Valdivia is a city and commune located in southern Chile. It serves as the capital of both the Valdivia Province and the Los Ríos Region, a designation it has held since October 2007. The city was named in honor of its founder, Pedro de Valdivia, and is situated at the confluence of the Calle-Calle, Valdivia, and Cau-Cau Rivers, roughly 15 km east of the coastal towns of Corral and Niebla.
The region's economy is primarily driven by forestry, wood pulp manufacturing, metallurgy, beer production, and tourism. According to the 2025 national census, the commune has a population of 110,980 inhabitants, with 150,048 residents living specifically within the city limits. Valdivia is also an important academic and judicial hub, housing the Austral University of Chile, the Centro de Estudios Científicos, and one of the country's three environmental courts.