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Escudo de Alto del Carmen

Alto del Carmen

AtacamaFounded 18245.781 inhabitantsPoblación proyectada INE 20246.162 km² of area1 inh./km²$10.359M ingreso municipalSINIM · ingreso total percibido · 2025
Profile today2050
The comuna in context · among 346 comunas
Livability
35.3/100
7th least liveable in the country
Explore
Finance
-20 pts
18th biggest gain in autonomy from the Common Fund (since 2001)
Explore
Education
79 km to the nearest campus
30th most isolated from higher education
Explore
Population
−5,9%
Population would fall between now and 2050
Society
27,9%
Multidimensional poverty · 37th highest of 346
Finance
$1,8 million
per inhabitant per year · rank 33 of 346
Finance
71,76%
It depends on the Common Fund: almost no own revenue
Finance
164th
most dependent on the Common Fund of 340
Summary

What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap

24 Schools
8 Health centers
5 Squares and green areas
4 Carabineros
3 Rodeo arenas (medialunas)
1 Kindergartens

Alto del Carmen es una comuna del Norte Chico de Chile, ubicada en la Provincia de Huasco, a 184 km de Copiapó en la Región de Atacama. Integra el distrito electoral N.º 4 y pertenece a la 4.ª circunscripción senatorial.

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

Liveability index · EIU style

35.3 /100
Ver el ranking y simular
#340 of 346 · most liveable in the country (EIU weighting)
Safety48
Health35
Culture and environment23
Education52
Infrastructure27
AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests

Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

Cristián Olivares I.Re-elected
CONTIGO CHILE MEJOR · PARTIDO RADICAL DE CHILE
2.077
votes (51.68%)
4.958
Electoral roll
86,2%
Turnout
Mayoral history · 8 terms
CO
Cristián Olivares I.
2024-2028 · PARTIDO RADICAL DE CHILE
2.077
votes
CD
Cristian Didy Olivares Iriarte
2021-2024 · PR
1.493
votes
NR
Nora Rojas Ardiles
2008-2012 · ILE
1.510
votes
CB
Carmen Bou Bou
2004-2008 · ILB
1.434
votes
CB
Carmen Bou Bou
2000-2004 · ILC
1.034
votes
CB
Carmen Bou Bou
1996-2000 · ILDRN
847
votes
CB
Carmen Bou Bou
1994-1996 · ILD
523
votes
PR
Pedro Rafael Páez Páez
1992-1994 · PPD
290
votes

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

Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL

HC
Homero Campillay I.
POR CHILE, SEGUIMOS · INDEPENDIENTE
610
votes
JA
Javiera Alvarez A.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · RENOVACION NACIONAL
362
votes
LP
Luis Paredes R.
PARTIDO DE LA GENTE E INDEPENDIENTES · PARTIDO DE LA GENTE
264
votes
PA
Patricia Alvarez O.
TU COMUNA RADICAL · INDEPENDIENTE
227
votes
CI
Cintya Iriarte A.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · INDEPENDIENTE
147
votes
BB
Bladimir Bolados R.
POR CHILE, SEGUIMOS · INDEPENDIENTE
99
votes

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

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

Resolutions extracted
1.962
of 2.253 minutes read
Money involved
$107.653.535.441
sum of resolutions with amounts
ResolutionTypeAmountVote
3 · Solicitud a Bienes Nacionales del terreno ubicado en la ruta 5 norte para promover el turismo de la comuna.Tenderunanimidad
2 · Autorización para rematar, donar, entregar a comodato y/o vender materiales en desuso de la bodega municipal.Loan for useunanimidad
Aumento en ingresos por sumas corrientes y egresos por sumas menoresBudget amendment$16.192.000
Aumento en ingresos por sumas corrientes y egresos por sumas menoresBudget amendment$146.112.000
Invitación a Don Custos Metura para presentar propuesta de modificación presupuestariaBudget amendment
Desarrollo del Plan Regulador ComunalRegulation

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
35
Highly complex
3
Audit reports
0
YearFindingsAltam.Compl.Median.Reports
20221576
2016203314

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

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

  • UC
    Unión Comuna de Juntas de Vecinos de la Comuna de Alto del Carmen
    Lobby / interest management · 7 audiencias · 2016–2017
  • JD
    Junta de Vecinos Marquesas
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2016–2018
  • OD
    Organización de Pajareteros Alto del Carmen
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2015–2016
  • JD
    Junta de Vecinos Retamos
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2016–2024
  • CH
    Comité Habitacional Vivero II
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2015–2016
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2016–2019
  • CD
    Club Deportivo Alianza de Conay
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2016–2019
  • CL
    Creatimus Linuxcorp Limitada
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2025
  • AA
    Afusam Alto del Carmen
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2017–2018
  • CD
    Cooperativa de Productores de Pajarete de Guasco Alto
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2016
  • CS
    Chirino Santa ,maria Rojas y Compañia Limitada
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2021–2024
  • Md
    Mutual de Seguridad de la Cámara Chilena de la Construcción
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2020
  • En
    Exportadora Natural Chile S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2022–2024
  • CF
    Constructora Fv S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2024
  • CI
    Comunidad Indígena Diaguita Paytepen
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2018–2024
  • SS
    Salar SpA / Sportflex
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2021
  • AN
    Aguas Nuevas S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • MC
    Magnacom Chile S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2021
  • IS
    Itsolutions S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2023
  • UC
    Unión Comunal de Adultos Mayores de la Comuna de Alto del Carmen
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2018
  • W
    Wom
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2021
and 62 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

4.826
inhabitants
5.785
inhabitants
20022025

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

See the full trajectory to 2050
Since 2002
+20%
inhabitants
Estimated population 2050
5.449
-5% vs. 2035 (5.764)
Over 60 · 2050
43,55%
34,13% in 2035 · +9 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)80,7 %CENSO 2017 2017
School disengagement (leaves the system)2,6 %MINEDUC 2023
School enrollment50 studentsMINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
Municipal enrollment100 %MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE)560,9 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE)555,1 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
poblacion_censo4.788 inh.2024 Census 2024
Income poverty (CASEN 2022)15,1 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022)27,9 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Indigenous peoples60,46 %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 38 students registered for the PAES.

Registro Social de Hogares

People in the RSH
5.222
2.890 households
Households in the most vulnerable 40%
1.854
64% of RSH households
Female-headed households
44%
1.278
Elderly (60+)1.49629%
Children and adolescents (<18)96018%
Foreign nationals781%
Belonging to indigenous peoples2.06840%
People with moderate/severe dependency1383%
Single-person households1.58055%

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
776
15 schools
Students per teacher
7,3
106 teachers
national median: 10,15
Average attendance
90,5%
national median: 89,8%
Priority studentsSEP
79,5%
socioeconomic vulnerability
national median: 66,8%
Where they study · by provider
Public (municipal + SLEP) 100%Private subsidized 0%
Pass rate
95,3%
national median: 98,2%
Dropoutschool withdrawal
0,96%
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
4
FONASA enrollees
4.811
83% of the population
Doctors employed
3
Health staff by contract type
Permanent staff: 48Contract staff: 30Fee contracts: 0
Primary-care medical visits · per year
3.556
11.143
20102025
Comprehensive home visits · per year
380
221
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 (4.785 in total)
CenterTypeProvider typeEnrollees% brackets A-B
Centro de Salud Familiar Alto del CarmenFamily Health Center (CESFAM)Municipal4.77862%
Posta de Salud Rural San FélixRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal450%
Posta de Salud Rural el TránsitoRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal367%

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

Costs · 2025
Health spending accrued: $2.422.403.000 ($503.513/enrollee)MINSAL per capita: $1.366.732.000Municipal contribution: $533.700.000

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

Indigenous population
2.895
60.5% of the census population (Census 2024)
Indigenous communities
25
RNAI CONADI registry · Mar 2024
PeoplePeople% of total
Diaguita2.78496.2%

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.

2 Local media · FMSource: SUBTEL · broadcasting licences · Regional Media Survey (MSGG)

Local mediaTypedial
MAMUNICIPAL ALTO DEL CARMENFM91.3 FM
ARAgricola Rio el Transito Ltda. · holderFM105.3 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
86
1,8% of the census population (Census 2024)
Main origin
Bolivia
23 people · 27% of the foreigners
Main countries of origin
23 Bolivia
21 Venezuela
15 Perú
10 Colombia

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
31
1 encampment (2024 Registry)
Housing deficit
202
10,5% of the comuna's households
Housing permits · 2024
2
119 m² · new construction
Subsidies Integrated System · DS01
35
paid · 2011–2025
Subsidies Solidarity Fund · DS49
27
beneficiaries · 2012–2023
Subsidies Rental · DS52
2
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

