2010 Edition

Background

Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while the indigenous Mapuche inhabited central and southern Chile. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern regions. It was not until the 1880s that the Mapuche Indians were completely subjugated. After a series of elected governments, a three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a military coup 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, reduced poverty rates by over half, 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.

Area

land

743,812 sq km

total

756,102 sq km

water

12,290 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; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south

Coastline

6,435 km

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

770 cu m/yr (2000)

total

12.55 cu km/yr (11%/25%/64%)

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

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%

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

Natural hazards

severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis

volcanism

Chile experiences significant volcanic activity due to the more than three-dozen active volcanoes situated within the Andes Mountains; Lascar (elev. 5,592 m, 18,346 ft), which last erupted in 2007, is the most active volcano in the northern Chilean Andes; Llaima (elev. 3,125 m, 10,253 ft) 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, Copahue, Guallatiri, Llullaillaco, Nevados de Chillan, San Pedro, and Villarrica

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

922 cu km (2000)

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.2% (male 1,966,017/female 1,877,963) 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,625,963/female 5,628,146) 65 years and over: 9.1% (male 627,746/female 875,872) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

14.46 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

white and white-Amerindian 95.4%, Mapuche 4%, other indigenous groups 0.6% (2002 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,100 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

31,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

6.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

8.29 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.52 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official), Mapudungun, German, English

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.96 years (2010 est.)

male

74.26 years

total population

77.53 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

95.6% (2002 census)

male

95.8%

total population

95.7%

Median age

female

32.8 years (2010 est.)

male

30.7 years

total

31.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Chilean

noun

Chilean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

16,746,491 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.856% (2010 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2007)

male

15 years

total

15 years

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: 0.72 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

88% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

15 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Arica y Parinacota, Atacama, Biobio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Los Rios, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in March note: the Chilean Government announced on 4 March 2010 that the end of DST would be delayed until 4 April 2010 providing respite to those affected by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake of February 2010

geographic coordinates

33 27 S, 70 40 W

name

Santiago

time difference

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Alejandro D. WOLFF

embassy

Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago

FAX

[56] (2) 330-3710, 330-3160

mailing address

APO AA 34033

telephone

[56] (2) 330-3000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Arturo FERNANDOIS Vohringer

consulate(s) general

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

FAX

[1] (202) 887-5579

telephone

[1] (202) 785-1746

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Sebastian PINERA Echenique (since 11 March 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Sebastian PINERA Echenique elected president; percent of vote - Sebastian PINERA Echenique 51.6%; Eduardo FREI 48.4%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held on 13 December 2009 with runoff election held on 17 January 2010 (next to be held in December 2013)

head of government

President Sebastian PINERA Echenique (since 11 March 2010)

Flag description

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: design was influenced by the US flag

Government type

republic

Independence

18 September 1810 (from Spain)

International organization participation

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

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 (eight-members - two each from the Senate, Chamber of Deputies, Supreme Court, and National Security Council - review the constitutionality of laws approved by Congress)

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 US-style adversarial system

Legislative branch

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (38 seats; members elected by popular vote to 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 9 (PDC 4, PPD 3, PS 2), APC 9 (RN 6, UDI 3); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CC 58 (UDI 37, RN 18, other 3), CPD 57 (PDC 19, PPD 18, PS 11, PRSD 5, PC 3, other 1), PRI 3, independent 2

elections

Senate - last held on 13 December 2009 (next to be held in December 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 13 December 2009 (next to be held in December 2013)

National anthem

lyrics/music

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

name

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

Political parties and leaders

Broad Social Movement or MAS; Clean Chile Vote Happy or CLVF (including Broad Social Movement, Country Force, and Regionalist Party of Independents or PRI); Coalition for Change or CC (formerly known as the Alliance for Chile (Alianza) or APC) (including National Renewal or RN [Carlos LARRAIN Pena], Independent Democratic Union or UDI [Juan Antonio COLOMA Correa], and Chile First [Vlado MIROSEVIC]); Coalition of Parties for Democracy (Concertacion) or CPD (including Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Ignacio WALKER], Party for Democracy or PPD [Carolina TOHA Morales], Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Jose Antonio GOMEZ Urrutia], and Socialist Party or PS [Osvaldo ANDRADE]); Partido Ecologista del Sur; Together We Can Do More (including Communist Party or PC [Guillermo TEILLIER del Valle], and Humanist Party or PH [Danilo MONTEVERDE])

Political pressure groups and leaders

Roman Catholic Church, particularly conservative groups such as Opus Dei; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations

other

revitalized university student federations at all major universities

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

0.5% (31 December 2009) 8.25% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.25% (31 December 2009 est.) 13.26% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$1.033 billion (2010 est.) $4.217 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$84.51 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $72.76 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

54.9 (2003) 57.1 (2000)

