Fact Sheet of Chile: Embassy of India, Santiago Chile (Official Website)

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Wed, May 27th, 2020 /

Fact Sheet of Chile

General
Official name	Republic of Chile (रिपब्लिक ओफ़ चिले) Republica de Chile (Spanish)
Capital	Santiago (सान्तियागो)
Area	756,102 sq.kms.
Currency Exchange rate with US$ & INR	Chilean Peso (चिलेयन् पेसो) 1 USD = Ch$ 725.88 (official rate – November 2019) 1 INR = Ch$ 10.0957 (official rate – November 2019)
GDP (PPP)	US$ 277.184 billion (2017); US$ 298.798 billion [Central Bank of Chile]
GDP per capita (PPP)	US$ 24,676 (2017); US$25,978 (2018)
GDP Growth Rate	1.3% (2017); 4.0% (2018)
Unemployment	6.64% (2017); 6.9% (up to Mar 2019)
Forest Cover	17520869 hectares. (23% of total area).
CO2 Emissions	4.54 metric tones per capita (2016)
Tourist Arrivals	5,722,928 (2018)
Population	18.37 million (estimate) (June 2017)
Age Profile	0-14 years: 20.27% (male 1,825,115 / female 1,751,977) 15-24 years: 15.45% (male 1,391,522 / female 1,335,933) 25-54 years: 43.17% (male 3,804,037 /female 3,816,114) 55-64 years: 10.6% (male 880,014 / female 990,969) 65 years and over: 10.51% (male 776,340 / female 1,078,093) (2016 estimate)
Life Expectancy	Overall: 78.8; Male: 75.7; Female: 81.9 (2016 estimate)
Languages	90% of the population speaks Spanish and 10% speak various indigenous languages such as Mapudungun (मापुदुङून्), Quechua(केचुअा), Aymara(अय्मारा) and Rapa Nui(रापा नुई), in addition to Spanish.
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).
Religion	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 lastest census, religion was not part of the census questions, hence updated information is not available.
Internet Penetration	14.11 million Internet users representing 78% of the population. (July 2018) (Souce: National Statistics Institute of Chile).
Mobile Phones	25.54 million. (Subscription per 100 inhabitants: 157). (July 2018 estimate). (Souce: National Statistics Institute of Chile).
Urbanization	The vast majority of Chileans live in urban cities like Santiago, Valparaiso (वल्पराइसो), Concepcion (कोन्सेप्सियोन्), Iquique(इकीके)(16.06 million). The remaining population resides in rural areas (2.31 million). (June 2017). (Souce: National Statistics Institute of Chile)

Global Trade (Source: Santiago Chamber of Commerce)
Total	US$ 125.365 billion (2017); US$ 145.373 billion (2018); Jan-Aug 2019 US$ 92.78 billion
Exports	US$ 65.882 billion (2017); US$ 76.149 billion (2018); Jan-Aug 2019 US$ 48.91 billion
Imports	US$ 59.483 billion (2017); US$ 69.224 billion (2018); Jan-Aug 2019 US$ 43.87 billion
Major Trade Partners	USA, China, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru and India.
Major items of export	Copper ores and concentrates, copper cathodes, chemical wood pulp, salmons, molybdenum concentrate, iron ore lumps during 2007 and Copper ores and concentrates, copper cathodes, salmons, wood pulp, wine, grapes, cherries, apples, blueberries, gold.
Major items of imports	Gas oil, diesel oil, petrol oil, motor cars, mobile phones, natural gas, motor vehicles for transport of goods, coking coal for thermal use in 2017 and gas oil, diesel oil, petrol oil, motor cars, mobile phones, natural gas, motor vehicles for transport of goods, meat, coking coal for thermal use.

Political
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. From 2014 till date, the ruling coalition “Nueva Mayoria” (नूएवा मायोरिया - New Majority) represented a mix of centrist and leftist parties, including the Communist Party and the Christian Democrats, who split with the NM coalition in the run up to the 2017 elections. The elections of November-December 2017 have seen a shift to the right. Sebastian Pinera´s RN party joined with UDI & Evopoli to form the “Chile Vamos” (चिले वामोस – Lets Go Chile) coalition to win the election.
Major Political Parties according to political orientation	Senate: (1) Christian Democratic Party (DC) (Centre) (2) Independent Democratic Union (UDI) (Right) (3) Party for Democracy (PPD) (Centre-Left) (4) Socialist Party (PS) (Left oriented) (5) National Renewal (RN) (Centre-Right) Chamber of Deputies: (1) Independent Democratic Union (UDI) (Right) (2) Christian Democratic Party (DC) (Centre) (3) Socialist Party (PS) (Left oriented) (4) Party for Democracy (PPD) (Centre-Left) (5) National Renewal (RN) (Centre-Right) (6) Social Democrat Radical Party (PRSD) (Centre-Left) (7) Communist Party (PC) (Leftist) {Note: The DC, PS, PPD, PRSD and PC were part of “Nueva Mayoria” coalition from 2014-17. The UDI and RN are part of the “Chile Vamos” coalition}.
Head of State	H.E. Mr. Sebastian Pinera Echenique (महामहिम श्री सेबास्तियान पिनेयरा एचेनिके) (Sworn in on 11 March 2018)
Head of Government	Same as above.
Foreign Minister	H.E. Mr. Teodoro Ribera (महामहिम श्री तेओदोरो रिबेरा )
Political Issues	Political issues include social reforms (abortion, women´s rights, free education, health etc.,), economic reforms (tax reform, fiscal reform, labour reform, a direction of economic policy 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. In this demand, Araucania is joined by the region of Punta Arenas (पुन्ता अरेनास्) , also in the south of Chile. The debate on all the above issues, shows considerable polarization between the right and left wings of the political spectrum, and consensus building is a major focus of most Chilean governments. Especially, in the last four years, the failure to achieve consensus has led to a lack of delivery on reform promises and this coupled with intense media coverage of financial scandals has led to a decrease in public trust in politicians.

Bilateral (Source: Santiago Chamber of Commerce)
Total Bilateral Trade	US$ 2519.32 million (2017); US$ 2437.73 million (2018); Jan-Sep 2019 US$ 1609.57 million
India’s Exports to Chile	US$ 776.99 million (2017); US$ 957.11 million (2018); Jan-Sep 2019 US$ 689.66 million
India’s Imports from Chile	US$ 1742.33 million (2017); US$ 1480.62 million (2018); Jan-Sep 2019 US$ 919.91 million.
Indian Investments in Chile	26 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 information provided by the companies, Indian investments till date are about US$ 220 million.
Chilean Investments in India	Chilean investment in India is US$ 150.54 million (from 2000 - 2017). (Source: DIPP). Chilean Financial Institutions have also invested upto US$ 3244 million in the Indian financial sector.
Indian Community	The origins of the Indian community in Chile can be traced back to 1905. Currently, it is estimated that there are around 3000 Indians living in Chile of whom approx. 50% 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.