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Escudo de Huasco

Huasco

Atacama11.590 inhabitantsPoblación proyectada INE 20241.604 km² of area7 inh./km²$9.045M ingreso municipalSINIM · ingreso total percibido · 2025
Profile today2050
The comuna in context · among 346 comunas
Education
534 pts
18th worst PAES reading comprehension
Explore
Population
+2%
Population would grow between now and 2050
Society
17,8%
Multidimensional poverty · 196th highest of 346
Finance
$780 thousand
per inhabitant per year · rank 103 of 346
Environment
12,8 µg/m³
Air below the Chilean standard, above the WHO guideline (PM2.5)
Education
533,6 pts
below the national median in the PAES (576,9 pts)
Finance
187th
most dependent on the Common Fund of 340
Summary

What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap

19 Squares and green areas
7 Schools
4 Health centers
2 Kindergartens
1 Fire stations
1 Libraries
1 Hospitals
1 Rodeo arenas (medialunas)

Huasco es una ciudad portuaria y comuna del Norte Chico de Chile, ubicada al oeste de la provincia, valle y río del mismo nombre, Región de Atacama.

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

Liveability index · EIU style

49.8 /100
Ver el ranking y simular
#156 of 346 · most liveable in the country (EIU weighting)
Safety55
Health55
Culture and environment69
Education26
Infrastructure28
AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests

Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

Genaro Briceño T.Re-elected
CONTIGO CHILE MEJOR · INDEPENDIENTE
2.036
votes (29.83%)
8.723
Electoral roll
84,7%
Turnout
Mayoral history · 7 terms
GB
Genaro Briceño T.
2024-2028 · INDEPENDIENTE
2.036
votes
RG
Rigoberto Genaro Briceño Tapia
2021-2024 · IND
1.666
votes
RL
Rodrigo Loyola Morenilla
2008-2012 · PPD
1.505
votes
JS
Juan Sabando Santibáñez
2004-2008 · PPD
2.833
votes
JS
Juan Sabando Santibañez
2000-2004 · PPD
2.481
votes
JS
Juan Sabando Santibañez
1996-2000 · PPD
1.420
votes
GG
Gregorio González Murillo
1992-1996 · PR
596
votes

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

Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL

JG
Javiera Gallo O.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · INDEPENDIENTE
806
votes
VV
Virginia Villalobos L.
VERDES LIBERALES POR UNA COMUNA SEGURA · INDEPENDIENTE
502
votes
RC
Rafael Campos C.
POR CHILE, SEGUIMOS · INDEPENDIENTE
490
votes
VC
Victor Caballero A.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · INDEPENDIENTE
477
votes
ME
Maria Elizalde E.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · PARTIDO SOCIALISTA DE CHILE
338
votes
NC
Nicolas Correa R.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · INDEPENDIENTE
326
votes

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

Este municipio tiene carpetas de actas del concejo en su Transparencia Activa, pero SIN documentos publicados (incumplimiento de la Ley 20.285).

Comptroller auditsSource: CGR · Municipal Observatory

Findingstotal
175
Highly complex
61
Audit reports
0
YearFindingsAltam.Compl.Median.Reports
2025197210
201867162525
20171212
201577382312

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

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

  • AS
    Andes S.a. Proyectos Lng
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016

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

8.217
inhabitants
11.650
inhabitants
20022025

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

See the full trajectory to 2050
Since 2002
+42%
inhabitants
Estimated population 2050
11.938
-1% vs. 2035 (12.006)
Over 60 · 2050
35,18%
27,47% 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)86,28 %CENSO 2017 2017
School disengagement (leaves the system)1,4 %MINEDUC 2023
School enrollment97 studentsMINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
Municipal enrollment100 %MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE)533,6 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE)550 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
poblacion_censo9.369 inh.2024 Census 2024
Income poverty (CASEN 2022)11,4 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022)17,8 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Indigenous peoples21,56 %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 101 students registered for the PAES.

