[syn: chili, chili pepper, chilli, chilly, chile]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Chili \Chil"i\, n. [Sp. chili, chile.]
A kind of red pepper. See Capsicum [Written also chilli
and chile.]
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Chile
n 1: a republic in southern South America on the western slopes
of the Andes on the south Pacific coast [syn: Chile,
Republic of Chile]
2: very hot and finely tapering pepper of special pungency [syn:
chili, chili pepper, chilli, chilly, chile]
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Chile
Introduction Chile
------------------
Background: A three-year-old Marxist government
was overthrown in 1973 by a
dictatorial military regime led by
Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a
freely elected president was
installed in 1990. Sound economic
policies, first implemented by the
PINOCHET dictatorship, led to
unprecedented growth in 1991-97 and
have helped secure the country's
commitment to democratic and
representative government.
Geography Chile
---------------
Location: Southern South America, bordering
the South Atlantic Ocean and South
Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and
Peru
Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 756,950 sq km
land: 748,800 sq km
note: includes Easter Island (Isla
de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez
water: 8,150 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than twice the size
of Montana
Land boundaries: total: 6,171 km
border countries: Argentina 5,150
km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km
Coastline: 6,435 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200/350 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 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: 2.65%
permanent crops: 0.42%
other: 96.93% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 18,000 sq km (1998 est.)
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 party to: Antarctic-Environmental
agreements: Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Seals,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear Test
Ban
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: 15,498,930 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26.9% (male 2,127,696;
female 2,033,201)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 5,070,476;
female 5,103,490)
65 years and over: 7.5% (male
482,846; female 681,221) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.09% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 16.46 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 5.59 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.14 years
female: 79.62 years (2002 est.)
male: 72.83 years
Total fertility rate: 2.13 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.19% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 15,000 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,000 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Chilean(s)
adjective: Chilean
Ethnic groups: white and white-Amerindian 95%,
Amerindian 3%, other 2%
Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%,
Jewish NEGL%
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 95.2%
male: 95.4%
female: 95% (1995 est.)
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: Santiago
Administrative divisions: 13 regions (regiones, singular -
region); Aisen del General Carlos
Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta,
Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio,
Coquimbo, Libertador General
Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos,
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 30 July 1989,
1993, and 1997
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: Chile is in the process of
completely overhauling its criminal
justice system; a new, US-style
adversarial system is being
gradually implemented throughout the
country
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and
compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ricardo
LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000);
note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President
Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11
March 2000); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the
president
election results: Ricardo LAGOS
Escobar elected president; percent
of vote - Ricardo LAGOS Escobar
51.32%, Joaquin LAVIN 48.68%
elections: president elected by
popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 12 December 1999,
with runoff election held 16 January
2000 (next to be held NA December
2005)
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or
Congreso Nacional consists of the
Senate or Senado (49 seats, 38
elected by popular vote, 9
designated members, and 2 former
presidents who serve six-year terms
and are senators for life); elected
members 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)
election results: Senate - percent
of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - CPD 20 (PDC 12, PS 5, PPD
3), UDI 9, RN 7, independents 2;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CPD 63 (PDC 24, PPD 21, PS 11, PRSD
6,), UDI 35, RN 22, independent 1
elections: Senate - last held 16
December 2001 (next to be held NA
December 2005); Chamber of Deputies
- last held 16 December 2001 (next
to be held NA December 2005)
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 by the
21-member court); Constitutional
Tribunal
Political parties and leaders: Center-Center Union Party or UCCP
[Francisco Javier ERRAZURIZ];
Christian Democratic Party or PDC
[Patricia ALYWIN]; Coalition of
Parties for Democracy
("Concertacion") or CPD - including
PDC, PS, PPD, PRSD; Independent
Democratic Union or UDI [Pablo
LONGUEIRA]; National Renewal or RN
[Alberto CARDEMIL]; Party for
Democracy or PPD [Guido GIRARDI];
Radical Social Democratic Party or
PRSD [Anselmo SULE]; Socialist Party
or PS [Ricardo NUNEZ]
Political pressure groups and revitalized university student
leaders: federations at all major
universities; Roman Catholic Church;
United Labor Central or CUT includes
trade unionists from the country's
five largest labor confederations
International organization APEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-77,
participation: IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur
(associate), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP,
UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Andres
BIANCHI
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Chicago,
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco,
and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador
US: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Philip
S. GOLDBERG
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800,
Las Condes, Santiago
mailing address: APO AA 34033
telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600
FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white
(top) and red; there is 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;
design was based on the US flag
Economy Chile
-------------
Economy - overview: Chile has a market-oriented economy
characterized by a high level of
foreign trade. 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 recession 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. Despite the effects of the
recession, Chile maintained its
reputation for strong financial
institutions and sound policy that
have given it the strongest
sovereign bond rating in South
America. By the end of 1999, exports
and economic activity had begun to
recover, and growth rebounded to
5.4% in 2000. Unemployment remains
stubbornly high, however, putting
pressure on President LAGOS to
improve living standards. The
Argentine financial meltdown has put
pressure on the Chilean peso and is
slowing the country's economic
growth. Meanwhile, Chile and the US
are conducting negotiations for a
free trade agreement.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $153
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.1% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,000
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8%
industry: 38%
services: 54% (2000)
Population below poverty line: 22% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: 1.2%
percentage share: highest 10%: 41.3% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini 57.5 (1996)
index:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 5.9 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 14%, industry 27%,
services 59% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.1% (2001)
Budget: revenues: $17 billion
expenditures: $17 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (2001
est.)
