Chile

Indigenous groups inhabited central and southern Chile for several thousand years, living in mixed pastoralist and settled communities. The Inca then ruled the north of the country for nearly a century prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. In 1541, the Spanish established the Captaincy General of Chile, which lasted until Chile declared its independence in 1810. The subsequent struggle with the Spanish became tied to other South American independence conflicts, with a decisive victory not being achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia to win its current northernmost regions. By the 1880s, the Chilean central government cemented its control over the central and southern regions inhabited by Mapuche Indigenous peoples. Between 1891 and 1973, a series of elected governments succeeded each other until the Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 in a military coup led by General Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a democratically elected president was inaugurated in 1990. Economic reforms that were maintained consistently since the 1980s contributed to steady growth, reduced poverty rates by over half, and 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.

land

743,812 sq km

note

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

total

756,102 sq km

water

12,290 sq km

slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana

temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south

6,435 km

highest point

Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,893 m (highest volcano in the world)

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

1,871 m

30 00 S, 71 00 W

note 1: the longest north-south trending country in the world, extending across 39 degrees of latitude; strategic location relative to sea lanes between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage) note 2: Chile is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire note 3: the Atacama Desert -- the driest desert in the world -- spreads across the northern part of the country; Ojos del Salado (6,893 m) in the Atacama Desert is the highest active volcano in the world, Chile's tallest mountain, and the second highest in the Western Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere -- its small crater lake (at 6,390 m) is the world's highest lake

11,100 sq km (2012)

border countries

Argentina 6,691 km; Bolivia 942 km; Peru 168 km

total

7,801 km

agricultural land

21.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.)

forest

21.9% (2018 est.)

other

57% (2018 est.)

Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru

fresh water lake(s)

Lago General Carrera (shared with Argentina) - 2,240 sq km; Lago O'Higgins (shared with Argentina) - 1,010 sq km; Lago Llanquihue - 800 sq km; Lago Fagnano (shared with Argentina) - 590 sq km

South America

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200/350 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamisvolcanism: significant volcanic activity due to more than three-dozen active volcanoes along the Andes Mountains; Lascar (5,592 m), which last erupted in 2007, is the most active volcano in the northern Chilean Andes; Llaima (3,125 m) in central Chile, which last erupted in 2009, is another of the country's most active; Chaiten's 2008 eruption forced major evacuations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Cerro Hudson, Calbuco, Copahue, Guallatiri, Llullaillaco, Nevados de Chillan, Puyehue, San Pedro, and Villarrica; see note 2 under "Geography - note"

copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower

90% of the population is located in the middle third of the country around the capital of Santiago; the far north (anchored by the Atacama Desert) and the extreme south are relatively underpopulated

low coastal mountains, fertile central valley, rugged Andes in east

0-14 years

19.2% (male 1,822,908/female 1,751,528)

15-64 years

67.3% (male 6,274,620/female 6,278,467)

65 years and over

13.6% (2024 est.) (male 1,072,208/female 1,464,921)

beer

2.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

2.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

7.8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

2.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

12.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

0.5% (2014)

76.3% (2015/16)

9.8% of GDP (2020)

46.3% (2023 est.)

6.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Chile is in the advanced stages of demographic transition and is becoming an aging society—with fertility below replacement level, low mortality rates, and life expectancy on par with developed countries. The share of older, those 65 and early, people may exceed 65% by 2065. Nevertheless, with its dependency ratio nearing its low point, Chile could benefit from its favorable age structure. It will need to keep its large working-age population productively employed, while preparing to provide for the needs of its growing proportion of elderly people, especially as women—the traditional caregivers—increasingly enter the workforce. Over the last two decades, Chile has made great strides in reducing its poverty rate, but income inequality remains persistent in large part because a lack of a lack of access to quality education. Chile has been both a country of emigration and immigration. After becoming independent in 1810, Chile began seeking out immigrants from Europe to establish factories and to populate the southern part of the country.  Following the two World Wars, fears of an influx of refugees prompted Chile to stop encouraging European immigration. However, Arab immigration increased between 1907 and 1940.  During the Pinochet dictatorship that began in 1973, hundreds of thousands of Chileans emigrated, adding to the thousands who had left in the 1950s.  At the same time, the repressiveness of the Pinochet regime discouraged the arrival of new immigrants.  With the return of democracy and improving economic stability in 1990, some emigrants returned and new immigrants arrived from other South American countries experiencing deteriorating economic and political conditions. Immigration became more diverse starting in the 2010s, with the arrival of Haitians and Colombians of African descent.  However, the largest group of recent immigrants are Venezuelans fleeing their country’s socio-economic and political crisis.  As of 2020, almost one-third of Chile’s immigrant population are Venezuelan, while other top source countries continue to be Peru, Haiti, and Colombia.  Nearly 1.5 million immigrants account for almost 9% of Chile’s total population, as of 2020.

elderly dependency ratio

18.4

potential support ratio

5.4 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

45.2

youth dependency ratio

26.8

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

5.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

White and non-Indigenous 88.9%, Mapuche 9.1%, Aymara 0.7%, other Indigenous groups 1% (includes Rapa Nui, Likan Antai, Quechua, Colla, Diaguita, Kawesqar, Yagan or Yamana), unspecified 0.3% (2012 est.)

