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Chañaral

Atacama13.017 inhabitantsPoblación proyectada INE 20245.764 km² of area2 inh./km²$8.694M ingreso municipalSINIM · ingreso total percibido · 2025
Profile today2050
The comuna in context · among 346 comunas
Population
−12,5%
Population would fall between now and 2050
Society
22,8%
Multidimensional poverty · 85th highest of 346
Finance
$668 thousand
per inhabitant per year · rank 122 of 346
Education
568,9 pts
around the national median in the PAES (576,9 pts)
Finance
209th
most dependent on the Common Fund of 340
Summary

What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap

25 Squares and green areas
11 Schools
5 Health centers
3 Pharmacies
3 Carabineros
1 Hospitals
1 Kindergartens
1 Fire stations
1 Libraries

Liveability index · EIU style

55.5 /100
Ver el ranking y simular
#83 of 346 · most liveable in the country (EIU weighting)
Safety64
Health50
Culture and environment74
Education28
Infrastructure40
AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests

Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

Alex Ahumada M.
CHILE VAMOS · RENOVACION NACIONAL
2.978
votes (34.32%)
11.442
Electoral roll
82,12%
Turnout
Mayoral history · 8 terms
AA
Alex Ahumada M.
2024-2028 · RENOVACION NACIONAL
2.978
votes
MA
Margarita Alicia Flores Salazar
2021-2024 · PR
2.169
votes
HV
Héctor Volta Rojas
2008-2012 · PRSD
3.548
votes
HV
Héctor Volta Rojas
2004-2008 · PRSD
4.384
votes
HA
Hector Antonio Volta Rojas
2000-2004 · PRSD
2.181
votes
MV
Myriam Vecchiola Trabucco
1996-2000 · ILDRN
2.443
votes
MV
Myriam Vecchiola Trabucco
1994-1996 · ILD
2.289
votes
RR
Raúl Rojas Barrera
1992-1994 · DC
731
votes

SERVEL · TRICEL (1992-2008) · DecideChile (2024) · Wikidata (pre-1992)

Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL

SG
Sebastian Gonzalez G.
POR CHILE, SEGUIMOS · PARTIDO COMUNISTA DE CHILE
745
votes
JS
John Silva M.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · UNION DEMOCRATA INDEPENDIENTE
677
votes
JT
Joice Tabilo P.
VERDES LIBERALES POR UNA COMUNA SEGURA · INDEPENDIENTE
604
votes
EP
Eduardo Paez O.
TU COMUNA RADICAL · INDEPENDIENTE
574
votes
EA
Ema Arnello T.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · INDEPENDIENTE
492
votes
LC
Luis Campusano K.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · RENOVACION NACIONAL
451
votes

Sesiones

Última sesión23 de mayo de 2023240 minWatch session

En una línea: El concejo conoció el inicio formal del proceso de expropiación de más de 100 lotes para el encauzamiento del río Salado, y aprobó los espacios para propaganda del plebiscito constitucional y una modificación presupuestaria del área de salud municipal.

Temas tratados

  • Escuela Ignacio Domeico (nombre aproximado según transcripción): El director de obras informó que tiene recepción provisoria (diciembre 2022); la definitiva se espera para julio 2023, pendiente de resolución sanitaria de Nuevo Atacama.
  • Propaganda electoral plebiscito 2023: El concejo revisó y ajustó la propuesta de espacios públicos habilitados para carteles, reduciendo el número máximo por candidato, y confirmó al encargado técnico comunal (Fernando Alzamora, según transcripción).
  • Expropiaciones cauce río Salado: Luis Verdugo, director regional de la DOH Atacama, explicó el proceso en curso: más de 100 lotes en Chañaral, 67 en El Salado y 86 en Diego de Almagro serán expropiados. Los tres peritos ya fueron designados.
  • Modificación presupuestaria DAS: Reasignación contable de fondos dentro del área de salud municipal, por instrucción de Contraloría Regional, para adecuar el pago de funcionarios revertidos a contrata.
  • Puntos varios: Avance del centro de diálisis (ahora bajo responsabilidad del Servicio de Salud), royalty minero, estado de plazas y obras pendientes, solicitudes vecinales diversas.

Acuerdos y votaciones

  • Aprobado por unanimidad: Propuesta de espacios para propaganda electoral del plebiscito 2023, con el siguiente límite ajustado: Plaza 26 de Octubre (2 elementos), Parque Arturo Prat (2), Plaza Calistenia (1), Plaza de Matardón (1), Plaza Barquito (2), Plaza El Salado (1). Se ratificó a Fernando Alzamora como encargado técnico comunal.
  • Aprobado por unanimidad: Modificación presupuestaria del DAEM/DAS para reasignar fondos entre cuentas contables de "planta" a "contrata", permitiendo el pago de sueldos hasta diciembre 2023.

Plata y obras

  • Deuda Escuela Domeico: Factura pendiente de ~170 M con empresa de factoring. El municipio recibió ~136 M del Ministerio de Educación; restan ~22 M por llegar. El pago se efectuará una vez lleguen todos los fondos y se acuerde el retiro de la demanda judicial.
  • Expropiaciones DOH: Presupuesto estimado de ~2.900 M de pesos para las expropiaciones en Chañaral. La primera obra (600 m en sector norte, terreno fiscal) se licitaría en el segundo semestre 2023, con un valor aproximado de 3.000 M.
  • Royalty minero (proyecto de ley en trámite, cifras son proyecciones): Chañaral recibiría ~318 M (fondo equidad territorial) y ~1.080 M (fondo comunas mineras), totalizando cerca de 1.400 M anuales si se promulga la ley.
  • Modificación presupuestaria DAS: Traspaso de ~160 M entre cuentas contables (cifra mencionada en sesión; verificar exactitud).