Economy - overview

Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade and a reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. Exports account for more than one-fourth of GDP, with commodities making up some three-quarters of total exports. Copper alone provides one-third of government revenue. 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 situation 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. In the years since then, growth has averaged 4% per year. 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 claims to have more bilateral or regional trade agreements than any other country. It has 57 such agreements (not all of them full free trade agreements), including with the European Union, Mercosur, China, India, South Korea, and Mexico. Over the past seven years, foreign direct investment inflows have quadrupled to some $15 billion in 2010, but FDI had dropped to about $7 billion in 2009 in the face of diminished investment throughout the world. The Chilean government conducts a rule-based countercyclical fiscal policy, accumulating surpluses in sovereign wealth funds during periods of high copper prices and economic growth, and allowing deficit spending only during periods of low copper prices and growth. As of September 2008, those sovereign wealth funds - kept mostly outside the country and separate from Central Bank reserves - amounted to more than $20 billion. Chile used $4 billion from this fund to finance a fiscal stimulus package to fend off recession. In December 2009, the OECD invited Chile to become a full member, after a two year period of compliance with organization mandates. The economy started to show signs of a rebound in the fourth quarter, 2009, and GDP grew more than 5% in 2010. The magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile in February 2010 was one of the top ten strongest earthquakes on record. It caused considerable damage near the epicenter, located about 70 miles from Concepcion - and about 200 miles southwest of Santiago.

Electricity - consumption

57.29 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

1.628 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

60.6 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Chilean pesos (CLP) per US dollar - 525.34 (2010), 560.86 (2009), 509.02 (2008), 526.25 (2007), 530.29 (2006)

Exports

$64.28 billion (2010 est.) $53.74 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 16.46%, US 11.31%, Japan 9.06%, South Korea 6.49%, Brazil 4.64%, Mexico 4.09% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

5.6%

industry

40.5%

services

53.9% (2009 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$15,500 (2010 est.) $14,900 (2009 est.) $15,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.3% (2010 est.) -1.5% (2009 est.) 3.7% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$199.2 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$260 billion (2010 est.) $246.9 billion (2009 est.) $250.6 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 41.7% (2006)

Imports

$54.23 billion (2010 est.) $39.75 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 21.77%, China 12.76%, Argentina 9.55%, Brazil 6.46%, South Korea 5.35% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.7% (2010 est.) 1.5% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

7.58 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

13.2%

industry

23%

services

63.9% (2005)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$209.5 billion (31 December 2009) $132.4 billion (31 December 2008) $212.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

2.34 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

690 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

1.65 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

97.97 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

277,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

49,250 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

311,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

10,850 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

150 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

18.2% (2005)

Public debt

6.2% of GDP (2010 est.) 6.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$26.08 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $25.29 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$160.3 billion (31 December 2009) $127.5 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$51.15 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $41.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$136.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $121.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$153.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $133.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$29.81 billion (31 December 2010 est) $23.68 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

8.7% (2010 est.) 9.6% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

national and local terrestrial television 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 (2007)

Internet country code

.cl

Internet hosts

1.056 million (2010)

Internet users

7.009 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

number of fixed-line connections have stagnated in recent years as mobile-cellular usage continues to increase, reaching a level of 100 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

privatization begun in 1988; most advanced telecommunications infrastructure in South America; modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations

international

country code - 56; landing points for the Pan American, South America-1, and South American Crossing/Latin America Nautilius submarine cables providing links to the US and to Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

3.575 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

16.45 million (2009)

Airports

366 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

84 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 24 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

282 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 50 under 914 m: 217 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 11, cargo 10, chemical tanker 8, container 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

1 (Norway 1)

registered in other countries

48 (Argentina 6, Belize 1, Brazil 1, Cyprus 1, Isle of Man 8, Liberia 7, Panama 17, Singapore 7) (2010)

total

48

Pipelines

gas 2,673 km; liquid petroleum gas 519 km; oil 892 km; refined products 769 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Coronel, Huasco, Lirquen, Puerto Ventanas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Valparaiso

Railways

broad gauge

1,706 km 1.676-m gauge (850 km electrified)

narrow gauge

3,777 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

total

5,483 km

Roadways

paved

16,745 km (includes 2,414 km of expressways)

total

80,505 km

unpaved

63,760 km (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 4,301,900 females age 16-49: 4,232,956 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 3,599,328 females age 16-49: 3,544,156 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

138,058 (2010 est.)

male

143,778

Military branches

Army of the Nation, Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes Naval Aviation, Marine Corps, and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine Directorate (Directemar)), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile, FACh), Carabineros Corps (Cuerpo de Carabineros) (2010)

Military expenditures

2.7% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18-45 years of age for voluntary male and female military service, although the right to compulsory recruitment is retained; service obligation - 12 months for Army, 22 months for Navy and Air Force (2008)

Disputes - international

Chile and Peru rebuff Bolivia's reinvigorated claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, but Chile has offered instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile to Bolivian gas and other commodities; Chile rejects Peru's unilateral legislation to change its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis favoring Peru, in October 2007, Peru took its maritime complaint with Chile to the ICJ; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims; the joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001, has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur)

Illicit drugs

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 (2008) page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================