Geography - note:
strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage); Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions
People
Chile
Population:
16,454,143 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.6% (male 1,987,962/female 1,899,489) 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 5,556,867/female 5,563,666) 65 years and over: 8.8% (male 602,789/female 843,370) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.1 years male: 30.1 years female: 32.1 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate: