FORM OF GOVERNMENT

The Constitution has been in effect since 1980. The State is divided into three branches: The Executive Branch, headed by the President of the Republic; The Legislative Branch made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate; and the Judicial Branch. The current president of Chile is Michelle Bachelet Jeria (Socialist Party)

POPULATION

Inhabitants: 15,589,147
Density: 20.4 inhabitants per Km.
Average age: 30.04 years.
Language: Spanish, and some original languages such as Mapudungún (or mapuche), Quechua and Rapa Nui.
Religion: 76.7% Catholic – 13.25% Evangelical – 10.05% Other.
POPULATION BY REGION
According to the last census in 2002,
the Metropolitan Region, where the Chilean capital, Santiago is located, has 6,061,185 inhabitants
Biobío Region: 1,861,562 inhabitants
Valparaíso Region: 1,539,852 inhabitants
Los Lagos Region: 1,073,135 inhabitants
Maule Region: 908, 097 inhabitants

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Recent archeological investigations demonstrate that the national territory has been occupied since 10,000 B.C. In the 16th Century part of the country belonged to the Incan Empire, when it was discovered and conquered by the Spanish. Chile began its period of autonomy from Spain in 1810, with the declaration of the First National Government Assembly, and gained independence on February 2, 1818, when the Declaration of Independence was written.