Chile - CIA World Fact Book

CIA World Fact Book Alicia Graber

Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile

maintained consistently since the

was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians (also known as Mapuches)

1980s, have contributed to steady

inhabited central and southern Chile. Although Chile declared its

growth, reduced poverty rates by

independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved

over half, and have helped secure

until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and

the country’s commitment to

Bolivia and won its present northern regions. It was not until the 1880s

democratic and representative

that the Araucanian Indians were completely subjugated. A three-

government. Chile has increasingly

year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown

assumed regional and international

in 1973 by a military coup led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a

leadership roles befitting its status

freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies,

as a stable, democratic nation.

9 GEOGRAPHY....................................................................................................................19 POLITICS............................................................................................................................ 25 PEOPLE...............................................................................................................................26 GOVERNMENT...............................................................................................................28 CULTURE...........................................................................................................................36 ECONOMY........................................................................................................................38 COMMUNICATIONS.................................................................................................. 46 TRANSPORTATION.................................................................................................... 48 MILITARY.......................................................................................................................... 50 TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES..................................................................................... 52 HISTORY..................................................................................................................................

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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About 10,000 years ago, migrating Native Americans settled in fertile valleys and along the coast of what is now Chile. The Incas briefly extended their empire into what is now northern Chile, but the area’s barrenness prevented extensive settlement.

“The conquest of Chile began in earnest in 1540 and was carried out by

In 1520, while attempting to circumnavigate the earth, the Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan, discovered the southern passage now named after him, the Strait of Magellan. The next Europeans to reach Chile were Diego de Almagro and his band of Spanish conquistadors, who came from

Pedro de Valdivia,… who founded the city of Santiago on February 12, 1541”

Peru in 1535 seeking gold. The Spanish encountered hundreds of thousands of Native Americans

and hunting. The conquest of Chile began in earnest in 1540 and was

from various cultures in the

carried out by Pedro de Valdivia, one of Francisco Pizarro’s lieutenants,

area that modern Chile now

who founded the city of Santiago on February 12, 1541. Although the

occupies. These cultures supported

Spanish did not find the extensive gold and silver they sought, they

themselves principally through

recognized the agricultural potential of Chile’s central valley, and Chile

slash-and-burn agriculture

became part of the Viceroyalty of Peru.

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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Conquest of the land that is today called Chile took place only gradually, and the Europeans suffered repeated setbacks at the hands of the local population.

A massive Mapuche insurrection that began in 1553 resulted in Valdivia’s death and the destruction of many of the colony’s principal settlements.

Subsequent major insurrections took place in 1598 and in 1655.

Each time the Mapuche and other native groups revolted, the southern border of the colony was driven northward. The abolition of slavery in 1683 defused tensions on the frontier between the colony and the Mapuche land to the south, and permitted increased trade between colonists and

“On February 12, 1818, Chile was proclaimed an independent republic under O’Higgins’ leadership.”

the Mapuche.

The drive for independence from Spain was precipitated by usurpation of the Spanish throne

by Napoleon’s brother Joseph in 1808. A national junta in the name of Ferdinand—heir to the deposed king—was formed on September 18, 1810. The junta proclaimed Chile an autonomous republic within the Spanish monarchy. A

Intermittent warfare continued until 1817, when an army led by Bernardo O’Higgins, Chile’s most renowned patriot, and José de San Martín, hero of the Argentine War of Independence, crossed the Andes into Chile and defeated the royalists. On February 12, 1818, Chile was proclaimed an independent republic under O’Higgins’ leadership. The political revolt brought little social change, however, and 19th century Chilean society preserved the essence of the stratified colonial social structure,

movement for total independence soon won a wide following.

which was greatly influenced by

Toward the end of the nineteenth

Spanish attempts to re-impose

family politics and the Roman

century, the government in

arbitrary rule during what was

Catholic Church. A strong

Santiago consolidated its position

called the “Reconquista” led to a

presidency eventually emerged,

in the south by ruthlessly

prolonged struggle.

but wealthy landowners remained

suppressing the Mapuche during

extremely powerful.

the Occupation of Araucanía.

In 1881, it signed a treaty with

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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Argentina confirming Chilean sovereignty over the Strait of Magellan.

As a result of the War of the Pacific with Peru and Bolivia (1879–83), Chile expanded its territory northward by almost one-third, eliminating Bolivia’s access to the Pacific, and acquired valuable nitrate deposits, the exploitation of which led to an era of national affluence. The Chilean Civil War in 1891 brought about a redistribution of power between the President and Congress, and Chile established a parliamentary style

democracy. However, the Civil

ties to foreign investors. Hence

War had also been a contest

the Chilean economy partially

between those who favored the

degenerated into a system

development of local industries

protecting the interests of a

and powerful Chilean banking

ruling oligarchy.

interests, particularly the House of Edwards who had strong

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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viable politician for more than thirty years, in spite of the vague and shifting nature of his ideology.

When constitutional rule was restored in 1932, a strong middleclass party, the Radicals, emerged.

It became the key force in coalition governments for the next 20 years.

During the period of Radical Party dominance (1932–52), the state increased its role in the economy.

In 1952, voters returned Ibáñez

Arturo Alessandri Palma 1920s President Reformist

Carlos Ibáñez del Campo 1930s - 50s President Dictator

By the 1920s, the emerging

The longest lasting of the ten

middle and working classes

governments between those

were powerful enough to elect

years was that of General Carlos

a reformist president, Arturo

Ibáñez del Campo, who briefly

Alessandri Palma, whose program

held power in 1925 and then

was frustrated by a conservative

again between 1927 and 1931 in

congress. Alessandri Palma’s

what was a de facto dictatorship,

reformist tendencies were partly

although not really comparable

tempered later by an admiration

in harshness or corruption to

for some elements of Mussolini’s

the type of military dictatorship

Italian Corporate State. In the

that has often bedeviled the

1920s, Marxist groups with strong

rest of Latin America, and

popular support arose.

certainly not comparable to the

A military coup led by General Luis Altamirano in 1924 set off a period of great political instability that lasted until 1932.

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

violent and repressive regime

del Campo, now reincarnated as a sort of Chilean Perón, to office for another six years.

Jorge Alessandri Palma 1950s President Conservative

of Augusto Pinochet decades later. By relinquishing power to a

Jorge Alessandri succeeded

democratically elected successor,

Ibáñez del Campo in 1958,

Ibáñez del Campo retained the

bringing Chilean conservatism

respect of a large enough segment

back into power democratically for

of the population to remain a

another term.

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ambitious goals.

In 1970, Senator Salvador Allende Gossens, a Marxist physician and member of Chile’s Socialist Party, who headed the “Popular Unity” (UP or “Unidad Popular”) coalition of the Socialist, Communist, Radical, and Social-Democratic Parties, along with dissident Christian Democrats, the Popular Unitary Action Movement (MAPU), and the Independent Popular

Eduardo Frei Montalva 1960s President Democratic

Action, won a plurality of votes in a three-way contest. Despite pressure from the government

Salvador Allende Gossens 1970s President Socialist

of the United States, the Chilean The 1964 presidential election of

Congress, keeping with tradition, conducted a runoff vote between the

Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei

leading candidates, Allende and former president Jorge Alessandri and

Montalva by an absolute majority

chose Allende by a vote of 153 to 35. Frei refused to form an alliance

initiated a period of major reform.

with Alessandri to oppose Allende, on the grounds that the Christian

Under the slogan “Revolution in

Democrats were a workers party and could not make common cause with

Liberty”, the Frei administration

the oligarchs.

embarked on far-reaching social and economic programs, particularly in education, housing, and agrarian reform, including rural unionization of agricultural workers. By 1967, however, Frei encountered increasing opposition from leftists, who charged that his reforms were inadequate, and

