election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 64.7%, Delwa Kassire KOUMAKOYE 15.1%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE 7.8%, Mahamat ABDOULAYE 7.1%, Brahim KOULAMALLAH 5.3%; note - a June 2005 national referendum altered the constitution removing presidential term limits and permitting Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno to run for reelection
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - the 1996 constitution called for a Senate that has never been formed
elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be held by 2009); note - legislative elections, originally scheduled for 2006, were first delayed by National Assembly action and subsequently by an accord, signed in August 2007, between government and opposition parties
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, UNDR 5, URD 3, other 11
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR];National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Delwa KassireKOUMAKOYE]; National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [SalehKEBZABO]; Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Ibni OumarMahamat SALEH]; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat SalehAHMAT, chairman]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [LolMahamat CHOUA]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. WadalAbdelkader KAMOUGUE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
rebel groups
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR
chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Louis NIGRO
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] 251-62-11, 251-70-09, 251-77-59
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red
note: similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
Economy ::Chad
Economy - overview:
Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that began in 2000. At least 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. Chad's economy has long been handicapped by its landlocked position, high energy costs, and a history of instability. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most public and private sector investment projects. A consortium led by two US companies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil reserves - estimated at 1 billion barrels - in southern Chad. Chinese companies are also expanding exploration efforts and plan to build a refinery. The nation's total oil reserves are estimated at 1.5 billion barrels. Oil production came on stream in late 2003. Chad began to export oil in 2004. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$15.82 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 $15.85 billion (2007 est.)
$15.82 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.4 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 200 0.2% (2007 est.)
0.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,600 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 192 $1,600 (2007 est.)
$1,600 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20.5%
industry: 48%
services: 31.5% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
4.293 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 83
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)
industry and services: 20% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Population below poverty line:
80% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
13.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 140
Budget:
revenues: $2.324 billion
expenditures: $1.91 billion (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 4% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 82 5.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 42 15% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$874.5 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$55.23 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$82.81 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Industries:
oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Electricity - production:
100 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
Electricity - consumption:
93 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 191
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
127,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 48
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Oil - exports:
157,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 56
Oil - imports:
1,571 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 181
Oil - proved reserves:
1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 36
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 200
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 195
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 196
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Current account balance:
-$1.019 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 -$737.8 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$4.342 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 $3.674 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic
Exports - partners:
US 92.8%, Japan 2.2%, France 1.5% (2008)
Imports:
$1.927 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 $1.541 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
France 17.5%, Cameroon 14.8%, China 9.8%, Ukraine 9.5%, US 7.7%,Germany 5.6%, Saudi Arabia 4.7%, Netherlands 4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.347 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 $964.4 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.6 billion (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$4.5 billion (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 447.81 (2008 est.), 480.1 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)
note: since 1 January 1999, the Central African CFA franc (XAF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; Central African CFA franc (XAF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using West African CFA francs (XOF), and vice versa, even though the two currencies trade at par
Communications ::Chad
Telephones - main lines in use:
13,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 199
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.809 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 124
Telephone system:
general assessment: primitive system with high costs and low telephone density; fixed-line connections for only about 1 per 1000 persons coupled with mobile-cellular subscribership base of less than 20 per 100 persons
domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Internet country code:
.td
Internet hosts:
5 (2009) country comparison to the world: 225
Internet users:
130,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 144
Transportation ::Chad
Airports:
54 (2009) country comparison to the world: 86
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 46
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 11 (2009)
Pipelines:
oil 250 km (2008)
Roadways:
total: 33,400 km country comparison to the world: 95 paved: 267 km
unpaved: 33,133 km (2002)
Waterways:
Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2008)
Military ::Chad
Military branches:
Armed Forces: Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT), Chadian Air Force (Force Aerienne Tchadienne, FAT), Gendarmerie (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for conscripts, with 3-year service obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are subject to 1 year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,906,545
females age 16-49: 2,258,758 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,103,006
females age 16-49: 1,315,620 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 121,080
female: 121,585 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.2% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 27
Transnational Issues ::Chad
Disputes - international:
since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military have driven hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents into Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese civil conflict, reducing tensions with Sudan arising from cross-border banditry; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern Libya; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 234,000 (Sudan); 54,200 (Central African Republic)
IDPs: 178,918 (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Chad is a source, transit, and destination country for children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; the majority of children are trafficked within Chad for involuntary domestic servitude, forced cattle herding, forced begging, forced labor in petty commerce or the fishing industry, or for commercial sexual exploitation; to a lesser extent, Chadian children are also trafficked to Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Nigeria for cattle herding; children may also be trafficked from Cameroon and the Central African Republic to Chad's oil producing regions for sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Chad is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007; Chad was destabilized during 2007 by civil conflict leading to a declared state of emergency in February 2008, and a steady influx of refugees fleeing Sudan and the Central African Republic; the government demonstrated insufficient overall efforts to combat trafficking; Chad has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Chile (South America)
Introduction ::Chile
Background:
Prior 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.