Registro Social de Hogares

People in the RSH
11.830
6.791 households
Households in the most vulnerable 40%
3.647
54% of RSH households
Female-headed households
49%
3.315
Elderly (60+)2.80624%
Children and adolescents (<18)2.62322%
Foreign nationals3933%
Belonging to indigenous peoples1.18210%
People with moderate/severe dependency1401%
Single-person households3.90257%

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
2.229
10 schools
Students per teacher
12,5
179 teachers
national median: 10,15
Average attendance
81%
national median: 89,8%
Priority studentsSEP
69,1%
socioeconomic vulnerability
national median: 66,8%
Where they study · by provider
Public (municipal + SLEP) 79%Private subsidized 21%
Pass rate
98,3%
national median: 98,2%
Dropoutschool withdrawal
1,94%
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
0
Rural health posts
3
FONASA enrollees
8.138
70% of the population
Doctors employed
2
Health staff by contract type
Permanent staff: 25Contract staff: 17Fee contracts: 32
Primary-care medical visits · per year
7.750
28.574
20102025
Comprehensive home visits · per year
362
804
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 (8.097 in total)
CenterTypeProvider typeEnrollees% brackets A-B
Consultorio Juan VerdaguerFamily Health Center (CESFAM)Municipal5.83254%
Posta de Salud Rural Jeremías CortésRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal1.70558%
Posta de Salud Rural Padre Mariano Avellana LasierraRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal28267%
Posta de Salud Rural Segundo PonceRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal27878%

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

Costs · 2025
Health spending accrued: $2.362.313.000 ($290.282/enrollee)MINSAL per capita: $1.638.623.000Municipal contribution: $21.279.000

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

Indigenous population
2.020
21.6% of the census population (Census 2024)
Indigenous communities
6
RNAI CONADI registry · Mar 2024
PeoplePeople% of total
Diaguita1.21760.2%
Mapuche31415.5%
Chango1668.2%
Aymara1427.0%
Colla1115.5%

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
28
Councils per 1,000 inhabitants
2.4
density of territorial organization
Non-profit organizations
156
the entire active civil fabric
Social and aid
23
Sports
16
Committees (water, housing, progress)
15
For the elderly
9
Cultural
4
Foundations and corporations
3
Trade associations and cooperatives
3
Religious
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.

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

Local mediaTypedial
KKARINAFM90.3 FM
PPROGRESOFM101.1 FM
SSANTUARIOFM103.9 FM
ACAgrupacion Carrizal Bajo al Progreso · holderComunitaria107.5 FM
ASAyc SpA · holderFM95.7 FM
ClComercial los Incas Ltda. · holderFM98.7 FM
DyDiseño y Publicidad Cristian Andres Godoy Bolvaran E.I.R.L. · holderFM91.1 FM
NANelson Alexis Zambra Iriarte Servicios Radiales en Comunicacion Electronica E.I.R.L. · holderFM99.5 FM
RARadiodifusora Arismendi Ltda. · holderFM102.3 FM
RCRadiodifusora Castel Fm SpA · holderFM105.5 FM
RMRadiodifusora Manuel Galleguillos Pangue E.I.R.L. · holderFM101.7 FM
SdSoc. de Ingenieria y Telecomunicaciones Telecomsite SpA · holderFM93.5 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
452
4,8% of the census population (Census 2024)
Main origin
Colombia
146 people · 32% of the foreigners
Main countries of origin
146 Colombia
119 Venezuela
83 Bolivia
26 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
326
7 encampments (2024 Registry)
Housing deficit
286
8,2% of the comuna's households
Housing permits · 2024
10
560 m² · new construction
Subsidies Integrated System · DS01
91
paid · 2011–2025
Subsidies Solidarity Fund · DS49
316
beneficiaries · 2013–2023
Subsidies Rental · DS52
15
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

9.598homes · by type (2017)
House
5.411 · 87.3%
House
3.254 · 95.8%
Shack/hut/shanty
530 · 8.5%
Apartment
187 · 3%
Apartment
98 · 2.9%
Other private
36 · 0.6%
Shack/improvised dwelling
30 · 0.9%
Room in old house/tenement
22 · 0.4%
Mobile
9 · 0.1%
Room in old house/tenement
7 · 0.2%
Other private
7 · 0.2%
Indigenous dwelling
6 · 0.1%
Mobile
1 · 0%
77%owner-occupied · tenure (2002)
Owned outright
1.494 · 67%
Rented
221 · 9.9%
Owned, being paid off
215 · 9.6%
Provided for work
155 · 7%
Free of charge
145 · 6.5%

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
$9.044.960.000
Own revenue
$2.380.562.000
26% of the total
Municipal Common Fund
$5.178.093.000
57% of the total
State transfers
$950.885.000
11% of the total
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios

Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)

$1.235.003.000
$9.044.960.000
20012025

Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025

10.8%
44.6%
8.3%
18.1%
18.2%
Property tax$256.216.000
Business licenses$1.061.987.000
Vehicle permits$197.515.000
Cleaning fees$430.438.000
Other own revenue$434.406.000
Special-law revenues · 2025
Mining licenses (Law 19.143): $139.286.000

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

Revenue by sector · 2025
67.2%
17.9%
15.0%
Municipal$9.044.960.000
Education$2.404.892.000
Health$2.015.832.000
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Net recipient: it receives $4.845.708.000 more than it contributes.
Evolución por fuente de ingreso

Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend

$299.042.000
$2.380.562.000
20012025

FCM received · trend

$419.352.000
$5.178.093.000
20012025

State transfers · trend

$448.671.000
$950.885.000
20012025

Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Current budget · 2025
$10.068.017.000
Accrued spending · 2025
$8.947.586.000
Execution rate
88.9%
Unexecuted: $1.120.431.000
Medium execution: it executed 88.9%. Left unspent: $1.120.431.000.

Accrued spending · trend

$1.327.702.000
$8.947.586.000
20012025

Distribution by management area · 2025

47.0%
39.8%
10.0%
Internal management$4.208.693.000
Community services$3.561.037.000
Social programs$86.460.000
Municipal activities$890.514.000
Recreational programs$68.692.000
Cultural programs$132.190.000

What the budget is spent on · 2025

Spending lineAmount% of spending
Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance$3.653.592.00040.8%
Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending$2.362.313.00026.4%
Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees$2.049.041.00022.9%
Cleaning, garbage and landfills · waste collection and disposal$768.533.0008.6%
Investment (works and projects)$688.493.0007.7%
Electricity (facilities)$249.545.0002.8%
Water (facilities)$183.258.0002.0%
Street lighting$175.776.0002.0%
Councillor stipends$81.246.0000.9%
Transfers to health$15.000.0000.2%
Travel allowances$12.654.0000.1%
Commissions and representation$1.000.0000.0%

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

22.9%
40.8%
36.3%
Personnel (Subt. 21)$2.049.041.000
Goods and services (Subt. 22)$3.653.592.000
Others$3.244.953.000

Personnel by contract type · 2025

41.3%
13.3%
9.1%
30.5%
Permanent staff$1.329.210.000
Contract staff$427.121.000
Fee contracts$292.710.000
Labor Code$187.162.000
Community progs.$982.833.000

Municipal headcount · 2023

63.5%
36.5%
Permanent staff40
Contract staff23
Total: 63 staffWomen: 61.9%Professionalization: 38.1%
Cost/staffer permanent: $31.574.625/yearCost/staffer contract: $18.022.000/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: $688.493.000 (7.7% of spending)Councillor stipends: $81.246.000Travel allowances: $12.654.000Commissions and representation: $1.000.000

Basic and general services · 2025

Garbage and landfills: $768.533.000Street lighting: $175.776.000Electricity: $249.545.000Water: $183.258.000

Final works approvals (DOM) · per year

113
21
20012025

Building permits issued · per year

37
18
20122025

Management indicator · 2025

Maintained green areas per inhabitant
8 m²/inh.
Security/patrol cars
0
Security/patrol bicycles
0
Surveillance cameras
17
Security/patrol pickups
1
Security booths
0
CESFAM in the comuna
0
Primary-care medical visits
28.574
Clinics
0
urban and rural
Dependence on the Municipal Common Fund
68,51%
of own revenue
Security drones
0
Permanent staff
43
Permanent own revenue
26,32%
of total revenue
Doctors employed
2
as of Dec 31
Security/patrol motorcycles
0
Building permits
18
Health staff
17
contract
Health staff
32
fee-based
Health staff
25
permanent
FONASA-enrolled population
8.138
municipal health
Rural health posts
3
Street-market stalls
30
Final works approvals
21

What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data

Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público
Historic amount
$49.647.601.633
Purchase orders
14.712

Purchase-order amount · trend

$339.332.943
$2.830.300.713
20072026
Top suppliersAmountPOs
Eugenio Fernando Pizarro Trigo$6.155.488.35326
Serviatacama Ltda.$3.698.090.7021
Patricio Guerrero Pizarro$2.503.080.96614
Empresa Constructora Agza y Cia Ltda.$2.041.759.1411
Ana María González Chávez$1.523.226.59741
Ingroup SpA$1.491.873.21916
Antonio Galeb Naim$1.129.215.92619
Sermaas$1.064.552.96613

Purchase mechanism · 2026

Tender $1.570.076.36655%
Direct award discretionary$644.827.48723%
Agile Purchase $519.765.97018%
Framework Agreement $95.630.8913%

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

Registered companies
782
domiciled in the comuna
Dependent workers
2.407

Pyramid by sales bracket

64.2%
13.9%
20.3%
Micro (≤2,400 UF)502 companies
Small (≤25k UF)109 companies
Medium (≤100k UF)9 companies
Large (>100k UF)3 companies
No sales/no info159 companies