0.85 (2024 est.)

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2018)

female

5.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

6.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Spanish 99.5% (official), English 10.2%, Indigenous 1% (includes Mapudungun, Aymara, Quechua, Rapa Nui), other 2.3%, unspecified 0.2%  (2012 est.)

major-language sample(s)

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note

note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

female

83.3 years

male

77.3 years

total population

80.3 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

97% (2021)

male

97.1%

total population

97%

6.903 million SANTIAGO (capital), 1.009 million Valparaiso, 912,000 Concepcion (2023)

15 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

38.2 years

male

35.8 years

total

36.9 years (2024 est.)

adjective

Chilean

noun

Chilean(s)

0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

28% (2016)

2.84 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

female

9,494,916 (2024 est.)

male

9,169,736

total

18,664,652

90% of the population is located in the middle third of the country around the capital of Santiago; the far north (anchored by the Atacama Desert) and the extreme south are relatively underpopulated

0.61% (2024 est.)

Roman Catholic 42%, Evangelical 14%, other 6%, none 37% (2021 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

female

17 years (2020)

male

16 years

total

17 years

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.73 male(s)/female

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

26.8% (2020 est.)

male

31.6% (2020 est.)

total

29.2% (2020 est.)

1.75 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

88% of total population (2023)

16 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aysen, Antofagasta, Araucania, Arica y Parinacota, Atacama, Biobio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Los Rios, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena (Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica), Maule, Nuble, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso

note

note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins second Sunday in August; ends second Sunday in May; note - Punta Arenas observes DST throughout the year

etymology

Santiago is named after the biblical figure Saint James (ca. A.D. 3-44), patron saint of Spain, but especially revered in Galicia; "Santiago" derives from the local Galician evolution of the Vulgar Latin "Sanctu Iacobu"; Valparaiso derives from the Spanish "Valle Paraiso" meaning "Paradise Valley"

geographic coordinates

33 27 S, 70 40 W

name

Santiago; note - Valparaiso is the seat of the national legislature

time difference

UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

time zone note

Chile has three time zones: the continental portion at UTC-3; the southern Magallanes region, which does not use daylight savings time and remains at UTC-3 for the summer months; and Easter Island at UTC-5

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

amendments

proposed by members of either house of the National Congress or by the president of the republic; passage requires at least four-sevenths majority vote of the membership in both houses and approval by the president; passage of amendments to constitutional articles, such as the republican form of government, basic rights and freedoms, the Constitutional Tribunal, electoral justice, the Council of National Security, or the constitutional amendment process, requires at least four-sevenths majority vote by both houses of Congress and approval by the president; the president can opt to hold a referendum when Congress and the president disagree on an amendment; amended many times, last in 2022

history

many previous; latest adopted 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; in September 2022 and again in December 2023, referendums presented for a new constitution were both defeated, and the September 1980 constitution remains in force

conventional long form

Republic of Chile

conventional short form

Chile

etymology

derivation of the name is unclear, but it may come from the Mapuche word "chilli" meaning "limit of the earth" or from the Quechua "chiri" meaning "cold"

local long form

República de Chile

local short form

Chile

chief of mission

Ambassador Bernadette M. MEEHAN (since 30 September 2022)

email address and website

SantiagoUSA@state.govhttps://cl.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago

FAX

[56] (2) 2330-3710

mailing address

3460 Santiago Place, Washington DC  20521-3460

telephone

[56] (2) 2330-3000

chancery

1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Juan Gabriel VALDES Soublette (since 7 June 2022)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

email address and website

echile.eeuu@minrel.gob.clhttps://chile.gob.cl/estados-unidos/en/

FAX

[1] (202) 887-5579

telephone

[1] (202) 785-1746

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Gabriel BORIC (since 11 March 2022)

