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Escudo de Diego de Almagro

Diego de Almagro

Atacama13.909 inhabitantsPoblación proyectada INE 202419.003 km² of area1 inh./km²$10.792M ingreso municipalSINIM · ingreso total percibido · 2025
Profile today2050
The comuna in context · among 346 comunas
Society
-37%
6th that lost the most population (since 2002)
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Economy
1.046/1,000 inhab.
14th most promised jobs per inhabitant (one megaproject transforms it)
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Economy
14.545 jobs
15th most jobs promised by investment projects
Explore
Education
130 km to the nearest campus
11th most isolated from higher education
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Environment
59 species in conservation status
14th most documented threatened species
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Society
72%
21st lowest electoral turnout
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Population
−17,2%
Population would fall between now and 2050
Society
18,9%
Multidimensional poverty · 161st highest of 346
Finance
$776 thousand
per inhabitant per year · rank 104 of 346
Economy
1.566
construction jobs · Investment in the pipeline would promise
Education
568,5 pts
around the national median in the PAES (576,9 pts)
Finance
265th
most dependent on the Common Fund of 340
Summary

What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap

14 Schools
12 Squares and green areas
6 Kindergartens
4 Health centers
3 Fire stations
3 Carabineros
2 Hospitals
2 Libraries
1 Rodeo arenas (medialunas)
1 Pharmacies

Diego de Almagro es una ciudad y comuna chilena del Norte de Chile, en la provincia de Chañaral, Región de Atacama. Se sitúa a 70 km al este de la ciudad de Chañaral y a 149 km al norte de Copiapó. La ciudad debe su nombre al conquistador español Diego de Almagro.

Introductory text from Wikipedia, bajo licencia CC BY-SA.

Liveability index · EIU style

51.5 /100
Ver el ranking y simular
#131 of 346 · most liveable in the country (EIU weighting)
Safety73
Health61
Culture and environment43
Education38
Infrastructure32
AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests

Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

Mario Araya R.
CHILE VAMOS · RENOVACION NACIONAL
4.450
votes (58.28%)
11.568
Electoral roll
72,17%
Turnout
Mayoral history · 7 terms
MA
Mario Araya R.
2024-2028 · RENOVACION NACIONAL
4.450
votes
ME
Mario Edwar Araya Rojas
2021-2024 · RN
2.594
votes
IZ
Isaías Zavala Torres
2008-2012 · PCCH
3.500
votes
IZ
Isaías Zavala Torres
2004-2008 · PC
3.978
votes
HP
Hernan Paez Cerda
2000-2004 · PRSD
3.052
votes
HP
Hernan Paez Cerda
1996-2000 · PRSD
4.378
votes
HP
Hernan Paez Cerda
1992-1996 · PR
2.629
votes

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

Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL

HR
Hugo Rodriguez C.
POR CHILE, SEGUIMOS · PARTIDO COMUNISTA DE CHILE
685
votes
MG
Marco Garrido A.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · INDEPENDIENTE
455
votes
JC
Jorge Campos E.
POR CHILE, SEGUIMOS · PARTIDO COMUNISTA DE CHILE
441
votes
MR
Mauricio Rivera C.
POR CHILE, SEGUIMOS · FRENTE AMPLIO
435
votes
LC
Luis Castro A.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · RENOVACION NACIONAL
407
votes
YR
Yorka Riffo P.
VERDES LIBERALES POR UNA COMUNA SEGURA · INDEPENDIENTE
277
votes

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

184 minutes publishedindex updated on 10-08-2026Municipal transparency

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

Resolutions extracted
202
of 118 minutes read
Money involved
$5.424.627.797
sum of resolutions with amounts
ResolutionTypeAmountVote
08 · Establecer espacios públicos para el despliegue de propaganda electoral en 2023Otherunanimidad
Presentación Directora del Consultorio Municipal El SalvadorAppointment
Presentación Jefa de tránsito sobre problemática vialOther
Aprobación del cambio de nombre de calle Nueva 2 a Luzmira Toledo ToledoOtherunanimidad
63 · Autorizar la comisión de servicios del Alcalde a ArgentinaAppointmentunanimidad
4.2 · Autorización para la participación del Concejal Mauricio Rivera Carvajal en un curso de capacitación en SantiagoOther

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
72
Highly complex
13
Audit reports
0
YearFindingsAltam.Compl.Median.Reports
201849121615
201614185
2015945

