2000 Edition

Background

A three-year-old Marxist government was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, which ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, first implemented by the PINOCHET dictatorship, led to unprecedented growth in 1991-97 and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Growth slowed in 1998-99, but will likely recover in 2000.

Area

land

748,800 sq km

note

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

total

756,950 sq km

water

8,150 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana

Climate

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

Coastline

6,435 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage

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

border countries

Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km

total

6,171 km

Land use

arable land

5%

forests and woodland

22%

other

55% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

18%

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

200/350 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, hydropower

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 28% (male 2,137,826; female 2,044,546) 15-64 years: 65% (male 4,919,060; female 4,958,030) 65 years and over: 7% (male 453,234; female 641,101) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

17.19 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

5.52 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%

Infant mortality rate

9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.22 years (2000 est.)

male

72.43 years

total population

75.74 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

95% (1995 est.)

male

95.4%

total population

95.2%

Nationality

adjective

Chilean

noun

Chilean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

15,153,797 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.17% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL

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 (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.2 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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 (Santiago), 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 and in 1993

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John O'LEARY

embassy

Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago

mailing address

APO AA 34033

telephone

(2) 232-2600

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Mario ARTAZA

telephone

(202) 785-1746

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Ricardo LAGOS Escobar elected president; percent of vote - Ricardo LAGOS Escobar 51.32%, Joaquin LAVIN 48.68%

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)

head of government

President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

FAX

(202) 887-5579

(2) 330-3710

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

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

Judicial branch

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

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 and 10 appointed (all former presidents are senators for life); 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)

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, independents 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

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)

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

Political parties and leaders

Chile 2000 - main party is UCCP ; Christian Democratic Party or PDC ; Coalition of Parties for Democracy ("Concertacion") or CPD - including PDC, PS, PPD, PRSD; Independent Democratic Union or UDI ; National Renewal or RN ; Party for Democracy or PPD ; Party of the South or PS ; Progressive Center-Center Union or UCCP ; Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD ; Socialist Party or PS ; Union for the Progress of Chile ("Alliance for Chile") or UPP - including RN and UDI

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber

Budget

expenditures

$17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

revenues

$17 billion

Currency

1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos

Debt - external

$39 billion (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $50.3 million (1996 est.)

Economy - overview

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 the period 1991-1997, but fell to half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary policies implemented to keep the current account deficit in check and 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 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 a return to strong growth in 2000 is likely. The inauguration of Ricardo LAGOS in March 2000, succeeding Eduardo FREI, will keep the presidency in the hands of the center-left Concertacion coalition that has held office since the return of civilian rule in 1990.

Electricity - consumption

26.665 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

37.49 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

50%

hydro

50%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (December 1999)

Exchange rates

Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1 - 520.45 (January 2000), 508.78 (1999), 460.29 (1998), 419.30 (1997), 412.27 (1996), 396.77 (1995)

Exports

$15.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

copper, fish, fruits, paper and pulp, chemicals

Exports - partners

EU 27%, US 16%, Japan 14%, Brazil 6%, Argentina 5% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $185.1 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

6%

industry

33%

services

61% (1999)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $12,400 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-1% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 41.3% (1998)

Imports

$13.9 billion (c.i.f., 1999)

Imports - commodities

consumer goods, chemicals, motor vehicles, fuels, electrical machinery, heavy industrial machinery, food

Imports - partners

US 24%, EU 23%, Argentina 11%, Brazil 6%, Japan 6%, Mexico 5% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

-1.3% (1999 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.4% (1999 est.)

Labor force

5.8 million (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 14%, industry 27%, services 59% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line

22% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate

9% (1999)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

26 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)

Radios

5.18 million (1997)

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 - main lines in use

2.603 million (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

197,300 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

3.15 million (1997)

Airports

370 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

62 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

308 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 68 under 914 m: 223 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

11,012 km

total

79,800 km

unpaved

68,788 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 11, cargo 9, chemical tanker 8, container 2, liquified gas 2, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll-on/roll-off 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.)

total

45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 580,749 GRT/860,034 DWT

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

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)

total

6,782 km

Waterways

725 km

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes Naval Air, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force, Carabineros of Chile (National Police), Investigations Police

note

normally administered by Ministry of Interior; in times of national emergency, Carabineros and Investigations Police are considered part of the military

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2.5 billion (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.1% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 4,012,900 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,973,246 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

136,912 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

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 passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising

CHINA