Chile :: South America
Introduction
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.
Geography
Location:
Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Geographic coordinates:
30 00 S, 71 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total:
756,102 sq km
land:
743,812 sq km
water:
12,290 sq km
note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez
country comparison to the world: 39
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Land boundaries:
total:
7,801 km
border countries (3):
Argentina 6691 km, Bolivia 942 km, Peru 168 km
Coastline:
6,435 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12
nm
exclusive economic zone:
200
nm
contiguous zone:
24
nm
continental shelf:
200/350 nm
Climate:
temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south
Terrain:
low coastal mountains, fertile central valley, rugged Andes in east
Elevation:
mean elevation:
1,871 m
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m
Natural resources:
copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower
Land use:
agricultural land:
21.1%
(2011 est.)
arable land:
1.7%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent crops:
0.6%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent pasture:
18.8%
(2011 est.)
forest:
21.9%
(2011 est.)
other:
57%
(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
11,100 sq km
(2012)
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
Natural hazards:
severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
++ volcanism: 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"
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
Geography - 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; Ojos del Salado (6,893 m) in the Atacama Desert is the highest active volcano in the world, Chile's tallest mountain, and the second highest in the Western Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere - its small crater lake (at 6,390 m) is the world's highest lake
People and Society
Population:
18,186,770
(July 2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Nationality:
noun:
Chilean(s)
adjective:
Chilean
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.)
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
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.)
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.
Age structure:
0-14 years:
19.79%
(male 1,836,240/female 1,763,124)
15-24 years:
13.84%
(male 1,283,710/female 1,233,238)
25-54 years:
42.58%
(male 3,882,405/female 3,860,700)
55-64 years:
11.98%
(male 1,034,049/female 1,145,022)
65 years and over:
11.81%
(male 902,392/female 1,245,890)
(2020 est.)
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:
45.9
youth dependency ratio:
28.1
elderly dependency ratio:
17.9
potential support ratio:
5.6
(2020 est.)
Median age:
total:
35.5 years
male:
34.3 years
female:
36.7 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Population growth rate:
0.71%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Birth rate:
13.1 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Death rate:
6.5 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Net migration rate:
0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
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
Urbanization:
urban population:
87.7% of total population
(2020)
rate of urbanization:
0.87% annual rate of change
(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
6.767 million SANTIAGO (capital), 984,000 Valparaiso, 881,000 Concepcion
(2020)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.72 male(s)/female
total population:
0.97 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
13 deaths/100,000 live births
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Infant mortality rate:
total:
6.2 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
6.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
5.7 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
79.4 years
male:
76.3 years
female:
82.5 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Total fertility rate:
1.77 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
76.3%
(2015/16)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban:
100% of population
rural:
100% of population
total:
100% of population
unimproved:
urban:
0% of population
rural:
0% of population
total:
0% of population
(2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure:
9%
(2017)
Physicians density:
2.44 physicians/1,000 population
(2017)
Hospital bed density:
2.1 beds/1,000 population
(2017)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban:
100% of population
rural:
100% of population
total:
100% of population
unimproved:
urban:
0% of population
rural:
0% of population
total:
0% of population
(2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5%
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
74,000
(201 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
<1000
(2018)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
28%
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 32
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
0.5%
(2014)
country comparison to the world: 129
Education expenditures:
5.4% of GDP
(2017)
country comparison to the world: 39
Literacy:
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
96.4%
male:
96.3%
female:
96.3%
(2017)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:
17 years
male:
16 years
female:
17 years
(2018)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:
18.1%
male:
16.7%
female:
20.2%
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Government
Country name:
conventional long form:
Republic of Chile
conventional short form:
Chile
local long form:
Republica de Chile
local 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"
Government type:
presidential republic
Capital:
name:
Santiago; note - Valparaiso is the seat of the national legislature
geographic coordinates:
33 27 S, 70 40 W
time difference:
UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:
+1hr, begins second Sunday in August; ends second Sunday in May; note - Punta Arenas observes DST throughout the year
