Chile

Republic of ChileRepublica de Chile

republicIndependence 18 September 1810 (from Spain)

Chile as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 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
Position30 00 S, 71 00 W
Area756,950 sq km
LocationSouthern South America, bordering the South Atlantic
1999

Every edition of Chile

Populationas each edition published it
14.97 million July 1999 est. · 13.08m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.23% 1999 est. · 1.54% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 29.5 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
75.46 years 1999 est. · 74.15 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.25 children per woman 1999 est. · 2.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
10.02 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 18 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$12,500 1998 est. · $2,550 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3.5% 1998 est. · 10.4% in 1993

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 756,950 sq km

arable land 5%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 18%forests and woodland 22%other 55% (1993 est.)irrigated 12,650 sq km (1993 est.)
Area
756,950sq km
land: 748,800 sq kmwater: 8,150 sq kmnote: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomezslightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Coastline
6,435km
contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Highest point
6,962m
Cerro Aconcagualowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Land boundaries
6,171km
border countries: 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

Geographic coordinates

30 00 S, 71 00 W

Map references

South America

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

Natural hazards

  • severe earthquakes;
  • active volcanism;
  • tsunamis

Environment--current issues

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

Environment--international agreements

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

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

15 fields
Population
14,973,843
(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 1.23% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth
17.81Death
5.53Net migration
0

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)75.46
72.33 · 78.75
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)95.2%
95.4% · 95%
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

white and white-Amerindian 95%Amerindian 3%other 2%

Religions

Roman Catholic 89%Protestant 11%Jewish less than 1%

Age structure

0-14 years:
28% (male 2,137,255; female 2,044,605)
15-64 years:
65% (male 4,845,523; female 4,885,328)
65 years and over:
7% (male 440,010; female 621,122) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.71 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

10.02 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.25 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Chilean(s)
adjective:
Chilean

Languages

Spanish

Government

Republic; President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994); President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994)

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

58%
-Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) 58%Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%other 17.6%election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1999)

Legislature, 120 seatsone dot, one seat

-CPD (PDC 39, PPD 16, PRSD 4, PS 11) 70UPP (RN 24, UDI 21, Party of the South 1) 46right-wing independents 4

Country name

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

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

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:
president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1999)
election results:
Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle elected president; percent of vote--Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) 58%, Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%, other 17.6%

Legislative branch

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (48 seats, 38 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)

elections:
Senate--last held 11 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2001); Chamber of Deputies--last held 11 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2001)
election results:
  • Senate--percent of vote by party--NA%;
  • seats by party--CPD (PDC 14, PS 4, PPD 2), UPP 17 (RN 7, UDI 10), Chile 2000 (UCCP) 1, independent 10;
  • Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by party--CPD 50.55% (PDC 22.98%, PS 11.10%, PPD 12.55%, PRSD 3.13%), UPP 36.23% (RN 16.78%, UDI 14.43%);
  • seats by party--CPD 70 (PDC 39, PPD 16, PRSD 4, PS 11), UPP 46 (RN 24, UDI 21, Party of the South 1), right-wing independents 4

Judicial branch

  • Supreme Court (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 by the 21-member court

Political parties and leaders

Coalition of Parties for Democracy; or CPD consists mainly of: Christian Democratic Party or PDC Javier ERRAZURIZ]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

International organization participation

APEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Genaro Luis ARRIAGADA Herrera
chancery:
1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador John O'LEARY
embassy:
Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago
mailing address:
APO AA 34033

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;
  • design was based on the US flag

Economy

Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market | economy.

31 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$12,500
purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)
Real growth rate
3.5%
(1998 est.)industrial production growth: -1.1% (1998)

GDP--composition by sector(1997)

agriculture 6%industry 33%services 61% (1997)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

34%
Asia
16%
20%
Latin America
26%
25%
EU
18%
15%
US
25%
Exports $14.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)Imports $17.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)(1995 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$17 billionExpenditures
$17 billion (1996 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 41.89%hydro 58.11%nuclear 0% · other 0%
Electricity production
35.81 billion (1996)Electricity consumption
35.81 billion (1996)

Economy--overview

Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market economy. Civilian governments--which took over from the military in March 1990--have continued to reduce the government's role in the economy while shifting the emphasis of public spending toward social programs. Growth in real GDP averaged more than 7.0% in 1991-1997 but fell to about half of that average in 1998 because of spillover from the global financial crisis.

Inflation has been on a downward trend and hit a 60-year low in 1998. Chile's currency and foreign reserves also are strong, as sustained foreign capital inflows--including significant direct investment--have more than offset current account deficits and public debt buy-backs. President FREI, who took office in March 1994, has placed improving Chile's education system and developing foreign export markets at the top of his economic agenda.

The Chilean economy remains largely dependent on a few sectors--particularly copper mining, fishing, and forestry. Success in meeting the government's goal of sustained annual economic growth of 5% depends largely on world prices for these commodities, continued foreign investor confidence, and the government's ability to maintain a conservative fiscal stance. In 1996, Chile became an associate member of Mercosur and concluded a free trade agreement with Canada.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$184.6 billion (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
1.4%
highest 10%:
46.1% (1994)

Labor force

5.8 million (1998 est.)

Labor force--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)

Industries

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

Agriculture--products

  • wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit;
  • beef, poultry, wool;
  • timber;
  • fish

Exports

$14.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities

copper 37%, other metals and minerals 8.2%, wood products 7.1%, fish and fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1994)

Imports

$17.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities

capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, raw materials 15.4%, petroleum 10%, foodstuffs 5.7% (1994)

Debt--external

$31.5 billion (1998)

Economic aid--recipient

ODA, $50.3 million (1996 est.)

Currency

1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1--475.68 (January 1999), 460.29 (1998), 419.30 (1997), 412.27 (1996), 396.78 (1995), 420.08 (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields
Fixed lines
1.5 million
(1994 est.)

Telephone system

modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities

domestic:
extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations
international:
satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)

Television broadcast stations

63 (in addition, there are 121 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

2.85 million (1992 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 42 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1998 est.)

bulk 11cargo 10chemical tanker 5container 2liquefied gas tanker 1oil tanker 4passenger 3roll-on/roll-off cargo 4vehicle carrier 2

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m
9
over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 19

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m
229
over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 73

Networkskm

Highways
79,800Railways
6,782Waterways
725
Highways: paved: 11,012 km · unpaved: 68,788 km (1996 est.) · Railways: broad gauge: 3,743 km 1.676-m gauge (1,653 km electrified) · narrow gauge: 116 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,923 km 1.000-m gauge (40 km electrified) (1995)

Railways

total:
6,782 km
broad gauge:
3,743 km 1.676-m gauge (1,653 km electrified)
narrow gauge:
116 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,923 km 1.000-m gauge (40 km electrified) (1995)

Highways

total:
79,800 km
paved:
11,012 km
unpaved:
68,788 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines

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

Ports and harbors

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

Airports

378 (1998 est.)

Military

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

7 fields

Military 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

Military manpower--availability

males age 15-49: 3,968,176 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,943,206 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure

  • $2.12 billion (1998);
  • note--includes earnings from CODELCO Company and costs of pensions;
  • does not include funding for the National Police (Carabineros) and Investigations Police

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes--international

  • short section of the southwestern boundary with Argentina is indefinite--process to resolve boundary issues is underway;
  • 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

Illicit drugs

  • a growing transshipment country for cocaine destined for the US and Europe;
  • economic prosperity has made Chile more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits;
  • imported precursors pass on to Bolivia

Central Intelligence Agency. “Chile.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/chile/1999.

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