Chile

Republic of ChileRepublica de Chile

republicIndependence 18 September 1810 (from Spain)

Chile as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 85 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

Area756,950 sq km

LocationSouthern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean

Populationas each edition published it

14.16 million July 1995 est. · 13.08m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.49% 1995 est. · 1.54% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 29.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

74.88 years 1995 est. · 74.15 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.49 children per woman 1995 est. · 2.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

14.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 18 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$7,010 1994 est. · $2,550 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.3% 1994 est. · 10.4% in 1993

Geography

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

14 fields

Land useshare of 756,950 sq km

arable land 7%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 16%forest and woodland 21%other 56%irrigated 12,650 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

756,950sq km

land area: 748,800 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montananote: includes Isla de Pascua (Easter Island) and Isla Sala y Gomez

Coastline

6,435km

contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

6,171km

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

Location

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

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

Environment

current issues:: air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
water pollution from raw sewage;
deforestation contributing to loss of biodiversity;
soil erosion;
desertification
natural hazards:: severe earthquakes;
active volcanism;
tsunamis
international agreements:: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - 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

15 fields

Population

14,161,216

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 1.49% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

20.29Death

5.42Net migration

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years74.88

71.89 · 78.01

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy94%

95% · 94%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1992)

Ethnic divisions

European and European-Indian 95%Indian 3%other 2%

Labor force

4.728million

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)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 29% (female 2,014,877; male 2,099,450)
15-64 years:: 64% (female 4,574,947; male 4,529,251)
65 years and over:: 7% (female 549,385; male 393,306) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

14.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Chilean(s)
adjective:: Chilean

Religions

Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish

Government

Republic

24 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

58%

Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) 58%Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%other 17.6%

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

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Chile
conventional short form:: Chile
local long form:: Republica de Chile
local short form:: Chile

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

Constitution

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

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

Political parties and leaders

Concertation of Parties for Democracy

consists mainly of three parties:: Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Alejandro FOXLEY;
Socialist Party (PS), Camilo ESCALONA;
Party for Democracy (PPD), Jorge SCHAULSOHN;
Radical Party (PR);
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

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

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Gabriel GUERRA-MONDRAGON
chancery:: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:: [1] (202) 785-1746

FAX

[1] (202) 887-5579; consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Gabriel GUERRA-MONDRAGON
embassy:: Codina Building, 1343 Agustinas, Santiago
mailing address:: Unit 4127, Santiago; APO AA 34033
telephone:: [56] (2) 232-2600

FAX

[56] (2) 330-3710

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.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$7,010

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

4.3%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 4.3% (1993 est.); accounts for 34% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

8.7%

(1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1994 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$10.9 billionExpenditures

$10.9 billion (1993)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $1.2 billion

Installed generating capacity, 4,810,000 kW

Electricity production

22 billionElectricity consumption per capita

1,499 (1993)

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 rose steadily.

At the same time business investment, exports, and consumer spending also grew substantially. The new president, FREI, who took office in March 1994, has emphasized social spending even more. Growth in 1991-94 has averaged 6.5% 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. Success in meeting the government's goal of sustained annual growth of 5% depends on world copper prices, the level of confidence of foreign investors and creditors, and the government's own ability to maintain a conservative fiscal stance.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $97.7 billion (1994 est.)

Exports

$11.5 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

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

$10.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

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

$20 billion (1994 est.)

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;
booming economy has made it more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits

Economic aid

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 - 408 (January 1995), 420.08 (1994), 404.35 (1993), 362.59 (1992), 349.37 (1991), 305.06 (1990)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 390 in all

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

252

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

79,599Railroads

7,766Inland waterways

725

Highways: paved: 10,984 km · unpaved: gravel or earth 68,615 km (1990) · Railroads: broad gauge: 3,974 km 1.676-m gauge (1,865 km electrified) · standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 3,642 km 1.000-m gauge (80 km electrified)

Railroads

total:: 7,766 km
broad gauge:: 3,974 km 1.676-m gauge (1,865 km electrified)
standard gauge:: 150 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:: 3,642 km 1.000-m gauge (80 km electrified)

Highways

total:: 79,599 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, Arica, Chanarol, Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso

Merchant marine

total:: 36 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 510,006 GRT/879,891 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 13, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, combination ore/oil 2, liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, vehicle carrier 2

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

768,000 telephones; modern telephone system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities

local:: NA
intercity:: extensive microwave radio relay links and 3 domestic satellite stations
international:: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations

Radio

broadcast stations:: AM 159, FM 0, shortwave 11
radios:: NA

Television

broadcast stations:: 131
televisions:: NA

Defense Forces

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

3 fields

Branches

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