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

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

  • ms
    Minera Santo Domingo Scm
    Lobby / interest management · 9 audiencias · 2018–2026
  • EG
    Enel Green Power Chile Limitada
    Lobby / interest management · 8 audiencias · 2015–2023
  • ES
    Equimaqchile SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 7 audiencias · 2022–2024
  • CG
    Compañía General de Electricidad S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 5 audiencias · 2018–2026
  • CS
    Colbun S..a.
    Lobby / interest management · 5 audiencias · 2022–2026
  • MG
    Minera Gold Fields Salares Norte SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 5 audiencias · 2017–2025
  • CN
    Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2016–2021
  • TS
    Transelec S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2016–2025
  • ms
    Mineria Salar Blanco S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2022–2025
  • TE
    Transmisora Eléctrica del Norte S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2015–2017
  • W
    Wom
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2021–2023
  • FH
    Fundación Huella Local
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2023–2026
  • RS
    Rrs Servicios SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2025
  • RL
    Reciclaje López y Compañia SpA/Ecogen
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2022–2025
  • PE
    Prime Enrgia SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2016–2019
  • GC
    Gestiona Consultores SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2023–2025
  • SI
    Servicios Industriales del Norte SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2022–2023
  • HC
    Health Consulting Partners
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2023–2025
  • SM
    Salud Moderna de Chile SpA, Mediclic
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2020
  • IS
    I3 SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2024–2025
and 83 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

22.065
inhabitants
13.806
inhabitants
20022025

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

See the full trajectory to 2050
Since 2002
-38%
inhabitants
Estimated population 2050
11.349
-13% vs. 2035 (13.027)
Over 60 · 2050
23,81%
18,62% in 2035 · +5 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)91,92 %CENSO 2017 2017
School disengagement (leaves the system)1 %MINEDUC 2023
School enrollment213 studentsMINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
Municipal enrollment50 %MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE)568,5 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE)593,7 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
poblacion_censo11.397 inh.2024 Census 2024
Income poverty (CASEN 2022)5,7 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022)18,9 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Indigenous peoples15,26 %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 215 students registered for the PAES.

Registro Social de Hogares

People in the RSH
11.635
6.050 households
Households in the most vulnerable 40%
2.448
40% of RSH households
Female-headed households
47%
2.833
Elderly (60+)2.11318%
Children and adolescents (<18)2.58222%
Foreign nationals5685%
Belonging to indigenous peoples7216%
People with moderate/severe dependency611%
Single-person households3.07751%

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
2.823
11 schools
Students per teacher
11,4
247 teachers
national median: 10,15
Average attendance
84,4%
national median: 89,8%
Priority studentsSEP
52,2%
socioeconomic vulnerability
national median: 66,8%
Where they study · by provider
Public (municipal + SLEP) 56%Private subsidized 44%
Pass rate
98,1%
national median: 98,2%
Dropoutschool withdrawal
1,56%
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
0
Clinics
1
Rural health posts
1
FONASA enrollees
7.769
56% of the population
Doctors employed
2
Health staff by contract type
Permanent staff: 43Contract staff: 43Fee contracts: 24
Primary-care medical visits · per year
12.497
33.373
20102025
Comprehensive home visits · per year
943
1.137
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 (7.749 in total)
CenterTypeProvider typeEnrollees% brackets A-B
Consultorio el SalvadorFamily Health Center (CESFAM)Municipal7.72636%
Posta de Salud Rural Inca de OroRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal2335%

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

Costs · 2025
Health spending accrued: $3.535.086.000 ($455.025/enrollee)MINSAL per capita: $1.919.686.000Municipal contribution: $310.830.000

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

Indigenous population
1.739
15.3% of the census population (Census 2024)
Indigenous communities
4
RNAI CONADI registry · Mar 2024
PeoplePeople% of total
Diaguita71841.3%
Colla54931.6%
Mapuche31117.9%
Aymara925.3%

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.

Community organizationSource: RPJSFL Civil Registry (Law 20.500/19.418) · as of Jun 2026

Active neighborhood councils
19
Councils per 1,000 inhabitants
1.4
density of territorial organization
Non-profit organizations
202
the entire active civil fabric
Sports
67
Social and aid
15
Committees (water, housing, progress)
11
Cultural
8
For the elderly
6
Fire brigades
2
Foundations and corporations
1

All the comuna's active non-profit legal entities (Law 20.500 / 19.418), classified by organization name. It portrays the civil fabric: not just neighborhood councils, also committees, sports clubs, cultural and elderly groups, foundations and fire brigades.

10 Local media · 1 AM · 1 Comunitaria · 8 FMSource: SUBTEL · broadcasting licences · Regional Media Survey (MSGG)

Local mediaTypedial
AALICANTOAM1490 AM
AFALMEIDA FMFM94.3 FM
NFNORTE FMFM98.3 FM
NNOSTALGICAFM97.1 FM
NMNUEVO MUNDOFM95.1 FM
RFRUTAS FMFM95.5 FM
ADAgrupacion Deportiva, Cultural, Educativa y Social Alfa · holderComunitaria107.1 FM
MCMadero Comunicaciones Ltda. · holderFM102.5 FM
RARadiodifusora Arismendi Ltda. · holderFM96.1 FM
SCSandra Carolina Acevedo Uribe Radiodifusion E.I.R.L. · holderFM88.3 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
735
6,4% of the census population (Census 2024)
Main origin
Colombia
300 people · 41% of the foreigners
Main countries of origin
300 Colombia
154 Venezuela
77 Bolivia
56 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
259
7 encampments (2024 Registry)
Housing deficit
285
6,9% of the comuna's households
Housing permits · 2024
25
1.958 m² · new construction
Subsidies Integrated System · DS01
193
paid · 2011–2025
Subsidies Solidarity Fund · DS49
409
beneficiaries · 2013–2024
Subsidies Rental · DS52
6
paid · 2016–2024

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

10.901homes · by type (2017)
House
6.192 · 90.9%
House
3.920 · 95.9%
Apartment
520 · 7.6%
Apartment
83 · 2%
Shack/improvised dwelling
56 · 1.4%
Room in old house/tenement
35 · 0.5%
Other private
34 · 0.5%
Shack/hut/shanty
30 · 0.4%
Other private
19 · 0.5%
Room in old house/tenement
5 · 0.1%
Traditional/indigenous dwelling
5 · 0.1%
Mobile
1 · 0%
Mobile
1 · 0%
34%owner-occupied · tenure (2002)
Provided for work
2.023 · 39%
Owned outright
1.626 · 31.4%
Rented
1.195 · 23%
Free of charge
206 · 4%
Owned, being paid off
136 · 2.6%

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 35% (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: 35% 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.

35% 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
$10.792.230.000
Own revenue
$4.888.972.000
45% of the total
Municipal Common Fund
$4.452.074.000
41% of the total
State transfers
$3.135.499.000
29% of the total
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios

Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)

$1.651.461.000
$10.792.230.000
20012025

Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025

14.9%
17.8%
61.4%
Property tax$729.634.000
Business licenses$869.385.000
Vehicle permits$239.099.000
Cleaning fees$49.044.000
Other own revenue$3.001.810.000
Special-law revenues · 2025
Mining licenses (Law 19.143): $2.436.466.000

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

Revenue by sector · 2025
58.4%
26.0%
15.6%
Municipal$10.792.230.000
Education$4.805.269.000
Health$2.881.297.000
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Net recipient: it receives $4.052.656.000 more than it contributes.
Evolución por fuente de ingreso

Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend

$677.152.000
$4.888.972.000
20012025

FCM received · trend

$493.175.000
$4.452.074.000
20012025

State transfers · trend

$261.524.000
$3.135.499.000
20012025

Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Current budget · 2025
$15.672.483.000
Accrued spending · 2025
$10.131.135.000
Execution rate
64.6%
Unexecuted: $5.541.348.000
Low execution: it only executed 64.6% of the budget — $5.541.348.000 unspent.

Accrued spending · trend

$1.715.459.000
$10.131.135.000
20012025

Distribution by management area · 2025

73.2%
22.7%
Internal management$7.411.479.000
Community services$2.297.536.000
Social programs$32.901.000
Municipal activities$301.785.000
Recreational programs$39.378.000
Cultural programs$48.056.000

What the budget is spent on · 2025

Spending lineAmount% of spending
Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees$3.679.625.00036.3%
Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending$3.535.086.00034.9%
Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance$2.429.403.00024.0%
Investment (works and projects)$1.502.258.00014.8%
Electricity (facilities)$401.560.0004.0%
Transfers to health$270.000.0002.7%
Water (facilities)$184.339.0001.8%
Cleaning, garbage and landfills · waste collection and disposal$160.000.0001.6%
Councillor stipends$91.171.0000.9%
Travel allowances$50.692.0000.5%
Commissions and representation$9.235.0000.1%

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

36.3%
24.0%
39.7%
Personnel (Subt. 21)$3.679.625.000
Goods and services (Subt. 22)$2.429.403.000
Others$4.022.107.000

