CHILE

President: Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000)

Government System: Republic

Capital City: Santiago

Population: 15,980,912 (July 2005 est.)

Climate: Temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south.

Internet Users: 3.575 million (2002)

Telephone Users (mobile/cellular): 6,445,700 (2002)

Literacy (total population): Total population: 96.2%

Life Expectancy at Birth: Total population: 76.58 years

Natural Resources: Copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower.

Industries: Copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles.

Agricultural Products: Grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, beans, beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber.

Export Partners: US 14%, Japan 11.4%, China 9.9%, South Korea 5.5%, Netherlands 5.1%, Brazil 4.3%, Italy 4.1%, Mexico 4% (2004).

Import Partners: Argentina 17%, US 14%, Brazil 11.2%, China 7.4% (2004).

Currency: Chilean peso (CLP)

Flag Description: Two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red stands for the blood spilled to achieve independence; design was influenced by the US flag.

To learn more about Chile please click here: CHILE

REFERENCE - used by permission:

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency - The World Fact Book. Retrieved January 18, 2006, from http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ci.html

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