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Background Note: Chile
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Republic of
Chile
Geography
Area: 756,945 sq. km. (302,778 sq. mi.); nearly twice the size
of California.
Cities: Capital--Santiago (metropolitan area est. 6
million). Other cities--Concepcion-Talcahuano (840,000),
Vina del Mar-Valparaiso (800,000), Antofagasta (245,000), Temuco
(230,000).
Terrain: Desert in north; fertile central valley; volcanoes and
lakes toward the south, giving way to rugged and complex
coastline; Andes Mountains on the eastern border.
Climate: Arid in north, Mediterranean in the central portion,
cool and damp in south.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Chilean(s).
Population (2003): 15.1 million.
Annual population growth rate: 1.2%.
Ethnic groups: Spanish-Native-American (mestizo), European,
Native-American.
Religions: Roman Catholic 69.9%; Protestant 15%.
Language: Spanish.
Education: Years compulsory--12. Attendance--3
million. Adult literacy rate--95.8%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--8.9/1,000. Life
expectancy--79 yrs.
Work force (6.0 million); employed 5.5 million: Community,
social and individual services--26%; industry--14.4%;
commerce--17.6%; agriculture, forestry, and fishing--13.9%;
construction--7.1%; financial services--7.5%;
transportation and communication--8.0%;
electricity, gas and water--0.5%; mining--1.2%.
Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: September 18, 1810.
Constitution: Promulgated September 11, 1980; effective March
11, 1981; amended in 1989, 1993, 1997, and 2005.
Branches: Executive--president. Legislative--bicameral
legislature. Judicial--Constitutional Tribunal, Supreme
Court, court of appeals, military courts.
Administrative subdivisions: 12 numbered regions, plus Santiago
metropolitan region, administered by appointed "intendentes,"
regions are divided into provinces, administered by appointed
governors; provinces are divided into municipalities
administered by elected mayors.
Political parties: Major parties are grouped into two large
coalitions: 1) the center-left "Concertacion", which includes
the Christian Democrat Party, the Socialist Party, the Party for
Democracy, and the Radical Social Democratic Party; and 2) the
center-right "Alliance for Chile", which includes the National
Renewal Party and the Independent Democratic Union. The
Communist Party joined the Humanistic Party and a number of
smaller parties to form the "Together We Can" coalition in 2004,
but none of these leftist parties have recently elected
congressional representatives.
Suffrage: Universal at 18, including foreigners legally resident
for more than 5 years.
Economy (2005)
GDP: $112.0 billion.
Annual real growth rate: 6.3%.
Per capita GDP: $6,000.
Forestry, agriculture, and fisheries (6% of GDP): Products--wheat,
potatoes, corn, sugar beets, onions, beans, fruits, livestock,
fish.
Commerce (8% of GDP): Sales, restaurants, hotels.
Manufacturing (17% of GDP): Types--mineral refining,
metal manufacturing, food processing, fish processing, paper and
wood products, finished textiles.
Electricity, gas, and water: 3% of GDP.
Transportation and communication: 7% of GDP.
Construction: 8% of GDP.
Financial services (12% of GDP): Insurance, leasing, consulting.
Mining (13% of GDP): Copper, iron ore, nitrates, precious
metals, and molybdenum.
Trade: Exports--$39.5 billion: copper, fishmeal, fruits,
wood products, paper products, fish, wine. Major markets--U.S.
17.3%, EU 23.9%, Japan 11.7%, China 10%, Korea 5.5%, Mexico 4%,
Brazil 4.2%. Imports--$31.7 billion: consumer
goods, chemicals, motor vehicles, fuels, electrical machinery,
heavy industrial machinery, food. Major suppliers--EU
16.3%, Argentina 16%, U.S. 14.6%, Brazil 10.9%, China 7.6%,
Korea 3.8%, Japan 3.1 %.
GEOGRAPHY
The northern Chilean desert contains great mineral wealth,
principally copper. The relatively small central area dominates
the country in terms of population and agricultural resources.
This area also is the cultural and political center from which
Chile expanded until the late 19th century, when it incorporated
its northern and southern regions. Southern Chile is rich in
forests and grazing lands and features a string of volcanoes and
lakes. The southern coast is a labyrinth of fjords, inlets,
canals, twisting peninsulas, and islands. The Andes Mountains
are located on the eastern border.
PEOPLE
About 85% of Chile's population lives in urban areas, with 40%
living in greater Santiago. Most have Spanish ancestry. A small,
yet influential number of Irish and English immigrants came to
Chile during the colonial period. German immigration began in
1848 and lasted for 90 years; the southern provinces of Valdivia,
Llanquihue, and Osorno show a strong German influence. Other
significant immigrant groups are Italian, Croatian, Basque, and
Palestinian. About 800,000 Native Americans, mostly of the
Mapuche tribe, reside in the south-central area. The Aymara and
Diaguita groups can be found mainly in Chile’s northern desert
valleys. |
