Capital of Chile: Santiago
The capital of Chile is Santiago. Chile sits in South America, has a population of 19,603,733, and uses the CLP. Official languages include Spanish.
Quick facts
- Capital: Santiago
- Continent: South America
- Population: ~19,603,733
- Area: 756,102 km²
- Population density: 25.9 people per km²
- Official language: Spanish
- Currency: CLP
- ISO code: CL
How big is Chile?
By population, Chile ranks 65th in the world, holding roughly 0.25% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 37th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Chile has 25.9 people per square kilometre, which is about 2.3 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within South America, Chile is the 6th most populous country of 12.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Chile in population are Romania (19,659,267) and Kazakhstan (19,397,998).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Zambia (752,612 km²) and Turkey (783,562 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Spanish is spoken officially in 20 countries in this dataset, including Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica and Cuba, and 14 others.
Chile uses the CLP, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
Chile in South America
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Peru.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — South America is the block Chile belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Chile and a page on the flag of Chile.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Chile?
The capital of Chile is Santiago.
What is the population of Chile?
About 19,603,733, making it the 65th most populous country in the world.
How big is Chile?
756,102 square kilometres, ranking 37th by land area, at a density of 25.9 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Chile use?
The CLP, which no other country uses.