 2.65%
permanent crops: 0.42%
other: 96.93% (1998 est.) |
| Population |
15,665,216 (July 2003
est.) |
| Ethnic
groups |
white and white-Amerindian
95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2% |
| Religions |
Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant
11%, Jewish NEGL% |
| Languages |
Spanish |
| Literacy |
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.4%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.) |
| Capital |
Santiago |
| Government
type |
republic |
| Independence |
18 September 1810 (from
Spain) |
| National
holiday |
Independence Day, 18 September
(1810) |
|
|
