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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 396 usable: 351 with permanent-surface runways: 48 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 13 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 57

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

79,025 km total; 9,913 km paved, 33,140 km gravel, 35,972 km improved and unimproved earth (1984)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

725 km

Merchant marine [time series]

31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 445,330 GRT/756,018 DWT; includes 8 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 oil tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas tanker, 3 combination ore/oil, 8 bulk; note - in addition, 1 naval tanker and 1 military transport are sometimes used commercially

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports [time series]

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

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

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

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

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

Affiliation [time series]

(also see separate Taiwan entry)

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

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

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 3.653 million; fit for military service 2,722,479; reach military age (19) annually 119,434 (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for about 9% 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

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos

Economic aid [time series]

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

Electricity [time series]

5,769,000 kW capacity; 22,010 million kWh produced, 1,630 kWh per capita (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1 - 384.04 (January 1993), 362.59 (1992), 349.37 (1991), 305.06 (1990), 267.16 (1989), 245.05 (1988)

Exports [time series]

$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 32%, US 18%, Japan 18%, Brazil 5% (1991)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$16.9 billion (year end 1991)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Imports [time series]

$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: US 21%, EC 18%, Brazil 9%, Japan 8% (1991)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 14.56% (1992); accounts for 34% of GDP

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

12.7% (1992)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $34.7 billion (1992 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$2,550 (1992)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

10.4% (1992)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The government of President AYLWIN, which took power in 1990, retained the economic policies of PINOCHET, although the share of spending for social welfare has risen steadily. In 1991 growth in GDP recovered to 6% (led by consumer spending) after only 2% growth in 1990. The pace accelerated in 1992 as the result of strong investment and export growth, and GDP rose 10.4%. Nonetheless, inflation fell further, to 12.7%, compared with 27.3% in 1990 and 18.7% in 1991. The buoyant economy spurred a 25% growth in imports, and the trade surplus fell in 1992, although international reserves increased. Inflationary pressures are not expected to ease much in 1993, and economic growth is likely to approach 7%.

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.9% (1992)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 756,950 km2 land area: 748,800 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana note: includes Isla de Pascua (Easter Island) and Isla Sala y Gomez

Climate [time series]

temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south

Coastline [time series]

6,435 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

subject to severe earthquakes, active volcanism, tsunami; Atacama Desert one of world's driest regions; desertification

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

12,650 km2 (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 6,171 km, Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 16% forest and woodland: 21% other: 56%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

South America, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage)

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Santiago

Constitution [time series]

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

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Patricio SILVA Echenique chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 785-1746 consulates general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco

Executive branch (Elections) [time series]

Chamber of Deputies: last held 14 December 1989 (next to be held December 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) Concertation of Parties for Democracy 71 (PDC 38, PPD 17, PR 5, other 11), RN 29, UDI 11, right-wing independents 9 President: last held 14 December 1989 (next to be held December 1993); results - Patricio AYLWIN (PDC) 55.2%, Hernan BUCHI 29.4%, other 15.4% Senate: last held 14 December 1989 (next to be held December 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (46 total, 38 elected) Concertation of Parties for Democracy 22 (PDC 13, PPD 5, PR 2, PSD 1, PRSD 1), RN 6, UDI 2, right-wing independents 8

Executive branch [time series]

president, Cabinet

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

18 September 1810 (from Spain)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Executive branch (Leaders) [time series]

Chief of State and Head of Government: President Patricio AYLWIN Azocar (since 11 March 1990)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consisting of an upper house or Senate (Senado) and a lower house or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

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, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Concertation of Parties for Democracy consists mainly of four parties: PDC, PPD, PR, PS; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle; Party for Democracy (PPD), Sergio BITAR; Radical Party (PR), Carlos GONZALEZ Marquez; Sociaistl Party (PS), German CORREA; Independent Democratic Union (UDI), Jovino NOVOA; National Renovation (RN), Andree ALLAMAND; Center-Center Union (UCC), Francisco Juner ERRAZURIZ; Communist Party of Chile (PCCh), Volodia TEITELBOIM; Allende Leftist Democratic Movement (MIDA), Mario PALESTRO

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Curtis W. KAMMAN embassy: Codina Building, 1343 Agustinas, Santiago mailing address: APO AA 34033 telephone: [56] (2) 671-0133 FAX: [56] (2) 699-1141

People

Birth rate [time series]

20.9 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.55 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

15.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.728 million 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)

Languages [time series]

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.15 years male: 71.16 years female: 77.29 years (1993 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 93% male: 94% female: 93%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population [time series]

13,739,759 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.54% (1993 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.51 children born/woman (1993 est.)