2006 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: 24.7% (male 2,035,278/female 1,944,754) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 5,403,525/female 5,420,497) 65 years and over: 8.2% (male 555,075/female 775,090) (2006 est.)

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

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 by Spain 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

15.23 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in March

geographic coordinates

33 27 S, 70 40 W

name

Santiago

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 1989, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2005

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Chile

conventional short form

Chile

local long form

Republica de Chile

local short form

Chile

Death rate

5.81 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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%

Executive branch

chief of state

President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11 March 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

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

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.)

Independence

18 September 1810 (from Spain)

Infant mortality rate

female

7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

9.32 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.58 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

19,000 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Argentina 5,308 km, Bolivia 860 km, Peru 171 km

total

6,339 km

Land use

arable land

2.62%

other

96.95% (2005)

permanent crops

0.43%

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 - in June 2005, Chile completed overhaul of its criminal justice system to a new, US-style adversarial system

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.21 years (2006 est.)

male

73.49 years

total population

76.77 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

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

31.4 years (2006 est.)

male

29.5 years

total

30.4 years

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

Nationality

adjective

Chilean

noun

Chilean(s)

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 (2006 est.)

Population

16,134,219 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

0.94% (2006 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

2 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

363 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 22

total

73

under 914 m

17 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 58

total

290

under 914 m

216 (2006)

Budget

expenditures

$24.75 billion; including capital expenditures of $3.33 billion (2005 est.)

revenues

$29.2 billion

Currency (code)

Chilean peso (CLP)

Currency code

CLP

Current account balance

$702.7 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$47.45 billion (2005 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Craig A. KELLY

embassy

Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago

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 Mariano FERNANDEZ

telephone

[1] (202) 530-4104, 530-4106, 530-4107

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; action by the joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001, for mapping and demarcating the disputed boundary in the Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur) remains pending

Distribution of family income - Gini index

57.1 (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

$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 6.1% in 2004-05, while Chile maintained a low rate of inflation. 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. Chile signed a free trade agreement with China in November 2005, and it already has several trade deals signed with other nations and blocs, including the European Union, Mercosur, South Korea, and Mexico. Record-high copper prices helped to strengthen the peso to a 5½-year high, as of December 2005, and will boost GDP in 2006.

Electricity - consumption

44.13 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

2 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

45.3 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

47%

hydro

51.5%

nuclear

0%

other

1.4% (2001)

Exchange rates

Chilean pesos per US dollar - 560.09 (2005), 609.37 (2004), 691.43 (2003), 688.94 (2002), 634.94 (2001)

Exports

$38.03 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 15.8%, Japan 11.5%, China 11.1%, Netherlands 5.8%, South Korea 5.5%, Brazil 4.4%, Italy 4.2%, Mexico 4% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 887-5579

[56] (2) 330-3710

consulate(s) general

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

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%

industry

49.3%

services

44.7% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,900 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.3% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$115.6 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$189.9 billion (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

47% (2000)

lowest 10%

1.2%

Illicit drugs

important transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe; 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 19 December, 2006

Imports

$30.09 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Argentina 14.8%, US 14.6%, Brazil 11.7%, China 7.8%, South Korea 4.8%, Yemen 4.4% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

3.4% (2005 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.1% (2005 est.)

International organization participation

APEC, BIS, CAN (associate), 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, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Internet country code

.cl

Internet hosts

506,055 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

7 (2000)

Internet users

6.7 million (2005) Transportation Chile

Investment (gross fixed)

22.1% of GDP (2005 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 every three years by the 20-member court); Constitutional Tribunal

Labor force

6.3 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

13.6%

industry

23.4%

services

63% (2003)

Legislative branch

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (38 seats 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)

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

elections

Senate - last held 11 December 2005 (next to be held December 2009); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 2005 (next to be held December 2009)

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

3,780,864 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

3,815,761

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

3,128,277 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

3,123,281

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

134,518 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

140,084

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 10, cargo 6, chemical tanker 10, container 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 3

foreign-owned

1 (Argentina 1)

registered in other countries

17 (Argentina 6, Brazil 1, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 9) (2006)

total

46 ships (1000 GRT or over) 649,091 GRT/898,110 DWT

Military branches

Army of the Nation, National 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), Chilean Carabineros (National Police) (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$3.91 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.5% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Chile

Military service age and obligation

all male citizens 18-45 are obligated to perform military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy and Air Force (2004)

Natural gas - consumption

7.06 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2002)

Natural gas - imports

5.337 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - production

1 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

97.98 billion cu m (1 January 2004)

Oil - consumption

228,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day

Oil - imports

221,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - production

4,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

150 million bbl (1 January 2004)

Pipelines

gas 2,567 km; gas/lpg 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil 1,003 km; refined products 757 km; unknown (oil/water) 97 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Chile ("Alianza") or APC (including National Renewal or RN [Sergio DIEZ Urzia] and Independent Democratic Union or UDI [Jovino NOVOA Vasquez]); Coalition of Parties for Democracy ("Concertacion") or CPD (including Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Adolfo ZALDIVAR Larrain], Socialist Party or PS [Ricardo NUNEZ], Party for Democracy or PPD [Victor BARRUETO], Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Jose Antonio GOMEZ Urrutia]); Communist Party or PC [Guillermo TEILLIER]

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 below poverty line

18.2% (2005)

Ports and terminals

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

Public debt

7.5% of GDP (2005 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 (2005)

total

6,585 km

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$16.93 billion (2005 est.)

Roadways

paved

16,080 km (including 407 km of expressways)

total

79,605 km

unpaved

63,525 km (2001)

Telephone system

domestic

extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with three 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

3,435,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

10.57 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

3.15 million (1997)

Unemployment rate

8.1% (2005 est.)