Puntos de debate o controversia

  • Expropiaciones zona de servicios: Comerciantes del sector norte (estaciones de servicio, restaurantes) expresaron preocupación por reubicación. La DOH aclaró que Petrobras sería expropiada completamente; la COPEC parcialmente. No hay solución de reubicación definida aún.
  • Conectividad sector norte: Varios concejales y vecinos insistieron en la necesidad de un puente vehicular en calle Jorge Rivera, no solo pasarela o badén. La DOH reconoció la necesidad pero señaló que no está en el diseño aprobado y depende de rentabilidad social.
  • Centro de diálisis: Consejales pidieron mayor comunicación pública sobre los avances. La alcaldesa defendió la gestión e informó que el Servicio de Salud asumirá la responsabilidad del proyecto (terreno, construcción y operación), junto a Codelco.

Para seguir

  • Recepción definitiva Escuela Domeico: julio 2023. Pendiente también pago a empresa factoring y levantamiento de demanda judicial.
  • Primeros precinformes de peritos para expropiaciones: 30 a 45 días.
  • Licitación primera obra DOH (sector norte): segundo semestre 2023.
  • Reunión informativa pública sobre centro de diálisis: pendiente de fecha; se usaría el auditórium.
  • Visita a piscinas decantadoras de Taltal junto a concejales de Diego de Almagro: 30 de mayo.
  • Pendiente respuesta a cartas sobre: estado causas laborales, limpieza quebrada Becuña Maquena, informe plaza de armas, PMC (Plan Municipal de Cultura).
  • Plan regulador y reunión con dirigentes de borde costero: sin fecha confirmada.

Summary generated by AI (claude-sonnet-4-6) from the official broadcast transcript · may contain inaccuracies

Official council minutesSource: CPLT · Active Transparency inventory (Law 20.285)

What the council resolvesSource: Official minutes · AI extraction (ongoing)

Resolutions extracted
254
of 322 minutes read
Money involved
$18.645.654.007
sum of resolutions with amounts
ResolutionTypeAmountVote
Varios (Hora de Incidentes)Other
Aprobación y/o modificación de la Acta Sesión Instalación Concejo Municipal del 28 de junio de 2021Other
Determinación de dos integrantes del Concejo Municipal para formar parte del Consejo Comunal de Seguridad PúblicaAppointment
4.2 · Solicitud de aprobación de modificaciones presupuestarias para la Oficina Municipal de EducaciónBudget amendment
4.1 · Aprobación de la renovación del rol de patentes de alcoholes para el primer semestre tributario del año 2021License
Presentación de antecedentes para aprobación contrato proyecto 'DISEÑO REPOSICIÓN ESCUELA GASPAR CABRALES, BARQUITO, CHANARAL' y estado avance últimas licitacionesTender$81.534.596

Resolutions voted by the council, automatically extracted from the official minutes (extraction ongoing: coverage grows as the 94.917 indexed minutes are processed). May contain reading errors; the official document is the municipality's PDF.

Comptroller auditsSource: CGR · Municipal Observatory

Findingstotal
163
Highly complex
33
Audit reports
0
YearFindingsAltam.Compl.Median.Reports
202318512
201914104
201894274322
201722418
201515285

CGR severity classification · audit findings on the municipality and its corporations

Who requests meetings with the municipalitySource: InfoLobby · CPLT (Law 20,730)

  • SL
    Sisinf Ltda.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2024–2025
  • CC
    Constructora Costa Luarca S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2024
  • CG
    Compañía General de Electricidad S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2024–2026
  • CP
    Consultorias Publicas Ltda.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2024–2025
  • ES
    Edusmart SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2025–2026
  • IS
    I3 SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2024–2025
  • IS
    Innuvo SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2023
  • Se
    Soluciones en Seguridad Limitada
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • CM
    Consejo Minero
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
  • OA
    ONG Atacama Limpia
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • HS
    Health Systems Design & Connection
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
  • EL
    Estudio Litigantes Norte Limitada
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
  • U
    Usplat
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
  • CS
    Chungungo Solar SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2019
  • DC
    De Capital, Fondo de Energias Renovables
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
  • SI
    Servicios Informáticos Santiago Tech SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
  • EE
    Empresa Editora Zig-Zag
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
  • ES
    Equimaqchile SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
  • AI
    Automotora Inalco S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
  • ms
    Minera Santo Domingo Scm
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
and 23 more organizations that requested meetings

Organisations that registered Lobby Law meetings with this municipality. Registering the meeting is mandatory for the official, so the list shows who asked to be heard, not whether they got anything.

PopulationWho lives here, how they study, their healthcare and more

Population and living conditionsSource: INE · CENSO · MINEDUC · ADIS

Population trend

13.680
inhabitants
12.971
inhabitants
20022025

How it has changedSource: Official INE series 2002–2026 (2017 base).

See the full trajectory to 2050
Since 2002
-6%
inhabitants
Estimated population 2050
11.312
-10% vs. 2035 (12.532)
Over 60 · 2050
32,96%
25,38% in 2035 · +8 pts of ageing

INE projects comuna population only through 2035; the 2050 values are an own estimate by the monitor, anchored to the official INE 2050 national total (21,626,079 inhab, 32.1% aged 60+). Not an official comuna figure.

IndicatorValueSource
Homes with public water supply (2017 Census)90,94 %CENSO 2017 2017
School disengagement (leaves the system)2,4 %MINEDUC 2023
School enrollment168 studentsMINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
Municipal enrollment50 %MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE)568,9 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE)560,8 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
poblacion_censo12.345 inh.2024 Census 2024
Income poverty (CASEN 2022)11,5 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022)22,8 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Indigenous peoples15,91 %2024 Census 2024

The PAES year is that of the admission process: the test is sat in November of the previous year. The average covers only those who registered to apply to university —not every secondary-school graduate— and groups them by the comuna of the school they graduated from, not by where the student lives. Here it rests on 154 students registered for the PAES.

Registro Social de Hogares

People in the RSH
13.431
7.299 households
Households in the most vulnerable 40%
3.802
52% of RSH households
Female-headed households
50%
3.683
Elderly (60+)2.87121%
Children and adolescents (<18)3.18624%
Foreign nationals3773%
Belonging to indigenous peoples8927%
People with moderate/severe dependency2132%
Single-person households3.87953%

A monthly administrative snapshot of the Social Household Registry (self-registration to access benefits), as of abril 2026. The "bracket 40" is the socioeconomic rating of the most vulnerable 40%. It is a registry, not a survey: it complements CASEN (biennial) with fresh data, but well-off comunas under-register. Source: ADIS, Ministry of Social Development and Family.

School educationSource: MINEDUC Open Data 2025

School enrollment
2.727
10 schools
Students per teacher
11,8
231 teachers
national median: 10,15
Average attendance
87%
national median: 89,8%
Priority studentsSEP
69,6%
socioeconomic vulnerability
national median: 66,8%
Where they study · by provider
Public (municipal + SLEP) 89%Private subsidized 11%
Pass rate
97,4%
national median: 98,2%
Dropoutschool withdrawal
1,82%
dropout during the year
national median: 1,77%

Aggregate of all the comuna's schools (RBD → comuna). Pass/withdrawal and attendance are from the 2025 school year. SIMCE is not published as open data (managed by the Quality Agency, by request only); the available quality proxy is passing, dropout and attendance. The PAES result appears in the social section.

Municipal healthcare (primary care)Source: SINIM · MINSAL / FONASA

CESFAM
1
Clinics
0
Rural health posts
1
FONASA enrollees
12.821
98% of the population
Doctors employed
4
Health staff by contract type
Permanent staff: 50Contract staff: 32Fee contracts: 2
Primary-care medical visits · per year
12.473
33.510
20102025
Comprehensive home visits · per year
1.217
1.382
20192025

REM-26 section A (DEIS/MINSAL): comprehensive family visits, summed across the comuna's facilities. The last year is partial while DEIS consolidates monthly reports.

Comuna's primary-care centers · FONASA 2025 enrollees (12.802 in total)
CenterTypeProvider typeEnrollees% brackets A-B
Centro de Salud Familiar Dr. Luis HerreraFamily Health Center (CESFAM)Municipal12.57253%
Posta de Salud Rural el Salado de ChañaralRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal23054%

FONASA brackets A-B ≈ lowest incomes (A: without resources). Source: FONASA, as of Dec 31, 2025, DEIS code.

Costs · 2025
Health spending accrued: $2.975.751.000 ($232.100/enrollee)MINSAL per capita: $1.808.706.000Municipal contribution: $0

Indigenous peoplesSource: 2024 Census (INE) · CONADI via IDE SMA

Indigenous population
1.964
15.9% of the census population (Census 2024)
PeoplePeople% of total
Diaguita88745.2%
Mapuche43822.3%
Colla26313.4%
Chango23712.1%
Aymara824.2%

2024 Census: people who consider themselves as belonging to an indigenous people (small counts are suppressed for confidentiality at the source and not shown). Communities: CONADI national registry as of March 2024 — Araucanía and Los Lagos not refreshed in that update, the count is a floor. Land grants: 2022 registry.

12 Local media · 1 Comunitaria · 11 FMSource: SUBTEL · broadcasting licences · Regional Media Survey (MSGG)

Local mediaTypedial
BBAHIAFM105.1 FM
CCOBRE-MARFM89.9 FM
OOLLANTAYFM91.7 FM
CCCarlos Cristian Carreño Araya E.I.R.L. · holderFM100.1 FM
DIDelfin Iglesias Barrera Producciones Publicitarias E.I.R.L. · holderFM98.9 FM
DyDiseño y Publicidad Cristian Andres Godoy Bolvaran E.I.R.L. · holderFM91.5 FM
FIFundacion Instituto de Educacion Popular · holderComunitaria107.1 FM
MTMas Telecom Chile Ltda. · holderFM89.5 FM
PDProductora Domingo Sandoval E.I.R.L. · holderFM97.7 FM
RBRadio Barquito Ltda. · holderFM94.5 FM
RPRadiocomunicaciones Pronort Ltda. · holderFM103.1 FM
RMRadiodifusora Manuel Galleguillos Pangue E.I.R.L. · holderFM101.3 FM

The dial (frequency) of every FM, AM and community radio with a studio in the comuna (SUBTEL, active sound broadcasting concessions). National networks appear in their headquarters' comuna, not necessarily where they broadcast. When SUBTEL records no brand name, its holder (the concession holder).

