2018 Edition

Background

Prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, the Inca ruled northern Chile for nearly a century while an indigenous people, the Mapuche, inhabited central and southern Chile. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, it did not achieve decisive victory over the Spanish until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia to win its present northern regions. In the 1880s, the Chilean central government gained control over the central and southern regions inhabited by the Mapuche. After a series of elected governments, the three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a military coup led by General Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a democratically-elected president was inaugurated in 1990. Economic reforms, maintained consistently since the 1980s, contributed to steady growth, reduced poverty rates by over half, and 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

note

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

total

756,102 sq km

water

12,290 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

elevation extremes

0 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean

mean elevation

1,871 m

note

6880 highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado

Environment Current Issues

air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; noise pollution; improper garbage disposal; soil degradation; widespread deforestation and mining threaten the environment; wildlife conservation

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

Geographic Coordinates

30 00 S, 71 00 W

Geography Note

note

note 1: the longest north-south trending country in the world, extending across 39 degrees of latitude; strategic location relative to sea lanes between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage) note 2: Chile is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire note 3: the Atacama Desert - the driest desert in the world - spreads across the northern part of the country; the small crater lake of Ojos del Salado is the world's highest lake (at 6,390 m)

Irrigated Land

11,100 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

border countries (3)

Argentina 6691 km, Bolivia 942 km, Peru 168 km

total

7,801 km

Land Use

arable land: 1.7% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0.6% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 18.8% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

21.1% (2011 est.)

forest

21.9% (2011 est.)

other

57% (2011 est.)

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; tsunamisvolcanism: significant volcanic activity due to more than three-dozen active volcanoes along the Andes Mountains; Lascar (5,592 m), which last erupted in 2007, is the most active volcano in the northern Chilean Andes; Llaima (3,125 m) 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, Calbuco, Copahue, Guallatiri, Llullaillaco, Nevados de Chillan, Puyehue, San Pedro, and Villarrica; see note 2 under "Geography - note"

Natural Resources

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

Population Distribution

90% of the population is located in the middle third of the country around the capital of Santiago; the far north (anchored by the Atacama Desert) and the extreme south are relatively underpopulated

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0-14 years

19.98% (male 1,827,657 /female 1,754,253)

15-24 years

14.63% (male 1,337,663 /female 1,285,514)

25-54 years

42.94% (male 3,851,775 /female 3,845,195)

55-64 years

11.32% (male 957,872 /female 1,070,975)

65 years and over

11.13% (male 836,489 /female 1,157,869) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

13.4 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

0.5% (2014)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

76.3% (2015/16)

Death Rate

6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

Chile is in the advanced stages of demographic transition and is becoming an aging society - with fertility below replacement level, low mortality rates, and life expectancy on par with developed countries. Nevertheless, with its dependency ratio nearing its low point, Chile could benefit from its favorable age structure. It will need to keep its large working-age population productively employed, while preparing to provide for the needs of its growing proportion of elderly people, especially as women - the traditional caregivers - increasingly enter the workforce. Over the last two decades, Chile has made great strides in reducing its poverty rate, which is now lower than most Latin American countries. However, its severe income inequality ranks as the worst among members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Unequal access to quality education perpetuates this uneven income distribution.Chile has historically been a country of emigration but has slowly become more attractive to immigrants since transitioning to democracy in 1990 and improving its economic stability (other regional destinations have concurrently experienced deteriorating economic and political conditions). Most of Chile's small but growing foreign-born population consists of transplants from other Latin American countries, especially Peru.

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

15.2 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

6.6 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

45.5 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

30.3 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 99.7% of population

rural: 93.3% of population

total: 99% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population

rural: 6.7% of population

total: 1% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2015)

Ethnic Groups

white and non-indigenous 88.9%, Mapuche 9.1%, Aymara 0.7%, other indigenous groups 1% (includes Rapa Nui, Likan Antai, Quechua, Colla, Diaguita, Kawesqar, Yagan or Yamana), unspecified 0.3% (2012 est.)

Health Expenditures

7.8% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

0.6% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

NA

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

67,000 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Spanish 99.5% (official), English 10.2%, indigenous 1% (includes Mapudungun, Aymara, Quechua, Rapa Nui), other 2.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2012 est.)

note

shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

82.2 years (2018 est.)

male

76 years (2018 est.)

total population

79.1 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

97.4% (2015 est.)

male

97.6% (2015 est.)

total population

97.5% (2015 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

6.68 million SANTIAGO (capital), 967,000 Valparaiso, 857,000 Concepcion (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

22 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

36 years (2018 est.)

male

33.6 years

total

34.8 years

Nationality

adjective

Chilean

noun

Chilean(s)

Net Migration Rate

0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

28% (2016)

Physicians Density

1.03 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

17,925,262 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.75% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 66.7%, Evangelical or Protestant 16.4%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, other 3.4%, none 11.5%, unspecified 1.1% (2012 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 100% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 90.9% of population (2015 est.)

total: 99.1% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 9.1% of population (2015 est.)

total: 0.9% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

17 years (2015)

male

16 years (2015)

total

16 years (2015)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.89 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.72 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.79 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

18.8% (2017 est.)

male

16.1% (2017 est.)

total

17.2% (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.87% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

87.6% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

16 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aysen, Antofagasta, Araucania, Arica y Parinacota, Atacama, Biobio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Los Rios, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena (Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica), Maule, Nuble, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso

note

the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins second Sunday in August; ends second Sunday in May; note - Punta Arenas observes DST throughout the year

geographic coordinates

33 27 S, 70 40 W

name

Santiago; note - Valparaiso is the seat of the national legislature

note

Chile has three time zones: the continental portion at UTC-3; the southern Magallanes region, which does not use daylight savings time and remains at UTC-3 for the summer months; and Easter Island at UTC-5

time difference

UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by members of either house of the National Congress or by the president of the republic; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote of the membership in both houses and approval by the president; passage of amendments to constitutional articles such as the republican form of government, basic rights and freedoms, the Constitutional Tribunal, electoral justice, the Council of National Security, or the constitutional amendment process requires at least two-third majority vote by both houses of Congress and approval by the president; the president can opt to hold a referendum when Congress and the president disagree on an amendment; amended many times, last in 2017, with pending legislation to amend (2018) (2018)

history

many previous; latest adopted 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; note - in March 2018, days before her term ended, President BACHELET sent a proposal for a new constitution to the National Congress, but has not been pursued by her successor (2018)

Country Name

conventional long form

Republic of Chile

conventional short form

Chile

etymology

derivation of the name is unclear, but it may come from the Mapuche word "chilli" meaning "limit of the earth" or from the Quechua "chiri" meaning "cold"

local long form

Republica de Chile

local short form

Chile

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador Carol PEREZ (since 14 November 2016)

embassy

Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago

FAX

[56] (2) 2330-3710, 2330-3160

mailing address

APO AA 34033

telephone

[56] (2) 2330-3000

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

chancery

1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Oscar Alfonso Sebastian SILVA Navarro (since 17 September 2018)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 887-5579

telephone

[1] (202) 785-1746

Executive Branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Sebastian PINERA Echenique (since 11 March 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Sebastian PINERA Echenique elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Sebastian PINERA Echenique (independent) 36.6%; Alejandro GUILLIER (independent) 22.7%; Beatriz SANCHEZ (independent) 20.3%; Jose Antonio KAST (independent) 7.9%; Carolina GOIC (PDC) 5.9%; Marco ENRIQUEZ-OMINAMI (PRO) 5.7%; other 0.9%; percent of vote in second round - Sebastian PINERA Echenique 54.6%, Alejandro GUILLIER 45.4%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 4-year term; election last held on 19 November 2017 with a runoff held 17 December 2017 (next to be held in November 2021)

head of government

President Sebastian PINERA Echenique (since 11 March 2018)

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 influenced by the US flag

Government Type

presidential republic

Independence

18 September 1810 (from Spain)

International Law Organization Participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International Organization Participation

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

Judicial Branch

highest courts

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (consists of a court president and 20 members or ministros); Constitutional Court (consists of 10 members); Elections Qualifying Court (consists of 5 members)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court president and judges (ministers) appointed by the president of the republic and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the court itself; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 by the Supreme Court, 3 by the president of the republic, 2 by the Chamber of Deputies, and 2 by the Senate; members serve 9-year terms with partial membership replacement every 3 years (the court reviews constitutionality of legislation); Elections Qualifying Court members appointed by lottery - 1 by the former president or vice-president of the Senate and 1 by the former president or vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies, 2 by the Supreme Court, and 1 by the Appellate Court of Valparaiso; members appointed for 4-year terms

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; oral criminal tribunals; military tribunals; local police courts; specialized tribunals and courts in matters such as family, labor, customs, taxes, and electoral affairs

Legal System

civil law system influenced by several West European civil legal systems; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Tribunal

