Updated on December 22, 2023 by Lou Mac
Are you curious about the long, thin South American country that is Chile?
Perhaps you know people who’ve been there, or even know a few Chileans, but the country itself remains a mystery to you.
There are thousands of cool facts about Chile, but in this blog post I’ve picked some of the most interesting to share with you.
You’ll be booking your flight there by the end of this!
1. Chile’s President is One of the Youngest in the World
President Gabriel Boric is one of the youngest presidents in the world, being only 37 years old!
More impressively, he came into power in 2022 when he was only 35 years old – and at that time, he was the youngest world leader.
President Boric’s win was also historic because he’s the first left-leaning president Chile has seen since 1970, when Pinochet started the dictatorship. ¡Viva Chile!
2. Chilean Spanish is (Arguably) the Hardest Spanish to Understand
I know that a lot of cultures like to say that their Spanish is the hardest to understand, but I think that Chileans definitely take the cake on this one.
To start, they speak incredibly fast. They also have an interesting cadence to the way they speak, and tend to not pronounce all the letters in their words.
They also have an incredible amount of slang – really, it almost feels like another language in itself!
If you’re interested in learning more, we’ve written two full blog posts on the topic: you can find interesting information on Chilean Spanish (their accent and pronunciation etc) in this post, and you can learn the most essential Chilean slang in this one.
3. Chileans Consume the Most Bread in Latin America
Bread is a staple in the Chilean diet, and Chileans actually eat the most bread per capita out of all the other countries in Latin America. Who knew!
And this isn’t all that surprising, seeing as you can get really nice bread in Chile.
Coming from New Zealand, I wasn’t used to eating freshly baked bread: we usually buy a loaf in our weekly shop. But in Chile it’s most common to buy bread every few days, and if you can get it fresh, it’s absolutely delicious.
4. Chile is Possibly the Narrowest Country in the World (and Almost the Longest)
Chile is one of the narrowest, if not the narrowest country in the world.
This is because the beautiful Andes mountain ranges, which act like a sort of natural barrier, separates the territories of Chile and Argentina.
The short distance between the Andes and the coast, and the massive distance between the north and south gives the country its extreme narrowness.
Chile is often thought of as the longest country in the world, but according to some people, Brazil actually claims this title.
5. The Atacama Desert in Chile is the Driest Desert in the World
Impressively, the Atacama desert in Chile is the driest desert on earth!
And, if you don’t count the North and South Poles, the Atacama desert is the driest place on earth.
Some parts of the desert, located near Antofagasta in the north, are so dry that they have never even had recorded rainfall.
Despite its harsh conditions, the desert is home to some incredible flora and fauna, as well as some of the world’s best stargazing. It’s a must-see if you’re ever in Chile!
6. The Landscape of Chile is Incredibly Diverse
Another misconception about Chile is that it has a hot climate, but that’s not in fact true.
Well, it’s partly not true!
While there are areas of Chile which are extremely hot and dry (like the Atacama desert we just mentioned), there are also areas which are extremely cold and experience a lot of rainfall.
This is due to the amount of land that Chile covers – you’ll find deserts in the north and glaciers in the South, and just about everything else in between!
7. The Largest Earthquake Ever Recorded Occurred in Chile
Chile is well-known for its seismic activity.
It’s situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire and sits at the meeting point of three tectonic plates, so along with being filled with volcanoes, it’s also very prone to earthquakes.
In 1960, the strongest earthquake ever recorded shook the country. It had a magnitude of 9.5 and struck off the coast of southern Chile, generating tsunami waves as far as Japan and Hawaii.
It left around 2 million Chileans homeless and killed more than 1600 people. The city of Valdivia was particularly devastated.
But don’t be too afraid of visiting – Chileans follow strict building protocols to withstand these sorts of events!
8. Almost a Third of the Population Lives in Greater Santiago
The bustling metropolis of Santiago and the greater Santiago region is home to around 6 million people – and counting!
The total population of Chile is around 19 million, meaning that almost a third of the population live in greater Santiago.
This also means that the rest of this long country is pretty sparsely populated, making it a great place to explore if you want to disconnect from society a little.
9. Chile Has 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Chile is home to seven UNESCO world heritage sites, which are places identified as having some sort of significance – be it cultural, historical, scientific or otherwise.
Here’s a list of Chile’s sites, ordered by date of inscription. Have a read of each and add them to your Chile bucket list!
- Rapa Nui National Park
- Churches of Chiloé
- Historic Quarter of Valparaíso
- Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works
- Sewell Mining Town
- Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System
- Settlement and Artificial Mummification in the Arica and Parinacota Region
10. Chile Has a Thriving Wine Industry
You may have heard about Chilean wine, from bold cabernets and crisp sauvignon blancs to the emblematic carménère.
With a perfect blend of climate and soil, Chile has a thriving wine industry: it exported approximately 1.91 billion dollars worth of wine in 2021 alone!
Visit specific regions in Chile and you’ll see rolling vineyards nestled against the Andes’ dramatic backdrop. Sampling the different wines there is a must-do for any tourist!
11. Chile is One of the Safest Countries in Latin America
Chile is one of the safest countries in South America! It ranked 1.87 on the Global Peace Index in 2023 – which is in line with the world average.
Despite what some people may tell you, you can freely explore urban streets, historic sites, and natural beauty without undue concern – especially in the south.
While there are some things you need to be aware of, if you’re seeking a South American destination with peace of mind, Chile fits the bill perfectly.
Click here to read all about safety in Chile in 2024.
12. Pisco Comes from Chile
Pisco is more than just a beverage: it’s a cultural emblem in Chile. Even just sniffing a bottle of it transports me right back there!
This grape-based spirit is made into the famous pisco sour, but perhaps more commonly in Chile, it’s used to make piscola – a combination of pisco and Coca Cola. If you haven’t tried either of these two drinks, make sure you do! They’re among a ton of Chilean food and drinks you need to try.
While there is an ongoing battle over whether pisco was first made in Chile or Peru, it looks like evidence is more in Chile’s favor (I could, however, be a tad biased).
13. Chile Has the Oldest Mummies in the World
The oldest mummies in the world were found in Arica, Chile. They are so old that they are said to be around 2000 years older than mummies found in Egypt!
The incredibly dry climate in the Atacama Desert (that we mentioned earlier in the post) has helped preserve them for all this time.
They belong to the Chinchorro people, who lived off a diet of around 90% seafood.
14. The Tallest Building in South America is in Chile
The Gran Torre Santiago (in, you guessed it, Santiago!) is the tallest building in South America, standing at a towering 300 metres.
It also houses the largest shopping complex in South America, so it’s an ideal destination for those after a little retail therapy.
Completed in 2013, this used to be the biggest building in the whole of Latin America – until 2020, when the Torres Obispado was completed in Mexico. That building stands at 305 metres, which is a little suspicious. Almost makes you think that was done on purpose!
15. Millions of Tourists Visit Chile Every Year
While Chile has nothing on tourist hot spots like Spain and Italy, you might be surprised to know that Chile still sees millions of international visitors each year.
Tourism in the beautiful country tends to increase year by year, though they were hit hard by the COVID 19 pandemic (like the rest of the world). Tourism dropped from 6.6 million in 2018 (I was among those numbers!) to just 190,000 in 2021.
If you haven’t visited already, I suggest you do soon – it’s only going to get more and more popular!
16. Football is the Most Popular Sport
This probably won’t come as a surprise to most people, but football (fútbol) is Chile’s national sport.
But sadly, despite their love of the sport, Chile has been very unlucky in recent years when it comes to their team’s performance. They haven’t qualified for the World Cup since 1962, and the closest they’ve come to winning was in 1962, when they were the hosts.
But I have faith in them – bring on 2026!
I hope these facts about Chile have you eager to explore this beautiful country!
From stunning landscapes to world-renowned wines and historic mummies, Chile is a treasure trove of experiences.
Whether you’re planning on wandering through the bustling streets of Valparaíso or raising a piscola in Patagonia, you won’t be disappointed.