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 ++ etymology: Santiago is named after the biblical figure Saint James (ca. A.D. 3-44), patron saint of Spain, but especially revered in Galicia; "Santiago" derives from the local Galician evolution of the Vulgar Latin "Sanctu Iacobu"; Valparaiso derives from the Spanish "Valle Paraiso" meaning "Paradise Valley" ++ ++
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
Independence:
18 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Constitution:
history:
many previous; latest adopted 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; a referendum held in late October 2020 approved a referendum on forming a convention to draft a new constittion
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 2020; note - a referendum on a new constitution scheduled for 26 April 2020 has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Legal system:
civil law system influenced by several West European civil legal systems; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Tribunal
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth:
yes
citizenship by descent only:
yes
dual citizenship recognized:
yes
residency requirement for naturalization:
5 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Sebastian PINERA Echenique (since 11 March 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Sebastian PINERA Echenique (since 11 March 2018)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president
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)
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%
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)
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)
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; composition - men 33, women 10, percent of women 23.3% ++ 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; composition -men 120, women 35, percent of women 22.6%; note - total National Congress percent of women 22.7%
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
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 2018 ++ Party 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)
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Oscar Alfonso Sebastian SILVA Navarro (since 17 September 2018)
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, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard H. GLENN (since August 2020)
telephone:
[56] (2) 2330-3000
embassy:
Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago
mailing address:
APO AA 34033
FAX:
[56] (2) 2330-3710, 2330-3160
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
National symbol(s):
huemul (mountain deer), Andean condor; national colors: red, white, blue
National anthem:
name:
"Himno Nacional de Chile" (National Anthem of Chile)
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
Economy
Economic 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.
GDP real growth rate:
1.03%
(2019 est.)
4%
(2018 est.)
1.41%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2%
(2019 est.)
2.7%
(2018 est.)
2.1%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Credit ratings:
Fitch rating:
A-
(2020)
Moody's rating:
A1
(2018)
Standard & Poors rating:
A+
(2017)
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$405.587 billion
(2019 est.)
$401.481 billion
(2018 est.)
$386.082 billion
(2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$282.655 billion
(2019 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,098
(2019 est.)
$15,124
(2018 est.)
$14,747
(2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
country comparison to the world: 91
Gross national saving:
20.5% of GDP
(2017 est.)
20.9% of GDP
(2016 est.)
21.4% of GDP
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:
4.2%
(2017 est.)
industry:
32.8%
(2017 est.)
services:
63%
(2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:
62.3%
(2017 est.)
government consumption:
14%
(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
21.5%
(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:
0.5%
(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:
28.7%
(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-27%
(2017 est.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
72.6
(2020)
Agriculture - products:
grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, beans; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber
Industries:
copper, lithium, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.4%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Labor force:
7.249 million
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:
9.2%
industry:
23.7%
services:
67.1%
(2013)
Unemployment rate:
7.22%
(2019 est.)
7.33%
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Population below poverty line:
14.4%
(2013)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:
1.7%
highest 10%:
41.5%
(2013 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
57.75 billion
(2017 est.)
expenditures:
65.38 billion
(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
20.8% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.8% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Public debt:
23.6% of GDP
(2017 est.)
21% of GDP
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Current account balance:
-$10.933 billion
(2019 est.)
-$10.601 billion
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Exports:
$90.626 billion
(2019 est.)
$92.772 billion
(2018 est.)
$88.376 billion
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Exports - partners:
China 27.5%, US 14.5%, Japan 9.3%, South Korea 6.2%, Brazil 5%
(2017)
Exports - commodities:
copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine
Imports:
$87.505 billion
(2019 est.)
$89.578 billion
(2018 est.)
$83.01 billion
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
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)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$38.98 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$40.49 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Debt - external:
$183.4 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$158.1 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Exchange rates:
Chilean pesos (CLP) per US dollar -
738.81
(2020 est.)
770.705
(2019 est.)
674.25
(2018 est.)
658.93
(2014 est.)
