2005 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.2% (male 2,062,735/female 1,970,913) 15-64 years: 66.7% (male 5,320,870/female 5,342,771) 65 years and over: 8% (male 534,737/female 748,886) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, beans, beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber

Airports

364 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

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

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

Area

land

748,800 sq km

total

756,950 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

Background

Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians inhabited central and southern Chile; the latter were not completely subjugated until the early 1880s. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-84), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern lands. A three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE 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

Birth rate

15.44 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$19.95 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.33 billion (2004 est.)

revenues

$21.53 billion

Capital

Santiago

Climate

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

Coastline

6,435 km

Constitution

11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 30 July 1989, 1993, and 1997

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Chile

conventional short form

Chile

local long form

Republica de Chile

local short form

Chile

Currency (code)

Chilean peso (CLP)

Currency code

CLP

Current account balance

$2.185 billion (2004 est.)

Death rate

5.76 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$44.6 billion (2004 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Craig A. KELLY

embassy

Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago

FAX

[56] (2) 330-3710

mailing address

APO AA 34033

telephone

[56] (2) 232-2600

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Andres BIANCHI

consulate(s) general

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

FAX

[1] (202) 887-5579

telephone

[1] (202) 785-1746

Disputes - international

Chile rebuffs Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, offering instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile to Bolivian gas and other commodities; Peru proposes changing its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims

Distribution of family income - Gini index

57.1 (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $0 (2002)

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 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. Chile's economy began a slow recovery in 2003, growing 3.2% and accelerated to 5.8% in 2004. GDP growth benefited from high copper prices, solid export earnings (particularly forestry, fishing, and mining), and stepped-up foreign direct investment. Unemployment, however, remains stubbornly high. Chile deepened its longstanding commitment to trade liberalization with the signing of a free trade agreement with the US, which took effect on 1 January 2004.

Electricity - consumption

41.8 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

1.813 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

48.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

47%

hydro

51.5%

nuclear

0%

other

1.4% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage

Environment - international agreements

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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Chilean pesos per US dollar - 609.37 (2004), 691.43 (2003), 688.94 (2002), 634.94 (2001), 539.59 (2000)

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 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

Exports

$29.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 14%, Japan 11.4%, China 9.9%, South Korea 5.5%, Netherlands 5.1%, Brazil 4.3%, Italy 4.1%, Mexico 4% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Chile

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 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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

6.3%

industry

38.2%

services

55.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $10,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.8% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$169.1 billion (2004 est.)

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 People Chile

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

16,080 km (including 407 km of expressways)

total

79,605 km

unpaved

63,525 km (2001)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,400 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

26,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 47% (2000)

Illicit drugs

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 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$22.53 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical and telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles, natural gas

Imports - partners

Argentina 17%, US 14%, Brazil 11.2%, China 7.4% (2004)

Independence

18 September 1810 (from Spain)

Industrial production growth rate

7.8% (2004 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

8.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

9.55 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

APEC, BIS, CSN, 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), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Internet country code

.cl

Internet hosts

202,429 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

7 (2000)

Internet users

3.575 million (2002) Transportation Chile

Investment (gross fixed)

23.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

18,000 sq km (1998 est.)

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

Labor force

6.2 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

6,171 km

Land use

arable land

2.65%

other

96.93% (2001)

permanent crops

0.42%

Languages

Spanish

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; 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

Legislative branch

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)

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

elections

Senate - last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held December 2005); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held December 2005)

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.03 years (2005 est.)

male

73.3 years

total population

76.58 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.1% (2003 est.) Government Chile

male

96.4%

total population

96.2%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 3,815,761 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 3,123,281 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

140,084 (2005 est.)

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200/350 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

31.05 years (2005 est.)

male

29.17 years

total

30.07 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 10, cargo 6, chemical tanker 9, container 1, liquefied gas 3, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 4

registered in other countries

21 (2005)

total

47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 725,216 GRT/954,519 DWT

Military branches

Army of the Nation, National Navy (includes naval air, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps), Chilean Air Force, Chilean Carabineros (National Police)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$3.42 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.8% (2004) Transnational Issues Chile

Military service age and obligation

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)

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

Nationality

adjective

Chilean

noun

Chilean(s)

Natural gas - consumption

6.517 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2002)

Natural gas - imports

5.337 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - production

1.18 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

99.05 billion cu m (1 January 2004)

Natural hazards

severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

240,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports

221,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - production

18,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

150 million bbl (1 January 2004)

Pipelines

gas 2,583 km; gas/lpg 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil 1,003 km; refined products 757 km (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Chile ("Alianza") or APC (including National Renewal or RN [Sebastian PINERA] and Independent Democratic Union or UDI [Pablo LONGUEIRA]); Coalition of Parties for Democracy ("Concertacion") or CPD (including Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Adolfo ZALDIVAR], Socialist Party or PS [Gonzalo MARTNER], Party for Democracy or PPD [Victor BARRUETO], Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Orlando CANTUARIAS]); Communist Party or PC [Gladys MARIN]

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

Population

15,980,912 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

20.6% (2000)

Population growth rate

0.97% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Antofagasta, Arica, Huasco, Iquique, Lirquen, San Antonio, San Vicente, Valparaiso

Public debt

12.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

5.18 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1,317 km electrified)

narrow gauge

3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

total

6,585 km

Religions

Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$16.02 billion (2004)

Sex ratio

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 (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Telephone system

domestic

extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations

general assessment

modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities

international

country code - 56; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

3.467 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

6,445,700 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

3.15 million (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

2.02 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

8.5% (2004 est.)