Chile Facts and Figures

Facts About Chile

Chile is an interesting country with a diverse landscape and culture. There are many unique facts about Chile, including having one of the world’s longest coastlines, five UNESCO world heritage sites, and the famed Easter Island. In fact, Chile is the longest country in the world, extending a staggering 38 degrees of latitude! Chile’s Atacama Desert is the driest desert in the world.

Population	17,508,260 (July 2015 est.)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)	US$422.4 billion (2015 est.)
GDP Per Capita	US$23,500 (2015 est.)
Inflation Rate	4.3% (2015 est.)
Currency	Chilean pesos (CLP)
Exchange Rate Versus U.S. Dollar	655.38 Chilean pesos per U.S. dollar (July 25, 2016)
Language	Spanish (official), Mapudungun, English
Capital	Santiago
Population of Capital City	6.507 million (2015 est.)
Time Zone	GMT – 4 (1 hour ahead of Washington D.C. during Standard Time) Daylight saving time: + 1 hour (new pilot program that begins on the second Sunday in September and ends on the fourth Sunday in April)
Seasons	There are four seasons in most of the country: Summer (December to February), autumn (March to May), winter (June to August), and spring (September to November). Temperate: Desert in the north, Mediterranean in the central region, and cool-damp in the south.
International Dialing Code	56
Electricity	220V / 50Hz: Plug Type: C L
System of Government	Republic
Name and Party Affiliation of Current Leader	President Michelle Bachelet Jeria (since March 11, 2014). The President is both the chief of state and the head of government.
Income Tax Rate for Residents	22% to 30%
Property Tax	1% to 1.2%
Capital Gains Tax	20% to 25%
Inheritance Tax	Levied on the net value of assets transferred at death.
Real Property Tax	1.2% for urban property and 1% on rural property.
Transfer Tax	No
Sales Tax	19%
Restrictions on Foreign Ownership of Property	It is possible for a foreigner to borrow for the purchase of real estate in Chile but only as a resident. You would have to be a resident for a number of years before a bank would consider lending. Chile does not offer an invest-for-residency program whereby the purchase of property qualifies you for a visa. You would need to seek residency independent of any real estate purchase.
Local Chamber of Commerce	http://www.ccs.cl/ Calle Monijitas 392, Santiago, Metropolitan Region, Chile Tel: 562-2360 7000 Email: cpn@ccs.ci
American Chamber of Commerce	http://www.amchamchile.cl/ Kennedy Avenue 5735, Torre Poniente, office 201, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile Tel: 562-2290 9700
Primary Exports	Copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, wine, and chemicals.
Residency and Visa Requirements	Residency is easy to establish and comes with a path to citizenship. You can apply by mail and no background check is required for U.S. or Canadian citizens. Citizenship requires five years of residency. A simple application is required with no test.
Special Benefits for Foreign Residents or Retirees	You can apply for loans and mortgages with a permanent visa.
National Airline	www.lan.com