Geography ::Chile
Location:
Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, betweenArgentina and Peru
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 756,102 sq km country comparison to the world: 38 land: 743,812 sq km
water: 12,290 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)
Total renewable water resources:
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 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 LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, 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 world's driest regions
People ::Chile
Population:
16,601,707 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 60
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:
total: 31.4 years
male: 30.4 years
female: 32.4 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.881% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
Birth rate:
14.64 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Death rate:
5.84 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 167
Net migration rate:
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:
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:
total: 7.71 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 164 male: 8.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.34 years country comparison to the world: 56 male: 74.07 years
female: 80.77 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.92 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 139
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
31,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 70
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Nationality:
noun: 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%, otherChristian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3% (2002 census)
Languages:
Spanish (official), Mapudungun, German, English
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):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.2% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 141
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:
15 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General CarlosIbanez 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
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; 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 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 (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 parties and leaders:
Alliance for Chile (Alianza) or APC (including National Renewal orRN [Carlos LARRAIN Pena] and Independent Democratic Union or UDI[Juan Antonio COLOMA Correa]); Coalition of Parties for Democracy(Concertacion) or CPD (including Christian Democratic Party or PDC[Juan Carlos LATORRE Carmona], Socialist Party or PS [CamiloESCALONA Medina], Party for Democracy or PPD [Pepe AUTH Stewart],and Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Jose Antonio GOMEZUrrutia]); Communist Party or PC [Guillermo TEILLIER del Valle];Humanist Party [Marilen CABRERA Olmos]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Roman 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 participation:
APEC, BIS, CAN (associate), 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, 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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Maria GONI Carrasco
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
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 Paul E. SIMONS
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago
mailing address: APO AA 34033
telephone: [56] (2) 330-3000
Flag description:
two 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 ::Chile
Economy - overview:
Chile 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.) country comparison to the world: 45 $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.) country comparison to the world: 117 4.7% (2007 est.)
4.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $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 force:
7.267 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 61
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 13.2%
industry: 23%
services: 63.9% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
7.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 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 index:
54.9 (2003) country comparison to the world: 14 57.1 (2000)
Investment (gross fixed):
24% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Budget:
revenues: $44.79 billion
expenditures: $35.09 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
5.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 12.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 4.4% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
8.25% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 73 6% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13.26% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 98 8.67% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$14.72 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 39 $16.6 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$73.66 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 25 $80.42 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$116.4 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 35 $127.1 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$132.4 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 36 $212.9 billion (31 December 2007)
$174.6 billion (31 December 2006)
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:
0.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - production:
60.6 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Electricity - consumption:
57.29 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
1.628 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
11,190 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Oil - consumption:
277,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 47
Oil - exports:
49,250 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Oil - imports:
311,200 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 37
Oil - proved reserves:
150 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 60
Natural gas - production:
1.65 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Natural gas - consumption:
2.34 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 184
Natural gas - imports:
690 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Natural gas - proved reserves:
97.97 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Current account balance:
-$3.44 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 $7.189 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$66.46 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 $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.) country comparison to the world: 48 $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.) country comparison to the world: 49 $16.84 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$64.77 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 $55.67 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$108.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 $91.49 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$25.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 $24.68 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Chilean pesos (CLP) per US dollar - 509.02 (2008 est.), 526.25 (2007), 530.29 (2006), 560.09 (2005), 609.37 (2004)
Communications ::Chile
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.526 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 43
Telephones - mobile cellular:
14.797 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 45
Telephone system:
general 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 180, FM 64, shortwave 17 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
.cl
Internet hosts:
877,817 (2009) country comparison to the world: 40
Internet users:
5.456 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 43
Transportation ::Chile
Airports:
357 (2009) country comparison to the world: 22
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 81
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 22 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 276
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 50
under 914 m: 212 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 2,676 km; liquid petroleum gas 519 km; oil 892 km; refined products 769 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 5,481 km country comparison to the world: 33 broad gauge: 1,706 km 1.676-m gauge (850 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 3,777 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 80,505 km country comparison to the world: 58 paved: 16,745 km (includes 2,414 km of expressways)
unpaved: 63,760 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 44 country comparison to the world: 75 by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 7, chemical tanker 8, container 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 3
registered in other countries: 40 (Argentina 7, Brazil 1, Cyprus 1, Isle of Man 6, Marshall Islands 4, Norway 2, Panama 12, Singapore 6, Venezuela 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Coronel, Huasco, Lirquen, Puerto Ventanas, San Antonio, San Vicente,Valparaiso
Military ::Chile
Military branches:
Army of the Nation, Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes navalair, marine corps, and Maritime Territory and Merchant MarineDirectorate (Directemar)), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile,FACh), Carabineros Corps (Cuerpo de Carabineros) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
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 service:
males age 16-49: 4,242,912
females age 16-49: 4,182,509 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,573,165
females age 16-49: 3,523,649 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 145,766
female: 139,648 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 57
Transnational Issues ::Chile
Disputes - international:
Chile 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)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe and the region; some money laundering activity, especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising, making Chile a significant consumer of cocaine (2008)
page last updated on November 12, 2009
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@China (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::China
Background:
For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, MAO's successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.
Geography ::China
Location:
Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: