GeoRealityMatch
A panoramic view of Santiago's skyline featuring the majestic Sky Costanera Tower.Santiago city view with modern skyscrapers and Andes Mountain backdrop.

Chile

South America

High safetyAffordable cost of livingVery high development

People live long, and essential health services reach most people. The air is polluted.

BackpackerCombines affordable cost of living and high safety.ExpatCombines very high development, high safety and affordable cost of living.RetireeCombines very high life expectancy, high safety and affordable cost of living.
vs Argentinavs Uruguayvs Peru
Safety

52nd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.826lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#52 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
6.3per 100,000 people a yearHighUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
39.3Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$16,960national income per person, US dollarsHigh
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
11.6New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
15.3years of median income to buy a median flatExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 93% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 40% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$20K$40K$37,774 PPP$17,995Inflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $9,319 a person, $15,511 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2007, $10,346 a person, $16,698 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2008, $10,683 a person, $16,376 at PPP, inflation 8.7%2009, $10,099 a person, $15,951 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2010, $12,633 a person, $17,918 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2011, $14,487 a person, $20,122 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2012, $15,242 a person, $21,366 at PPP, inflation 3%2013, $15,684 a person, $22,201 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2014, $14,530 a person, $22,554 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2015, $13,434 a person, $22,468 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2016, $13,650 a person, $23,257 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2017, $14,880 a person, $24,295 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2018, $15,659 a person, $25,305 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2019, $14,497 a person, $25,614 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2020, $13,118 a person, $25,357 at PPP, inflation 3%2021, $16,216 a person, $29,107 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2022, $15,399 a person, $30,919 at PPP, inflation 11.6%2023, $17,082 a person, $33,174 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2024, $16,659 a person, $36,071 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2025, $17,995 a person, $37,774 at PPP, inflation 4.2%$0$20K$40KInflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $9,319 a person, $15,511 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2007, $10,346 a person, $16,698 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2008, $10,683 a person, $16,376 at PPP, inflation 8.7%2009, $10,099 a person, $15,951 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2010, $12,633 a person, $17,918 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2011, $14,487 a person, $20,122 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2012, $15,242 a person, $21,366 at PPP, inflation 3%2013, $15,684 a person, $22,201 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2014, $14,530 a person, $22,554 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2015, $13,434 a person, $22,468 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2016, $13,650 a person, $23,257 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2017, $14,880 a person, $24,295 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2018, $15,659 a person, $25,305 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2019, $14,497 a person, $25,614 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2020, $13,118 a person, $25,357 at PPP, inflation 3%2021, $16,216 a person, $29,107 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2022, $15,399 a person, $30,919 at PPP, inflation 11.6%2023, $17,082 a person, $33,174 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2024, $16,659 a person, $36,071 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2025, $17,995 a person, $37,774 at PPP, inflation 4.2%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
81.4years, at birthVery high
#35 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
84WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
21.5PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
9%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
338 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
517EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet338 MbpsVery fast
Mobile83 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Santiago city view with modern skyscrapers and Andes Mountain backdrop.
How it changed

Chile's Human Development Index

0.878Very high human development

45th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 1st of 12 in South America.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #43Qatar0.886
  2. #44Slovakia0.880
  3. #45Chile0.878
  4. #46Hungary0.870
  5. #47Argentina0.865
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.718 in 1990 to 0.878 in 2023.

0.650.780.900.87819902000201020231990: 0.7181991: 0.7231992: 0.7301993: 0.7251994: 0.7301995: 0.7391996: 0.7451997: 0.7521998: 0.7591999: 0.7662000: 0.7712001: 0.7782002: 0.7842003: 0.7892004: 0.7972005: 0.8042006: 0.8042007: 0.8122008: 0.8202009: 0.8192010: 0.8232011: 0.8232012: 0.8322013: 0.8452014: 0.8492015: 0.8552016: 0.8592017: 0.8622018: 0.8662019: 0.8672020: 0.8562021: 0.8652022: 0.8692023: 0.8780.650.780.9019902000201020231990: 0.7181991: 0.7231992: 0.7301993: 0.7251994: 0.7301995: 0.7391996: 0.7451997: 0.7521998: 0.7591999: 0.7662000: 0.7712001: 0.7782002: 0.7842003: 0.7892004: 0.7972005: 0.8042006: 0.8042007: 0.8122008: 0.8202009: 0.8192010: 0.8232011: 0.8232012: 0.8322013: 0.8452014: 0.8492015: 0.8552016: 0.8592017: 0.8622018: 0.8662019: 0.8672020: 0.8562021: 0.8652022: 0.8692023: 0.878

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
81.4 years2024at birthUp 2.9 years from 78.5 years in 2005
Internet users
96%2024of people onlineUp 61 points from 35% in 2006
Urban population
89%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 2 points from 87% in 2006
Births per woman
1.142024births per womanDown 0.69 from 1.83 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
24%2021of energy usedDown 7 points from 31% in 2004
Access to electricity
99%2024of people with electricityUp 1 point from 98% in 2005
Infant mortality
62024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 2 from 8 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
3.9 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.3 t from 3.6 t in 2005
Forest area
25%2023of land under forestUp 3 points from 22% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

South America's most stable economy, with excellent infrastructure and strong institutions. The case for living here is long lives and wide access to essential health services. The case against is polluted air.

About Chile

Chile is a country of extraordinary geographic length, running from the driest desert on earth in the Atacama north to the dramatic glaciers and fjords of Patagonia in the south, with fertile wine valleys, volcanoes, and the lakes district in between. The cities, particularly Santiago and Valparaíso, are sophisticated and culturally engaged. It suits a wide range of travellers, from serious hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to those who enjoy excellent wine, food, and a well-functioning urban culture.

Practical facts

  • CapitalSantiago
  • LanguagesSpanish
  • CurrencyChilean peso (CLP)
  • Area742,832 km²
  • Plug typeType C/L
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Chile's Human Development Index?

Chile's Human Development Index is 0.878 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #45 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Chile safe?

Chile scores 1.83 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #52 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Chile?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Chile at 39.0 (New York = 100); that is #61 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Chile?

Life expectancy at birth in Chile is 81.4 yrs (World Bank), ranked #35 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Chile?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Chile at 109.8, ranked #70 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.