Foreign-born populationSource: 2024 Census · INE

Foreign nationals
463
3,8% of the census population (Census 2024)
Main origin
Bolivia
160 people · 35% of the foreigners
Main countries of origin
160 Bolivia
106 Colombia
100 Venezuela
63 Perú

International immigrants per the 2024 Census (people born outside Chile living in the comuna). Nationwide they are 1,608,650 people, 8.8% of the population.

Housing and housing deficitSource: MINVU (Encampment Registry + 2024 Census deficit + subsidies) · INE

Families in informal settlements
96
6 encampments (2024 Registry)
Housing deficit
281
6,4% of the comuna's households
Housing permits · 2024
2
173 m² · new construction
Subsidies Integrated System · DS01
129
paid · 2011–2025
Subsidies Solidarity Fund · DS49
635
beneficiaries · 2015–2025
Subsidies Rental · DS52
7
paid · 2014–2024

Encampments: MINVU National Registry 2024 (irregular settlements and the families living in them). Quantitative deficit: homes missing per the 2024 Census (doubling-up + unrecoverable overcrowding). Permits: new homes authorized by the Works Directorate in 2024 (INE) — measures future construction, not stock. Subsidies: MINVU by application comuna — DS49 accrues beneficiaries by resolution year; DS01 and DS52 accrue payments by application cohort (national totals in the source file differ ~1–6% from the comuna sum; the comuna series is published).

What the homes are like

10.421homes · by type (2017)
House
5.824 · 95.1%
House
4.239 · 98.6%
Shack/hut/shanty
180 · 2.9%
Apartment
74 · 1.2%
Other private
32 · 0.7%
Other private
28 · 0.5%
Apartment
12 · 0.3%
Shack/improvised dwelling
12 · 0.3%
Room in old house/tenement
10 · 0.2%
Mobile
6 · 0.1%
Room in old house/tenement
2 · 0%
Mobile
2 · 0%
68%owner-occupied · tenure (2002)
Owned outright
2.082 · 57.8%
Rented
597 · 16.6%
Owned, being paid off
372 · 10.3%
Free of charge
290 · 8.1%
Provided for work
259 · 7.2%

Housing type: 2017 Census · tenure: 2002 Census (INE).

ResourcesBudget, spending, municipal procurement and more

Benefits under special regimesSource: Laws/SII/BCN/MTT/Treasury · deep-research verified

Fiscal or economic treatments that apply only to this comuna or its zone, not the rest of Chile. The chip color shows who it reaches: municipality, community, residents, companies or workers.

Mining rent
Royalty minero — Fondo de Comunas Minerasmunicipality
Ley 21.591/2023

En 2024 el Fondo Puente (anticipo, ~50% de la distribución) repartió $22.891 millones a 43 comunas mineras de 6 regiones. Ingreso MUNICIPAL. Acá se listan las comunas nombradas oficialmente; la lista completa (43) está en Hacienda/TGR. (Cruza con SINIM royalty, var ya cargada en finanzas.)

Parte de $22.891 M (2024, Fondo Puente)· desde 2024Source
Others
Asignación de zona 25% (DL 249)workerspreliminary data
DL 249/1974 art. 7 · DL 3.551/1980 art. 25 · Ley 19.354

Sobresueldo mensual a funcionarios públicos según aislamiento/costo de vida: 25% del sueldo base (art. 7 DL 249). A los funcionarios municipales llega vía art. 25 del DL 3.551/1980 y el monto se aumenta en 40% (Ley 19.354) — salud primaria municipal (Ley 19.378) la percibe sin ese aumento; asistentes de la educación y personal de corporaciones no la perciben (Código del Trabajo). El %/territorio usa la división de 1974: dentro de una comuna pueden regir % mayores en localidades específicas (retenes, islas, cordillera) no reflejados acá; la CGR resuelve caso a caso. Comunas sin asignación no aparecen.

25% del sueldo base (municipal: ×1,4 por Ley 19.354)· vigente (art. 7 versión 22-dic-2021, verificado 2026-07-02)Source

Budget and revenue sourcesSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Total revenue · 2025
$8.693.948.000
Own revenue
$2.828.164.000
33% of the total
Municipal Common Fund
$5.013.807.000
58% of the total
State transfers
$786.924.000
9% of the total
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios

Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)

$1.205.014.000
$8.693.948.000
20012025

Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025

8.0%
32.1%
9.6%
47.8%
Property tax$224.914.000
Business licenses$907.920.000
Vehicle permits$272.449.000
Cleaning fees$72.120.000
Other own revenue$1.350.761.000
Special-law revenues · 2025
Mining licenses (Law 19.143): $575.708.000Aquaculture licenses (Law 20.033): $335.000

Distributed by law to specific comunas; they arrive via transfers.

Revenue by sector · 2025
71.7%
24.6%
Municipal$8.693.948.000
Education$450.172.000
Health$2.984.194.000
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Net recipient: it receives $4.552.685.000 more than it contributes.
Evolución por fuente de ingreso

Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend

$347.652.000
$2.828.164.000
20012025

FCM received · trend

$404.268.000
$5.013.807.000
20012025

State transfers · trend

$363.436.000
$786.924.000
20012025

Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Current budget · 2025
$11.594.032.000
Accrued spending · 2025
$8.298.711.000
Execution rate
71.6%
Unexecuted: $3.295.321.000
Low execution: it only executed 71.6% of the budget — $3.295.321.000 unspent.

