The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2000 to 2025 South America

Background Chile, in 26 editions.

The entry for Chile published Background in 26 editions of 36, from 2000 to 2025. The text changed in 17 editions. Each is shown as published. Background in every entry.

editions changed the text
17
the first edition with it
2000
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Background” (2000 to 2025).

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.

2025 edition

Same as 2024

Open the 2025 entry

The same text in 2024 and 2025.

Indigenous groups inhabited central and southern Chile for several thousand years, living in mixed pastoralist and settled communities. The Inca then ruled the north of the country for nearly a century prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. In 1541, the Spanish established the Captaincy General of Chile, which lasted until Chile declared its independence in 1810. The subsequent struggle with the Spanish became tied to other South American independence conflicts, with a decisive victory not being achieved until 1818.

In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia to win its current northernmost regions. By the 1880s, the Chilean central government cemented its control over the central and southern regions inhabited by Mapuche Indigenous peoples. Between 1891 and 1973, a series of elected governments succeeded each other until the Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 in a military coup led by General Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a democratically elected president was inaugurated in 1990.

Economic reforms that were maintained consistently since the 1980s contributed to steady growth, reduced poverty rates by over half, and helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

Indigenous groups inhabited central and southern Chile for several thousands of thousand years, living in mixed pastoralist and settled communities, ending with the communities. The Inca ruling then ruled the north of the country for nearly a century prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. The In 1541, the Spanish established the Captaincy General of Chile was founded by the Spanish in 1541, lasting Chile, which lasted until Chile declared its independence in 1810. The subsequent struggle with the Spanish became tied to other South American independence conflicts, with a decisive victory over the Spanish not being achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia to win its current northernmost regions. By the 1880s, the Chilean central government cemented its control over the central and southern regions inhabited by Mapuche Indigenous peoples. Between 1891 and 1973, a series of elected governments succeeded each other until the three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by in a military coup led by General Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a democratically elected president was inaugurated in 1990. Economic reforms, reforms that were maintained consistently since the 1980s, 1980s contributed to steady growth, reduced poverty rates by over half, and helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

Cite this page

Central Intelligence Agency. “Chile: Background.” The World Factbook, 2000–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/chile/background.

How to cite