What is the capital of Chile?
Santiago sits in a basin of Chile's central valley on the Mapocho river, hemmed in by the Andes to the east and the coastal range to the west.
Santiago is the capital and seat of government of Chile, a role it has held since 1818. Chile itself has an estimated population of 19,859,921 (2025).
Santiago is also the largest city in Chile, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Santiago at a glance
| City population | 6,269,384 (2017, urban area) |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan area | 6,903,479 (2017) |
| Country | 🇨🇱 Chile |
| Founded | 1541 |
| Capital since | 1818 |
| Largest city in Chile | Santiago |
| Time zone | UTC−04:00 (CLT) |
| Currency | Chilean peso (CLP) |
About Santiago
Santiago was founded on 12 February 1541 by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia.
Santiago has been the capital of Chile since 1818, Santiago has been Chile's capital since independence, and its political centre since its founding in 1541.
Santiago is Chile's largest city and its political, financial and cultural centre, home to a large share of the country's population.
Its basin setting between two mountain ranges can trap smog over the city, especially in winter.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Santiago.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Chile?
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Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of Chile on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.