Allende’s program included advancement of workers’ interests; a thoroughgoing implementation of agrarian reform; the reorganization of the national economy into socialized, mixed, and private sectors; a foreign policy of “international solidarity” and national independence; and a new institutional order (the “people’s state” or “poder popular”), including the institution of a unicameral congress. The Popular Unity platform also called for nationalization of foreign (U.S.) ownership of Chile’s major copper mines.

from conservatives, who found them excessive. At the end of his term, Frei had accomplished many noteworthy objectives, but he had not fully achieved his party’s

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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An economic depression that began in 1967 peaked in 1970, exacerbated by capital flight, plummeting private investment, and withdrawal of bank deposits by those opposed to Allende’s socialist program. Production fell and unemployment rose. Allende adopted measures including price freezes, wage increases, and tax reforms, which had the effect of increasing consumer spending and redistributing income downward. Joint public-private public works projects helped reduce unemployment. Much of the banking sector was nationalized.

Many enterprises within the copper, coal, iron, nitrate, and steel

of domestic destabilization. By

industries were expropriated, nationalized, or subjected to state

1972, the economic progress of

intervention. Industrial output increased sharply and unemployment

Allende’s first year had been

fell during the Allende administration’s first year.

reversed and the economy was

Other reforms undertaken during the early Allende period included redistribution of millions of hectares of land to landless agricultural workers as part of the agrarian reform program, giving the armed forces an overdue pay increase, and providing free milk to children. The Indian Peoples Development Corporation and the Mapuche Vocational Institute were founded to address the needs of Chile’s indigenous population.

The nationalization of U.S. and other foreign-owned companies led to increased tensions with the United States. The Nixon administration brought international financial pressure to bear in order to restrict economic credit to Chile. Simultaneously, the CIA funded opposition media, politicians, and organizations, helping to accelerate a campaign

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

in crisis. Political polarization increased, and large mobilizations of both pro- and anti-government groups became frequent, often leading to clashes.

By early 1973, inflation was out of control. The crippled economy was further battered by prolonged and sometimes simultaneous strikes by physicians, teachers, students, truck owners, copper workers, and

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the small business class. A US-backed military coup overthrew Allende on September 11, 1973. As the armed forces bombarded the presidential palace (Palacio de La Moneda), Allende reportedly committed suicide.

A military government, led by General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, took over control of the country. The first years of the regime were marked by serious human rights violations. On October 1973, at least 72 people were murdered by the Caravan of Death . At least a thousand people were executed during the first six months of Pinochet in office, and at least

two thousand more were killed during the next sixteen years, as reported

In a plebiscite on October 5, 1988,

by the Rettig Report. Some 30,000 were forced to flee the country, and

General Pinochet was denied a

tens of thousands of people were detained and tortured, as investigated

second 8-year term as president

by the 2004 Valech Commission. A new Constitution was approved by a

(56% against 44%). Chileans

highly irregular and undemocratic plebiscite characterized by the absence

elected a new president and the

of registration lists, on September 11, 1980, and General Pinochet became

majority of members of a two-

President of the Republic for an 8-year term.

chamber congress on December

In the late 1980s, the regime gradually permitted greater freedom of assembly, speech, and association, to include trade union and limited political activity. The right-wing military government pursued free market economic policies. During Pinochet’s nearly 17 years in power, Chile moved away from state involvement, toward a largely free market economy that saw an increase in domestic and foreign private investment, although the copper industry and other important mineral resources were not returned to foreign ownership.

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

14, 1989. Christian Democrat Patricio Aylwin, the candidate of a coalition of 17 political parties called the Concertación, received an absolute majority of votes (55%). President Aylwin served from 1990 to 1994, in what was considered a transition period.

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In December 1993, Christian Democrat

“In January 2006

Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, the son of previous president Eduardo Frei Montalva, led the Concertación coalition to victory

Chileans elected

with an absolute majority of votes (58%).

Frei Ruiz-Tagle was succeeded in 2000

by Socialist Ricardo Lagos, who won the

their first

presidency in an unprecedented runoff election against Joaquín Lavín of the rightist Alliance for Chile. In January

woman president,

2006 Chileans elected their first woman president, Michelle Bachelet Jeria, of the Socialist Party. She was sworn in on March 11, 2006, extending the Concertación coalition governance for another four years.

of the Socialist Party.”

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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LOCATION:

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

AREA:

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

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MARITIME CLAIMS:

territorial sea: 12 nm

CONTIGUOUS ZONE: 24 nm

EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE: 200 nm

CONTINENTAL SHELF: 200/350 nm

AREA COMPARATIVE:

slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana

LAND BOUNDARIES: 6,339 km

BORDER COUNTRIES:

Argentina 5,308 km | Bolivia 860 km Peru 171 km

COASTLINE: 6,435 km

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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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 EXTREMES:

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:

arable land: 2.62%

PERMANENT CROPS: 0.43% other: 96.95% (2005)

IRRIGATED LAND: 19,000 sq km (2003)

TOTAL RENEWABLE water resources: 922 cu km (2000)

FRESHWATER

withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): total: 12.55 cu km/yr (11%/25%/64%)

PER CAPITA: 770 cu m/yr (2000)

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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NATURAL HAZARDS:

severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis

ENVIRONMENT – ISSUES:

widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, AntarcticMarine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate ChangeKyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

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 CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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Chile’s Constitution was approved in a highly irregular national plebiscite in September 1980, under the military government of Augusto Pinochet. It entered into force in March 1981. After Pinochet’s defeat in the 1988 plebiscite, the Constitution was amended to ease provisions for future amendments to the Constitution. In September 2005, President Ricardo Lagos signed into law several constitutional amendments passed

by Congress. These include eliminating the positions of appointed senators and senators for life, granting the President authority to remove the commandersin-chief of the armed forces, and reducing the presidential term from six to four years. Chileans voted in the first round of presidential elections on December 11, 2005.

None of the four presidential

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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candidates won more than 50%

held in December 11, 2005, concurrently with the presidential

of the vote. As a result, the top

election. The current lower house—the Chamber of Deputies—

two vote-getters—center-left

contains 63 members of the governing center-left coalition and 57

Concertación coalition’s Michelle

from the center-right opposition. The Congress is located in the

Bachelet and center-right Alianza

port city of Valparaíso, about 140 kilometers (84 mi.) west of the

coalition’s Sebastián Piñera—

capital, Santiago.

competed in a run-off election on January 15, 2006, which Michelle Bachelet won. She was sworn in on March 11, 2006. This was Chile’s fourth presidential election since the end of the Pinochet era. All four have been judged free and fair. The President is constitutionally barred from serving consecutive terms.

Chile’s congressional elections are governed by a binomial system that rewards large representations. Therefore, there are only two Senate and two Deputy seats apportioned to each electoral district, parties are forced to form wide coalitions and, historically, the two largest coalitions (Concertación and Alianza) split most of the seats in a district. Only if the leading coalition ticket out-polls the second-place coalition by a margin of more than 2-to-1 does the winning coalition gain both seats. In the 2001 congressional elections, the conservative Independent Democratic Union surpassed the Christian Democrats for the first time to become

Chile’s bicameral Congress has a

the largest party in the lower house. In 2005, both leading parties,

38-seat Senate and a 120-member

the Christian Democrats and the UDI lost representation in favor

Chamber of Deputies. Senators

of their respective allies Socialist Party (which became the biggest

serve for 8 years with staggered

party in the Concertación block) and National Renewal in the

terms, while Deputies are elected

right-wing alliance. The Communist Party again failed to gain any

every 4 years. The current Senate

seats in the election. (See Chilean parliamentary election, 2005.)

has a 20-18 split in favor of pro-government Senators.

