1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
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
slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Climate
temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south
Coastline
6,435 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
Environment--current issues
air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation contributing to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion; desertification
Environment--international agreements
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geographic coordinates
30 00 S, 71 00 W
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
Irrigated land
12,650 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 6,171 km border countries: Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km
Land use
arable land: 5% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 22% other: 55% (1993 est.)
Location
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Map references
South America
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
Natural resources
copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum
Terrain
low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 28% (male 2,137,255; female 2,044,605) 15-64 years: 65% (male 4,845,523; female 4,885,328) 65 years and over: 7% (male 440,010; female 621,122) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
17.81 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
5.53 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%
Infant mortality rate
10.02 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Spanish
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.46 years male: 72.33 years female: 78.75 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.2% male: 95.4% female: 95% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
14,973,843 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
1.23% (1999 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish less than 1%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.25 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
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, Tarapaca, Valparaiso note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Capital
Santiago
Constitution
11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 30 July 1989
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Chile conventional short form: Chile local long form: Republica de Chile local short form: Chile
Data code
CI
Executive branch
chief of state: President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994); 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 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle elected president; percent of vote--Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) 58%, Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%, other 17.6%
Flag description
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; design was based on the US flag
Government type
republic
Independence
18 September 1810 (from Spain)
International organization participation
APEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Genaro Luis ARRIAGADA Herrera chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John O'LEARY embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago mailing address: APO AA 34033
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (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 Political parties and leaders: Coalition of Parties for Democracy or CPD consists mainly of: Christian Democratic Party or PDC Javier ERRAZURIZ] Political pressure groups and leaders: revitalized university student federations at all major universities; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations; Roman Catholic Church
Legal system
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; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (48 seats, 38 elected by popular vote; 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 11 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2001); Chamber of Deputies--last held 11 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2001) election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA%; seats by party--CPD (PDC 14, PS 4, PPD 2), UPP 17 (RN 7, UDI 10), Chile 2000 (UCCP) 1, independent 10; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by party--CPD 50.55% (PDC 22.98%, PS 11.10%, PPD 12.55%, PRSD 3.13%), UPP 36.23% (RN 16.78%, UDI 14.43%); seats by party--CPD 70 (PDC 39, PPD 16, PRSD 4, PS 11), UPP 46 (RN 24, UDI 21, Party of the South 1), right-wing independents 4
National holiday
Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Economy
Agriculture--products
wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; beef, poultry, wool; timber; fish
Budget
revenues: $17 billion expenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Currency
1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos
Debt--external
$31.5 billion (1998)
Economic aid--recipient
ODA, $50.3 million (1996 est.)
Economy--overview
Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market economy. Civilian governments--which took over from the military in March 1990--have continued to reduce the government's role in the economy while shifting the emphasis of public spending toward social programs. Growth in real GDP averaged more than 7.0% in 1991-1997 but fell to about half of that average in 1998 because of spillover from the global financial crisis. Inflation has been on a downward trend and hit a 60-year low in 1998. Chile's currency and foreign reserves also are strong, as sustained foreign capital inflows--including significant direct investment--have more than offset current account deficits and public debt buy-backs. President FREI, who took office in March 1994, has placed improving Chile's education system and developing foreign export markets at the top of his economic agenda. The Chilean economy remains largely dependent on a few sectors--particularly copper mining, fishing, and forestry. Success in meeting the government's goal of sustained annual economic growth of 5% depends largely on world prices for these commodities, continued foreign investor confidence, and the government's ability to maintain a conservative fiscal stance. In 1996, Chile became an associate member of Mercosur and concluded a free trade agreement with Canada.
Electricity--consumption
35.81 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
35.81 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 41.89% hydro: 58.11% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1--475.68 (January 1999), 460.29 (1998), 419.30 (1997), 412.27 (1996), 396.78 (1995), 420.08 (1994)
Exports
$14.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities
copper 37%, other metals and minerals 8.2%, wood products 7.1%, fish and fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1994)
Exports--partners
EU 25%, US 15%, Asia 34%, Latin America 20% (1995 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$184.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 6% industry: 33% services: 61% (1997)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$12,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
3.5% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 46.1% (1994)
Imports
$17.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities
capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, raw materials 15.4%, petroleum 10%, foodstuffs 5.7% (1994)
Imports--partners
EU 18%, US 25%, Asia 16%, Latin America 26% (1995 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-1.1% (1998)
Industries
copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.7% (1998)
Labor force
5.8 million (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation
services 38.3% (includes government 12%), industry and commerce 33.8%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 19.2%, mining 2.3%, construction 6.4% (1990)
Population below poverty line
20.5% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate
6.4% (1998)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)
Radios
NA
Telephone system
modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones
1.5 million (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations
63 (in addition, there are 121 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
2.85 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Airports
378 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 58 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 320 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 73 under 914 m: 229 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 79,800 km paved: 11,012 km unpaved: 68,788 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 527,201 GRT/787,719 DWT ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 10, chemical tanker 5, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 4, passenger 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1998 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 755 km; petroleum products 785 km; natural gas 320 km Ports and harbors: Antofagasta, Arica, Chanaral, Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso
Railways
total: 6,782 km broad gauge: 3,743 km 1.676-m gauge (1,653 km electrified) narrow gauge: 116 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,923 km 1.000-m gauge (40 km electrified) (1995)
Waterways
725 km
Military and Security
Military branches
Army of the Nation, National Navy (includes Naval Air, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force of the Nation, Carabineros of Chile (National Police), Investigations Police
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$2.12 billion (1998); note--includes earnings from CODELCO Company and costs of pensions; does not include funding for the National Police (Carabineros) and Investigations Police
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
2.79% (1998)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 3,968,176 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,943,206 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
19 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 132,202 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
short section of the southwestern boundary with Argentina is indefinite--process to resolve boundary issues is underway; Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Bolivia over Rio Lauca water rights; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims
Illicit drugs
a growing transshipment country for cocaine destined for the US and Europe; economic prosperity has made Chile more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits; imported precursors pass on to Bolivia