Key Facts

GDP (ppp) per CAPITA

$14,900 (2008 est.)

Inflation Rate

8.7% (2008 est.)

Population

16,601,707 (July 2009 est.)

Country Risk Ratings

A2

Ease of Doing Business

40/181

Global Competitiveness

28/134

Country Map

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gE Network

There are 12 members in the
gE Network for this country.

Chile : Introduction

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.

Chile: Doing Business in Chile

Put forth by the World Bank, Doing Business in Chile highlights rankings across the years of various aspects of small business. These include Ease of: Starting a Business, Employing Workers, Registering Property, Getting Credit, Protecting Investors, Paying Taxes, and Trading Across Borders. In addition to the overall rankings, the site also provides an in-depth ranking analysis of each category.

Chile: The Chilean Trade Commission (Prochile)

The Chilean Trade Commission, an agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provides information from the basics of Chile to business related information. Databases include exported products and exporting companies, foreign investment application procedures, and international trade fair listings, among others. Available in English and Spanish.

Sources:
CIA World Factbook (September 2009)
U.S. Dept. of State Country Background Notes (September 2009)