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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January, 2004
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2004.


This page was last updated on 27 January, 2005


Map of Chile

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Chile
Background:
Definition Field Listing
A three-year-old Marxist government was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.
   Geography    Chile
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
30 00 S, 71 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
South America
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 756,950 sq km
land: 748,800 sq km
water: 8,150 sq km
note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 6,171 km
border countries: Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
6,435 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200/350 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 2.65%
permanent crops: 0.42%
other: 96.93% (2001)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
18,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15,823,957 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 2,090,165; female 1,996,972)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 5,235,061; female 5,261,820)
65 years and over: 7.8% (male 515,698; female 724,241) (2004 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 29.8 years
male: 28.9 years
female: 30.7 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.01% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15.77 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.71 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 9.05 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 76.38 years
male: 73.09 years
female: 79.82 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.06 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
26,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,400 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Chilean(s)
adjective: Chilean
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish negligible
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Spanish
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.4%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
   Government    Chile
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Chile
conventional short form: Chile
local long form: Republica de Chile
local short form: Chile
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Santiago
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
18 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981, amended 30 July 1989, 1993, and 1997
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
note: Chile is in the process of completely overhauling its criminal justice system; a new, US-style adversarial system is being gradually implemented throughout the country with the final stage of implementation in the Santiago metropolitan region expected in June 2005
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 12 December 1999, with runoff election held 16 January 2000 (next to be held NA December 2005)
election results: Ricardo LAGOS Escobar elected president; percent of vote - Ricardo LAGOS Escobar 51.32%, Joaquin LAVIN 48.68%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (48 seats, 38 elected by popular vote, 9 designated members, and 1 former president who has served a full six-year term and is senator for life); elected members serve eight-year terms (one-half elected every four years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2005); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2005)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPD 20 (PDC 12, PS 5, PPD 3), APC 16 (UDI 9, RN 7), independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPD 62 (PDC 24, PPD 21, PS 11, PRSD 6), UDI 35, RN 22, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the president and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the court itself; the president of the Supreme Court is elected by the 21-member court); Constitutional Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Alliance for Chile ("Alianza") or APC - including RN and UDI; Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Adolfo ZALDIVAR]; Coalition of Parties for Democracy ("Concertacion") or CPD - including PDC, PS, PPD, PRSD; Communist Party or PC [Gladys MARIN]; Independent Democratic Union or UDI [Pablo LONGUEIRA]; National Renewal or RN [Sebastian PINERA]; Party for Democracy or PPD [Victor BARRUETO]; Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Orlando CANTUARIAS]; Socialist Party or PS [Gonzalo MARTNER]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
revitalized university student federations at all major universities; Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
APEC, BIS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Andres BIANCHI
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Craig A. KELLY
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago
mailing address: APO AA 34033
telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600
FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red stands for the blood spilled to achieve independence; design was influenced by the US flag
   Economy    Chile
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile's reputation as a role model for economic reform was strengthened when the democratic government of Patricio AYLWIN - which took over from the military in 1990 - deepened the economic reform initiated by the military government. Growth in real GDP averaged 8% during 1991-97, but fell to half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary policies implemented to keep the current account deficit in check and because of lower export earnings - the latter a product of the global financial crisis. A severe drought exacerbated the recession in 1999, reducing crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls and electricity rationing, and Chile experienced negative economic growth for the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effects of the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of 1999, exports and economic activity had begun to recover, and growth rebounded to 4.2% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.1% in 2001 and 2.1% in 2002, largely due to lackluster global growth and the devaluation of the Argentine peso, but recovered to 3.2% in 2003. Unemployment, although declining over the past year, remains stubbornly high, putting pressure on President LAGOS to improve living standards. One bright spot was the signing of a free trade agreement with the US, which took effect on 1 January 2004. In 2004, GDP growth is set to accelerate to more than 4% as copper prices rise, export earnings grow, and foreign direct investment picks up.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $154.7 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $9,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 6.4%
industry: 38.6%
services: 55.1% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
21.2% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
20.6% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 41% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
56.7 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.8% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture 13.6%, industry 23.4%, services 63% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.5% (2003 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $15.44 billion
expenditures: $16.02 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2003 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14.8% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, beans, beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.5% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
41.66 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
40.13 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
1.386 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13,640 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
241,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
81.05 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.47 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.27 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
67.78 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$-594 million (2003)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$20.44 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
copper, fish, fruits, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 16.2%, Japan 10.5%, China 8.6%, South Korea 4.7%, Mexico 4.3%, Italy 4.2% (2003)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$17.4 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
consumer goods, chemicals, motor vehicles, fuels, electrical machinery, heavy industrial machinery, food
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Argentina 19.4%, US 13%, Brazil 10.4%, China 6.6% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$15.84 billion (2003)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$43.15 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
ODA, $40 million (2001 est.)
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
Chilean peso (CLP)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
CLP
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Chilean pesos per US dollar - 691.433 (2003), 688.936 (2002), 634.938 (2001), 535.466 (2000), 508.777 (1999)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Chile
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.467 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,445,700 (2002)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations
international: country code - 56; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.cl
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
202,429 (2003)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.575 million (2002)
   Transportation    Chile
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 6,585 km
broad gauge: 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1,317 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 79,814 km
paved: 15,484 km (including 294 km of expressways)
unpaved: 64,330 km (2000)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 2,583 km; gas/lpg 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil 1,003 km; refined products 757 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Antofagasta, Arica, Chanaral, Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 725,216 GRT/954,519 DWT
by type: bulk 10, cargo 5, chemical tanker 9, container 3, liquefied gas 1, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea/passenger 1, vehicle carrier 4
foreign-owned: Argentina 1
registered in other countries: 28 (2003 est.)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
363 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 71
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 15 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 293
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 60
under 914 m: 217 (2004 est.)
   Military    Chile
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Army of the Nation, National Navy (including Naval Air, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps), Air Force of the Nation, Chilean Carabineros (National Police)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for compulsory military service; all citizens 18-45 are obligated to perform military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy and Air Force (2004)
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 4,207,066 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 3,107,454 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males: 131,283 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2,839.6 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4% (2003)
   Transnational Issues    Chile
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Bolivia has reactivated its claim to the Atacama corridor ceded to Chile in 1884 to secure sovereign maritime access for Bolivian natural gas; dispute with Peru over the economic zone delimited by the maritime boundary; Beagle Channel islands dispute resolved through Papal mediation in 1984, but armed incidents persist since 1992 oil discovery; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
important transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe and the US; economic prosperity and increasing trade have made Chile more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits, especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone, but a new anti-money-laundering law improves controls; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising

This page was last updated on 27 January, 2005


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