Largest companies domiciled in the comuna

CompanyLine of businessSales bracketWorkers
Soc Constructora y Servicios Dorgambide LimitadaCONSTRUCCIONLarge 2624
Ingenieria, Contratos y Servicios Guinez Soto S.A.COMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACLarge 1210
Puerto las Losas S.A.TRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOLarge 132
Servicios de Montaje Sem SpACONSTRUCCIONMedium 2159
Sociedad Empresa de Servicios Jms LimitadaINDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERAMedium 273
Cabal Servicios Sociedad por AccionesTRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOMedium 233
Astrotransportes LimitadaTRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOMedium 124
Empresa de Transportes Tranzunur y Compañia LimitadaTRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOMedium 116
Profes Ingenieria y Construccion LimitadaTRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOMedium 116
I Municipalidad de HuascoADMINISTRACION PUBLICA Y DEFENSA; PLANES DE SNo sales140

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
2
US$ 344 M declared
Approved last 5 years
5
US$ 181 M declared
Construction jobsunder review
420
+ 1.285 in operations
Construction jobsapproved 5 yrs
626
peak labor
ProjectOwnerStatusInvestment (US$M)Constr. jobs
Modificación Proyecto Mina Los Colorados - Ajustes y Continuidad OperaEIACompañía Minera del Pacífico S.A.Under Review343,8420
Depósito de Relaves Filtrados, Planta de PelletsEIACompañía Minera del Pacífico S.A.Approved110450
Línea de Transmisión y Central BESS Halcón 8DIABess Halcón 8 SpAApproved43,8920
Optimización Operacional de Puerto Las LosasDIAPuerto las Losas S.A.Approved15,6
Modificación Planta de Pellets Huasco, Reemplazo del carbón en ProcesoDIACompañía Minera del Pacífico S.A.Approved11,1151
Logística y transporte de Sustancias peligrosas en las Regiones XV, I,DIASociedad de Servicios y TransportesUnder Review6,3
Nuevas Rutas para el Transporte y Embarque de Concentrados de Hierro, DIAAdmiralty Minerals Chile Pti Ltd AgApproved1,516

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

MP2,5 · annual average
12,8µg/m³· above the WHO guideline, below the Chilean standard
OMS 5
CL standard 20
2,6× the WHO 2021 guideline · 0,6× the Chilean standard · 0 days above daily standard (50 µg/m³)
MP10 · annual average
20µg/m³· above the WHO guideline, below the Chilean standard
OMS 15
CL standard 50
1,3× the WHO 2021 guideline · 0,4× the Chilean standard · 0 days above daily standard (150 µg/m³)
11monitoring stations · 1 from the MMA Network· measures MP2,5; MP10; O3; SO2; NO2; CO· stations: 21 de Mayo, EME F, EME M, EME ME, Huasco II, Huasco Sivica, SM1, SM2, SM3, SM4, SM5
PM2.5 latest reading
1 µg/m³
15-08-2026
Monthly PM2.5 trend
norma 2007/24: 6,1 µg/m³08/24: 4,7 µg/m³09/24: 9,3 µg/m³10/24: 5,2 µg/m³11/24: 6,9 µg/m³12/24: 6,4 µg/m³01/25: 5,2 µg/m³02/25: 4,8 µg/m³03/25: 4,5 µg/m³04/25: 5,4 µg/m³05/25: 6,2 µg/m³06/25: 6,3 µg/m³07/25: 4,9 µg/m³08/25: 2,7 µg/m³09/25: 5,1 µg/m³10/25: 10,1 µg/m³11/25: 6,9 µg/m³12/25: 6,2 µg/m³01/26: 7,1 µg/m³02/26: 6,7 µg/m³03/26: 6,3 µg/m³04/26: 8,4 µg/m³05/26: 11 µg/m³06/26: 9,8 µg/m³07/26: 5,8 µg/m³08/26: 5,7 µg/m³07/2408/26
5,7 µg/m³
promedio 08/26
vigenteindustrial-mineroMP10
PPA Huasco
DS 38/2017 · published 2017 · see plan

Zone with decontamination plan PPA Huasco y zona circundante · critical pollutant SO2 / MP

Air emissions from industrial sources · tons/year (RETC 2020)
3.515 t SO₂
6 t MP10
4 t MP2,5

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

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.

