Chile is located in the southwestern part of South America. Chile has its long western coastline on the Pacific Ocean, sharing its northern border with Peru and its eastern border with Bolivia and Argentina. Because Chile has such a long coastline, there are dozens of port facilities. Most of Chile’s exports and international trade are done through the ports.
Quick Facts
Population: 17.925 million
Ethnic Groups: White and non-Indigenous (88.9%), Mapuche (9.1%), Aymara (0.7%), Other Indigenous Groups (1%), Unspecified (0.3%)
Languages: Spanish (Official) (99.5%), English (10.2%), Indigenous (1%), Other (2.3%), Unspecified (0.2%)
Religions: Roman Catholic (66.7%), Evangelical or Protestant (16.4%), Jehovah’s Witnesses (1%), Other (3.4%), None (11.5%), Unspecified (1.1%)
Capital: Santiago
CIA: The World Factbook — Last Updated December 29, 2019
Chileans in Canada
Chilean Population in Canada
45,190
Useful Links
Chile began progressing from dictatorship to democracy when the military regime was ousted in 1988. Since then, many Chileans have been pulled out of poverty (almost 40% of the population lived in poverty in 1990, compared to 14% in 2007). The Catholic Church, which was disestablished in 1925, continues to have a strong influence in society. Baptism and First Communion are considered by many to be major life events, and marriages often include a church ceremony. There is religious freedom for all religions.
- Central Intelligence Agency. (2019, December 17). The World Factbook: Chile. Retrieved December 29, 2019, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/chile/
- Chileans. (2009). In T. L. Gall & J. Hobby (Eds.), Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life (2nd ed., Vol. 2, pp. 124-129). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- Encyclopedia of the Nations. (n.d.). Chile. Retrieved July 8, 2014, from http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Americas/Chile.html
- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. (2009, October 15). Cultural Information – Chile. Retrieved July 8, 2014, from https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/culture-culture_cl.aspx?lang=eng
- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. (2011, December 15). Overview – Chile. Retrieved July 8, 2014, from https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/overview-apercu_cl.aspx?lang=eng
- Mandryk, J. (2010). Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation (7th ed.). Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing.
- Statistics Canada. (2017, October 25). Data Tables, 2016 Census – Ethnic Origin (279), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3), Generation Status (4), Age (12) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2016 Census – 25% Sample Data. Retrieved December 14, 2017, from http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/olc-cel/olc.action?objId=98-400-X2016187&objType=46&lang=en&limit=0