Geography

Location Southern South America, bordering the south athantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru.
Area:
Total area: 756,950 sq km
Land area: 748,800 sq km.
Note: includes Easter Island and Isla Sla and Gomez
Costline:
6,435 km
Climate:
temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south
Terrain:
Low coastal mountain; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east
Natural Resources:
copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum
Land use:
arable: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 16%
forest and woodland: 21%,others: 56%
Irrigated land:
12,650 sq km (1989 estimate)



People

Population
14.2 million (estimate 1995)
Population Growth
1.49% ( 1995 estimate)
Birth rate:
20.29 births/1000 population ( 1995 est.)
Death rate:
5.42 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.88 years
male: 71.89 years
female: 78.01 years (1995 est
Ethnic division:
Religion:
Roman catholic 89%, Protestant 11%
Language
Spanish
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1992)
total population: 94%
Male: 95%
Female: 94%Roman catholic 89%, Protestant 11%
Labour Force
XXXXXXX





Goverment

Type
Republic
Capital
Santiago
Administrative regions
13 regions;Aisen, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo,Libertador General Bernardo O'higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes, Maule, Region Metropolitana, Tarapaca, Valparaiso
Independence
18 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holidays
Independance day, 18 September 19810
Executive branch
chief of state and head of goverment:
Presidente EDUARDO FREI Ruiz-Tagle
Executive branch
chief of state and head of goverment:
Presidente EDUARDO FREI Ruiz-Tagle
Legislative branch
bicameral National Congress:
Senate: 46 total number of seat.
Chamber of Deputies: 120 total number of seats
Judicial branch
Supreme Court




Economy

National Product
GDP - purchasing power parity - $97.7 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate
4.3% (1994 est.)
National product per capita
$7,010 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate
8.7% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate
6% (1994 est.)
Budget
revenue: $10.9 billion
expenditure: $10.0 billion, including capital expenditure of $1.2 billion
Export
$11.5 billion (1994 est.)
Import
$10.9 billion (1994 est.)
External debt
$20 billion (1994 est.)
Currency
Chilean peso
Exchange rate
US$1= 415 Chilean pesos
£1=620 Chilean pesos