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NAVIGATION
Republic of Chile
Republica de Chile
includes Easter Island
includes Rapa Nui
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Chile
conventional short form: Chile local long form: Republica de Chile local short form: Chile |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Santiago |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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18 September 1810 (from Spain) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 18 September (1810) |
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Constitution:
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11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981, amended 30 July 1989, 1993, and 1997 |
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Legal system:
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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: 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 |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch:
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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 election results: Ricardo LAGOS Escobar elected president; percent of vote - Ricardo LAGOS Escobar 51.32%, Joaquin LAVIN 48.68% 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) |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (49 seats, 38 elected by popular vote, 9 designated members, and 2 former presidents who serve six-year terms and are senators for life); elected 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)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CPD 20 (PDC 12, PS 5, PPD 3), UDI 9, RN 7, independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPD 63 (PDC 24, PPD 21, PS 11, PRSD 6,), UDI 35, RN 22, independent 1 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) |
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Judicial branch:
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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 |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Center-Center Union Party or UCCP [Francisco Javier ERRAZURIZ]; Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Patricia ALYWIN]; 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] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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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 |
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International organization participation:
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APEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, 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 |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Andres BIANCHI
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador William R. BROWNFIELD
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago mailing address: APO AA 34033 telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600 FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710 |
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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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 5.4% in 2000. Unemployment remains stubbornly high, however, putting pressure on President LAGOS to improve living standards. The Argentine financial meltdown has put pressure on the Chilean peso and is slowing the country's economic growth. Meanwhile, Chile and the US are conducting negotiations for a free trade agreement. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $153 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3.1% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $10,000 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 8%
industry: 38% services: 54% (2000) (2000) |
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Population below poverty line:
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22% (1998 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 41% (1998) (1998) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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58 (1996) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.5% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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5.9 million (2000 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 14%, industry 27%, services 59% (1997 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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10.1% (2001) (2001) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $17 billion
expenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA |
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Industries:
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copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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2.5% (2001 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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39.577 billion kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 51%
hydro: 46% other: 2% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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37.897 billion kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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1.09 billion kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber |
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Exports:
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$18.5 billion f.o.b. (2001) |
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Exports - commodities:
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copper, fish, fruits, paper and pulp, chemicals |
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Exports - partners:
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US 17%, Japan 14%, UK 6%, Brazil 5%, China 5% (2000) |
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Imports:
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$18 billion f.o.b. (2001) |
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Imports - commodities:
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consumer goods, chemicals, motor vehicles, fuels, electrical machinery, heavy industrial machinery, food |
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Imports - partners:
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US 19%, Argentina 16%, Brazil 7%, China 6%, Japan 4% (2000) |
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Debt - external:
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$39.6 billion (2001) (2001) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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ODA, $40 million (2001 est.) |
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Currency:
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Chilean peso (CLP) |
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Currency code:
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CLP |
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Exchange rates:
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Chilean pesos per US dollar - 651.90 (January 2002), 618.70 (2001), 535.47 (2000), 508.78 (1999), 460.29 (1998), 419.30 (1997) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |