Statistical information Chile 1999

Chile in the World
Chile - Introduction 1999
top of pageBackground: A three-year-old Marxist government was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET which ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies first implemented by the PINOCHET dictatorship led to unprecedented growth in 1991-97 and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Growth slowed in 1998-99.
top of pageLocation: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 W
Map reference:
South AmericaAreaTotal: 756,950 km²
Land: 748,800 km²
Water: 8,150 km²
Note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez
Comparative: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Land boundariesTotal: 6,171 km
Border countries: (3) Argentina 5,150 km;
, Bolivia 861 km;
, Peru 160 kmCoastline: 6,435 km
Maritime claimsContiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south
Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum
Land useArable land: 5%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 18%
Forests and woodland: 22%
Other: 55% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,650 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
GeographyNote: 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
top of pagePopulation: 14,973,843 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 1.23% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: 20.5% (1994 est.)
NationalityNoun: Chilean(s)
Adjective: Chilean
Ethnic groups: white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%
Languages: Spanish
Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish less than 1%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 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.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.23% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 17.81 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.53 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation contributing to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion; desertification
International agreements 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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt 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.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 10.02 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 75.46 years
Male: 72.33 years
Female: 78.75 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 95.2%
Male: 95.4%
Female: 95% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Chile
Conventional short form: Chile
Local long form: Republica de Chile
Local short form: Chile
Government type: republic
Capital: Santiago
Administrative divisions: 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
Dependent areasIndependence: 18 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Constitution: 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 30 July 1989
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; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branchChief 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%
Legislative branch: 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
Judicial branch: 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
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: 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
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Genaro Luis ARRIAGADA Herrera
In the us chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 887-5,579
In the us consulates general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador John O'LEARY
From the us embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2,800, Santiago
From the us mailing address: APO AA 34,033
From the us telephone: [56] (2) 232-2,600
From the us FAX: [56] (2) 330-3,710
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; design was based on the US flag
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 3.5% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $12,500 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 6%
Industry: 33%
Services: 61% (1997)
Agriculture products: wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; beef, poultry, wool; timber; fish
Industries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -1.1% (1998)
Labor force: 5.8 million (1998 est.)
By occupation services: 38.3% (includes government 12%)
By occupation industry and commerce: 33.8%
By occupation agriculture forestry and fishing: 19.2%
By occupation mining: 2.3%
By occupation construction: 6.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 6.4% (1998)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 20.5% (1994 est.)
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $17 billion
Expenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1996 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $14.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: copper 37%, other metals and minerals 8.2%, wood products 7.1%, fish and fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1994)
Partners: EU 25%, US 15%, Asia 34%, Latin America 20% (1995 est.)
Imports: $17.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, raw materials 15.4%, petroleum 10%, foodstuffs 5.7% (1994)
Partners: EU 18%, US 25%, Asia 16%, Latin America 26% (1995 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $31.5 billion (1998)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1_475.68 (January 1999), 460.29 (1998), 419.30 (1997), 412.27 (1996), 396.78 (1995), 420.08 (1994)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 35.81 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 41.89%
Production by source hydro: 58.11%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 35.81 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaChile - Communication 1999
top of pageTelephones: 1.5 million (1994 est.)
Telephone system: 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)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $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
Percent of gdp: 2.79% (1998)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsChile - Transportation 1999
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 378 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 58
With paved runways over 3047 m: 5
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 19
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 19
With paved runways under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 320
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 4
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 13
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 73
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 229 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 755 km; petroleum products 785 km; natural gas 320 km
RailwaysTotal: 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)
RoadwaysWaterways: 725 km
Merchant marineTotal: 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.)
Ports and terminalsChile - Transnational issues 1999
top of pageDisputes international: 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
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: 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