election results

2021: Gabriel BORIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Antonio KAST (FSC) 27.9%; Gabriel BORIC (AD) 25.8%; Franco PARISI (PDG) 12.8%; Sebastian SICHEL (ChP+) 12.8%; Yasna PROVOSTE (New Social Pact) 11.6%; other 9.1%; percent of vote in second round - Gabriel BORIC 55.9%; Jose Antonio KAST 44.1%2017: Sebastian PINERA Echenique elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Sebastian PINERA Echenique (independent) 36.6%; Alejandro GUILLIER (independent) 22.7%; Beatriz SANCHEZ (independent) 20.3%; Jose Antonio KAST (independent) 7.9%; Carolina GOIC (PDC) 5.9%; Marco ENRIQUEZ-OMINAMI (PRO) 5.7%; other 0.9%; percent of vote in second round - Sebastian PINERA Echenique 54.6%, Alejandro GUILLIER 45.4%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 4-year term; election last held on 21 November 2021 with a runoff held on 19 December 2021 (next to be held on 23 November 2025 with runoff if needed on 20 December)

head of government

President Gabriel BORIC (since 11 March 2022)

note

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; 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 represents the blood spilled to achieve independence

note

note: design influenced by the US flag

presidential republic

18 September 1810 (from Spain)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

APEC, BIS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (consists of a court president and 20 members or ministros); Constitutional Court (consists of 10 members and is independent of the rest of the judiciary); Elections Qualifying Court (consists of 5 members)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court president and judges (ministers) appointed by the president of the republic and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the court itself; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 by the Supreme Court, 3 by the president of the republic, 2 by the Chamber of Deputies, and 2 by the Senate; members serve 9-year terms with partial membership replacement every 3 years (the court reviews constitutionality of legislation); Elections Qualifying Court members appointed by lottery - 1 by the former president or vice president of the Senate and 1 by the former president or vice president of the Chamber of Deputies, 2 by the Supreme Court, and 1 by the Appellate Court of Valparaiso; members appointed for 4-year terms

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; oral criminal tribunals; military tribunals; local police courts; specialized tribunals and courts in matters such as family, labor, customs, taxes, and electoral affairs

civil law system influenced by several West European civil legal systems; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Tribunal

description

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of:Senate or Senado (50 seats); members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open party-list proportional representation vote to serve 8-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 4 years)Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (155 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open party-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - ChP+ 12 (RN 5, UDI 5, EVOPOLI 2), NPS 8 (PS 4, PPD 2, PDC 2), AD 4 (PCCh 2, FREVS 2), PLR 1, independent 2; composition - men 37, women 13, percentage women 26%Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - ChP+ 53 (RN 25, UDI 23, EVOPOLI 4, PRI 1), AD 37 (PCCh 12, CS 9, RD 8, Commons 6, FREVS 2), NPS 37 (PS 13, PDC 8, PPD 7, PL 4, PRSD 4, CIU 1), FSC 15 (PLR 14, PCC 1), PDG 6, PH 3, PEV 2, IU 1, independent 1; composition - men 100, women 55, percentage women 35.5%; total National Congress percentage women 33.2% as of January 2024

elections

Senate - last held on 21 November 2021 (next to be held on 23 November 2025)Chamber of Deputies - last held on 21 November 2021 (next to be held on 23 November 2025)

lyrics/music

Eusebio LILLO Robles and Bernardo DE VERA y Pintado/Ramon CARNICER y Battle

name

"Himno Nacional de Chile" (National Anthem of Chile)

note

note: music adopted 1828, original lyrics adopted 1818, adapted lyrics adopted 1847; under Augusto PINOCHET's military rule, a verse glorifying the army was added; however, as a protest, some citizens refused to sing this verse; it was removed when democracy was restored in 1990

selected World Heritage Site locales

Rapa Nui National Park; Churches of Chiloe; Historic Valparaiso; Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works; Sewell Mining Town; Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System; Chinchorro archeological sites

total World Heritage Sites

7 (all cultural)

Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

huemul (mountain deer), Andean condor; national colors: red, white, blue

Approve Dignity (Apruebo Dignidad) coalition or AD (included PC, FA, and FREVS); note - dissolved 2023Broad Front Coalition (Frente Amplio) or FA (includes RD, CS, and Comunes)Chile We Can Do More (Chile Podemos Más) or ChP+ (coalition includes EVOPOLI, PRI, RN, UDI)Christian Democratic Party or PDCCommon Sense Party or SCCommons (Comunes)Communist Party of Chile or PCChDemocratic Revolution or RDDemocrats or PDEquality Party or PIGreen Ecological Party or PEV (dissolved 7 February 2022)Green Popular Alliance or AVPHumanist Action Party or PAHHumanist Party or PHIndependent Democratic Union or UDILiberal Party (Partido Liberal de Chile) or PLNational Renewal or RNNew Social Pact or NPS (includes PDC, PL, PPD, PRSD, PS)Party for Democracy or PPDParty of the People or PDGPolitical Evolution or EVOPOLIPopular Party or PPProgressive Homeland Party or PRORadical Party or PRRepublican Party or PLRSocial Christian Party or PSCSocial Convergence or CSSocial Green Regionalist Federation or FREVSSocialist Party or PSYellow Movement for Chile or AMAR

18 years of age; universal

grapes, milk, apples, wheat, potatoes, chicken, tomatoes, sugar beets, maize, oats (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

3.3% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

18% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$72.673 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$78.577 billion (2022 est.)