The last congressional elections were

Chile’s judiciary is independent and includes a court of appeal, a system of military courts, a constitutional tribunal, and the Supreme Court. In June 2005, Chile completed a nation-wide overhaul of its criminal justice system. The reform has replaced inquisitorial proceedings with an adversarial system more similar to that of the United States.

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POPULATION:

16,284,741 (July 2007 est.)

AGE STRUCTURE:

0-14 years: 24.1% (male 2,010,576/female 1,920,951) 15-64 years: 67.4% (male 5,480,703/female 5,492,988) 65 years and over: 8.5% (male 576,698/female 802,825) (2007 est.)

MEDIAN AGE:

30.7 years male: 29.8 years female: 31.7 years (2007 est.)

POPULATION GROWTH RATE: 0.916% (2007 est.)

BIRTH RATE:

15.03 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

DEATH RATE:

5.87 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

NET MIGRATION RATE:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

SEX RATIO:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.047 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.998 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.718 male(s)/female total population: 0.982 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - ADULT PREVALENCE RATE: 0.3% (2003 est.)

INFANT MORTALITY RATE:

total: 8.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH: total population: 76.96 years male: 73.69 years female: 80.4 years (2007 est.)

TOTAL FERTILITY RATE:

1.97 children born/woman (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS: 26,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - DEATHS: 1,400 (2003 est.)

NATIONALITY: noun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean

ETHNIC GROUPS:

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

RELIGIONS:

Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah’s Witness 1.1%, other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3% (2002 census)

LANGUAGES: Spanish

LITERACY:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.7% male: 95.8% female: 95.6% (2002 census) CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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COUNTRY NAME: Chile

CONVENTIONAL LONG FORM: Republic of Chile

CONVENTIONAL SHORT FORM: Chile

LOCAL LONG FORM: Republica de Chile

LOCAL SHORT FORM: Chile

GOVERNMENT TYPE: republic

CAPITAL:

name: Santiago

GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES: 33 27 S, 70 40 W

TIME DIFFERENCE:

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME:

+1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in March

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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INDEPENDENCE:

18 September 1810 (from Spain)

NATIONAL HOLIDAY:

Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

CONSTITUTION:

11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 1989, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2005

LEGAL SYSTEM:

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; note - in June 2005, Chile completed overhaul of its criminal justice system to a new, US-style adversarial system

SUFFRAGE:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: 15 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Arica y Parinacota, Atacama, Biobio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins, Los Lagos, Los Rios, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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EXECUTIVE BRANCH:

chief of state: President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11 March 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

HEAD OF GOVERNMENT:

President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11 March 2006)

CABINET:

Cabinet appointed by the president

ELECTIONS:

president elected by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 11 December 2005, with runoff election held 15 January 2006 (next to be held in December 2009)

ELECTION RESULTS:

Michelle BACHELET Jeria elected president; percent of vote - Michelle BACHELET Jeria 53.5%; Sebastian PINERA Echenique 46.5%

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH:

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (38 seats; members elected by popular vote to 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 2005 (next to be held in December 2009); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 2005 (next to be held in December 2009)

ELECTION RESULTS:

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPD 20 (PDC 6, PS 8, PPD 3, PRSD 3), APC 17 (UDI 9, RN 8), independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPD 65 (PDC 21, PPD 22, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 54 (UDI 34, RN 20), independent 1; note - as of 8 January 2008: Senate - seats by party - CPD 18, (PDC 5, PS 8, PPD 2, PRSD 3), APC 16 (UDI 9, RN 7), independent 4; Chamber of Deputies - seats by party - CPD 57 (PDC 16, PPD 19, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 53 (UDI 33, RN 20), independent 10.

JUDICIAL BRANCH:

Supreme Court or 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 every three years by the 20-member court); Constitutional Tribunal

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POLITICAL PARTIES AND LEADERS:

Alliance for Chile (“Alianza”) or APC (including National Renewal or RN [Carlos LARRAIN Pena] and Independent Democratic Union or UDI [Hernan LARRAIN Fernandez]); Coalition of Parties for Democracy (“Concertacion”) or CPD (including Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Soledad ALVEAR], Socialist Party or PS [Camilo ESCALONA Medina], Party for Democracy or PPD [Sergio BITAR Chacra], Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Jose Antonio GOMEZ Urrutia]); Communist Party or PC [Guillermo TEILLIER]; Humanist Party [Marilen CABRERA Olmos]

POLITICAL PRESSURE GROUPS AND LEADERS:

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

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATION:

ABEDA, APEC, BIS, CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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Diplomatic representation in the US: Chief of Mission:

Diplomatic representation from the US: Chief of Mission:

Chancery:

Embassy:

Ambassador Mariano Fernandez

1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

Telephone:

(202) 530-4104 | 530-4106, 530-4107

FAX:

(202) 887-5579

Consulate(s) general:

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

Ambassador Paul E. Simons Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago

Mailing Address: APO AA 34033

Telephone:

(2) 232-2600

FAX:

(2) 330-3710

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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 representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red stands for the blood spilled to achieve independence note: design was influenced by the US flag

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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Northern Chile was an important

The national dance is the cueca.

Chileans call their country país de

center of culture in the medieval

Another form of traditional

poetas—country of poets. Gabriela

and early modern Inca empire,

Chilean song, though not a dance,

Mistral was the first Chilean to win

while the central and southern

is the tonada. Arising from music

a Nobel Prize for Literature (1945).

regions were areas of Mapuche

imported by the Spanish colonists,

Chile’s most famous poet,

cultural activities. Through

it is distinguished from the cueca

however, is Pablo Neruda,

the colonial period following

by an intermediate melodic

who also won the Nobel Prize

the conquest, and during the

section and a more prominent

for Literature (1971) and is

early Republican period, the

melody. In the mid-1960s native

world-renowned for his extensive

country’s culture was dominated

musical forms were revitalized by

library of works on romance,

by the Spanish. Other European

the Parra family with the Nueva

nature, and politics. His three

influences, primarily English and

Canción Chilena, which was

highly individualistic homes,

French, began in the 19th century

associated with political activists

located in Isla Negra, Santiago

and have continued to this day.

and reformers, and by the folk

and Valparaíso are popular

singer and researcher on folklore

tourist destinations.

and Chilean ethnography, Margot Loyola.

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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“If nothing saves us from death, at least love should save us from life.”

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

—Pablo Neruda 37

Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile’s reputation as a role model for economic reform was strengthened when the democratic government of Patricio AYLWIN - which took over from the military in 1990 deepened the economic reform initiated by the military government.

Growth in real GDP averaged 8% during 1991-97, but fell to half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary policies implemented to keep the current account deficit in check and because of lower export earnings -

the latter a product of the global

maintained a low rate of inflation

Unemployment has exhibited a

financial crisis. A severe drought

with GDP growth coming from

downward trend over the past

exacerbated the recession in

high copper prices, solid export

two years, dropping to 7.8% and

1999, reducing crop yields and

earnings (particularly forestry,

6.7% at the end of 2006 and

causing hydroelectric shortfalls

fishing, and mining), and growing

2007, respectively. Chile deepened

and electricity rationing, and Chile

domestic consumption. President

its longstanding commitment

experienced negative economic

BACHELET in 2006 established an

to trade liberalization with the

growth for the first time in more

Economic and Social Stabilization

signing of a free trade agreement

than 15 years. Despite the effects

Fund to hold excess copper

with the US, which took effect on

of the recession, Chile maintained

revenues so that social spending

1 January 2004. Chile claims to

its reputation for strong financial

can be maintained during periods

have more bilateral or regional

institutions and sound policy

of copper shortfalls. This fund will

trade agreements than any other

that have given it the strongest

surpass $20 billion by the end of

country. It has 57 such agreements

sovereign bond rating in South

2007. Chile continues to attract

(not all of them full free trade

America. Between 2000 and 2007

foreign direct investment, but

agreements), including with the

growth ranged between 2%-6%.

most foreign investment goes into

European Union, Mercosur, China,

Throughout these years Chile

gas, water, electricity and mining.