4.788homes · by type (2017)
House
2.535 · 87.3%
House
1.848 · 98%
Shack/hut/shanty
271 · 9.3%
Other private
46 · 1.6%
Shack/improvised dwelling
25 · 1.3%
Indigenous dwelling
22 · 0.8%
Room in old house/tenement
22 · 0.8%
Other private
7 · 0.4%
Room in old house/tenement
5 · 0.3%
Apartment
4 · 0.1%
Mobile
3 · 0.1%
74%owner-occupied · tenure (2002)
Owned outright
1.087 · 72.4%
Provided for work
188 · 12.5%
Free of charge
125 · 8.3%
Rented
77 · 5.1%
Owned, being paid off
24 · 1.6%

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

Elderly careSource: Chile Cuida · National Assets / SENAMA

Long-stay residencesELEAM
1
Beds
6
3,7 per 1,000 over-60s

Long-stay facilities for the elderly registered in Chile Cuida. Comunas without ELEAM send their elders to other comunas. With projected ageing (see Demographic projection), this capacity defines whether one can age in one's own comuna.

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
Barrick / Pascua Lama ↔ Río Huascocommunity
Laudo arbitral CAM Santiago (oct-2017)

Pago de USD 20 M (6M + 14M en 9 cuotas) a la Junta de Vigilancia del Río Huasco (regantes, NO el municipio ni comunidades diaguitas), tras suspender su aporte de USD 3M/año al Fondo de Compensación Ambiental. Proyecto cerrado definitivamente en 2020; ~USD 15M condicionales si reanudara. MOU diaguita 2014 rechazado por la Comunidad Agrícola Diaguitas Huascoaltinos.

USD 20 M (a la Junta de Vigilancia)· laudo 2017 (proyecto cerrado 2020)Source
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
$10.359.311.000
Own revenue
$1.267.570.000
12% of the total
Municipal Common Fund
$3.220.338.000
31% of the total
State transfers
$2.589.059.000
25% of the total
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios

Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)

$1.039.226.000
$10.359.311.000
20012025

Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025

14.0%
77.9%
Property tax$73.347.000
Business licenses$30.188.000
Vehicle permits$177.184.000
Other own revenue$986.851.000
Special-law revenues · 2025
Mining licenses (Law 19.143): $721.427.000

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

Revenue by sector · 2025
79.9%
20.1%
Municipal$10.359.311.000
Education$169.000
Health$2.613.906.000
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Net recipient: it receives $2.922.327.000 more than it contributes.
Evolución por fuente de ingreso

Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend

$63.968.000
$1.267.570.000
20012025

FCM received · trend

$679.012.000
$3.220.338.000
20012025

State transfers · trend

$102.923.000
$2.589.059.000
20012025

Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Current budget · 2025
$10.353.118.000
Accrued spending · 2025
$6.916.913.000
Execution rate
66.8%
Unexecuted: $3.436.205.000
Low execution: it only executed 66.8% of the budget — $3.436.205.000 unspent.

Accrued spending · trend

$715.441.000
$6.916.913.000
20012025

Distribution by management area · 2025

50.9%
46.6%
Internal management$3.523.425.000
Community services$3.225.436.000
Social programs$50.190.000
Municipal activities$41.689.000
Recreational programs$53.994.000
Cultural programs$22.179.000

What the budget is spent on · 2025

Spending lineAmount% of spending
Investment (works and projects)$2.863.160.00041.4%
Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending$2.422.403.00035.0%
Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees$1.712.449.00024.8%
Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance$860.669.00012.4%
Transfers to health$533.700.0007.7%
Electricity (facilities)$306.366.0004.4%
Councillor stipends$84.192.0001.2%
Water (facilities)$75.249.0001.1%
Travel allowances$70.573.0001.0%
Cleaning, garbage and landfills · waste collection and disposal$34.414.0000.5%
Commissions and representation$3.257.0000.0%
Street lighting$595.0000.0%

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

24.8%
12.4%
62.8%
Personnel (Subt. 21)$1.712.449.000
Goods and services (Subt. 22)$860.669.000
Others$4.343.795.000

Personnel by contract type · 2025

69.8%
19.6%
Permanent staff$1.295.648.000
Contract staff$364.243.000
Fee contracts$52.558.000
Labor Code$39.206.000
Community progs.$104.920.000

Municipal headcount · 2023

66.0%
34.0%
Permanent staff33
Contract staff17
Total: 50 staffWomen: 40.0%Professionalization: 52.0%
Cost/staffer permanent: $33.938.212/yearCost/staffer contract: $20.063.882/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: $2.863.160.000 (41.4% of spending)Councillor stipends: $84.192.000Travel allowances: $70.573.000Commissions and representation: $3.257.000