Accrued spending · trend

$835.714.000
$8.298.711.000
20012025

Distribution by management area · 2025

58.3%
39.6%
Internal management$4.836.232.000
Community services$3.286.703.000
Social programs$58.085.000
Municipal activities$35.523.000
Recreational programs$59.863.000
Cultural programs$22.305.000

What the budget is spent on · 2025

Spending lineAmount% of spending
Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees$3.120.589.00037.6%
Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending$2.975.751.00035.9%
Investment (works and projects)$1.830.028.00022.1%
Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance$1.121.868.00013.5%
Electricity (facilities)$186.664.0002.2%
Water (facilities)$145.024.0001.7%
Councillor stipends$90.687.0001.1%
Travel allowances$45.882.0000.6%
Commissions and representation$9.416.0000.1%

Share of total accrued spending. Lines overlap (personnel sits inside several areas), so they don't add to 100%. Source: SINIM.

Personal y dotación municipal

Spending composition · 2025

37.6%
13.5%
48.9%
Personnel (Subt. 21)$3.120.589.000
Goods and services (Subt. 22)$1.121.868.000
Others$4.056.254.000

Personnel by contract type · 2025

50.2%
22.6%
24.5%
Permanent staff$2.087.483.000
Contract staff$940.596.000
Fee contracts$92.510.000
Labor Code$16.890.000
Community progs.$1.020.240.000

Municipal headcount · 2023

59.5%
34.7%
Permanent staff72
Contract staff42
Fee contracts7
Total: 121 staffFee contracts: 5.8% of the headcountWomen: 51.8%Professionalization: 28.9%
Cost/staffer permanent: $26.593.403/yearCost/staffer contract: $15.431.619/yearCost/staffer fees: $18.070.571/year

Municipal staff by contract status (SINIM, 2023). Cost per staffer = annual spending of the type ÷ same-year headcount.

Inversión, servicios básicos y obras

Investment and authorities' expenses · 2025

Municipal investment: $1.830.028.000 (22.1% of spending)Councillor stipends: $90.687.000Travel allowances: $45.882.000Commissions and representation: $9.416.000

Basic and general services · 2025

Electricity: $186.664.000Water: $145.024.000

Final works approvals (DOM) · per year

112
17
20022025

Building permits issued · per year

43
9
20122025

What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data

Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público
Historic amount
$63.912.458.005
Purchase orders
19.950

Purchase-order amount · trend

$526.998.308
$2.151.551.920
20072026
Top suppliersAmountPOs
Capacitación Municipal$7.159.440.00019
Puerto Almeida SpA$4.475.120.34830
Victor Hugo Nuñez Arancibia$4.047.177.16445
Osvaldo Silva$3.552.417.706105
Ims SpA$3.231.607.9512
Dimar Ltda.$2.333.923.5074
Guillermo Antonio$1.685.006.93560
Voltta Ingenieria Electrica SpA$943.691.5691

Purchase mechanism · 2026

Tender $1.192.409.11955%
Agile Purchase $608.266.07528%
Framework Agreement $228.277.35611%
Direct award discretionary$122.599.3696%

Companies and economic activitySource: SII · company statistics and roster (domicile/HQ)

Registered companies
1.044
domiciled in the comuna
Dependent workers
3.119

Pyramid by sales bracket

61.3%
14.7%
21.9%
Micro (≤2,400 UF)640 companies
Small (≤25k UF)153 companies
Medium (≤100k UF)16 companies
Large (>100k UF)6 companies
No sales/no info229 companies

Largest companies domiciled in the comuna

CompanyLine of businessSales bracketWorkers
Vecchiola S.A.ACTIVIDADES DE SERVICIOS ADMINISTRATIVOS Y DELarge 4 (>1M UF)1.173
Agencias Maritimas del Norte S aTRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOLarge 1207
Inmobiliaria e Inversiones San Jose LimitadaCOMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACLarge 126
Pascual Edgardo Pizarro Toro Servicios a la Mineria Empresa Individual de ResponTRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOMedium 296
Servicios y Minería los Imperios LimitadaEXPLOTACION DE MINAS Y CANTERASMedium 2
Eduardo Antonio Tapia Tapia E.I.R.L.ACTIVIDADES DE SERVICIOS ADMINISTRATIVOS Y DEMedium 187
Sur Austral Extremo LimitadaOTRAS ACTIVIDADES DE SERVICIOSMedium 136
Zepeda y Vecchiola y Compania Ltda.TRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOMedium 135
Distribuidora Don Alvaro Ltda.COMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACMedium 121
Ecosaz SpAEXPLOTACION DE MINAS Y CANTERASMedium 119

SII roster of legal entities (public). Due to tax secrecy sales come in brackets, never amounts. The comuna is that of the domicile/HQ: operations may be elsewhere.

