Chile's Economy
Chile at a Glance
An overview of Chile, a long, narrow country of about 20 million people that became one of Latin America's highest-income economies, and its main strengths and tensions.
Chile stretches over 4,000 km along South America’s Pacific coast, with about 20 million people.
A success story
- From the mid-1980s, Chile grew fast and cut poverty sharply.
- It is one of Latin America’s highest-income countries and joined the OECD in 2010.
Strengths
- Copper and mining.
- Open trade.
- Strong institutions and fiscal discipline.
Tensions
- High inequality.
- Anger over pensions, education and health costs, which erupted in 2019.
Geography
From the Atacama Desert in the north to glaciers in Patagonia, Chile’s varied climate supports mining, farming and fishing.
The long country
A truck carrying fruit from central Chile to the northern mines travels further than from Delhi to Chennai.
Thinking growth solved everything
Inequality and costs caused unrest.
Key takeaways
- Chile has about 20 million people.
- It grew fast from the mid-1980s.
- It joined the OECD in 2010.
- Inequality remains a tension.
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