Basic and general services · 2025

Garbage and landfills: $34.414.000Street lighting: $595.000Electricity: $306.366.000Water: $75.249.000

Final works approvals (DOM) · per year

1.750
1
20012025

Building permits issued · per year

69
7
20122025

Management indicator · 2025

Maintained green areas per inhabitant
5 m²/inh.
Security/patrol cars
0
Security/patrol bicycles
0
Surveillance cameras
8
Security/patrol pickups
2
Security booths
0
CESFAM in the comuna
1
Primary-care medical visits
11.143
Clinics
0
urban and rural
Dependence on the Municipal Common Fund
71,76%
of own revenue
Security drones
0
Permanent staff
35
Permanent own revenue
12,24%
of total revenue
Doctors employed
3
as of Dec 31
Security/patrol motorcycles
0
Building permits
7
Health staff
30
contract
Health staff
0
fee-based
Health staff
48
permanent
FONASA-enrolled population
4.811
municipal health
Rural health posts
4
Street-market stalls
35
Final works approvals
1

What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data

Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público
Historic amount
$32.960.645.541
Purchase orders
15.006

Purchase-order amount · trend

$932.342.891
$2.085.096.321
20072026
Top suppliersAmountPOs
Ingecom Limitada$2.820.024.64222
Soc de Ingenieria Electrica Mataquito Limitada$1.060.303.30617
Sociedad Gajardo y Valencia Limitada$935.876.38064
Manser$919.428.31552
Glen Alex$765.019.9396
Sysco Constructora$751.242.7811
Daysi Gajardo Gajardo$470.325.44062
Essin Ingenieria SpA$432.048.3911

Purchase mechanism · 2026

Tender $1.509.160.29072%
Agile Purchase $255.936.59312%
Framework Agreement $237.138.65511%
Direct award discretionary$82.860.7834%

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

Registered companies
455
domiciled in the comuna
Dependent workers
631

Pyramid by sales bracket

68.1%
7.0%
24.4%
Micro (≤2,400 UF)310 companies
Small (≤25k UF)32 companies
Medium (≤100k UF)2 companies
No sales/no info111 companies

Largest companies domiciled in the comuna

CompanyLine of businessSales bracketWorkers
Exportadora Natural Chile Sociedad AnonimaCOMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACMedium 247
Agrofruticola Corssen Sociedad AnonimaAGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCAMedium 125
Servicio Agricola Elena Collantes Rodriguez E.I.R.L.AGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCASmall 352
Logistica el Vencedor SpAAGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCASmall 193
Ilustre Municipalidad de Alto del CarmenADMINISTRACION PUBLICA Y DEFENSA; PLANES DE SMicro 1158

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
4
US$ 301 M declared
Approved last 5 years
1
US$ 35 M declared
Construction jobsunder review
54
+ 313 in operations
Construction jobsapproved 5 yrs
30
peak labor
ProjectOwnerStatusInvestment (US$M)Constr. jobs
Prospección minera sondajes ValerianoDIAAtex Valeriano SpAUnder Review14050
Modificación Fase de Cierre Pascua LamaEIACompañía Minera Nevada SpAUnder Review136
Prospección Minera El AltoDIACompañía Minera Nevada SpAApproved3530
Sondajes de Prospección Carmen CuDIACarmen Copper SpAUnder Review254
Logística y transporte de Sustancias peligrosas en las Regiones XV, I,DIASociedad de Servicios y TransportesUnder Review6,3

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.

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.

69
Species
26
Flora
36
Fauna
7
Funga
29
In conservation status
19
Endemic to Chile
Species in conservation category
RuilNothofagus alessandriiENBelloto del norte, belloto (genérico)Beilschmiedia miersiiVUQueuleGomortega keuleENBelloto del surBeilschmiedia berteroanaENPitaoPitavia punctataENSandillón, asiento de la suegraEriosyce aurataVUPejerrey chilenoBasilichthys microlepidotusVULagartija de robertoLiolaemus robertoiVULagarto de müllerLiolaemus lorenzmuelleriVUPochaCheirodon pisciculusVUGuanacoLama guanicoeVUAraucaria, pehuén, piñonero, pino piñonero, pino chileno, pino araucaria, pewen, guiliuAraucaria araucanaENPiuquén, piquén, guayataChloephaga melanopteraENVicuñaVicugna vicugnaVUYuncoPelecanoides garnotiiENChungungo, nutria marina, gato de mar, chinchiménLontra felinaENPuyeGalaxias maculatusVUChinchilla cordilleranaChinchilla chinchillaCRAlerceFitzroya cupressoidesENZorro colorado, zorro culpeo, zorro coloradode tierra del fuego, zorro culpeo de tierra del fuegoLycalopex culpaeusVUCarbonillo, mendozaCordia decandraNTLagarto nítidoLiolaemus nitidusNTIguanaCallopistes maculatusNTHualoNothofagus glaucaNTCóndorVultur gryphusNTColo-coloLeopardus colocoloNTChorlito cordilleranoPhegornis mitchelliiNTPelícano peruano, pelícano de humboldtPelecanus thagusNTPumaPuma concolorNT

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.

