16 September 1810 (declared); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)
18 September 1810 (from Spain)
Religions
Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3% (Pentecostal 1.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 3.8%), other 0.3%, unspecified 13.8%, none 3.1% (2000 census)
Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3% (2002 census)
Languages
Spanish only 92.7%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.7%, indigenous only 0.8%, unspecified 0.8%; note - indigenous languages include various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional languages (2005)
copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine
External Debt
$125,700,000,000 $
$102,100,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar - 11.016 (2008 est.), 10.8 (2007), 10.899 (2006), 10.898 (2005), 11.286 (2004)
Chilean pesos (CLP) per US dollar - 509.02 (2008 est.), 526.25 (2007), 530.29 (2006), 560.09 (2005), 609.37 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.500%
2.100%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
3
1
Location
Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US
Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Area
1,964,375 km sq
756,102 km sq
Coastline
9,330 km
6,435 km
Climate
varies from tropical to desert
temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south