Personnel by contract type · 2025

51.6%
26.3%
16.8%
Permanent staff$2.309.220.000
Contract staff$1.178.043.000
Fee contracts$192.362.000
Labor Code$40.172.000
Community progs.$753.737.000

Municipal headcount · 2023

52.5%
34.5%
12.9%
Permanent staff73
Contract staff48
Fee contracts18
Total: 139 staffFee contracts: 12.9% of the headcountWomen: 52.9%Professionalization: 35.5%
Cost/staffer permanent: $29.169.753/yearCost/staffer contract: $15.458.729/yearCost/staffer fees: $7.615.333/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: $1.502.258.000 (14.8% of spending)Councillor stipends: $91.171.000Travel allowances: $50.692.000Commissions and representation: $9.235.000

Basic and general services · 2025

Garbage and landfills: $160.000.000Electricity: $401.560.000Water: $184.339.000

Final works approvals (DOM) · per year

7
24
20022025

Building permits issued · per year

86
21
20122025

Management indicator · 2025

Maintained green areas per inhabitant
1 m²/inh.
Security/patrol cars
3
Security/patrol bicycles
0
Surveillance cameras
11
Security/patrol pickups
0
Security booths
0
CESFAM in the comuna
0
Primary-care medical visits
33.373
Clinics
1
urban and rural
Dependence on the Municipal Common Fund
47,66%
of own revenue
Security drones
0
Permanent staff
74
Permanent own revenue
45,3%
of total revenue
Doctors employed
2
as of Dec 31
Security/patrol motorcycles
0
Building permits
21
Health staff
43
contract
Health staff
24
fee-based
Health staff
43
permanent
FONASA-enrolled population
7.769
municipal health
Rural health posts
1
Street-market stalls
214
Final works approvals
24

What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data

Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público
Historic amount
$79.050.842.246
Purchase orders
17.121

Purchase-order amount · trend

$437.767.588
$2.482.725.743
20072026
Top suppliersAmountPOs
Rrs Servicios SpA$10.787.450.29522
Asesorias y Trabajos en Construccion Aytec$5.888.638.48750
Juvenal Campos Seura$3.961.260.80366
Rubén Amador Fuentes Vásquez$3.302.571.18710
Garcia Servicios Mineros Limitada$2.867.827.23725
Robert Rojas Soto$2.867.502.9438
I3 SpA$2.811.754.7503
Alfredo Alejandro$2.347.290.99440

Purchase mechanism · 2026

Tender $1.916.136.77777%
Agile Purchase $403.050.38616%
Direct award discretionary$117.637.7035%
Framework Agreement $45.900.8762%

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

Registered companies
837
domiciled in the comuna
Dependent workers
3.487

Pyramid by sales bracket

60.7%
19.0%
17.7%
Micro (≤2,400 UF)508 companies
Small (≤25k UF)159 companies
Medium (≤100k UF)15 companies
Large (>100k UF)7 companies
No sales/no info148 companies

Largest companies domiciled in the comuna

CompanyLine of businessSales bracketWorkers
Santa Elvira S.A.CONSTRUCCIONLarge 4 (>1M UF)786
Gestion de Proyectos Pro LimitadaACTIVIDADES PROFESIONALES, CIENTIFICAS Y TECNLarge 2326
Club de Deportes CobresalACTIVIDADES ARTISTICAS, DE ENTRETENIMIENTO Y Large 2117
Fund Educacional el SalvadorENSEÑANZALarge 1222
Soc de Transportes Gutierrez y Rojas LimitadaTRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOLarge 197
Clinica San Lorenzo SpAACTIVIDADES DE ATENCION DE LA SALUD HUMANA Y Large 160
Rrs Servicios SpACONSTRUCCIONMedium 2161
Soc Manriquez e Hijos y Compania LimitadaACTIVIDADES DE SERVICIOS ADMINISTRATIVOS Y DEMedium 258
Transportes en Familia LimitadaTRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOMedium 246
Movimientos de Tierra y Transportes LimitadaACTIVIDADES DE SERVICIOS ADMINISTRATIVOS Y DEMedium 224