India, South Korea, and Mexico.

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38

GDP (PURCHASING POWER PARITY): $234.4 billion (2007 est.)

(OFFICIAL EXCHANGE RATE): $160.8 billion (2007 est.)

REAL GROWTH RATE: 5.2% (2007 est.)

PER CAPITA (PPP): $14,400 (2007 est.)

COMPOSITION BY SECTOR: agriculture: 4.9% industry: 49.7% services: 45.4% (2007 est.)

LABOR FORCE: 6.97 million (2007 est.)

BY OCCUPATION: agriculture: 13.6% industry: 23.4% services: 63% (2003)

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UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 7% (2007 est.)

POPULATION BELOW POVERTY LINE: 18.2% (2005)

HOUSEHOLD INCOME OR CONSUMPTION BY PERCENTAGE SHARE: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 45% (2003)

DISTRIBUTION OF FAMILY INCOME - GINI INDEX: 54.9 (2003)

INFLATION RATE (CONSUMER PRICES): 6.5% (2007 est.)

INVESTMENT (GROSS FIXED): 21% of GDP (2007 est.)

BUDGET

revenues: $44.44 billion expenditures: $31.36 billion (2007 est.)

PUBLIC DEBT:

3.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

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40

AGRICULTURE - PRODUCTS:

grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, beans; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber

INDUSTRIES:

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

INDUSTRIAL GROWTH RATE: 5.6% (2007 est.)

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41

ELECTRICITY – PRODUCTION 47.6 billion kWh (2006)

PRODUCTION BY SOURCE: fossil fuel: 47% hydro: 51.5% nuclear: 0% other: 1.4% (2001)

CONSUMPTION: 48.31 billion kWh (2005)

EXPORTS: 0 kWh (2005)

IMPORTS:

2.152 billion kWh (2005)

OIL – PRODUCTION: 15,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

CONSUMPTION:

238,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

EXPORTS:

31,510 bbl/day (2004)

IMPORTS:

222,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

PROVED RESERVES:

150 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

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NATURAL GAS – PRODUCTION: 1.957 billion cu m (2005 est.)

CONSUMPTION:

8.191 billion cu m (2005 est.)

EXPORTS:

0 cu m (2005 est.)

IMPORTS:

6.234 billion cu m (2005)

PROVED RESERVES:

93.97 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE: $8.184 billion (2007 est.)

EXPORTS:

$66.43 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

COMMODITIES:

copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine

PARTNERS:

US 15.6%, Japan 10.5%, China 8.6%, Netherlands 6.7%, South Korea 5.9%, Italy 4.9%, Brazil 4.8%, France 4.2% (2006)

IMPORTS:

$41.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

COMMODITIES:

petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical and telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles, natural gas

PARTNERS:

US 15.6%, Argentina 12.6%, Brazil 11.8%, China 9.7% (2006) CIA World Fact Book | Chile

43

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

44

ECONOMIC AID - RECIPIENT: $0 (2006)

RESERVES OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND GOLD: $22.24 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

DEBT - EXTERNAL: $49.18 billion (30 June 2007)

STOCK OF DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENT – AT HOME: $84.07 billion (2006 est.)

ABROAD:

$28.5 billion (2006 est.)

MARKET VALUE OF PUBLICLY TRADED SHARES: $174.6 billion (2006)

CURRENCY (CODE): Chilean peso (CLP)

CURRENCY CODE: CLP

EXCHANGE RATES:

Chilean pesos per US dollar - 526.25 (2007), 530.29 (2006), 560.09 (2005), 609.37 (2004), 691.43 (2003)

FISCAL YEAR: calendar year

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TELEPHONES – MAIN LINES: 3.326 million (2006)

MOBILE CELLULAR: 12.451 million (2006)

TELEPHONE SYSTEM:

general assessment:privatization began in 1988; advanced telecommunications infrastructure; modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities; fixed-line connections have dropped in recent years as mobile-cellular usage continues to increase, reaching a level of 75 telephones per 100 persons

DOMESTIC:

extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations

INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY CODE:

56; submarine cables provide links to the US and to Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

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RADIO BROADCAST STATIONS:

AM 180 (8 inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (1 inactive) (1998)

RADIOS:

5.18 million (1997)

TELEVISION BROADCAST STATIONS: 63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)

TELEVISIONS: 3.15 million (1997)

INTERNET COUNTRY CODE: .cl

INTERNET HOSTS: 745,375 (2007)

INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS (ISPS): 7 (2000)

INTERNET USERS: 4.156 million (2006)

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AIRPORTS: 358 (2007)

WITH PAVED RUNWAYS: total: 79 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 25 under 914 m: 19 (2007)

WITH UNPAVED RUNWAYS: total: 279 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 49 under 914 m: 216 (2007)

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PIPELINES:

gas 2,550 km; gas/liquid petroleum gas 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil 1,002 km; refined products 757 km; unknown (oil/water) 97 km (2007)

ROADWAYS:

total: 79,605 km paved: 16,080 km (includes 407 km of expressways) unpaved: 63,525 km (2001)

MERCHANT MARINE:

RAILWAYS: total: 6,585 km

total: 48 ships (1000 GRT or over) 719,668 GRT/1,016,892 DWT by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 6, chemical tanker 11, container 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 3

BROAD GAUGE:

FOREIGN-OWNED:

NARROW GAUGE:

PORTS AND TERMINALS:

2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1,317 km electrified)

3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

1 (Argentina 1) registered in other countries: 20 (Argentina 7, Brazil 1, Marshall Islands 4, Panama 8) (2007)

Coronel, Huasco, Lirquen, Puerto Ventanas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Valparaiso

49

MILITARY BRANCHES: Army of the Nation:

Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes naval air, marine corps, and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine Directorate (Directemar))

Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile, FACh):

Carabineros Corps (Cuerpo de Carabineros) (2008):

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MILITARY SERVICE AGE AND OBLIGATION:

18-45 years of age for voluntary male and female military service, although the right to compulsory recruitment is retained; service obligation - 12 months for Army, 22 months for Navy and Air Force (2008)

MANPOWER AVAILABLE FOR MILITARY SERVICE:

MANPOWER FIT FOR MILITARY SERVICE:

MANPOWER REACHING MILITARY SERVICE:

MALES (18 - 49)

MALES (18 - 49)

MALES (18 - 49)

FEMALES (18 - 49)

FEMALES (18 - 49)

FEMALES (18 - 49)

3,815,761

3,780,864 (2005 est.)

3,123,281

3,128,277 (2005 est.)

140,084

134,518 (2005 est.)

MILITARY EXPENDITURES: 2.7% of GDP (2006)

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DISPUTES - INTERNATIONAL: Chile rebuffs Bolivia’s reactivated claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, offering instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile to Bolivian gas and other commodities; Chile rejects Peru’s unilateral legislation to change its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis favoring Peru; 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)

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ILLICIT DRUGS: A important transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe; economic prosperity and increasing trade have made Chile more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits, especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone, but a new antimoney-laundering law improves controls; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising; significant consumer of cocaine.

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TEXT PROVIDED BY:

http://www.ciaworldfactbook.us/south-america/chile.html

IMAGES PROVIDED BY:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Chile

CIA World Fact Book | Chile

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