Chile

republicIndependence 18 September 1810 (from Spain)

Chile as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 127 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalSantiago
LocationSouthern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean between
1994

Every edition of Chile

Populationas each edition published it
13.95 million July 1994 est. · 13.08m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.51% 1994 est. · 1.54% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 29.5 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 74.15 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.5 children per woman 1994 est. · 2.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
15.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 18 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$7,000 1993 est. · $2,550 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
5.8% 1993 est. · 10.4% in 1993

Geography

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

26 fields
Coastline
6,435km
Land boundaries
6,171km
total · Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km
Irrigated land
12,650sq km
(1989 est.)

Location

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

Map references

South America, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

756,950 sq km

land area

748,800 sq km

comparative area

slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana

note

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

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

International disputes

  • short section of the southern boundary with Argentina is indefinite;
  • Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884;
  • dispute with Bolivia over Rio Lauca water rights;
  • territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims

Climate

  • temperate;
  • desert in north;
  • cool and damp in south

Terrain

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

Natural resources

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

arable land

7%

permanent crops

0%

meadows and pastures

16%

forest and woodland

21%

other

56%

current issues

  • air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
  • water pollution from untreated sewage;
  • deforestation contributing to loss of biodiversity;
  • soil erosion;
  • desertification

natural hazards

  • subject to severe earthquakes;
  • active volcanism;
  • tsunamis

international agreements

  • party to - Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling;
  • signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Note

  • strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage);
  • Atacama Desert one of world's driest regions

People

21 fields
Population
13,950,557
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 1.51% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
20.59Death
5.49Net migration
0

Ethnic divisions

European and European-Indian 95%Indian 3%other 2%
Labor force
4.728million
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1990 est.)

Infant mortality rate

15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

74.51 years

male

71.52 years

female

77.65 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.5 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Chilean(s)

adjective

Chilean

Religions

Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish

Languages

Spanish

total population

93%

male

94%

female

93%

by occupation

services 38.3% (includes government 12%), industry and commerce 33.8%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 19.2%, mining 2.3%, construction 6.4% (1990)

Government

Republic

34 fields

Legislature, 46 seatsone dot, one seat

(46 total, 38 elected) Concertation of Parties for Democracy (PDC 13, PS 4, PPD 3, PR 1) 21Union for the Progress of Chile (RN 11, UDI 3, UCC 1) 15right-wing independents 10

Legislature, 120 seatsone dot, one seat

Concertation of Parties for Democracy (PDC 37, PPD 15, PR 2, PS 15, left-wing independent 1) 70Union for the Progress of Chile (RN 30, UDI 15, UCC 2) 47right-wing independents 3

conventional long form

Republic of Chile

conventional short form

Chile

local long form

Republica de Chile

local short form

Chile

Type

republic

Capital

Santiago

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, Tarapaca, Valparaiso

note

the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Independence

18 September 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

Constitution

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

chief of state and head of government

  • President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994) election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held December 1999);
  • results - Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) 58%, Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%, other 17.6%

cabinet

Cabinet; appointed by the president

Legislative branch

bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)

Senate (Senado)

  • election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held December 1997);
  • results - percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats - (46 total, 38 elected) Concertation of Parties for Democracy 21 (PDC 13, PS 4, PPD 3, PR 1), Union for the Progress of Chile 15 (RN 11, UDI 3, UCC 1), right-wing independents 10

Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

  • election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held December 1997);
  • results - Concertation of Parties for Democracy 53.95% (PDC 27.16%, PS 12.01%, PPD 11.82%, PR 2.96%,);
  • Union for the Progress of Chile 30.57% (RN 15.25%, UDI 12.13%, UCC 3.19%);
  • seats - (120 total) Concertation of Parties for Democracy 70 (PDC 37, PPD 15, PR 2, PS 15, left-wing independent 1), Union for the Progress of Chile 47 (RN 30, UDI 15, UCC 2), right-wing independents 3

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Political parties and leaders

  • Concertation of Parties for Democracy consists mainly of four parties: Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Gutenberg MARTINEZ;
  • Socialist Party (PS), Camilo ESCALONA;
  • Party for Democracy (PPD), Victor Manuel REBOLLEDO;
  • Radical Party (PR), Carlos GONZALEZ Marquez;
  • Union for the
Progress of Chile consists mainly of three parties:
  • National Renewal (RN), Andres ALLAMAND;
  • Independent Democratic Union (UDI), Jovino NOVOA;
  • Center Center Union (UCC), Francisco Javier ERRAZURIZ

Other political or pressure groups

  • revitalized university student federations at all major universities;
  • labor - United Labor Central (CUT) includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations;
  • Roman Catholic Church

Member of

CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission

Ambassador John BIEHL del Rio

chancery

1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone

(202) 785-1746

FAX

(202) 887-5579

consulate(s) general

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Curtis W. KAMMAN

embassy

Codina Building, 1343 Agustinas, Santiago

mailing address

Unit 4127, Santiago; APO AA 34033

telephone

[56] (2) 671-0133

FAX

[56] (2) 699-1141

Flag

  • two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red;
  • there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band;
  • the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center;
  • design was based on the US flag

Economy

Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market economy, with the | degree of government intervention varying according to the philosophy | of the different regimes.