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
7
US$ 1.166 M declared
Approved last 5 years
19
US$ 1.495 M declared
Construction jobsunder review
1.566
+ 323 in operations
Construction jobsapproved 5 yrs
2.218
peak labor
ProjectOwnerStatusInvestment (US$M)Constr. jobs
Línea de Transmisión Eléctrica HVDC Kimal - Lo AguirreEIAConexión Kimal Lo Aguirre S.A.Approved1.4809.535
ENAPAC Distribución EsteEIARedabast Chile SpAApproved6001.096
Sistema de Almacenamiento de Energía BESS AmanecerDIAJinko Power Chile III SpAUnder Review500352
Sistema de Almacenamiento de Energía y Linea de Transmisión BESS PueblDIABess Pueblo Hundido SpAApproved400200
ENAPAC Distribución NorteEIARedabast Chile SpAApproved3502
Parque Fotovoltaico, de almacenamiento y línea de Transmisión Copao, DDIACopao Energía SpAUnder Review289790
Parque Fotovoltaico Isidora SolarDIAIsidora Solar SpAUnder Review262,13580
Modificación Planta Solar Fotovoltaica Tres CrucesDIASonnedix Chile Holding SpAUnder Review204,615610
Proyecto de almacenamiento criogénico de energía ENSICOMDIAEnlasa Energia S.A.Approved160195
Proyecto Minero Ciclón ExploradoraEIAEco Earth Elements SpAApproved125788
Línea de Transmisión y Central BESS Halcón de AlmagroDIABess Halcón de Almagro SpAApproved111,8720
Obras Fluviales y de Control Aluvional en la Cuenca del Rio Salado, ReEIAMinisterio de Obras PúblicasApproved104,272113

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

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

No air monitoring station (SINCA) in the comuna.

4monitoring stations· measures MP10; SO2· stations: CAP, Cine Inca, Doña Ines, Intelec
Air emissions from industrial sources · tons/year (RETC 2020)
3.517 t SO₂
15 t MP10
12 t MP2,5

Air quality observed at MMA's SINCA stations within the comuna (2020); 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

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.

194
Species
66
Flora
119
Fauna
9
Funga
84
In conservation status
46
Endemic to Chile
Species in conservation category
Lagartija de manuelLiolaemus manueliENBelloto del norte, belloto (genérico)Beilschmiedia miersiiVUQueuleGomortega keuleENBelloto del surBeilschmiedia berteroanaENRuilNothofagus alessandriiENLagartija de patricia iturraLIolaemus patriciaiturraeVULagartija de eleodoroLiolaemus rosenmanniVUPitaoPitavia punctataENLagartija de isabelLiolaemus isabelaeVUSandillón, asiento de la suegraEriosyce aurataVUChinchilla costinaChinchilla lanigeraENDragón de stolzmann, lagartija de stolzmannLiolaemus stolzmanniVUSapo de atacamaRhinella atacamensisVUSapo de ruloRhinella aruncoVUDragón de oído cubiertoLiolaemus audituvelatusVULagartija de ortiz, lagartija de juan carlos ortizLiolaemus juanortiziVUSapo de zapahuiraTelmatobius zapahuirensisENLagarto gruñidor de álvaroPristidactylus alvaroiCRLagarto de müllerLiolaemus lorenzmuelleriVUPalma chilena, palmera chilena, palmera de coquitos, palma de miel, palma de vino de chile, can – canJubaea chilensisENGuayacánPorlieria chilensisVUAñañucaPhycella scarlatinaVULagartija de fabiánLiolaemus fabianiENLagartija de hellmichLiolaemus hellmichiVUGuanacoLama guanicoeVUZorro colorado, zorro culpeo, zorro coloradode tierra del fuego, zorro culpeo de tierra del fuegoLycalopex culpaeusVUVicuñaVicugna vicugnaVUChinchilla cordilleranaChinchilla chinchillaCRAraucaria, pehuén, piñonero, pino piñonero, pino chileno, pino araucaria, pewen, guiliuAraucaria araucanaENPiuquén, piquén, guayataChloephaga melanopteraENGaviota garumaLeucophaeus modestusVUYuncoPelecanoides garnotiiENGato montés andinoLeopardus jacobitaENAlerceFitzroya cupressoidesENChungungo, nutria marina, gato de mar, chinchiménLontra felinaENPingüino de humboldt, pingüino, pájaro niño, patranka, humboldt penguin (inglés), peruvian penguin (inglés)Spheniscus humboldtiENTuco-tuco mendocinoCtenomys mendocinusVUPetrel gigante antártico, petrel gigante del surMacronectes giganteusVUTortuga verde, tortuga negraChelonia mydasENGaviotín chicoSternula lorataENFlamenco andino, parina grandePhoenicoparrus andinusVUGolondrina de mar de collar, ringed storm petrel (inglés)Hydrobates hornbyiVULiquen (genérico)Acarospora schleicheriENTortuga boba, tortuga cabezonaCaretta carettaCRTortuga oliváceaLepidochelys olivaceaVUTricahueCyanoliseus patagonusENMurciélago de schnabel; murciélago ahumado; murciélago con orejas de embudoAmorphochilus schnabliiVUCachalotePhyseter macrocephalusVUBallena jorobadaMegaptera novaeangliaeVUCanelo, boique, voigue, fuñe, choólDrimys winteriENBallena sei, rorcual bacalao, rorcual de rudolphiBalaenoptera borealisCRBallena de aleta, rorcual comúnBalaenoptera physalusCRHuillínLontra provocaxENParina chicaPhoenicoparrus jamesiVUDelfín naríz de botellaTursiops truncatusENGolondrina de mar negra, markham’s storm-petrelHydrobates markhamiENTortuga laúd, baulaDermochelys coriaceaCRGüiñaLeopardus guignaVUChorlo nevadoCharadrius nivosusVUIguanaCallopistes maculatusNT
and 24 more

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.

4 Wetlands · 1 urban · 24.806 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)

CodeWetlandHectares
H-1444Salar de La Isla15.833
H-1445Salar de Aguilar8.264
H-1446Salar de la Azufrera561
HUR-03-02Rio Saladourban147 /670

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. 107 projects totaling US$ 12.316 million, approved between 1993 and 2026. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.

Energy51 projects · US$ 6.822 M · 1998–2026
Conexión Kimal Lo Aguirre S.A.Línea de Transmisión Eléctrica HVDC Kimal - Lo Aguirre · Parque Solar Fotovoltaico Luz del Oro
Mining43 projects · US$ 5.046 M · 1993–2026
Minera Santo Domingo ScmProyecto Santo Domingo · Rajo Inca
Others11 projects · US$ 290 M · 1998–2022
Codelco Chile División SalvadorProyecto Mejoramiento Integral de la Captación y Procesamiento de Gases Fundición Potrerillos · Planta de Ácido Sulfúrico Fundición Potrerillos
Miscellaneous industrial facilities1 project · US$ 106 M · 2000
Codelco Chile División SalvadorCambio Tecnológico Fundición Potrerillos
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

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
No campus · nearest in Chañaral at 130.1 km

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
2
Sanctioned entities
2
companies, individuals and institutions
Total fines
760 UTA
2 with fines
Sanctioned entityAuditable unitCategoryFine (UTA)
Central Termoeléctrica Diego de AlmagroCENTRAL TERMOELECTRICA DIEGO DE ALMAGROEnergy750
Austriansolar Chile Uno SpAPFV AUSTRIAN SOLAREnergy10

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
2
on projects in the comuna
Case no.Parties / projectSubjectDecision
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
R-67-2022
1TA
Wilfredo Cerda Contreras y otra con Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Modificación proyecto Delirio
Administrative invalidation - Environmental AssessmentRejects

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
1 m²
10% of 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
10
Historic monuments
7
Heritage zones
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
Relleno Sanitario Diego de AlmagroRelleno Sanitario6.490 t/year
PTAS - DIEGO DE ALMAGROPTAS · lodos activadosA. CHAÑAR S.A. · discharges into río salado
Where this comuna's waste goes
Relleno Sanitario Diego de Almagro (Diego de Almagro) · 6.490 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
37
At high or very high risk
27
15 very high
Main threat
Activación de quebradas

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
7,07°C
2035-2065 projection: +2,03°C
Annual precipitation
58 mm
projection: -3%
Hot days>30°C
1
projection: +4 days
Frost days
196

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
928
all crimes
Rate per 100,000 inhab.
6.672
Police cases · trend
1.351
928
20102025
By crime type · 2025
CrimeCasesRate/100k
Alcohol and drug use in public spaces2381.711
Threats126906
Domestic violence100719
Property damage78561
Larceny70503
Minor injuries63453
Burglary of an uninhabited place45324
Burglary of an inhabited place44316
Weapons-related crimes25180
Drug-related crimes22158
Robbery with violence or intimidation15108
Carrying a bladed or pointed weapon15108

Showing the 12 crimes with most cases of 27.

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
11
Guards and inspectors
0
1 per 13.909 hab
Patrol fleet
3
cars, pickups, motorcycles, bikes
Patrol fleet by type
Cars: 3
Surveillance cameras · trend
11
11
20202025

Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)

Crashes · 2024
26
Deaths
0
0 per 100,000 inhab.
Injured
10
Pedestrian collisions
1

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.