Chile
-
Capital
Santiago
-
Local time
14:51
-
Population
17.55 m
-
Driving side
Right
-
Calling code
+56
-
Currency
$ CLP (peso)
Chile
-
Capital
Santiago
-
Local time
14:51
-
Population
17.55 m
-
Driving side
Right
-
Calling code
+56
-
Currency
$ CLP (peso)
-
Average Salary
$ 949
-
Petrol price
€ 1.52 pl
-
Precipitation
1 522mm /year
Geography & travel
-
Country Area
756 950 km2
-
Protected Area
18%
-
Forest Area
24%
-
Agricultural area
21%
-
Railways
5529km
-
Annual air passengers
16.36 m
Population
-
Ethnicity
white and white-Amerindian - 95 %
Amerindian - 3 %
other - 2 %
-
Religion
Roman Catholic - 89 %
Protestant - 11 %
Jewish
-
Literacy rates
96.3%
-
Languages
Spanish
Mapudungun
German
-
Armed Forces
109 450
-
Alcohol consumption
9.3 l/person
-
Smoking
40%
-
Diabetes
10%
-
Tuberculosis
16 per 100k
-
HIV
0.5%
Economy
-
Industries
copper, lithium, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement
-
Agriculture
grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic
-
Natural Resources
copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower
-
Energy Import
64%
-
Natural Resources
copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower
-
Renewable Energy
26%
-
CO2 Emissions
82 563kt
-
Ease of Business
55 (Best=1, Worst=200)
-
ATMs per 100k people
56
What not to do when visiting Chile
Chile Don't say "no" in Chile - Chileans dislike saying "no", particularly in business dealings. Diplomacy is essential.
Useful
Not useful
Chile Don't be offended by Chileans asking personal questions - be willing to devote a fair amount of time talking about family, friends and your background.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't hide your hands below the table - keep both hands above the table throughout the meal and finish everything on your plate.
- Useful
- Not useful
Did you know?
Chile, the world’s longest country, is also home to the world’s longest swimming pool.
Chile Don't talk much about politics and religion. Focus on families, children, history and the arts. Easter Island is a very interesting subject for all.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't give scissors or knives as a gift - it indicates severing the relationship. Open a gift upon receipt. Gifts for children are greatly appreciated.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't sit until told where to sit.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't begin to eat until the hostess invites everyone to start and don't begin drinking until a toast has been made.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't forget abortion is illegal in Chile.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't stay cold with people - develop personal relationship and understand the phenomenon importance of contacts. In Chile, as in most of Latin America, the personal relationships are the key to success.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't be offended if a Chilean stands too close - like other Latin Americans, Chileans tend to stand much closer to one another than in Europe and North America in conversation.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't get lost in the local surnames. It's customary to give a child the family name of both parents, and the mother is also known officially retains her maiden name in addition to her husbands name.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't visit Chilean home empty-handed when invited. Bring a gift of a bouquet of flowers or wine for the hostess, but don't give yellow roses which indicate disrespect, purple and black flowers which used for mourning.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't make a fist and slapping it against the other hand, or hold the hand as if holding a round object - both would be misinterpreted as "screw you".
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't beckon with the hand which is considered bad form. Yawns should be stifled or covered by the hand.
- Useful
- Not useful
Tell us your experience
We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?
Chile Don't necessarily eat with your hands - finger food is seen as not sophisticated Chile. If you've been given a knife and fork, be sure to use them.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't pour wine with the left hand while grasping the neck of the bottle - it's a big no-no in Chile.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't get upset if you are called a "gringo" - Chileans tend to call all foreigners like that.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't hold your fist upright and level to your head - it might be considered a communist sign.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't forget to dress neat and conservatively - women usually wear modest skirts or dresses and men typically wear pants.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't forget to shake hands upon meeting when men, women pat another's shoulder or kiss the right cheek.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't get sunburnt - wear a hat and use sunscreen. Southern Chile lies in a significant ozone hole, the sun rays can be hazardous. Bring warm clothing and rain gear to the south, the weather here is very changeable.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don’t forget the most common toast is ”Salud!”
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don't expect Santiago to be Buenos Aires.
- Useful
- Not useful
South America Don't take pictures of locals without permission.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don’t forget to carry some Chilean pesos in hand to pay the tools when using the highways.
- Useful
- Not useful
Chile Don’t be surprised with smaller occasional earthquakes - Chile is located in a highly seismically active zone. Make sure you know what to do during the earthquake.
- Useful
- Not useful
Tell us your experience
We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?
South America Don't be surprised with unpunctuality - up to 30 mins late is nothing unusual.
- Useful
- Not useful
Still looking for somewhere to stay?
Book a holiday you will tell your friends about.
