Chile

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Introduction - Chile:
Country	Chile


Background	Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians (also known as Mapuches) inhabited central and southern Chile. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern regions. It was not until the 1880s that the Araucanian Indians were completely subjugated. A three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a military coup 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, reduced poverty rates by over half, and have helped secure the countrys commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.


Location - Chile:
Location	Southern South America, bordering the 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: 6,339 km border countries: Argentina 5,308 km, Bolivia 860 km, Peru 171 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 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)

Natural hazards	severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis

Environment current issues	widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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 worlds driest regions

People - Chile:
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	total: 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.)

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 adult prevalence rate	0.3% (2003 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%, Jehovahs 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)

Government - Chile:
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	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

Administrative divisions	13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Biobio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo OHiggins, 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 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

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

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

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], Party for Democracy or PPD [Sergio BITAR Chacra], Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Jose Antonio GOMEZ Urrutia]); Communist Party or PC [Guillermo TEILLIER]

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 countrys 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, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the us	chief of mission: Ambassador Mariano FERNANDEZ chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 530-4104, 530-4106, 530-4107 FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the us	chief of mission: Ambassador Craig A. KELLY embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago mailing address: APO AA 34033 telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600 FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710

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 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 - Chile:
Economy overview	Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chiles 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. Between 2000 and 2006 growth ranged between 2%-6%. Throughout these years Chile maintained a low rate of inflation with GDP growth coming from high copper prices, solid export earnings (particularly forestry, fishing, and mining), and growing domestic consumption. Chile continues to attract foreign direct investment, but most foreign investment goes into gas, water, electricity and mining. Unemployment has exhibited a downward trend over the past year, dropping to 7.8% at the end of 2006. Chile deepened its longstanding commitment to trade liberalization with the signing of a free trade agreement with the US, which took effect on 1 January 2004. Chile signed or ratified a number of trade agreements in 2006, including with China and India. Chile claims to have more bilateral or regional trade agreements than any other country. It has 57 such agreements (not all of them full free trade agreements), including with the European Union, Mercosur, South Korea, and Mexico.

Gdp purchasing power parity	$202.7 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp official exchange rate	$111.8 billion (2006)

Gdp real growth rate	4.2% (2006 est.)

Gdp per capita ppp	$12,700 (2006 est.)

Gdp composition by sector	agriculture: 5.9% industry: 49.3% services: 44.7% (2006 est.)

Labor force	6.94 million (2006 est.)

Labor force by occupation	agriculture: 13.6% industry: 23.4% services: 63% (2003)

Unemployment rate	7.8% (2006)

Population below poverty line	18.2% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 47% (2000)

Distribution of family income gini index	53.8 (2003)

Inflation rate consumer prices	2.6% (2006)

Investment gross fixed	21% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget	revenues: $36.71 billion expenditures: $26.68 billion; including capital expenditures of $3.33 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt	3.9% of GDP (2006 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	3.1% (2006)

Electricity production	47.6 billion kWh (2006)

Electricity consumption	48.52 billion kWh (2006)

Electricity exports	0 kWh (2004)

Electricity imports	1.744 billion kWh (2004)

Oil production	15,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil consumption	238,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil exports	31,510 bbl/day (2004)

Oil imports	222,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil proved reserves	150 million bbl (1 January 2006)

Natural gas production	1.09 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas consumption	8.29 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas exports	7.2 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas imports	7.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas proved reserves	97.98 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance	$5.063 billion (2006 est.)

Exports	$58.21 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Exports 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	$35.37 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Imports partners	US 15.6%, Argentina 12.6%, Brazil 11.8%, China 9.7% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold	$17.16 billion (November 2006 est.)

Debt external	$47.6 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid recipient	$0 (2006)

Currency code	Chilean peso (CLP)

Exchange rates	Chilean pesos per US dollar - 530.29 (2006), 560.09 (2005), 609.37 (2004), 691.43 (2003), 688.94 (2002)

Communications - Chile:
Fiscal year	calendar year

Telephones main lines in use	3.326 million (2006)

Telephones mobile cellular	12.451 million (2006)

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)

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

Television broadcast stations	63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)

Internet country code	.cl

Internet hosts	506,055 (2006)

Internet users	4.156 million (2006)

Transportation - Chile:
Airports	363 (2006)

Airports with paved runways	total: 73 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 17 (2006)

Airports with unpaved runways	total: 290 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 58 under 914 m: 216 (2006)

Pipelines	gas 2,567 km; gas/liquid petroleum gas 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil 1,003 km; refined products 757 km; unknown (oil/water) 97 km (2006)

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 (2006)

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

Merchant marine	total: 46 ships (1000 GRT or over) 649,091 GRT/898,110 DWT by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 6, chemical tanker 10, container 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 3 foreign-owned: 1 (Argentina 1) registered in other countries: 17 (Argentina 6, Brazil 1, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 9) (2006)

Ports and terminals	Antofagasta, Arica, Huasco, Iquique, Lirquen, San Antonio, San Vicente, Valparaiso

Military - Chile:
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), Chilean Carabineros (National Police) (2007)

Military service age and obligation	18-45 years of age for voluntary military service; service obligation - 12 months for Army, 22 months for Navy and Air Force (2006)

Manpower available for military service	males age 18-49: 3,815,761 females age 18-49: 3,780,864 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service	males age 18-49: 3,123,281 females age 18-49: 3,128,277 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually	males age 18-49: 140,084 females age 18-49: 134,518 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures percent of gdp	2.7% (2006)

Disputes international	Chile rebuffs Bolivias 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 Perus 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)