Chileans

Chileans are the citizens of Chile, a country in South America with a long Pacific coastline. Most live in Chile, but there is a substantial Chilean diaspora abroad, particularly in Argentina, the United States, Spain, Canada and Australia.

The official language is Spanish; Chilean Spanish has distinctive pronunciation and vocabulary. Indigenous languages such as Mapudungun (Mapuche), Aymara and Quechua are spoken by communities, and the Rapa Nui language is spoken on Easter Island. English is widely taught and used in business and tourism.

The population is ethnically diverse, reflecting indigenous, European and mixed ancestry. The Mapuche are the largest indigenous group. People of European descent largely trace ancestry to Spanish colonists and later European immigrants, notably Germans in southern regions. Afro-Chilean communities are a minority.

Chile's history includes pre-Columbian cultures, Spanish colonization, and independence in 1818. The 20th century saw democratic and military rule; a 1973 coup led to a dictatorship under Augusto Pinochet until 1990, after which Chile established a stable democracy.

Geographically, Chile stretches from the arid north to the temperate center and the subpolar south, plus Easter Island in the Pacific. The terrain includes the Andes highlands, deserts, forests, fjords and glaciers, with diverse climates and ecosystems.

Economically, Chile is among Latin America's most developed, with a strong mining sector driven by copper. The economy also relies on agriculture, wine, forestry, fishing and services, and it faces ongoing social and economic reforms.

In culture, Chile has produced notable writers such as Nobel laureates Pablo Neruda and Gabriela Mistral and author Isabel Allende. Chilean music, film and cuisine—empanadas, pastel de choclo, mote con huesillos—reflect regional diversity. Football is the most popular sport.