Investment in SEIA projects

Under review
3
US$ 102 M declared
Approved last 5 years
9
US$ 263 M declared
Construction jobsunder review
309
+ 44 in operations
Construction jobsapproved 5 yrs
682
peak labor
ProjectOwnerStatusInvestment (US$M)Constr. jobs
Modificación Planta Solar Fotovoltaica Tres CrucesDIASonnedix Chile Holding SpAUnder Review204,615610
Modificación y Optimización de faena minera Mantoverde, en comuna de CDIAMantoverde S.A.Approved150305
Obras Fluviales y de Control Aluvional en la Cuenca del Rio Salado, ReEIAMinisterio de Obras PúblicasApproved104,272113
Proyecto Playa VerdeEIAMinera Playa Verde LimitadaApproved95317
Explotación Minera Morión 48DIAMinera San Fierro Chile LimitadaApproved26120
Sondajes Mineros Proyecto CarrizalilloDIAMinera Carrizalillo SpAApproved16,530
Prospección Minera San PietroDIANew Golden Explorations Chile SpAApproved1515
Transporte terrestre de ácido sulfúrico entre la región de Arica y ParDIAAsociación Gremial de Dueños de CamApproved9,72
Logística y transporte de Sustancias peligrosas en las Regiones XV, I,DIASociedad de Servicios y TransportesUnder Review6,3
Construcción Relleno Sanitario Comuna de ChañaralDIAIlustre Municipalidad de ChañaralApproved2,548
Proyecto Sondajes El SaladoDIACompañía Minera Águila Sur SpAApproved0,810
Extracción y procesamiento de áridos Pozo Lastrero AtacamaDIATransportes San Martin Cp LimitadaUnder Review0,0038

Investment DECLARED by the owner upon entering SEIA (not necessarily materialized; the RCA expires after 5 years without works). Multi-comuna projects: prorated investment, jobs counted in full. Jobs = declared peak labor (source PRISMA/SOFOFA). Source: e-SEIA + PRISMA.

TerritoryClimate, biodiversity, national heritage, SEIA-approved projects and more

Roads and motorwaysSource: OpenStreetMap · 2026 snapshot

Kilometres of trunk road
117 km
Motorways and trunk roads crossing the comuna

Road infrastructure of the MOP and concession holders, not the municipality: it measures how much highway crosses the territory, not municipal management. Only comunas with roads of this category are counted.

Environment and air qualitySource: MMA · SINCA + PPDA + RETC

MP10 · annual average
29,5µg/m³· above the WHO guideline, below the Chilean standard
OMS 15
CL standard 50
2,0× the WHO 2021 guideline · 0,6× the Chilean standard · 0 days above daily standard (150 µg/m³)
1monitoring stations · 1 from the MMA Network· measures MP10· station: Chañaral
PM10 latest reading
43 µg/m³
15-08-2026
Monthly PM10 trend
norma 5007/24: 30,8 µg/m³08/24: 37,5 µg/m³09/24: 31,4 µg/m³10/24: 26,2 µg/m³11/24: 24,7 µg/m³12/24: 32,1 µg/m³01/25: 32,3 µg/m³02/25: 28,9 µg/m³03/25: 32,4 µg/m³04/25: 27,6 µg/m³05/25: 25,3 µg/m³06/25: 34,7 µg/m³07/25: 30,9 µg/m³08/25: 35,5 µg/m³09/25: 35,9 µg/m³10/25: 32 µg/m³11/25: 35,1 µg/m³12/25: 30,5 µg/m³01/26: 34,7 µg/m³02/26: 33,2 µg/m³03/26: 40 µg/m³04/26: 28,8 µg/m³05/26: 28,7 µg/m³06/26: 30,8 µg/m³07/26: 31,9 µg/m³08/26: 34,3 µg/m³07/2408/26
34,3 µg/m³
promedio 08/26
Air emissions from industrial sources · tons/year (RETC 2020)
1 t MP10
1 t MP2,5
0 t SO₂

Air quality observed at MMA's SINCA stations within the comuna (2024); when there are several, the worst is shown. The scale compares the annual average with the WHO 2021 guideline (PM2.5 = 5 · PM10 = 15 µg/m³, international health reference) and the Chilean annual primary standard (PM2.5 = 20 · PM10 = 50 µg/m³): green within the WHO guideline, amber between guideline and standard, red above the national standard. "Days above standard" use the 24-h daily standard (PM2.5 = 50 · PM10 = 150 µg/m³). RETC emissions = declared point sources (industry/energy), excludes diffuse sources like residential firewood.

Biodiversity and protected areasSource: SNASPE · SEIA baselines

State protected wilderness areas (SNASPE) in the comuna
Pan de AzucarNational Park30.768 ha

Species of flora, fauna and funga documented in the baselines of the projects evaluated by SEIA in the comuna — what their environmental studies recorded in the territory. Conservation status (RCE/IUCN) and Chilean endemism are flagged.

