Culture Shock! Chile - A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette

Fast Facts 233

Capital

Santiago

Administrative Divisions

Chile is made up of 14 regions and the Metropolitan Region
of Santiago. A recent reform increased the number of regions
from 12 to 14. Previously, regions were known by their
number more than their name. In order from north to south:
Arica y Parinacota (13th, new); Tarapacá (1st); Antofagasta
(2nd); Atacama (3rd); Coquimbo (4th); Valparaíso (5th);
Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins (6th); Maule (7th);
Bío Bío (8th); Araucanía (9th); Valdivia (14th, new); Los
Lagos (10th); Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
(11th); Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena (12th); Región
Metropolitana ( Santiago)

Currency

Chilean peso (CLP)

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

US$ 161.8 billion (2009 est.)

Agriculture Products

Grapes, apples, pears, onions, tomatoes, wheat, corn, oats,
peaches, plums, kiwi, garlic, asparagus, beans, beef, poultry,
wool, fish and timber.

Industries

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

Exports

Copper, fruit, fishmeal and fish, paper and pulp, chemicals
and wine.