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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

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

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]

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

Televisions [time series]

2.85 million (1992 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

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

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$31.5 billion (1998)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

ODA, $50.3 million (1996 est.)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

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.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

35.81 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

35.81 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 41.89% hydro: 58.11% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

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)

Exports [time series]

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

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

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

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

EU 25%, US 15%, Asia 34%, Latin America 20% (1995 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

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

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

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

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

purchasing power parity?$12,500 (1998 est.)

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

3.5% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

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

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

EU 18%, US 25%, Asia 16%, Latin America 26% (1995 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-1.1% (1998)

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]

4.7% (1998)

Labor force [time series]

5.8 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

services 38.3% (includes government 12%), industry and commerce 33.8%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 19.2%, mining 2.3%, construction 6.4% (1990)

Population below poverty line [time series]

20.5% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.4% (1998)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 756,950 sq km land: 748,800 sq km water: 8,150 sq km note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana

Climate [time series]

temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south

Coastline [time series]

6,435 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

30 00 S, 71 00 W

Geography - note (Geography--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

Irrigated land [time series]

12,650 sq km (1993 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: 5% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 22% other: 55% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis

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

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

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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)

Executive branch [time series]

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%

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

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, 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

Judicial branch [time series]

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

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 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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

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

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

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Military

Military and security forces (Military 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 - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$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

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2.79% (1998)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

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

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

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

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 132,202 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

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.)

Birth rate [time series]

17.81 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.53 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.46 years male: 72.33 years female: 78.75 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

14,973,843 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.23% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.25 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

378 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 58 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 under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 320 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 under 914 m: 229 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 527,201 GRT/787,719 DWT ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 10, chemical tanker 5, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 4, passenger 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Antofagasta, Arica, Chanaral, 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