1 Wetlands · 413 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)

CodeWetlandHectares
HPU-03-01Rio Huasco413

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. 15 projects totaling US$ 2.270 million, approved between 1996 and 2026. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.

Mining6 projects · US$ 2.195 M · 2001–2026
El Morro SpAEstudio de Impacto Ambiental Proyecto El Morro · Pascua Lama
Energy2 projects · US$ 62 M · 1996–2007
Compañia Minera Nevada SpAAmpliación y Mejoramiento Línea de Transmisión Punta Colorada-Tres Quebradas (e-seia) · Caminos de Acceso y Líneas de Alta Tensión a los Proyectos Nevada y El Indio
Others7 projects · US$ 13 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
Higher education
No campus · nearest in Vallenar at 79 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

Appeals before the Environmental Courts

Appeals
4
on projects in the comuna
Upheld
2
the court sided with the claimant
Case no.Parties / projectSubjectDecision
127275-2020
1TA
Compañía Minera Nevada SpA con Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente
Pascua Lama
Environmental sanction proceedingPartially upheld
2025-2019
2TA
Compañía Minera Nevada SpA en contra del Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental (Res. Ex. N°1385, de 01 de diciembre de 2016).
Pascua Lama
RCA review (Art. 25 quinquies, Law 19.300)Rejects
R-75-2015
2TA
Compañía Minera Nevada SpA en contra de la SMA
PdC Pascua Lama
SMA compliance programRejects
11600-2014
2TA
Rubén Cruz Pérez y otros en contra de la SMA
Pascua Lama
Environmental sanction proceedingPartially upheld

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
5 m²
50% 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.

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

Where this comuna's waste goes
Relleno Sanitario Provincial del Huasco (Vallenar) · 994 t/year

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

Forest firesSource: CONAF · Occurrence and damage statistics (2023-2024)

Wildfires · 2023-2024
2
Area affected
16 ha
mostly shrubland
Cumulative last 5 seasons
31 ha
includes the 2022-2023 mega-season

Occurrence and area affected by wildfires (CONAF). The 5-season cumulative gives a fairer picture than a single year: fire is episodic and big catastrophes concentrate in few seasons. The area is comuna-wide, not just urban.

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

Critical points registered
154
At high or very high risk
136
59 very high
Main threat
Flujos de barro/detritos (Al…
Flujos de barro/detritos (Aluvión)

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.

Water scarcitySource: DGA · MOP (scarcity-zone decrees)

No scarcity decree in force today.
Years under decree since 2008
3
latest: 2022 · drought chronicity

DGA water-scarcity zone decrees (by comuna, province or region; basin decrees are not counted here, so chronicity is a floor). The decree enables extraordinary water redistribution measures. At the megadrought's peak (2021) 286 comunas were under decree; today 26.

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

Mean annual temperature
6,95°C
2035-2065 projection: +1,92°C
Annual precipitation
128 mm
projection: -6%
Hot days>30°C
3
projection: +4 days
Frost days
137

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
242
all crimes
Rate per 100,000 inhab.
4.186
Police cases · trend
242
242
20102025
By crime type · 2025
CrimeCasesRate/100k
Property damage50865
Threats42727
Alcohol and drug use in public spaces38657
Domestic violence29502
Minor injuries17294
Larceny15260
Drug-related crimes8138
Burglary of an inhabited place7121
Sexual abuse6104
Burglary of an uninhabited place587
Serious or very serious injuries469
Threats or brawls (misdemeanor)469

Showing the 12 crimes with most cases of 22.

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
8
Guards and inspectors
0
1 per 5.781 hab
Patrol fleet
2
cars, pickups, motorcycles, bikes
Patrol fleet by type
Pickups: 2
Surveillance cameras · trend
10
8
20202025

Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)

Crashes · 2024
9
Deaths
0
0 per 100,000 inhab.
Injured
3
1 serious

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.