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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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 expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $970 million, 2.0% of GDP (1994 est.)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 3,808,655 males fit for military service: 2,832,198 males reach military age (19) annually: 123,443 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 159, FM 0, shortwave 11

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

1.5 million (1994 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

131

Televisions [time series]

2.85 million (1992 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; beef, poultry, wool; timber; 1991 fish catch of 6.6 million metric tons

Budget [time series]

revenues: $17 billion expenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $62 million (1993)

Economic overview [time series]

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 real GDP in 1991-95 has averaged more than 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 economic 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.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 4,810,000 kW production: 22 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,499 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1 - 408.64 (December 1995), 396.78 (1995), 420.08 (1994), 404.35 (1993), 362.59 (1992), 349.37 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$15.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: copper 41%, other metals and minerals 8.7%, wood products 7.1%, fish and fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1991) partners: EU 25%, US 15%, Asia 34%, Latin America 20% (1995 est.)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$21.1 billion (1995 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $113.2 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 7.4% industry: 36.4% services: 56.2% (1985)

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

$8,000 (1995 est.)

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

8.5% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$14.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, raw materials 15.4%, petroleum 10%, foodstuffs 5.7% partners: EU 18%, US 25%, Asia 16%, Latin America 26% (1995 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.3% (1993 est.)

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]

8.1% (1995 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)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.4% (1995 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Climate [time series]

temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south

Coastline [time series]

6,435 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

30 00 S, 71 00 W

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

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

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 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 6,171 km border countries: 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]

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

Map references [time series]

South America

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

Terrain [time series]

low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m

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

Legislative branch (Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)) [time series]

election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1997); results - Coalition 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) Coalition 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

Constitution [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

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

chief of mission: Ambassador John BIEHL del Rio chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994) elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1997); results - Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) 58%, Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%, other 17.6% cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

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

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

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

[56] (2) 330-3710

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)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are appointed by the president, the president of the Supreme Court is elected by the 17-member court

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; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)

Country name (Name of country) [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; 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]

Coalition of Parties for Democracy (CPD) consists mainly of: 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 (UPP) consists mainly of three parties [time series]

National Renewal (RN), Andres ALLAMAND; Independent Democratic Union (UDI), Jovino NOVOA; Center Center Union (UCCP), Francisco Javier ERRAZURIZ

Legislative branch (Senate (Senado)) [time series]

election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (46 total, 38 elected) Coalition 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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

republic

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Gabriel GUERRA-MONDRAGON embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago mailing address: use street address telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 29% (male 2,071,816; female 2,041,417) 15-64 years: 65% (male 4,599,173; female 4,651,030) 65 years and over: 6% (male 403,019; female 566,803) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.09 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.68 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.49 years male: 71.26 years female: 77.72 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 95.2% male: 95.4% female: 95%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

14,333,258 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.24% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.23 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 344 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 17 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 16 with paved runways under 914 m: 220 with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 68 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 79,593 km paved: 10,984 km unpaved: 68,609 km (1991 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 529,512 GRT/925,364 DWT ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 8, chemical tanker 4, combination ore/oil 2, container 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, vehicle carrier 2 (1995 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

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)

Waterways [time series]

725 km