Profile - Chile

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Chile

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10/4/2008https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/ci.html


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Introduction Chile

Background: Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chilewas under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians (also known as Mapuches)inhabited central and southern Chile. Although Chile declared itsindependence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was notachieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated

Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern regions. It was not untilthe 1880s that the Araucanian Indians were completely subjugated. Athree-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE wasoverthrown in 1973 by a military coup led by Augusto PINOCHET, whoruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Soundeconomic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, havecontributed to steady growth, reduced poverty rates by over half, andhave helped secure the country's commitment to democratic andrepresentative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional andinternational leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democraticnation.

Geography Chile

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South PacificOcean, between Argentina and Peru

Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 W

Map references: South America

Area: total: 756,950 sq kmland: 748,800 sq kmwater: 8,150 sq km

note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and IslaSala y Gomez

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana

Land boundaries: total: 6,339 kmborder countries: Argentina 5,308 km, Bolivia 860 km,Peru 171 km

Coastline: 6,435 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200/350 nm

Climate: temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in centralregion; cool and damp in south

Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; ruggedAndes in east

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m




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highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m

Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals,molybdenum, hydropower

Land use: arable land: 2.62%permanent crops: 0.43%

other: 96.95% (2005)Irrigated land: 19,000 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 922 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal(domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 12.55 cu km/yr (11%/25%/64%)per capita: 770 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis

Environment - current issues: widespread deforestation and mining threaten naturalresources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle

emissions; water pollution from raw sewageEnvironment - international

agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, AntarcticTreaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selectedagreements

Geography - note:strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlanticand Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, BeagleChannel, Drake Passage); Atacama Desert is one ofworld'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 yearsmale: 30.1 yearsfemale: 32.1 years (2008 est.)

Populationgrowth rate:

0.905% (2008 est.)

Birth rate: 14.82 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 5.77 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)




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Net migrationrate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortalityrate:

total: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancyat birth:

total population: 77.15 yearsmale: 73.88 yearsfemale: 80.59 years (2008 est.)

Total fertilityrate:

1.95 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adultprevalence rate: 0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS -people living

with HIV/AIDS:

26,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS -deaths:

1,400 (2003 est.)

Nationality: noun: Chilean(s)adjective: Chilean

Ethnic groups: white and white-Amerindian 95.4%, Mapuche 4%, other indigenous

groups 0.6% (2002 census)

Religions: Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, otherChristian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3% (2002 census)

Languages: Spanish (official), Mapudungun, German, English

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.7%male: 95.8%female: 95.6% (2002 census)

School lifeexpectancy(primary to

tertiaryeducation):

total: 14 yearsmale: 14 yearsfemale: 14 years (2006)

Educationexpenditures:

3.2% of GDP (2006)

Government Chile

Country name:




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conventional long form: Republic of Chileconventional short form: Chilelocal long form: Republica de Chilelocal short form: Chile

Governmenttype:

republic

Capital: name: Santiagogeographic coordinates: 33 27 S, 70 40 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in October; endssecond Sunday in March

Administrativedivisions:

15 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanezdel Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Arica y Parinacota, Atacama,Biobio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos,Los Rios, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region

Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaisonote: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Independence: 18 September 1810 (from Spain)

Nationalholiday:

Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

Constitution: 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 1989, 1991,1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2005

Legal system: based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codesinfluenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of legislative acts

in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; note- in June 2005, Chile completed overhaul of its criminal justice system toa new, US-style adversarial system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executivebranch:

chief of state: President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11 March2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11March 2006)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

elections: president elected by popular vote for a single four-year term;election last held 11 December 2005, with runoff election held 15January 2006 (next to be held in December 2009)election results: Michelle BACHELET Jeria elected president; percent ofvote - Michelle BACHELET Jeria 53.5%; Sebastian PINERA Echenique46.5%

Legislativebranch:

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of theSenate or Senado (38 seats; members elected by popular vote to serveeight-year terms; one-half elected every four years) and the Chamber of




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Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 11 December 2005 (next to be held inDecember 2009); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 2005(next to be held in December 2009)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -CPD 20 (PDC 6, PS 8, PPD 3, PRSD 3), APC 17 (UDI 9, RN 8),independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - CPD 65 (PDC 21, PPD 22, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 54(UDI 34, RN 20), independent 1; note - as of 8 January 2008: Senate -seats by party - CPD 18, (PDC 5, PS 8, PPD 2, PRSD 3), APC 16 (UDI9, RN 7), independent 4; Chamber of Deputies - seats by party - CPD 57(PDC 16, PPD 19, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 53 (UDI 33, RN 20),independent 10.

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the presidentand ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the courtitself; the president of the Supreme Court is elected every three years by

the 20-member court); Constitutional TribunalPolitical parties

and leaders:Alliance for Chile (Alianza) or APC (including National Renewal or RN[Carlos LARRAIN Pena] and Independent Democratic Union or UDI[Hernan LARRAIN Fernandez]); Coalition of Parties for Democracy(Concertacion) or CPD (including Christian Democratic Party or PDC[Soledad ALVEAR], Socialist Party or PS [Camilo ESCALONAMedina], Party for Democracy or PPD [Sergio BITAR Chacra], RadicalSocial Democratic Party or PRSD [Jose Antonio GOMEZ Urrutia]);Communist Party or PC [Guillermo TEILLIER]; Humanist Party[Marilen CABRERA Olmos]

Politicalpressure

groups andleaders:

Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT includes tradeunionists from the country's five largest labor confederationsother: revitalized university student federations at all major universities

Internationalorganization

participation:

APEC, BIS, CAN (associate), FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM,OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMOGIP,UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTO

Diplomaticrepresentation

in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mariano FERNANDEZchancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, NewYork, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomaticrepresentation

chief of mission: Ambassador Paul E. SIMONSembassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago




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from the US: mailing address: APO AA 34033telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710, 330-3160

Flagdescription:

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; a blue square the sameheight as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; thesquare 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 represents the blood spilled to achieveindependencenote: design was influenced by the US flag

Economy Chile

Economy -overview:

Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level offoreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile's reputation as a role modelfor economic reform was strengthened when the democratic governmentof 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 thatlevel in 1998 because of tight monetary policies implemented to keep thecurrent account deficit in check and because of lower export earnings -the latter a product of the global financial crisis. A severe droughtexacerbated the recession in 1999, reducing crop yields and causinghydroelectric shortfalls and electricity rationing, and Chile experiencednegative economic growth for the first time in more than 15 years.Despite the effects of the recession, Chile maintained its reputation forstrong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it thestrongest sovereign bond rating in South America. Between 2000 and2007 growth ranged between 2%-6%. Throughout these years Chile

maintained a low rate of inflation with GDP growth coming from highcopper prices, solid export earnings (particularly forestry, fishing, andmining), and growing domestic consumption. President BACHELET in2006 established an Economic and Social Stabilization Fund to holdexcess copper revenues so that social spending can be maintained duringperiods of copper shortfalls. This fund probably surpassed $20 billion atthe end of 2007. Chile continues to attract foreign direct investment, butmost foreign investment goes into gas, water, electricity and mining.Unemployment has exhibited a downward trend over the past two years,dropping to 7.8% and 7.0% at the end of 2006 and 2007, respectively.Chile deepened its longstanding commitment to trade liberalization withthe signing of a free trade agreement with the US, which took effect on 1

January 2004. Chile claims to have more bilateral or regional tradeagreements than any other country. It has 57 such agreements (not all ofthem full free trade agreements), including with the European Union,Mercosur, China, India, South Korea, and Mexico.

GDP(purchasing

power parity):

$232.8 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official $163.8 billion (2007 est.)




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exchange rate):

GDP - realgrowth rate:

5.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita(PPP):

$14,300 (2007 est.)

GDP -composition bysector:

agriculture: 4.8%industry: 51.2%services: 44% (2007 est.)

Labor force: 7.167 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - byoccupation:

agriculture: 13.6%industry: 23.4%services: 63% (2003)

Unemploymentrate:

7% (2007 est.)

Populationbelow povertyline:

18.2% (2005)

Householdincome or

consumption bypercentage

share:

lowest 10%: 1.4%highest 10%: 45% (2003)

Distribution offamily income -

Gini index:

54.9 (2003)

Inflation rate(consumer

prices):

4.4% (2007 est.)

Investment(gross fixed):

20.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget: revenues: $44.96 billionexpenditures: $30.51 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 4.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Agriculture -products:

grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic,

asparagus, beans; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timberIndustries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood

and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles

Industrialproduction

growth rate:

11.1% (2007 est.)

Electricity -production:

47.6 billion kWh (2006)




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Electricity -production by

source:

fossil fuel: 47%hydro: 51.5%nuclear: 0%other: 1.4% (2001)

Electricity -consumption:


Electricity -exports:

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity -imports:


Oil - production: 15,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil -consumption:

238,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports: 31,510 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports: 222,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)Oil - proved

reserves:150 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas -production:

1.957 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas -consumption:

8.191 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas -exports:

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas -imports: 6.234 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas -proved

reserves:

93.97 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current accountbalance:

$7.2 billion (2007 est.)

Exports: $67.64 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports -commodities:

copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine

Exports -partners:

China 14.8%, US 12.5%, Japan 10.5%, Netherlands 5.8%, South Korea5.7%, Italy 5.1%, Brazil 5% (2007)

Imports: $43.99 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports -commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical andtelecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles, naturalgas

Imports - US 16.7%, China 11.2%, Brazil 10.3%, Argentina 9.9% (2007)




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partners:

Economic aid -recipient:

$0 (2006)

Reserves offoreign

exchange and

gold:

$16.84 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external: $57.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of directforeign

investment - athome:

$91.49 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of directforeign

investment -abroad:

$24.68 billion (2007 est.)

Market value ofpublicly traded

shares:

$174.6 billion (2006)

Currency(code):

Chilean peso (CLP)

Currency code: CLP

Exchange rates: Chilean pesos per US dollar - 526.25 (2007), 530.29 (2006), 560.09(2005), 609.37 (2004), 691.43 (2003)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications Chile

Telephones -main lines in

use:

3.379 million (2007)

Telephones -mobile cellular:

13.955 million (2007)

Telephonesystem:

general assessment: privatization began in 1988; most advancedtelecommunications infrastructure in South America; modern systembased on extensive microwave radio relay facilities; fixed-line

connections have dropped in recent years as mobile-cellular usagecontinues to increase, reaching a level of 85 telephones per 100 personsdomestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellitesystem with 3 earth stationsinternational: country code - 56; submarine cables provide links to theUS and to Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat(Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radiobroadcast

AM 180 (8 inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (1 inactive) (1998)




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stations:

Radios: 5.18 million (1997)

Televisionbroadcast

stations:

63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 3.15 million (1997)

Internet countrycode:

.cl

Internet hosts: 745,375 (2007)

Internet ServiceProviders

(ISPs):

7 (2000)

Internet users: 5.57 million (2007)

Transportation Chile

Airports: 358 (2007)

Airports - withpaved runways:

total: 79over 3,047 m: 52,438 to 3,047 m: 81,524 to 2,437 m: 22914 to 1,523 m: 25under 914 m: 19 (2007)

Airports - withunpaved

runways:

total: 2792,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 12914 to 1,523 m: 49under 914 m: 216 (2007)

Pipelines: gas 2,550 km; gas/liquid petroleum gas 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539km; oil 1,002 km; refined products 757 km; unknown (oil/water) 97 km(2007)

Railways: total: 6,585 kmbroad gauge: 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1,317 km electrified)narrow gauge: 3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways: total: 80,505 kmpaved: 16,745 km (includes 2,414 km of expressways)unpaved: 63,760 km (2004)

Merchantmarine:

total: 45 ships (1000 GRT or over) 604,499 GRT/812,133 DWTby type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 7, chemical tanker 9, container 1, liquefiedgas 2, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off1, vehicle carrier 3registered in other countries: 38 (Argentina 7, Brazil 1, Isle of Man 6,Marshall Islands 4, Norway 2, Panama 11, Singapore 6, Venezuela 1)




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(2008)

Ports andterminals:

Coronel, Huasco, Lirquen, Puerto Ventanas, San Antonio, San Vicente,Valparaiso

Military Chile

Militarybranches: Army of the Nation, Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes naval air,marine corps, and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine Directorate

(Directemar)), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile, FACh),Carabineros Corps (Cuerpo de Carabineros) (2008)

Military serviceage and

obligation:

18-45 years of age for voluntary male and female military service,although the right to compulsory recruitment is retained; serviceobligation - 12 months for Army, 22 months for Navy and Air Force(2008)

Manpoweravailable for

military service:

males age 16-49: 4,242,912females age 16-49: 4,182,509 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit formilitary service:

males age 16-49: 3,542,448females age 16-49: 3,500,059 (2008 est.)

Manpowerreachingmilitarily

significant ageannually:

male: 147,518female: 141,139 (2008 est.)

Militaryexpenditures:

2.7% of GDP (2006)

Transnational

Issues Chile

Disputes -international:

Chile and Peru rebuff Bolivia's reinvigorated claim to restore theAtacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, but Chile has offered insteadunrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile to Boliviangas and other commodities; Chile rejects Peru's unilateral legislation tochange its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chile to an equidistanceline with a southwestern axis favoring Peru, in October 2007, Peru tookits maritime complaint with Chile to the ICJ; territorial claim inAntarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine andBritish claims; the joint boundary commission, established by Chile and

Argentina in 2001, has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundaryin the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur)

Illicit drugs: transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe and the region;economic prosperity and increasing trade have made Chile moreattractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits, especiallythrough the Iquique Free Trade Zone, but a recent anti-money-launderinglaw improves controls; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia;domestic cocaine consumption is rising, making Chile a significantconsumer of cocaine




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