Legislative Branch

description

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of:Senate or Senado (43 seats following the 2017 election; to increase to 50 in 2021); members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open party-list proportional representation vote to serve 8-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 4 years) Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (155 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by oen party-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - New Majority Coalition (formerly known as Concertacion) 19 (PDC 6, PS 6, PPD 6, MAS 1), Let's Go Chile Coalition (formerly known as the Coalition for Change and the Alianza coalition) 15 (RN 6, UDI 8, Amplitude Party 1), independent 4 Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - New Majority 68 (PDC 21, PS 16, PPD 14, PC 6, PRSD 6, Citizen Left 1, independent 4), Coalition for Change 47 (UDI 29, RN 14, independent 3, EP 1), Liberal Party 1, independent 4

elections

Senate - last held on 19 November 2017 (next to be held in 2021) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 19 November 2017 (next to be held in 2021)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

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

name

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

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

National Holiday

Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

National Symbol S

huemul (mountain deer), Andean condor; national colors: red, white, blue

Political Parties And Leaders

Amplitude (Amplitud) [Lily PEREZ]Broad Front Coalition (Frente Amplio) or FA (includes RD, PL, PH, PEV, Igualdad, and Poder) [Beatriz SANCHEZ]Broad Social Movement of Leftist Citizens (includes former MAS and Izquierda Ciudadana) [Fernando ZAMORANO]Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Fuad CHAHIN]Citizen Power (Poder) [Karina OLIVA]Communist Party of Chile or PC [Guillermo TEILLIER del Valle]Democratic Revolution or RD [Rodrigo ECHECOPAR]Equality Party (Igualdad) [Guillermo GONZALEZ]Green Ecological Party or PEV [Felix GONZALEZ]Humanist Party or PH [Octavio GONZALEZ]Independent Democratic Union or UDI [Jacqueline VAN RYSSELBERGHE Herrera])Independent Regionalist Democratic Party or PRI [Hugo ORTIZ de Filippi]Let’s Go Chile Coalition (Chile Vamos) [Sebastian PINERA] (includes EVOPOLI, PRI, RN, UDI)Liberal Party (Partido Liberal de Chile) or PL [Luis Felipe RAMOS]National Renewal or RN [Mario DESBORDES]New Majority Coalition (Nueva Mayoria) [Michelle BACHELET] (includes PDC, PC, PPD, PRSD, PS); note - dissolved in March 2018Party for Democracy or PPD [Heraldo MUNOZ]Political Evolution or EVOPOLI [Hernan LARRAIN MATTE]Progressive Party or PRO [Camilo LAGOS]Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Carlos MALDONADO Curti],Socialist Party or PS [Alvaro ELIZALDE Soto] (formerly known as Concertacion)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

expenditures

65.38 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

57.75 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-2.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

3.35% (31 December 2015)

3% (31 December 2014)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

4.6% (31 December 2017 est.)

5.59% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

-$4.102 billion (2017 est.)

-$3.484 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$183.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$158.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

50.5 (2013)

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 of goods and services account for approximately one-third of GDP, with commodities making up some 60% of total exports. Copper is Chile’s top export and provides 20% of government revenue.From 2003 through 2013, real growth averaged almost 5% per year, despite a slight contraction in 2009 that resulted from the global financial crisis. Growth slowed to an estimated 1.4% in 2017. A continued drop in copper prices prompted Chile to experience its third consecutive year of slow growth.Chile deepened its longstanding commitment to trade liberalization with the signing of a free trade agreement with the US, effective 1 January 2004. Chile has 26 trade agreements covering 60 countries including agreements with the EU, Mercosur, China, India, South Korea, and Mexico. In May 2010, Chile signed the OECD Convention, becoming the first South American country to join the OECD. In October 2015, Chile signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which was finalized as the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and signed at a ceremony in Chile in March 2018.The Chilean Government has generally followed a countercyclical fiscal policy, under which it accumulates surpluses in sovereign wealth funds during periods of high copper prices and economic growth, and generally allows deficit spending only during periods of low copper prices and growth. As of 31 October 2016, those sovereign wealth funds - kept mostly outside the country and separate from Central Bank reserves - amounted to more than $23.5 billion. Chile used these funds to finance fiscal stimulus packages during the 2009 economic downturn.In 2014, then-President Michelle BACHELET introduced tax reforms aimed at delivering her campaign promise to fight inequality and to provide access to education and health care. The reforms are expected to generate additional tax revenues equal to 3% of Chile’s GDP, mostly by increasing corporate tax rates to OECD averages.

Exchange Rates

Chilean pesos (CLP) per US dollar -

653.9 (2017 est.)

676.94 (2016 est.)

676.94 (2015 est.)

658.93 (2014 est.)

570.37 (2013 est.)

Exports

$69.23 billion (2017 est.)

$60.6 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

China 27.5%, US 14.5%, Japan 9.3%, South Korea 6.2%, Brazil 5% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

28.7% (2017 est.)

government consumption

14% (2017 est.)

household consumption

62.3% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-27% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

21.5% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.5% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

4.2% (2017 est.)

industry

32.8% (2017 est.)

services

63% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$277 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$24,600 (2017 est.)

$24,500 (2016 est.)

$24,400 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$452.1 billion (2017 est.)

$445.5 billion (2016 est.)

$439.9 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

1.5% (2017 est.)

1.3% (2016 est.)

2.3% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

20.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

20.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

21.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

41.5% (2013 est.)

lowest 10%

41.5% (2013 est.)

Imports

$61.31 billion (2017 est.)

$55.29 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

China 23.9%, US 18.1%, Brazil 8.6%, Argentina 4.5%, Germany 4% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

-0.4% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2.2% (2017 est.)

3.8% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

8.881 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

9.2%

industry

23.7%

services

67.1% (2013)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

$190.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$233.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$265.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

14.4% (2013)

Public Debt

23.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

21% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$38.98 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$40.49 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$52.54 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$44.01 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$95.37 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$90.54 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$206.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$199.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$244.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$211.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$52.54 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$44.01 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

20.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

6.7% (2017 est.)

6.5% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

88.23 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

169,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Production

3,244 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

150 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

98% (2012)

electrification - total population

99.6% (2012)

electrification - urban areas

100% (2012)

population without electricity

70,600 (2012)

Electricity Consumption

73.22 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

59% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

26% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

15% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

24.53 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

76.09 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

5.125 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

277.5 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

4.446 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

1.218 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

97.97 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

354,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

7,359 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

166,400 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

216,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

17 (2017 est.)

total

3,058,979 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

national and local terrestrial TV 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 Users

percent of population

66% (July 2016 est.)

total

11,650,840 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

number of fixed-line connections have stagnated to 18 per 100 in recent years as mobile-cellular usage continues to increase, reaching 130 telephones per 100 persons; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations (2017)

general assessment

privatization began in 1988; most advanced telecommunications infrastructure in South America; modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities; although Chile has one of the highest mobile penetration rates in the region, the number of subscribers has fallen due to subscribers ending multiple SIM card use; this downward trend is expected to be halted in 2018 as the availability of LTE networks and services broaden; in terms of available broadband speeds the country ranks second highest in South and Central America (2017)

international

country code - 56; landing points for the Pan American, South America-1, and South American Crossing/Latin America Nautilus submarine cables providing links to the US and to Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

3,193,131 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

129 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

23,013,147 (2017 est.)

Airports

481 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

23 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

7 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

31 (2017)

over 3,047 m

5 (2017)

total

90 (2017)

under 914 m

24 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

11 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

5 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

56 (2013)

total

391 (2013)

under 914 m

319 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

CC (2016)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant Marine

by type

bulk carrier 10, container ship 5, general cargo 54, oil tanker 12, other 130 (2017)

total

211 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

1,392,236,000 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

15,006,762 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

173 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

9 (2015)

Pipelines

3160 km gas, 781 km liquid petroleum gas, 985 km oil, 722 km refined products (2013)

Ports And Terminals

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Mejillones, Quintero

major seaport(s)

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

Railways

broad gauge

3,428 km 1.676-m gauge (1,691 km electrified) (2014)

narrow gauge

3,853.5 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)

total

7,282 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

18,119 km (includes 2,387 km of expressways) (2010)

total

77,764 km (2010)

unpaved

59,645 km (2010)

Military Branches

Chilean Army, 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) (2015)

Military Expenditures

1.87% of GDP (2016)

1.91% of GDP (2015)

1.96% of GDP (2014)

1.99% of GDP (2013)

2.05% of GDP (2012)

Military Service Age And Obligation

18-45 years of age for voluntary male and female military service, although the right to compulsory recruitment of males 18-45 is retained; service obligation is 12 months for Army and 22 months for Navy and Air Force (2015)

Disputes International

Chile and Peru rebuff Bolivia's reactivated 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 natural gasChile 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 ICJterritorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claimsthe 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

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

refugees (country of origin)

133,321 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2018)