| Background: |
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, but
recovered strongly in 2000. |
| Location: |
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
references: |
South America |
| Area: |
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: |
slightly smaller
than twice the size of Montana |
| Land
boundaries: |
total:
6,171 km
border countries: Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia
861 km, Peru 160 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
contiguous
zone: 24 NM
continental shelf: 200/350 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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
highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m |
| Natural
resources: |
copper, timber,
iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
5%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 18%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 55% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
12,650 sq km
(1993 est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
severe
earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis |
| Environment
- current issues: |
air pollution
from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from
raw sewage |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to:
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban |
| 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: |
15,328,467 (July
2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
27.25% (male 2,135,755; female 2,041,552)
15-64 years: 65.39% (male 4,993,416; female
5,029,739)
65 years and over: 7.36% (male 467,477; female
660,528) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
1.13% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
16.8 births/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
5.55 deaths/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
0 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
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 (2001
est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
9.36 deaths/1,000
live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 75.94 years
male: 72.63 years
female: 79.42 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
2.16 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.19% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
15,000 (1999
est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
1,000 (1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Chilean(s)
adjective: Chilean |
| Ethnic
groups: |
white and
white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2% |
| Religions: |
Roman Catholic
89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL% |
| Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.2%
male: 95.4%
female: 95% (1995 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 |
| 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
(Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso
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: |
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 |
| 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: |
bicameral
National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the
Senate or Senado (48 seats, 38 elected by popular vote and
10 appointed (all former presidents who served 6 years are
senators for life); 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), RN
7, UDI 10, UCCP 1, independents 10; Chamber of Deputies -
percent of vote by party - CPD 50.55% (PDC 22.98%, PS
11.10%, PPD 12.55%, PRSD 3.13%), RN 16.78%, UDI 14.43%;
seats by party - CPD 70 (PDC 39, PPD 16, PRSD 4, PS 11), RN
24, UDI 21, Socialist Party 1, right-wing independents 4 |
| 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: |
Center-Center
Union Party or UCCP [Francisco Javier ERRAZURIZ]; Christian
Democratic Party or PDC [Ricardo HORMAZABAL]; Coalition of
Parties for Democracy ("Concertacion") or CPD -
including PDC, PS, PPD, PRSD; Independent Democratic Union
or UDI [Pablo LONGUEIRA]; National Renewal or RN [Alberto
CARDEMIL]; Party for Democracy or PPD [Guido GIRARDI];
Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Anselmo SULE];
Socialist Party or PS [Ricardo NUNEZ] |
| 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: |
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, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNTAET, UNTSO,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Andres BIANCHI
chancery: 1140 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and
San Juan (Puerto Rico) |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador John O'LEARY
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes,
Santiago
mailing address: APO AA 34033
telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600
FAX: [56] (2) 339-3710 |
| 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 |
| 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 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 5.5% in 2000. Unemployment remains stubbornly high,
however, putting pressure on President LAGOS to improve
living standards. Meanwhile, Chile has launched free trade
negotiations with the US. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $153.1 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
5.5% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $10,100 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
8%
industry: 38%
services: 54% (2000) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
22% (1998 est.) |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
1.2%
highest 10%: 41.3% (1998) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
4.5% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
5.8 million (1999
est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 14%,
industry 27%, services 59% (1997 est.) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
9% (December
2000) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$16 billion
expenditures: $17 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) |
| Industries: |
copper, other
minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood
and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
6% (2000 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
38.092 billion
kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
61%
hydro: 35%
nuclear: 0%
other: 4% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
35.426 billion
kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
wheat, corn,
grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; beef, poultry,
wool; fish; timber |
| Exports: |
$18 billion
(f.o.b., 2000) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
copper, fish,
fruits, paper and pulp, chemicals |
| Exports
- partners: |
EU 27%, US 16%,
Japan 14%, Brazil 6%, Argentina 5% (1998) |
| Imports: |
$17 billion
(f.o.b., 2000) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
consumer goods,
chemicals, motor vehicles, fuels, electrical machinery,
heavy industrial machinery, food |
| Imports
- partners: |
US 24%, EU 23%,
Argentina 11%, Brazil 6%, Japan 6%, Mexico 5% (1998) |
| Debt
- external: |
$39 billion
(2000) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
ODA, $40 million
(2001 est.) |
| Currency: |
Chilean peso (CLP) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Chilean pesos per
US dollar - 571.12 (January 2001), 535.47 (2000), 508.78
(1999), 460.29 (1998), 419.30 (1997), 412.27 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
2.603 million
(1998) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
944,225 (1998) |
| 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: satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 180 (eight
inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one 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
Service Providers (ISPs): |
7 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
625,000 (2000) |
| Railways: |
total:
6,701 km
broad gauge: 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1317 km
electrified)
narrow gauge: 117 km 1.067-m gauge (28 km
electrified); 3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (37 km electrified)
(2000) |
| Highways: |
total:
79,800 km
paved: 11,012 km
unpaved: 68,788 km (1996) |
| Pipelines: |
crude oil 755 km;
petroleum products 785 km; natural gas 320 km |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Antofagasta,
Arica, Chanaral, Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta
Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso |
| Merchant
marine: |
total:
44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 606,506 GRT/884,023
DWT
ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 7, chemical
tanker 8, container 4, liquefied gas 2, passenger 3,
petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 2
(2000 est.) |
| Airports: |
366 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
69
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 14 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
297
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 219 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Navy
(includes Naval Air, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force,
Carabineros of Chile (National Police), Investigations
Police
note: Carabineros and Investigations Police are
normally administered by the Ministry of Interior, but in
times of national emergency, they are considered part of the
military |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
19 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 4,057,466 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 3,003,134 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males:
136,830 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$2.5 billion
(FY99) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
3.1% (FY99) |
| Disputes
- international: |
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: |
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 passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine
consumption is rising |
|
