Background: A three-year-old Marxist government was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies maintained consistently since the 1980s have contributed to steady growth and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable democratic nation.

Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S 71 00 W

Map reference: South America

Area
Total: 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 boundaries
Total: 6,171 km
Border countries: (3) Argentina 5,150 km; , Bolivia 861 km; , Peru 160 km

Coastline: 6,435 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200/350 nm

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
Extremes highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m

Natural resources: copper timber iron ore nitrates precious metals molybdenum hydropower

Land use
Arable land: 2.65%
Permanent crops: 0.42%
Other: 96.93% (2001)

Irrigated land: 18,000 km² (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis

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

Population: 15,823,957 (July 2004 est.)
Growth rate: 1.01% (2004 est.)
Below poverty line: 20.6% (2000 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Chilean
Adjective: Chilean

Ethnic groups: white and white-Amerindian 95% Amerindian 3% other 2%

Languages: Spanish

Religions: Roman Catholic 89% Protestant 11% Jewish negligible

Age structure
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 2,090,165; female 1,996,972)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 5,235,061; female 5,261,820)
65 years and over: 7.8% (male 515,698; female 724,241) (2004 est.)

Median age
Total: 29.8 years
Male: 28.9 years
Female: 30.7 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.01% (2004 est.)

Birth rate: 15.77 births/1000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate: 5.71 deaths/1000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2004 est.)

Environment
Current 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, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male/female
15-64 years: 1 male/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male/female
Total population: 0.98 male/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 9.05 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 9.81 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 8.25 deaths/1000 live births (2004 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.38 years
Male: 73.09 years
Female: 79.82 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.06 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2003 est.)
People living with hivaids: 26,000 (2003 est.)
Deaths: 1400 (2003 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 96.2%
Male: 96.4%
Female: 96.1% (2003 est.)

Country name
Conventional 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
Note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Independence: 18 September 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day 18 September (1810)

Constitution: 11 September 1980 effective 11 March 1981 amended 30 July 1989 1993 and 1997

Legal system
Note: Chile is in the process of completely overhauling its criminal justice system; a new, US-style adversarial system is being gradually implemented throughout the country with the final stage of implementation in the Santiago metropolitan region expected in June 2005

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); 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 12 December 1999, with runoff election held 16 January 2000 (next to be held NA December 2005)
Election results: Ricardo LAGOS Escobar elected president; percent of vote - Ricardo LAGOS Escobar 51.32%, Joaquin LAVIN 48.68%

Legislative branch
Elections: Senate - last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2005); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2005)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPD 20 (PDC 12, PS 5, PPD 3), APC 16 (UDI 9, RN 7), independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPD 62 (PDC 24, PPD 21, PS 11, PRSD 6), UDI 35, RN 22, independent 1

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 by the 21-member court); Constitutional Tribunal

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Chile ('Alianza') or APC - including RN and UDI; Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Adolfo ZALDIVAR]; Coalition of Parties for Democracy ('Concertacion') or CPD - including PDC PS PPD PRSD; Communist Party or PC [Gladys MARIN]; Independent Democratic Union or UDI [Pablo LONGUEIRA]; National Renewal or RN [Sebastian PINERA]; Party for Democracy or PPD [Victor BARRUETO]; Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Orlando CANTUARIAS]; Socialist Party or PS [Gonzalo MARTNER]

International organization participation: APEC BIS FAO G-15 G-77 IADB IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICCt (signatory) ICFTU ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM ISO ITU LAES LAIA Mercosur (associate) MIGA MINUSTAH NAM OAS OPANAL OPCW PCA RG UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNMIK UNMOGIP UNTSO UPU WCL WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Andres BIANCHI
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 Craig A. KELLY
From the us embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2,800, Las Condes, 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 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; design was influenced by the US flag

Economy overview: 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 financial crisis. A severe drought exacerbated the recession in 1999 reducing crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls and electricity rationing and Chile experienced negative economic growth for the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effects of the recession Chile maintained its reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of 1999 exports and economic activity had begun to recover and growth rebounded to 4.2% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.1% in 2001 and 2.1% in 2002 largely due to lackluster global growth and the devaluation of the Argentine peso but recovered to 3.2% in 2003. Unemployment although declining over the past year remains stubbornly high putting pressure on President LAGOS to improve living standards. One bright spot was the signing of a free trade agreement with the US which took effect on 1 January 2004. In 2004 GDP growth is set to accelerate to more than 4% as copper prices rise export earnings grow and foreign direct investment picks up.

Real gdp growth rate: 3.3% (2003 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,900 (2003 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 6.4%
Industry: 38.6%
Services: 55.1% (2003 est.)

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 production growth rate: 1.5% (2003 est.)

Labor force: 6 million (2003 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 13.6%
By occupation industry: 23.4%
By occupation services: 63% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate: 8.5% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line: 20.6% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 3.7%
Highest 10: 41% (2000)

Distribution of family income gini index: 56.7 (2000)

Budget
Revenues: $15.44 billion
Expenditures: $16.02 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2003 est.)

Public debt: 14.8% of GDP (2003)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.8% (2003 est.)

Current account balance: $-594 million (2003)

Exports: $20.44 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Commodities: copper fish fruits paper and pulp chemicals wine
Partners: US 16.2% Japan 10.5% China 8.6% South Korea 4.7% Mexico 4.3% Italy 4.2% (2003)

Imports: $17.4 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Commodities: consumer goods chemicals motor vehicles fuels electrical machinery heavy industrial machinery food
Partners: Argentina 19.4% US 13% Brazil 10.4% China 6.6% (2003)

Debt external: $43.15 billion (2003)

Exchange rates: Chilean pesos per US dollar - 691.433 (2003) 688.936 (2002) 634.938 (2001) 535.466 (2000) 508.777 (1999)

Electricity
Production: 41.66 billion kWh (2001)
Consumption: 40.13 billion kWh (2001)
Exports: 0 kWh (2001)
Imports: 1.386 billion kWh (2001)

Natural gas
Production: 1.2 billion m³ (2001 est.)
Consumption: 6.47 billion m³ (2001 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2001 est.)
Imports: 5.27 billion m³ (2001 est.)
Proven reserves: 67.78 billion m³ (1 January 2002)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 3.467 million (2002)
Mobile cellular: 6,445,700 (2002)

Telephone system
General assessment: modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities
Domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations
International: country code - 56; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Internet
Country code: .cl
Hosts: 202,429 (2003)
Users: 3.575 million (2002)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $2,840 million (2003)
Percent of gdp: 4% (2003)

Airports: 363 (2003 est.)
With paved runways total: 71
With paved runways over 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 21
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 23
With paved runways under 914 m: 15 (2004 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 293
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 4
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 11
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 60
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 217 (2004 est.)

Pipelines: gas 2,583 km; gas/lpg 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil 1003 km; refined products 757 km (2004)

Railways
Total: 6,585 km
Broad gauge: 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1,317 km electrified)
Narrow gauge: 3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)

Merchant marine
Total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 725,216 GRT/954,519 DWT
By type: bulk 10, cargo 5, chemical tanker 9, container 3, liquefied gas 1, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea/passenger 1, vehicle carrier 4
Foreign owned: Argentina 1
Registered in other countries: 28 (2004 est.)

Disputes international: Bolivia has reactivated its claim to the Atacama corridor ceded to Chile in 1884 to secure sovereign maritime access for Bolivian natural gas; dispute with Peru over the economic zone delimited by the maritime boundary; Beagle Channel islands dispute resolved through Papal mediation in 1984 but armed incidents persist since 1992 oil discovery; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims

Illicit drugs: important transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe and the US; 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 anti-money-laundering law improves controls; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising