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Chile Historical and Political Profile








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Chile Index

  • Chile-INCOME, LABOR UNIONS, AND THE PENSIONS SYSTEM
  • Chile-Repression and Human Rights Violations
  • Chile-Downfall of a President, 1886-91
  • Chile-The Far North
  • Chile-Alessandri's Second Presidency, 1932-38
  • Chile-The Electoral System
  • Chile-Chapter 3 - The Economy
  • Chile-Unions and Labor Conflicts
  • Chile-Recruitment and Training
  • Chile-The Colonial Economy
  • Chile-The 1925 Constitution
  • Chile-Industry and Manufacturing
  • Chile-GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
  • Chile-Mining
  • Chile-Labor-Market Reform
  • Chile-The Autonomous Powers
  • Chile-Formation of the Chilean People THE PEOPLE
  • Chile-Social Security
  • Chile-The Far South
  • Chile-The Crisis of 1982 and the Erosion of Military Rule
  • Chile-Agriculture
  • Chile-Jorge Alessandri's Rightist Term, 1958-64
  • Chile-The State and the System of Government THE STATE AND GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS IN CHILE
  • Chile-GEOGRAPHY
  • Chile-The Party System PARTIES AND THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM
  • Chile-The Liberal Era, 1861-91
  • Chile-The Conservative Era, 1830-61
  • Chile-Forestry
  • Chile-Economic Crisis and the Military Coup
  • Chile-THE FUTURE OF THE ECONOMY
  • Chile-A Long, Narrow Nation GEOGRAPHY
  • Chile-Genesis of the Armed Forces, 1814-36
  • Chile-MILITARY INTERVENTIONS, 1925-32
  • Chile-The Constitutional Reforms of 1989
  • Chile-Regional and Local Government
  • Chile-Minor Defense Manufacturers
  • Chile-INTRODUCTION
  • Chile-The Near North
  • Chile-Income Distribution and Social Programs
  • Chile-SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS
  • Chile-A Modern Deterrent?
  • Chile-PARLIAMENTARY REPUBLIC, 1891-1925
  • Chile-The Church THE CHURCH, BUSINESS, LABOR, AND THE MEDIA
  • Chile-Tourism
  • Chile-Gabriel González Videla's Presidency, 1946-52
  • Chile-SOCIETY
  • Chile-Religious Affiliations and Church Organization RELIGION AND CHURCHES
  • Chile-Cardoen Industries
  • Chile-The Parties of the Center
  • Chile-Urbanization
  • Chile-Foreword
  • Chile-The Return to Democracy, 1990
  • Chile-Rural Land Market Reform
  • Chile-THE CURRENT STRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY
  • Chile-Higher Education
  • Chile-The Popular Unity Government, 1970-73
  • Chile-Banking Reform and the Financial Sector
  • Chile-Chapter 2 - The Society and Its Environment
  • Chile-The Carabineros
  • Chile-Uniforms
  • Chile-Energy
  • Chile-MASS DEMOCRACY, 1932-73
  • Chile-The South
  • Chile-Growth of United States Influence
  • Chile-PRECOLUMBIAN CIVILIZATIONS
  • Chile-Air Force
  • Chile-Fishing
  • Chile-The Investigations Police
  • Chile-General Relations
  • Chile-Air Force
  • Chile-Naval Equipment
  • Chile -Country Profile
  • Chile-PREFACE
  • Chile-Current Demographic Profile
  • Chile-Economic Policies, 1950-70
  • Chile-Narcotics Trafficking
  • Chile-Business
  • Chile-Transportation
  • Chile-Command Structure
  • Chile-The Central Bank of Chile
  • Chile-Civic Action
  • Chile-Chapter 1 - Historical Setting
  • Chile-Early History MILITARY TRADITION AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE ARMED FORCES
  • Chile-ECONOMY
  • Chile-The Military Government's Free-Market Reforms, 1973-90
  • Chile-The Portalian State, 1830-37
  • Chile-Recruitment and Conditions of Service MANPOWER AND TRAINING
  • Chile-Defense Spending
  • Chile-Labor
  • Chile-Arturo Alessandri's Reformist Presidency, 1920-25
  • Chile-FUTURE CHALLENGES OF DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION
  • Chile-The Electoral Certification Tribunal
  • Chile-Confederation War, 1836-391
  • Chile-FOREIGN SOURCES OF Matériel
  • Chile-Terrorism
  • Chile-The Parties of the Right
  • Chile-Central Chile
  • Chile-Internal Security Intelligence Organizations
  • Chile-RURAL AREAS
  • Chile-Public Employment Programs
  • Chile-Two Conservative Presidencies, 1841-61
  • Chile-War of the Pacific, 1879-83
  • Chile-Aircraft Equipment
  • Chile-Training
  • Chile-CHILE
  • Chile-The 1980 Constitution
  • Chile-Mission MISSION AND ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMED FORCES
  • Chile-TRANSPORTATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
  • Chile-Chapter 4 - Government and Politics
  • Chile-Administration and Reforms
  • Chile-Economic Results of the Pensions Privatization
  • Chile-Uniforms, Ranks, and Insignia
  • Chile-WHITHER CHILE?
  • Chile-Imposition of Authoritarian Rule
  • Chile
  • Chile-THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY
  • Chile-Natural Regions
  • Chile-The Armed Forces
  • Chile-Ibáñez's Second Presidency, 1952-58
  • Chile-Trade Policy
  • Chile-Fishing and Forestry
  • Chile-Forms of Popular Religiosity
  • Chile-Relations with the United States
  • Chile-Religion in Historical Perspective
  • Chile-Navy
  • Chile-WELFARE INSTITUTIONS AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS
  • Chile-Chapter 5 - National Security
  • Chile-Enrollments EDUCATION
  • Chile
  • Chile-The 1993 Presidential Election
  • Chile-Emphasis on Social Programs
  • Chile-Popular Front Rule, 1938-41
  • Chile-Salvador Allende's Leftist Regime, 1970-73
  • Chile
  • Chile-Exchange-Rate Policy and the Balance of Payments
  • Chile-Politics and War in a Frontier Society CONQUEST AND COLONIZATION, 1535-1810
  • Chile-The Penal System
  • Chile-The Constitutional Tribunal
  • Chile-Trade Policy and Export Performance
  • Chile
  • Chile-Criminal Justice
  • Chile-THE LABOR FORCE AND INCOME LEVELS
  • Chile-The Colonial Era to 1950 EVOLUTION OF THE ECONOMY
  • Chile-Juan Antonio Ríos's Presidency, 1942-46
  • Chile
  • Chile-Incidence of Crime PUBLIC ORDER AND INTERNAL SECURITY
  • Chile-Acknowledgements
  • Chile-MILITARY RULE, 1973-90
  • Chile-Family Structure and Attitudes Toward Gender Roles
  • Chile-Development and Breakdown of Democracy, 1830-1973 CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY
  • Chile-Telecommunications
  • Chile-Navy
  • Chile
  • Chile-URBAN AREAS
  • Chile-The Legislative Branch
  • Chile-Organization
  • Chile-The Courts
  • Chile-NATIONAL SECURITY
  • Chile-THE SECURITY FORCES
  • Chile-Neoliberal Economics
  • Chile-Development of the Armed Forces
  • Chile-Civil-Military Relations
  • Chile-The Parties of the Left
  • Chile-Construction
  • Chile-Continuity in Economic Policy
  • Chile-Authoritarianism Defeated by Its Own Rules
  • Chile
  • Chile-The Media
  • Chile-Employment and Unemployment
  • Chile-The Presidency
  • Chile-Army
  • Chile-Army Ordnance
  • Chile-War of the Pacific, 1879-83
  • Chile-Health Programs
  • Chile-CIVIL WARS, 1818-30
  • Chile-Divorce, Abortion, and Contraception ATTITUDES TOWARD FAMILY AND GENDER
  • Chile-FOREIGN RELATIONS
  • Chile-Carlos Ibáñez's First Presidency, 1927-31
  • Chile-Banking and Financial Services
  • BackgroundPrior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while the indigenous Mapuche 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 Mapuche Indians were completely subjugated. After a series of elected governments, 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 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.
    LocationSouthern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
    Area(sq km)total: 756,102 sq km
    land: 743,812 sq km
    water: 12,290 sq km
    note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez
    Geographic coordinates30 00 S, 71 00 W
    Land boundaries(km)total: 6,339 km
    border countries: Argentina 5,308 km, Bolivia 860 km, Peru 171 km

    Coastline(km)6,435 km

    Climatetemperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south

    Elevation extremes(m)lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
    highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m
    Natural resourcescopper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower
    Land use(%)arable land: 2.62%
    permanent crops: 0.43%
    other: 96.95% (2005)

    Irrigated land(sq km)19,000 sq km (2003)
    Total renewable water resources(cu km)922 cu km (2000)
    Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 12.55 cu km/yr (11%/25%/64%)
    per capita: 770 cu m/yr (2000)
    Natural hazardssevere earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
    Environment - current issueswidespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage
    Environment - international agreementsparty 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 - notestrategic 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
    Population16,601,707 (July 2009 est.)
    Age structure(%)0-14 years: 23.2% (male 1,966,017/female 1,877,963)
    15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,625,963/female 5,628,146)
    65 years and over: 9.1% (male 627,746/female 875,872) (2009 est.)
    Median age(years)total: 31.4 years
    male: 30.4 years
    female: 32.4 years (2009 est.)
    Population growth rate(%)0.881% (2009 est.)
    Birth rate(births/1,000 population)14.64 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Death rate(deaths/1,000 population)5.84 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)

    Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population)NA (2009 est.)
    Urbanization(%)urban population: 88% of total population (2008)
    rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
    Sex ratio(male(s)/female)at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
    under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
    15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
    total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
    Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births)total: 7.71 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 8.49 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

    Life expectancy at birth(years)total population: 77.34 years
    male: 74.07 years
    female: 80.77 years (2009 est.)

    Total fertility rate(children born/woman)1.92 children born/woman (2009 est.)
    Nationalitynoun: Chilean(s)
    adjective: Chilean
    Ethnic groups(%)white and white-Amerindian 95.4%, Mapuche 4%, other indigenous groups 0.6% (2002 census)

    Religions(%)Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3% (2002 census)
    Languages(%)Spanish (official), Mapudungun, German, English

    Country nameconventional long form: Republic of Chile
    conventional short form: Chile
    local long form: Republica de Chile
    local short form: Chile
    Government typerepublic
    Capitalname: 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 divisions15 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Arica y Parinacota, Atacama, Biobio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Los Rios, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso
    note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
    Constitution11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 1989, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2005

    Legal systembased 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

    Suffrage18 years of age; universal and compulsory
    Executive branchchief 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 branchbicameral 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; note - as of 8 January 2008: Senate - seats by party - CPD 18, (PDC 5, PS 8, PPD 2, PRSD 3), APC 16 (UDI 9, RN 7), independent 4; Chamber of Deputies - seats by party - CPD 57 (PDC 16, PPD 19, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 53 (UDI 33, RN 20), independent 10.

    Judicial branchSupreme 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 (eight-members - two each from the Senate, Chamber of Deputies, Supreme Court, and National Security Council - review the constitutionality of laws approved by Congress)

    Political pressure groups and leadersRoman Catholic Church, particularly conservative groups such as Opus Dei; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations
    other: revitalized university student federations at all major universities
    International organization participationAPEC, BIS, CAN (associate), FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, 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, OECD (accession state), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
    Flag descriptiontwo equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; 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 represents the blood spilled to achieve independence
    note: design was influenced by the US flag

    Economy - overviewChile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade and a reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. Exports account for 40% of GDP, with commodities making up some three-quarters of total exports. Copper alone provides one-third of government revenue. 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 situation 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. In the years since then, growth has averaged 4% per year. 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 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, China, India, South Korea, and Mexico. Over the past five years, foreign direct investment inflows have quadrupled to some $17 billion in 2008. The Chilean government conducts a rule-based countercyclical fiscal policy, accumulating surpluses in sovereign wealth funds during periods of high copper prices and economic growth, and allowing deficit spending only during periods of low copper prices and growth. As of September 2008, those sovereign wealth funds - kept mostly outside the country and separate from Central Bank reserves - amounted to more than $20 billion.
    GDP (purchasing power parity)$245.1 billion (2008 est.)
    $237.5 billion (2007 est.)
    $226.8 billion (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP (official exchange rate)$169.5 billion (2008 est.)
    GDP - real growth rate(%)3.2% (2008 est.)
    4.7% (2007 est.)
    4.6% (2006 est.)
    GDP - per capita (PPP)$14,900 (2008 est.)
    $14,600 (2007 est.)
    $14,000 (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP - composition by sector(%)agriculture: 4.8%
    industry: 50.5%
    services: 44.7% (2008 est.)
    Labor force7.267 million (2008 est.)

    Labor force - by occupation(%)agriculture: 13.2%
    industry: 23%
    services: 63.9% (2005)
    Unemployment rate(%)7.8% (2008 est.)
    7% (2007 est.)
    Population below poverty line(%)18.2% (2005)
    Household income or consumption by percentage share(%)lowest 10%: 1.6%
    highest 10%: 41.7% (2006)
    Distribution of family income - Gini index54.9 (2003)
    57.1 (2000)
    Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP)24% of GDP (2008 est.)
    Budgetrevenues: $44.79 billion
    expenditures: $35.09 billion (2008 est.)
    Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%)8.7% (2008 est.)
    4.4% (2007 est.)

