Fact Sheet of Chile
Embassy of India
Santiago
Chile: Factsheet
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General |
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Official Name |
Republic of Chile (रिपब्लिक ओफ़ चिले) Republica de Chile (Spanish)
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Capital |
Santiago (सान्तियागो)
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Area |
756,102 sq.kms.
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Weather (in °C) |
Max. 33°C & Min. 16°C [Hottest month, January, 12-29°C; coldest month, June, 3-14°C (average daily minimum and maximum)]
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Population |
19.960.889 (2023) |
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Forest Cover |
17,520,869 hectares. (23% of total area).
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CO2 Emissions |
4.90 metric tones per capita (2019)
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Tourist Arrivals (Year) |
1,114,652 (2022)
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Age Profile |
0-14 years: 20.05% (Source: National Statistical Institute of Chile)
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Life Expectancy |
Overall: 79; Male: 76.7; Female: 81.8 (2022) (Source: National Statistical Institute of Chile)
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Languages (with % age of speakers, if available) |
90% of the population speaks Spanish and 10% speak various indigenous languages such as Mapudungun (मापुदुङून्), Quechua (केचुआ), Aymara(अय्मारा) and Rapa Nui (रापा नुई), in addition to Spanish.
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Ethnic Groups |
Roughly 89% of the population is non-indigenous, representing mainly people of European ancestry and some Asian and Arab nationalities. Till very recently, African and Caribbean ethnicity were virtually non-existent in Chile. The remaining population is comprised of various ethnic groups such as the Aymara (0.7%), other indigenous groups (1%) (includes Rapa Nui, Likan Antai (लिकान् अन्ताई), Quechua, Colla (कोईया), Diaguita (दीयागीता), Kawesqar(कावेस्कार्), Yagan (यागन्) or Yamana(यामाना), unspecified (0.3%), with the largest (around 5%) being the Mapuche. (2016 estimate).
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Main Religion (with %, if available) |
Roman Catholic (66.7%), Evangelical or Protestant (16.4%), Jehovah’s Witnesses (1%), others (3.4%), none (11.5%), unspecified (1.1%). (2012 estimate).
In the latest census, religion was not part of the census questions, hence updated information is not available.
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Internet Penetration |
26.9 million Internet users. Internet Penetration of 136.1 per 100 habitants in 2021 (Source: National Statistics Institute of Chile).
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Mobile Phones |
There is a total 26.57 million mobile phones, which corresponds to an average of 1.4 per person. (Source: Vice Ministry of Telecommunications).
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Urbanization |
The vast majority of Chileans live in urban cities (88%), mainly in Santiago, Valparaiso (वल्पराइसो), Concepcion (कोन्सेप्सियोन्), Iquique (इकीके). The remaining population resides in rural areas (12%) (2020). (Source: National Statistics Institute of Chile and World Bank)
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ECONOMIC |
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Currency |
Chilean Peso (चिलेयन् पेसो)
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Exchange rate with US$ & INR |
1 USD = CLP 884.643 (official rate – Oct 2023) 1 INR = CLP 10.5503 (official rate – Oct 2023)
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GDP (PPP) |
553.06 billion USD (Source: World Bank, current international)
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GDP Growth Rate |
1.1% (2019); -5.8% (2020), 11.7% (2021), 2.4% (2022) (Source: World Bank, current international)
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Major Sectors (% of GDP) |
Food and hospitality (33.9%), Commerce (22.6%), Services (22.4%), Construction (13.6%), Corporate services (11.0%), Communications (8.9%), Manufacturing (8.3%). (Source: Annual Bulletin 2018 - 2021, Central Bank of Chile)
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Unemployment (%) |
7.1% (2019); 10.3% (2020); 8.9% (2021); 7.9% (2022). (Source: National Statistics Institute, INE)
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Inflation (%) |
3% (2020); 7.2% (2021); 12.8% (2022) (Source: National Statistics Institute, INE)
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GDP Per Capita |
US$ 14,627 (2019); US$ 13,165 (2020); (Source: World Bank, current US$)
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Total Trade
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US$ 196.556 billion (2022) (Source: Chilean Customs)
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Exports |
US$ 97.832 billion (2022) (Source: Chilean Customs)
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Imports
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US$ 98.724 billion (2022) (Source: Chilean Customs)
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Balance of Trade |
US$ 0.892 billion (2022)
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Major Trade Partners |
Major export partners: China, United States, Japan, South Korea, and Brazil. Major import partners; China, United States, Brazil, Argentina, and Germany (2022) Source: Customs Office. [India was the 8h largest trade partner of Chile in terms of Chile’s exports and the 13th largest trade partner of Chile in terms of Chile’s imports in 2022] (Source: Vice Ministry of Trade)
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Bilateral Trade |
US$ 2227.35 mn (2018-19); US$ 1969.10 mn (2019-20); US$ 1475.60 mn (2020-21); US$ 2553.08 mn (2021-22); US$ 2602.26 mn (2022-23) (Source: Department of Commerce)
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India’s Exports to Chile |
US$ 989.80 million (2018-19); US$ 793.43 mn (2019-20); US$ 805.00 mn (2020-21); US$ 1181.92 mn (2021-22); US$ 1166.43 mn (2022-23) (Source: Department of Commerce)
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India’s Imports from Chile |
US$ 1237.55 million (2018-19); US$ 1175.67 mn (2019-20); US$ 670.60 mn (2020-21); US$ 1371.16 mn (2021-22); US$ 1435.83 mn (2022-23) (Source: Department of Commerce)
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Major Items of Export and Import |
India’s exports to Chile – Vehicles Pharmaceutical products Electrical machinery & equip. Machinery & mechanical appliances Textile articles Organic chemicals Articles of leather Articles of apparel and clothing - knitted Plastics & articles thereof Articles of apparel -not knitted
Imports from Chile: Copper and other ores Pulp of wood, waste & scrap of paper Fruits & nuts, peel of citrus/melons Milling products, malt, starches, wheat Paper And Paperboard Iron & steel Aluminum & articles thereof Inorganic chem, org/compounds of precious metals, isotopes Beverages, spirits and vinegar. Base Metals; Articles Thereof. (Source: Chilean Customs)
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Indian Investments in Chile |
Major Indian companies have a presence in Chile mainly in the mining/metallurgical, pharmaceutical, automotive and IT sectors, through acquisition of Chilean companies/or joint ventures and other collaborations. As per the data of SUBREI, Indian investments till date are about US$ 620 million. (Source: SUBREI).
