l Rio
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gabriel GUERRA-MONDRAGON
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600
FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710

Flag: 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
-------

Economic overview: Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market
economy, with the degree of government intervention varying
according to the philosophy of the different regimes. Under the
center-left government of President AYLWIN, which took power in
March 1990, spending on social welfare rose steadily. At the same
time business investment, exports, and consumer spending also grew
substantially. The new president, FREI, who took office in March
1994, has emphasized social spending even more. Growth in real GDP
in 1991-95 has averaged more than 6.5% annually, with an estimated
one million Chileans having moved out of poverty in the last four
years. Copper remains vital to the health of the economy; Chile is
the world's largest producer and exporter of copper. Success in
meeting the government's goal of sustained annual economic growth of
5% depends on world copper prices, the level of confidence of
foreign investors and creditors, and the government's own ability to
maintain a conservative fiscal stance.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $113.2 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 8.5% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $8,000 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.4%
industry: 36.4%
services: 56.2% (1985)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.1% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 4.728 million
by occupation: services 38.3% (includes government 12%), industry
and commerce 33.8%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 19.2%, mining
2.3%, construction 6.4% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 5.4% (1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $17 billion
expenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 e