570.37
(2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access:
electrification - total population:
100%
(2020)
Electricity - production:
76.09 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Electricity - consumption:
73.22 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
24.53 million kW
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
59% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
26% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
15% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Crude oil - production:
3,000 bbl/day
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Crude oil - imports:
169,600 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Crude oil - proved reserves:
150 million bbl
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Refined petroleum products - production:
216,200 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
354,500 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Refined petroleum products - exports:
7,359 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Refined petroleum products - imports:
166,400 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - production:
1.218 billion cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - consumption:
5.125 billion cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Natural gas - exports:
277.5 million cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - imports:
4.446 billion cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - proved reserves:
97.97 billion cu m
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
88.23 million Mt
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
2,620,195
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
14.51
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
23,870,679
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
132.19
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Telecommunication systems:
general assessment:
most advanced telecommunications infrastructure in South America; 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; the country ranks second highest in South and Central America in terms of available broadband speeds; effective competition in the broadband and mobile sectors; LTE infrastructure is extensive but national plan for 5G services awaits spectrum auctions; during the COVID-19 pandemic Chile provided free access to educational content for about 3 million school pupils
(2020)
domestic:
number of fixed-line connections have stagnated to 15 per 100 in recent years as mobile-cellular usage continues to increase, reaching 132 telephones per 100 persons; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations
(2019)
international:
country code - 56; landing points for the Pan-Am, Prat, SAm-1, American Movil-Telxius West Coast Cable, FOS Quellon-Chacabuco, Fibra Optical Austral, SAC and Curie submarine cables providing links to the US, Caribbean and to Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
(2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
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
Internet country code:
.cl
Internet users:
total:
14,757,868
percent of population:
82.33%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:
3,250,678
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
18
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Transportation
National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers:
9
(2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:
173
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
19,517,185
(2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
1,226,440,000
mt-km
(2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
CC
(2016)
Airports:
481
(2013)
country comparison to the world: 14
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
90
(2017)
over 3,047 m:
5
(2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
7
(2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
23
(2017)
914 to 1,523 m:
31
(2017)
under 914 m:
24
(2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
391
(2013)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
5
(2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
11
(2013)
914 to 1,523 m:
56
(2013)
under 914 m:
319
(2013)
Heliports:
1
(2013)
Pipelines:
3160 km gas, 781 km liquid petroleum gas, 985 km oil, 722 km refined products
(2013)
Railways:
total:
7,282 km
(2014)
narrow gauge:
3,853.5 km
1.000-m gauge
(2014)
broad gauge:
3,428 km
1.676-m gauge (1,691 km electrified)
(2014)
country comparison to the world: 30
Roadways:
total:
77,801 km
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 63
Merchant marine:
total:
221
by type:
bulk carrier 7, container ship 5, general cargo 51, oil tanker 14, other 144
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 63
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s):
Coronel, Huasco, Lirquen, Puerto Ventanas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Valparaiso
container port(s) (TEUs):
San Antonio (1,296,890), Valparaiso (1,073,734)
(2017)
LNG terminal(s) (import):
Mejillones, Quintero
Military and Security
Military and security forces:
Armed Forces of Chile (Fuerzas Armadas de Chile): 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); Carabineros de Chile (National Police Force)
(2020)
note: Carabineros de Chile are responsible to both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior
Military expenditures:
1.8% of GDP
(2019)
1.9% of GDP
(2018)
1.9% of GDP
(2017)
1.9% of GDP
(2016)
1.9% of GDP
(2015)
country comparison to the world: 60
Military and security service personnel strengths:
the Armed Forces of Chile have approximately 80,000 active personnel (45,000 Army; 22,000 Navy; 13,000 Air Force); approximately 45,000 Carabineros
(2019 est.)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:
the Chilean military inventory is comprised of a mix of mostly European and US equipment and a limited number of domestically-produced systems; since 2010, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the US are the leading suppliers; Chile's defense industry produces some military vehicles and naval craft
(2019 est.)
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)
Transnational Issues
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 gas; 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)
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin):
475,688 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2020)
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