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Chilean Investments in India |
Chilean investment in India is US$ 118 million. Chilean Financial Institutions have also invested in the Indian financial sector. (Source: SUBREI).
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Political |
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Political Structure |
Chile is a unitary Republic and has a democratic Presidential system of government, with universal adult suffrage (age 18 and above) and a bicameral legislature. The President is the HoS and HoG, and is directly elected for a 4-year term. The President cannot be re-elected for consecutive terms but can be re-elected with a gap of 4 years between terms.
Most of Chile’s governments have been coalition governments. In the recent elections in Chile in 2021, Apruebo Dignidad (Approve Dignity) Coalition candidate Mr. Gabriel Boric Font won by a huge margin. He received 55.9% votes, whereas his rival, far-right Mr. Jose Antonio Kast got 44.1% votes.
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Head of State (President) |
H.E. Mr. Gabriel Boric Font (महामहिम श्री गेब्रियल बोरिच फ़ॉन्ट) (Sworn in on 11 March, 2022)
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Head of Government (Prime Minister) |
Same as above. |
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Minister of Foreign Affairs |
H.E. Mr Alberto van Klaveren Stork (महामहिम श्री अल्बेर्तो वैन कलवेरेन स्टोर्क) (from 10 March 2023) |
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Political Issues |
Political issues include social reforms (abortion, women´s rights, free education, health etc.), economic reforms (tax reform, fiscal reform, labour reform, pension reform, utility pricing reform etc.), administrative reforms regarding the structure and scope of the Government and the Constitution, and environmental issues. Another longstanding issue is that of the Mapuche (मापूचे) demand for autonomy for their region (Araucania) (अरावुकान्या) or at least a division of powers between the Central and Regional government. The debate on all the above issues shows considerable polarization between the right and left wings of the political spectrum, and since October 2019, has sparked mass public demonstrations, often accompanied by violence, demanding major reforms across the board. The Covid 19 lockdown has further dampened the situation.
Consequent upon rejection of the new Constitution proposed by the Constituent Assembly in plebiscite held on 4 September 2022, all political parties after several rounds of consultations agreed to a road-map called “Agreement for Chile” for writing a new Constitution. The Experts Committee and Technical Committee completed the work of establishing a preliminary draft and submitted for consideration of the Constitution Council. The election for 50-member Constitution Council was held on 7 May 2023 and it started functioning from 7 June 2023. 22 members from Republican Party, the conservative right, 11 members from Chile Seguro, traditional right, and 16 from Unidad Para Chile, the Ruling Coalition, were elected for the Constitution Council. The Constitution Council received more than 1000 amendments to the draft Constitution from the political parties and 31 amendments under the Popular Initiatives of Norm (IPN) from general public which will be analyzed by the Council. The referendum on the new constitution will be held on 17 December 2023.
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Indian Origin/ PRs/ Indian Students |
Persons of Indian Origin is estimated around 2150 and the number of Indian students is estimated around 10.
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Indian diaspora (composition and any pertinent information that may be of interest) |
The origins of the Indian community in Chile can be traced back to 1905. Currently, it is estimated that there are around 3950 Indians living in Chile of whom 2150 have obtained Chilean nationality. One third of them live in Iquique and the rest are in Santiago, Valparaiso, Vina del Mar and Punta Arenas. The majority are from the Sindhi community who are mainly engaged in business, and who have integrated well with Chilean society. In addition, there is a constant flow of professionals and businessmen as also some skilled and unskilled labour (chefs, masseurs, restaurant workers etc.) from India, working mainly in the ICT and financial services sectors and also in Indian companies represented in Chile.
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Indian Organisations (Bank/PSUs/Govt Organisations/Indian Companies |
TCS, JSW Steel Ltd, Godrej, Evaluserve, Intellect Design, Oracle, Wipro, Ishkan, Dr. Reddy, Seven Pharma, Siron Pharma, MSN Laboratories, Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors, Mahindra, Apolo Tyres, Ashok Leyland, UPL, Sterling & Wilson, Tega Industries, Kalpataru Power Chile SpA.
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