Fitch rating

A- (2020)

Moody's rating

A1 (2018)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

A+ (2017)

Current account balance 2021

-$22.962 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$26.162 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$11.899 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

export-driven economy; leading copper producer; though hit by COVID-19, fairly quick rebound from increased liquidity and rapid vaccine rollouts; decreasing poverty but still lingering inequality; public debt rising but still manageable; recent political violence has had negative economic consequences

Currency

Chilean pesos (CLP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

702.897 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

792.727 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

758.955 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

873.314 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

840.067 (2023 est.)

Exports 2021

$100.448 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$107.071 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$104.349 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

copper ore, refined copper, carbonates, fish, raw copper (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 39%, US 14%, Japan 8%, South Korea 6%, Brazil 5% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

31.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption

15.1% (2023 est.)

household consumption

60.6% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-29.8% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.8% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.9% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

3.5% (2023 est.)

industry

29.7% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

56.9% (2023 est.)

$335.533 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

43 (2022 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

34.5% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

2.3% (2022 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2021

$102.637 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$118.941 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$99.808 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, garments, trucks (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 26%, US 22%, Brazil 10%, Argentina 5%, Germany 3% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

1.56% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

copper, lithium, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

4.52% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

11.64% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

7.58% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

9.848 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

10.8% (2020 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2017

23.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$566.279 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$577.937 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$579.201 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

11.33% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.06% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.22% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$29,100 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$29,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$29,500 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.02% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.02% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.02% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$51.252 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$39.102 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$46.377 billion (2023 est.)

21.27% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

9.33% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

8.3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

9.04% (2023 est.)

female

24.5% (2023 est.)

male

20.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

22% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

15.94 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

13.599 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

50.15 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

79.689 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

8.637 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

23,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

8.09 million metric tons (2022 est.)

production

499,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

1.181 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

86.628 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

35.598 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

4.313 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

biomass and waste

5.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

43.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

geothermal

0.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

25.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

15.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

10.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

69.194 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

6.916 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports

159.558 million cubic meters (2018 est.)

imports

5.137 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

1.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

97.976 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

150 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

405,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

20 (2020 est.)

total

3,763,826 (2020 est.)

national and local terrestrial TV channels, coupled with extensive cable TV networks; the state-owned Television Nacional de Chile (TVN) network is self-financed through commercial advertising revenues and is not under direct government control; large number of privately owned TV stations; about 250 radio stations

.cl

percent of population

90% (2021 est.)

total

17.1 million (2021 est.)

domestic

number of fixed-line connections 13 per 100, mobile-cellular usage continues to increase, reaching 136 telephones per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

the market for fixed and mobile telephony is highly competitive and rapidly evolving; the mobile rate is among the highest in South America; LTE infrastructure is extensive and 5G spectrum auctions which took place in February 2021 prompted deployment of 5G networks, following extensive trials held by the MNOs; fixed broadband is relatively high for the region, with services among the fastest and least expensive in Latin America; government initiatives such as the National Fiber Optic project and Fibra Óptica Austral are providing high-capacity connectivity across the country and will further increase fixed-line broadband; there is a strong focus on fiber broadband, with the number of fiber subscribers having increased 61.7% in 2020, year-on-year; technological improvements have allowed operators to provide a variety of services via their networks, giving rise to a number of bundled packages at competitive prices, including access to video on demand services which in turn is increasing fixed-line broadband; traditional fixed-line teledensity continues to fall as consumers switch to mobile networks and to fixed broadband for voice and data connectivity; more than 8,300 schools receive free broadband as part of the ‘Connectivity for Education 2030’ project (2021)

international

country code - 56; landing points for the Pan-Am, Prat, SAm-1, American Movil-Telxius West Coast Cable, FOS Quellon-Chacabuco, Fibra Optical Austral, SAC and Curie submarine cables providing links to the US, Caribbean and to Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

11 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

2.217 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

135 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

26.415 million (2022 est.)