    Stock of money$14.72 billion (31 December 2008)
    $16.6 billion (31 December 2007)
    Stock of quasi money$73.66 billion (31 December 2008)
    $80.42 billion (31 December 2007)
    Stock of domestic credit$116.4 billion (31 December 2008)
    $127.1 billion (31 December 2007)
    Market value of publicly traded shares$132.4 billion (31 December 2008)
    $212.9 billion (31 December 2007)
    $174.6 billion (31 December 2006)
    Economic aid - recipient$0 (2006)

    Public debt(% of GDP)5.2% of GDP (2008 est.)
    12.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
    Agriculture - productsgrapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, beans; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber
    Industriescopper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles

    Industrial production growth rate(%)0.7% (2008 est.)

    Current account balance-$3.44 billion (2008 est.)
    $7.189 billion (2007 est.)
    Exports$66.46 billion (2008 est.)
    $67.67 billion (2007 est.)

    Exports - commodities(%)copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine
    Exports - partners(%)China 14.2%, US 11.3%, Japan 10.4%, Brazil 5.9%, South Korea 5.7%, Netherlands 5.2%, Italy 4.4% (2008)
    Imports$57.61 billion (2008 est.)
    $44.03 billion (2007 est.)

    Imports - commodities(%)petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical and telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles, natural gas
    Imports - partners(%)US 19.1%, China 11.9%, Brazil 9.3%, Argentina 8.8%, South Korea 5.6%, Japan 4.6% (2008)

    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold$23.08 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $16.84 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Debt - external$64.77 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $55.67 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

    Stock of direct foreign investment - at home$108.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $91.49 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad$25.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $24.68 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Exchange ratesChilean pesos (CLP) per US dollar - 509.02 (2008 est.), 526.25 (2007), 530.29 (2006), 560.09 (2005), 609.37 (2004)

    Currency (code)Chilean peso (CLP)

    Telephones - main lines in use3.526 million (2008)
    Telephones - mobile cellular14.797 million (2008)
    Telephone systemgeneral assessment: privatization begun in 1988; most advanced telecommunications infrastructure in South America; modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities; fixed-line connections have dropped in recent years as mobile-cellular usage continues to increase, reaching a level of 90 telephones per 100 persons
    domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations
    international: country code - 56; submarine cables provide links to the US and to Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
    Internet country code.cl
    Internet users5.456 million (2008)
    Airports357 (2009)
    Pipelines(km)gas 2,676 km; liquid petroleum gas 519 km; oil 892 km; refined products 769 km (2008)
    Roadways(km)total: 80,505 km
    paved: 16,745 km (includes 2,414 km of expressways)
    unpaved: 63,760 km (2004)

    Ports and terminalsCoronel, Huasco, Lirquen, Puerto Ventanas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Valparaiso
    Military branchesArmy 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), Carabineros Corps (Cuerpo de Carabineros) (2008)
    Military service age and obligation(years of age)18-45 years of age for voluntary male and female military service, although the right to compulsory recruitment is retained; service obligation - 12 months for Army, 22 months for Navy and Air Force (2008)
    Manpower available for military servicemales age 16-49: 4,242,912
    females age 16-49: 4,182,509 (2008 est.)
    Manpower fit for military servicemales age 16-49: 3,573,165
    females age 16-49: 3,523,649 (2009 est.)
    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annuallymale: 145,766
    female: 139,648 (2009 est.)
    Military expenditures(% of GDP)2.7% of GDP (2006)
    Disputes - internationalChile and Peru rebuff Bolivia's reinvigorated claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, but Chile has offered instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile to Bolivian gas and other commodities; Chile rejects Peru's unilateral legislation to change its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis favoring Peru, in October 2007, Peru took its maritime complaint with Chile to the ICJ; 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)

    Electricity - production(kWh)60.6 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - production by source(%)fossil fuel: 47%
    hydro: 51.5%
    nuclear: 0%
    other: 1.4% (2001)
    Electricity - consumption(kWh)57.29 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - exports(kWh)0 kWh (2008 est.)
    Electricity - imports(kWh)1.628 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Oil - production(bbl/day)11,190 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - consumption(bbl/day)277,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - exports(bbl/day)49,250 bbl/day (2007 est.)
    Oil - imports(bbl/day)311,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
    Oil - proved reserves(bbl)150 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
    Natural gas - production(cu m)1.65 billion cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - consumption(cu m)2.34 billion cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - exports(cu m)0 cu m (2008)
    Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m)97.97 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%)0.3% (2007 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS31,000 (2007 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - deaths1,100 (2007 est.)
    Literacy(%)definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 95.7%
    male: 95.8%
    female: 95.6% (2002 census)

    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years)total: 14 years
    male: 14 years
    female: 14 years (2006)
    Education expenditures(% of GDP)3.2% of GDP (2006)








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