The official name is the Republic of Chile. It is commonly called Chile.

There are several theories about the origin of the name "Chile." The most accepted one relates it to the Aymara word *Chili*, meaning "end of the Earth" or "the deepest place," referring to its location at the southern tip of the continent. Another theory comes from the Quechua *chiri* (cold), or *tchili* (snow), or the Mapuche *chilli* (where the land ends).

Chile is located in the southwest extreme of South America, encompassing a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. It's famous for being the longest and narrowest country in the world.

Its territory is divided into **16 regions** and includes insular territories in Oceania, such as Easter Island (Rapa Nui), and claims a sector of Antarctica. This geographical position gives it a great variety of climates, from the world's driest desert (Atacama) in the north, to polar climates in the south.

The capital of Chile is Santiago de Chile, which is also the most populous city and the country's main urban, economic, and cultural center.

The **Metropolitan Region of Santiago** concentrates around **7 million inhabitants**, representing more than a third of Chile's total population. It is a key *hub* in the Southern Cone for finance, technology, and services, besides being the main logistical access point for the country's trade.

Chile is a **democratic, unitary, and presidential Republic**, governed by the Political Constitution of 1980.

Power is divided into:

• **Executive Branch:** Headed by the President of the Republic, who serves as both Chief of State and Head of Government. They are elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term without immediate re-election.
• **Legislative Branch:** Exercised by the **National Congress**, which is bicameral, composed of the Senate (50 members) and the Chamber of Deputies (155 members).
• **Judicial Branch:** The highest court is the **Supreme Court**. It is independent of the other branches and administers justice in accordance with the law.

Chile is known for its extremely elongated geographical shape. Its total land border is **7,801 km**.

It borders **Argentina** to the east (the longest border, 5,308 km) and **Peru** (169 km) and **Bolivia** (861 km) to the north. To the west, it extends along **6,435 km** of coastline on the **Pacific Ocean**, which is vital for its global trade and access to Asia-Pacific.

The official language of Chile is **Spanish** (or Castilian). However, Chilean law recognizes and promotes the use of **indigenous languages** as part of the country's cultural and linguistic heritage.

Among the most relevant indigenous languages are **Mapudungun** (of the Mapuche people, the most numerous ethnic group), **Aymara** and **Quechua** (mainly in the north), and **Rapa Nui** (on Easter Island).

Chile is a secular state that guarantees **freedom of worship** and the separation of Church and State. Religion has historically been a cultural pillar, although affiliation figures have changed in recent decades.

• **Catholicism:** Remains the majority religion, with around **66.7%** of the population affiliated.
• **Protestantism/Evangelicalism:** Is the second largest religion, with nearly **16.4%** of the population.
• **Other Religions/No Affiliation:** About **12%** declare no religion or belong to other faiths, showing growing secularization.

The official currency of Chile is the Chilean Peso ($), whose ISO code is CLP. It is divided into 100 centavos, although in practice centavos are no longer used.

The issuing and regulating body for monetary policy is the Central Bank of Chile. The Chilean Peso is a floating currency and is one of the main indicators of the country's economic health and its openness to foreign trade.