114
Species
33
Flora
81
Fauna
59
In conservation status
28
Endemic to Chile
Species in conservation category
Belloto del norte, belloto (genérico)Beilschmiedia miersiiVUQueuleGomortega keuleENBelloto del surBeilschmiedia berteroanaENRuilNothofagus alessandriiENPitaoPitavia punctataENLagartija de manuelLiolaemus manueliENLagartija de eleodoroLiolaemus rosenmanniVULagartija de patricia iturraLIolaemus patriciaiturraeVUSapo de atacamaRhinella atacamensisVUChinchilla costinaChinchilla lanigeraENLagartija de isabelLiolaemus isabelaeVULagarto de müllerLiolaemus lorenzmuelleriVUSandillón, asiento de la suegraEriosyce aurataVUDragón de oído cubiertoLiolaemus audituvelatusVUUvilloMonttea chilensisENGuanacoLama guanicoeVUZorro colorado, zorro culpeo, zorro coloradode tierra del fuego, zorro culpeo de tierra del fuegoLycalopex culpaeusVUAraucaria, pehuén, piñonero, pino piñonero, pino chileno, pino araucaria, pewen, guiliuAraucaria araucanaENYuncoPelecanoides garnotiiENChinchilla cordilleranaChinchilla chinchillaCRChungungo, nutria marina, gato de mar, chinchiménLontra felinaENVicuñaVicugna vicugnaVUTortuga verde, tortuga negraChelonia mydasENPingüino de humboldt, pingüino, pájaro niño, patranka, humboldt penguin (inglés), peruvian penguin (inglés)Spheniscus humboldtiENGaviota garumaLeucophaeus modestusVUGato montés andinoLeopardus jacobitaENDelfín naríz de botellaTursiops truncatusENPetrel gigante antártico, petrel gigante del surMacronectes giganteusVUPiuquén, piquén, guayataChloephaga melanopteraENFlamenco andino, parina grandePhoenicoparrus andinusVUTortuga oliváceaLepidochelys olivaceaVUChorlo nevadoCharadrius nivosusVUGaviotín chicoSternula lorataENBallena de aleta, rorcual comúnBalaenoptera physalusCRBallena sei, rorcual bacalao, rorcual de rudolphiBalaenoptera borealisCRBallena jorobadaMegaptera novaeangliaeVUParina chicaPhoenicoparrus jamesiVUAlerceFitzroya cupressoidesENCachalotePhyseter macrocephalusVUTuco-tuco mendocinoCtenomys mendocinusVUTortuga laúd, baulaDermochelys coriaceaCRTortuga boba, tortuga cabezonaCaretta carettaCRIguanaCallopistes maculatusNTJagartija de velosoLiolaemus velosoiNTLagartija de manchaLiolaemus nigromaculatusNT-Copiapoa coquimbanaNTPumaPuma concolorNTColo-coloLeopardus colocoloNTPelícano peruano, pelícano de humboldtPelecanus thagusNTGuanayPhalacrocorax bougainvilliiNTGaviotín monjaLarosterna incaNTPilpilén, pilpilén común, american oystercatcher (inglés)Haematopus palliatusNTLilePhalacrocorax gaimardiNTFlamenco chilenoPhoenicopterus chilensisNTAlbatros de bullerThalassarche bulleriNTTagua cornuda, polla de agua, pato negro, gallina, socaFulica cornutaNTChorlo de campo, pachurrónOreopholus ruficollisNTMurciélago gris, murciélago de atacama, murciélago orejas de ratón del norteMyotis atacamensisNTCóndorVultur gryphusNT

CR critically endangered · EN endangered · VU vulnerable · NT near threatened (Species Classification Regulation / IUCN). ★ endemic to Chile. Extracted from SEIA studies by kingdom; presence reflects what baselines characterized, not a census.

2 Wetlands · 2 urban · 550 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)

CodeWetlandHectares
HUR-03-02Rio Saladourban523 /670
HUR-03-01Des. Rio El Saladourban27

Area = hectares of wetland within the comuna boundary (apportioned using the DPA table of each record). For wetlands shared between comunas, "portion / total" is shown. "Urban" = urban wetland (HUR code). Official source migrated to the SBAP (Law 21,600).

Large projects approved by SEIASource: SEIA · approved projects

Projects with an environmental permit (RCA) approved by SEIA and declared investment above US$ 10 million, located in the comuna according to the case file and grouped by sector. Every sector with at least one project is listed: this is not a ranking or a selection. 52 projects totaling US$ 3.955 million, approved between 1993 and 2025. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.

Mining28 projects · US$ 2.747 M · 1993–2025
Minera Santo Domingo ScmProyecto Santo Domingo · Rajo Inca
Energy10 projects · US$ 811 M · 1998–2021
Transmisora Eléctrica del Norte S.A.Sistema de Transmisión de 500 kV Mejillones-Cardones . · Proyecto Fotovoltaico Sol de Atacama
Real estate1 project · US$ 205 M · 2006
Codelco Chile División SalvadorLoteo Barquito (e-seia)
Port Infrastructure1 project · US$ 62 M · 2013
Compañía Minera CarmenProyecto Puerto Atacama
Environmental Sanitation1 project · US$ 62 M · 2011
Mantoverde S.A.Abastecimiento de Agua Desalada Mantoverde
Hydraulic Infrastructure1 project · US$ 52 M · 2022
Ministerio de Obras PúblicasObras Fluviales y de Control Aluvional en la Cuenca del Rio Salado, Región de Atacama
Others10 projects · US$ 16 M · 2010–2020
Transportes Tamarugal LimitadaAumento de Capacidad de Transporte de Ácido Sulfúrico en y entre las Regiones XV, I, II, III, V y Metropolitana · Ampliación de la Actividad de Transporte de Sustancias Peligrosas de ENAEX Servicios S.A.

Approved is not the same as built or operating: the RCA authorises the project, but some were never carried out and others have since closed.

Source: projects with an RCA approved by SEIA (investment declared by the developer, split among the comunas the project spans). Under each sector are its two largest projects by investment. It is the best public proxy for large industrial sites; SERNAGEOMIN’s registry of active mining operations (by mineral and type of operation) is a layer not yet incorporated.

Basic utilitiesSource: SISS · CNE · MINEDUC

Distribuidora eléctrica
CGE
Empresa sanitaria (agua y alcantarillado)
Aguas Chanar
Higher education
1 campus in the comuna

Almost no comuna has its own utility: it is served by a major regional concession holder. Water = urban operational territory (SISS; rural goes via APR); electric = concession distributor per the tariff decree (CNE); higher education = university, IP and CFT campuses (MINEDUC/SIES), with the nearest comuna when there are none.

Environmental conflictsSource: SNIFA · SMA + Environmental Search · Environmental Courts

Final SMA sanctions

Final sanctions
1
Sanctioned entities
1
companies, individuals and institutions
Total fines
6 UTA
1 with fines
Sanctioned entityAuditable unitCategoryFine (UTA)
Rafael Gallardo IllanesHOSTERIA CHAÑARALAmenities6

Environmental sanctions final from the SMA (no pending appeals) whose auditable unit sits in the comuna: companies, individuals and institutions (including the municipality). Fine in UTA (Annual Tax Unit). Source: Public Sanctions Registry, SNIFA.

Appeals before the Environmental Courts

Appeals
3
on projects in the comuna
Case no.Parties / projectSubjectDecision
R-147-2025
1TA
Manuel Cortés Alfaro con Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Proyecto minero “Playa Verde
Environmental assessment – Citizen participationRejects
R-333-2022
2TA
Comunidad Indígena Colla de la Comuna de Copiapó y otros en contra del Director ejecutivo del Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Proyecto Blanco
Environmental AssessmentRejects
3569-2022
1TA
Manuel Cortés Alfaro con Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Proyecto Playa Verde
Environmental assessment - Citizen participationRejects

Appeals resolved by the Environmental Courts (Law 20.600) on the comuna's projects or facilities, geolocated by the associated project (SEIA) or sanctioned facility (SMA). Partial coverage: Supreme Court appeals and cases without a locatable act are excluded. Source: 1st Environmental Court's Environmental Search.

Green areasSource: SINIM · SUBDERE (2025)

Green space per capita
13 m²
above the CNDU standard
standard 10 m²

Municipally maintained green area per inhabitant (SINIM). The National Urban Development Council recommends a minimum of 10 m²/inhab (WHO, ~9). Self-reported by municipalities, with quality varying across comunas.

National heritageSource: National Monuments Council (Feb 2026)

National monuments
3
Historic monuments
3

Monuments declared by decree (official CMN roster). Excludes archaeological and public monuments. Declaration entails legal protection and intervention restrictions.

Territorial burdensSource: SUBDERE (waste, Jun 2023) · Gendarmería (Jun 2025) · SISS (WWTP)

Infrastructure this comuna carries — often serving others.

FacilityTypeDetail
Basural Municipal de ChañaralBasural4.635 t/year
ES - CHAÑARALPTAS · emisario submarinoA. CHAÑAR S.A. · discharges into mar
PTAS - EL SALADOPTAS · lombrifiltroA. CHAÑAR S.A. · discharges into río salado
Where this comuna's waste goes
Basural Municipal de Chañaral (Chañaral) · 4.635 t/year

Official registries: they exclude illegal dumps and rural WWTPs (no consolidated public registry).

Winter riskSource: SENAPRED · winter critical points 2026 (via FAU U. de Chile)

Critical points registered
30
At high or very high risk
30
18 very high
Main threat
Subsidencia/Licuefacción/Soc…
Subsidencia/Licuefacción/Socavamiento/Erosión

Points in the comuna where SENAPRED identifies winter-rain risk (channel overflows, flooding, collector collapse, landslides, mudflows, snow), with risk level and the agency responsible for the fix.

Climate and climate changeSource: ARClim · MMA + CR2/UC (CMIP6 modeling)

Mean annual temperature
14,89°C
2035-2065 projection: +1,48°C
Annual precipitation
19 mm
projection: +5%
Hot days>30°C
0
projection: +6 days
Frost days
1

Modeled climatology (CMIP6 downscaling ~5 km): present ≈ 1980-2010, projection ≈ 2035-2065 middle scenario. Not recent weather observation.

SafetyCrime, road crashes and municipal security infrastructure

Crimes (police cases)Source: CEAD · Ministry of Public Security

Police cases · 2025
768
all crimes
Rate per 100,000 inhab.
5.900
Police cases · trend
1.445
768
20102025
By crime type · 2025
CrimeCasesRate/100k
Threats123945
Property damage120922
Alcohol and drug use in public spaces118907
Domestic violence85653
Minor injuries69530
Larceny55423
Drug-related crimes28215
Burglary of an inhabited place25192
Burglary of an uninhabited place24184
Receiving stolen goods21161
Serious or very serious injuries17131
Theft of items from vehicles14108

Showing the 12 crimes with most cases of 25.

Police cases (reports + arrests) recorded by Carabineros and PDI. Not victimization (ENUSC measures the real figure, higher due to underreporting). The rate uses INE 2024 population. Source: CEAD, Ministry of Public Security.

What the municipality does

Municipal security infrastructure and staff declared to SINIM (since 2016). Excludes Carabineros and PDI, which are national.

Surveillance cameras
9
Guards and inspectors
2
1 per 6.509 hab
Patrol fleet
2
cars, pickups, motorcycles, bikes
Patrol fleet by type
Pickups: 2
Surveillance cameras · trend
8
9
20202025

Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)

Crashes · 2024
59
Deaths
2
15,4 per 100,000 inhab.
Injured
77
10 serious
Pedestrian collisions
9

Crashes georeferenced by CONASET (urban + highway) during 2024. The only per-comuna source; covers ~70% of the country's deaths (non-geolocatable ones are excluded), so it slightly underestimates the total. Pedestrian collision is the leading cause of pedestrian death.