374 (2024)

CC

114 (2024)

by type

bulk carrier 3, container ship 5, general cargo 66, oil tanker 14, other 161

total

249 (2023)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

1,226,440,000 (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

19,517,185 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

173

number of registered air carriers

9 (2020)

3,160 km gas, 781 km liquid petroleum gas, 985 km oil, 722 km refined products (2013)

key ports

Antofagasta, Bahia de Valdivia, Bahia de Valparaiso, Coronel, Iquique, Mejillones, Puerto Montt, Puerto San Antonio, Rada de Arica, Rada Punta Arenas, Talcahuano, Tocopilla

medium

2

ports with oil terminals

25

small

10

total ports

39 (2024)

very small

27

broad gauge

3,428 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge (1,691 km electrified)

narrow gauge

3,853.5 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

total

7,281.5 km (2014)

total

77,801 km (2016)

the Chilean military's primary responsibility is territorial defense and ensuring the country’s sovereignty; it also assists with disaster and humanitarian relief and some internal security duties such as border security or maintaining public order if required; a key focus in recent years has been assisting with securing the border area with Bolivia and Peru; it trains regularly and participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises, as well as international peacekeeping operations Chile and Argentina have a joint peacekeeping force known as the Combined Southern Cross Peacekeeping Force (FPC), designed to be made available to the UN; the FPC is made up of air, ground, and naval components, as well as a combined logistics support unitthe Chilean Army was founded in 1810, but traces its origins back to the Army of the Kingdom of Chile, which was established by the Spanish Crown in the early 1600s; Chile's military aviation was inaugurated in 1913 with the creation of a military aviation school; the Navy traces its origins to 1817; it was first led by a British officer and the first ships were largely crewed by American, British, and Irish sailors; by the 1880s, the Chilean Navy was one of the most powerful in the Americas, and included the world’s first protected cruiser (a ship with an armored deck to protect vital machine spaces) (2024)

Armed Forces of Chile (Fuerzas Armadas de Chile): Chilean Army (Ejército de Chile), Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes Marine Corps and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine Directorate or Directemar), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile, FACh) (2024)

note

note 1: the Directemar is the country's coast guard note 2: the National Police Force (Carabineros de Chile) are responsible to both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security

approximately 80,000 active armed forces personnel (45,000 Army; 25,000 Navy; 10,000 Air Force); approximately 50,000 Carabineros (2023)

the Chilean military inventory is comprised of a broad mix of older foreign supplied weapons and equipment and some domestically produced systems; significant foreign suppliers have included Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, and the US; Chile's defense industry is active in the production of military aircraft, ships, and vehicles (2024)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.9% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

17 or 18 for voluntary military service for men and women; selective compulsory service (there are usually enough volunteers to make compulsory service unnecessary); service obligation is a minimum of 12 months for Army and 22 months for Navy and Air Force (2024)

note

note: as of 2021, women comprised approximately 18% of the armed forces

transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe and the region; some money laundering activity, especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising, making Chile a significant consumer of cocaine

refugees (country of origin)

444,423 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2023)

the Chilean Space Agency was established in 2001 and dissolved in 2014, at which time the space program became part of the Ministry of Defense; the Ministry of Science also participates in Chile’s space program (2024)

has a space program with a considerable history and largely focused on the acquisition and operation of satellites; operates foreign-built satellites and satellite ground stations; building small remote sensing (RS) satellites; researching and developing additional capabilities and technologies associated with the production of satellites and satellite sub-systems; is a world leader in astronomy and astrophysics (Chile’s Atacama Desert, where the skies are exceptionally clear and dry for more than 300 days a year, is home to more than a dozen astronomical observatories including the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, the Las Campanas Observatory, and the European Southern Observatory); Chile is also home to several astronomy institutes; has established relations with space agencies and industries of Canada, China, France, India, Israel, Mexico, Russia, the UK, and the US (2024)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

carbon dioxide emissions

85.82 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

15.97 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

20.49 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south

air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; noise pollution; improper garbage disposal; soil degradation; widespread deforestation and mining threaten the environment; wildlife conservation

party to

Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

global geoparks and regional networks

Kutralkura (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

1

agricultural land

21.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.)

forest

21.9% (2018 est.)

other

57% (2018 est.)

fresh water lake(s)

Lago General Carrera (shared with Argentina) - 2,240 sq km; Lago O'Higgins (shared with Argentina) - 1,010 sq km; Lago Llanquihue - 800 sq km; Lago Fagnano (shared with Argentina) - 590 sq km

0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.49% of GDP (2018 est.)

923.1 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

29.42 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

1.66 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

1.29 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

88% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

6.517 million tons (2009 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

24,113 tons (2009 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

0.4% (2009 est.)