Industries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs,
fish processing, iron and steel,
wood and wood products, transport
equipment, cement, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 2.5% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 39.577 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 51.17%
hydro: 46.36%
other: 2.47% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 37.897 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 1.09 billion kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar
beets, potatoes, fruit; beef,
poultry, wool; fish; timber
Exports: $18.5 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Exports - commodities: copper, fish, fruits, paper and
pulp, chemicals
Exports - partners: US 17%, Japan 14%, UK 6%, Brazil 5%,
China 5% (2000)
Imports: $18 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities: consumer goods, chemicals, motor
vehicles, fuels, electrical
machinery, heavy industrial
machinery, food
Imports - partners: US 19%, Argentina 16%, Brazil 7%,
China 6%, Japan 4% (2000)
Debt - external: $39.6 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient: ODA, $40 million (2001 est.)
Currency: Chilean peso (CLP)
Currency code: CLP
Exchange rates: Chilean pesos per US dollar - 651.90
(January 2002), 618.70 (2001),
535.47 (2000), 508.78 (1999), 460.29
(1998), 419.30 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Chile
--------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 2.603 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 944,225 (1998)
Telephone system: general assessment: modern system
based on extensive microwave radio
relay facilities
domestic: extensive microwave radio
relay links; domestic satellite
system with 3 earth stations
international: satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64,
shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)
Radios: 5.18 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 3.15 million (1997)
Internet country code: .cl
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7 (2000)
Internet users: 1.75 million (2001)
Transportation Chile
--------------------
Railways: total: 6,702 km
broad gauge: 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge
(1,317 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 117 km 1.067-m gauge
(28 km electrified); 3,754 km 1.000-
m gauge (37 km electrified) (2000
est.)
Highways: total: 79,800 km
paved: 11,012 km
unpaved: 68,788 km (1996)
Waterways: 725 km
Pipelines: crude oil 755 km; petroleum products
785 km; natural gas 320 km
Ports and harbors: Antofagasta, Arica, Chanaral,
Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto Montt,
Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San
Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso
Merchant marine: total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 669,670 GRT/931,647 DWT
ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 4,
chemical tanker 10, container 5,
liquefied gas 2, passenger 3,
petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off
5, vehicle carrier 3, includes a
foreign-owned ship registered here
as a flag of convenience:
Netherlands 1 (2002 est.)
Airports: 363 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 70
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 16 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 293
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 60
under 914 m: 217 (2001)
Military Chile
--------------
Military branches: Army of the Nation, National Navy
(including naval air, coast guard,
and marines), Air Force of the
Nation, Chilean Carabineros
(National Police), Investigations
Police
Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,104,197 (2002
est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 3,034,912 (2002
service: est.)
Military manpower - reaching males: 136,830 (2002 est.)
military age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $2.5 billion (FY99)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 3.1% (FY99)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Chile
--------------------------
Disputes - international: Bolivia continues to demand a
sovereign corridor to the South
Pacific Ocean since the Atacama
region was lost to Chile in 1884;
territorial claim in Antarctica
(Chilean Antarctic Territory)
partially overlaps Argentine and
British claims; dispute with Peru
over the economic zone delimited by
the maritime boundary
Illicit drugs: a growing transshipment country for
cocaine destined for the US and
Europe; economic prosperity has made
Chile more attractive to traffickers
seeking to launder drug profits;
imported precursors passed on to
Bolivia; domestic cocaine
consumption is rising