26 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,000
(1993 est.)
Real growth rate
5.8%
(1993 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 9.3% (1992 est.); accounts for 34% of GDP
Unemployment rate
5.1%
(1993 est.)

Overview

Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market economy, with the degree of government intervention varying according to the philosophy of the different regimes. Under the center-left government of President AYLWIN, which took power in March 1990, spending on social welfare has risen steadily.

At the same time business investment, exports and consumer spending have also grown substantially. The new president, FREI, who takes office in March 1994, is expected to emphasize social spending even more. Growth in 1991-93 has averaged 8% annually, with an estimated one million Chileans having moved out of poverty in the last four years. Copper remains vital to the health of the economy; Chile is the world's largest producer and exporter of copper.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $96 billion (1993 est.)

revenues

$10.9 billion

expenditures

$10.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.2 billion (1993)

Exports

$10 billion (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities

copper 41%, other metals and minerals 8.7%, wood products 7.1%, fish and fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1991)

partners

EC 29%, Japan 17%, US 16%, Argentina 5%, Brazil 5% (1992)

Imports

$9.2 billion (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities

capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, raw materials 15.4%, petroleum 10%, foodstuffs 5.7%

partners

EC 24%, US 21%, Brazil 10%, Japan 10% (1992)

External debt

$19.7 billion (1993 est.)

capacity

5,769,000 kW

production

22.01 billion kWh

consumption per capita

1,630 kWh (1992)

Industries

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

Agriculture

  • accounts for about 7% of GDP (including fishing and forestry);
  • major exporter of fruit, fish, and timber products;
  • major crops - wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, deciduous fruit;
  • livestock products - beef, poultry, wool;
  • self-sufficient in most foods;
  • 1991 fish catch of 6.6 million metric tons;
  • net agricultural importer

Illicit drugs

a minor transshipment country for cocaine destined for the US and Europe

recipient

  • US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $521 million;
  • Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.6 billion;
  • Communist countries (1970-89), $386 million

Currency

1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1 - 430.57 (January 1994), 404.35 (1993), 362.59 (1992), 349.37 (1991), 305.06 (1990), 267.16 (1989)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

16 fields

Networkskm

Railroads
7,766Inland waterways
725
Railroads: ; 3,974 km 1.676-meter gauge, 150 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 3,642 km 1.000-meter gauge; 1,865 km 1.676-meter gauge and 80 km 1.000-meter gauge electrified

Railroads

  • 7,766 km total;
  • 3,974 km 1.676-meter gauge, 150 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 3,642 km 1.000-meter gauge;
  • 1,865 km 1.676-meter gauge and 80 km 1.000-meter gauge electrified

total

79,993 km

paved

10,984 km

unpaved

gravel or earth 68,615 km (1990)

Pipelines

  • crude oil 755 km;
  • petroleum products 785 km;
  • natural gas 320 km

Ports

Antofagasta, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Valparaiso, San Antonio, Talcahuano, Arica

Merchant marine

31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 449,253 GRT/755,821 DWT, bulk 10, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, combination ore/oil 3, liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3

note

in addition, 1 naval tanker and 1 military transport are sometimes used commercially

total

392

usable

349

with permanent-surface runways

47

with runways over 3,659 m

0

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

13

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

58

Telecommunications

  • modern telephone system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities;
  • 768,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 159 AM, no FM, 131 TV, 11 shortwave;
  • satellite ground stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic

Defense Forces

Army of the Nation, National Navy (including Naval Air, Coast Guard, | and Marines), Air Force of the Nation, Carabineros of Chile (National | Police), Investigative Police

4 fields

Branches

Army of the Nation, National Navy (including Naval Air, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force of the Nation, Carabineros of Chile (National Police), Investigative Police

Manpower availability

  • males age 15-49 3,705,321;
  • fit for military service 2,759,130;
  • reach military age (19) annually 120,512 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $1 billion, 3.4% of GDP (1991 est.)

Affiliation

(also see separate Taiwan entry)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Chile.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/chile/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →