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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).

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2022 edition

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The same text in 2022 and 2023.

Indigenous groups inhabited central and southern Chile for several thousands of years, living in mixed pastoralist and settled communities, ending with the Inca ruling the north of the country for nearly a century prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. The Captaincy General of Chile was founded by the Spanish in 1541, lasting until Chile declared its independence in 1810. The subsequent struggle 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 a military coup led by General Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a democratically elected president was inaugurated in 1990.

Economic reforms, 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.

Prior Indigenous groups inhabited central and southern Chile for several thousands of years, living in mixed pastoralist and settled communities, ending with the Inca ruling the north of the country for nearly a century prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, the Inca ruled northern century. The Captaincy General of Chile for nearly a century while an indigenous people, was founded by the Mapuche, inhabited central and southern Chile. Although Spanish in 1541, lasting until Chile declared its independence in 1810, it did not achieve 1810. The subsequent struggle 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 present northern current northernmost regions. In By the 1880s, the Chilean central government gained cemented its control over the central and southern regions inhabited by the Mapuche. After Mapuche Indigenous peoples. Between 1891 and 1973, a series of elected governments, governments succeeded each other until the three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a military coup led by General Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a democratically-elected democratically elected president was inaugurated in 1990. Economic reforms, 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.

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

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