126
Species
47
Flora
62
Fauna
17
Funga
49
In conservation status
29
Endemic to Chile
Species in conservation category
RuilNothofagus alessandriiENBelloto del norte, belloto (genérico)Beilschmiedia miersiiVUBelloto del surBeilschmiedia berteroanaENQueuleGomortega keuleENPitaoPitavia punctataENPejerrey chilenoBasilichthys microlepidotusVULangosta diminutaElasmoderus minutusVUSapo de atacamaRhinella atacamensisVUSandillón, asiento de la suegraEriosyce aurataVUBalita (genérico), bupréstido (genérico)Ectinogonia chalyboeiventrisVUGuanacoLama guanicoeVUChungungo, nutria marina, gato de mar, chinchiménLontra felinaENAraucaria, pehuén, piñonero, pino piñonero, pino chileno, pino araucaria, pewen, guiliuAraucaria araucanaENAlerceFitzroya cupressoidesENPingüino de humboldt, pingüino, pájaro niño, patranka, humboldt penguin (inglés), peruvian penguin (inglés)Spheniscus humboldtiENZorro colorado, zorro culpeo, zorro coloradode tierra del fuego, zorro culpeo de tierra del fuegoLycalopex culpaeusVUDelfín naríz de botellaTursiops truncatusENPuyeGalaxias maculatusVUGaviota garumaLeucophaeus modestusVUTortuga verde, tortuga negraChelonia mydasENTortuga boba, tortuga cabezonaCaretta carettaCRTortuga laúd, baulaDermochelys coriaceaCRYuncoPelecanoides garnotiiENPiuquén, piquén, guayataChloephaga melanopteraENChinchilla cordilleranaChinchilla chinchillaCRVicuñaVicugna vicugnaVUCamarón de río del norteCryphiops caementariusVULiquenEverniopsis trullaENTortuga oliváceaLepidochelys olivaceaVUCarbonillo, mendozaCordia decandraNT-Copiapoa coquimbanaNTIguanaCallopistes maculatusNTLagartija de manchaLiolaemus nigromaculatusNTLagarto nítidoLiolaemus nitidusNTMosca de las arenas de stuardoMidacritus stuardoanusNTLagartija de silvaLiolaemus silvaiNTLilePhalacrocorax gaimardiNTPelícano peruano, pelícano de humboldtPelecanus thagusNTPilpilén, pilpilén común, american oystercatcher (inglés)Haematopus palliatusNTSapito de cuatro ojosPleurodema thaulNTMurciélago gris, murciélago de atacama, murciélago orejas de ratón del norteMyotis atacamensisNTGuanayPhalacrocorax bougainvilliiNTCóndorVultur gryphusNTLobo fino australArctocephalus australisNTChorlo de collarCharadrius collarisNTColo-coloLeopardus colocoloNTPalito negro, doradillaAdiantum chilenseNTPumaPuma concolorNTGaviotín monjaLarosterna incaNT

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.

5 Wetlands · 4 urban · 516 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)

CodeWetlandHectares
HUR-03-04Paseo Ribereñourban288 /1.457
HUR-03-05Humedal Huascourban94
HRU-03-02Sector Canto del Agua61
HUR-03-06Humedal Punta Alcaldeurban37
HUR-03-08Humedal Carrizal Bajourban36

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. 31 projects totaling US$ 3.500 million, approved between 1995 and 2025. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.

Energy9 projects · US$ 1.637 M · 1995–2024
Guacolda Energia SpACentral Termoeléctrica Guacolda y Vertedero · FLEXIBILIZACIÓN UNIDAD Nº3 (e-seia)
Mining8 projects · US$ 1.012 M · 1997–2021
El Morro SpAEstudio de Impacto Ambiental Proyecto El Morro · Proyecto Cerro Blanco
Others7 projects · US$ 238 M · 2004–2025
Guacolda Energia SpAAdaptación de Unidades a la Nueva Norma de Emisión Para Centrales Termoeléctricas · Ampliación de la Actividad de Transporte de Sustancias Peligrosas de ENAEX Servicios S.A.
Miscellaneous industrial facilities1 project · US$ 174 M · 2010
Compañía Minera del Pacífico S.A.Ampliación y Mejoras Operacionales en Planta de Pellets
Agriculture and livestock1 project · US$ 167 M · 2005
Agrocomercial As LimitadaProyecto Agroindustrial del Valle de Huasco
Environmental Sanitation1 project · US$ 145 M · 2018
Guacolda Energia SpAPlanta Desalinizadora Guacolda
Port Infrastructure4 projects · US$ 127 M · 1999–2024
Puerto las Losas S.A.Recepción y embarque de graneles minerales · Puerto Las Losas (e-seia)

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 · also Mataquito
Empresa sanitaria (agua y alcantarillado)
Aguas Chanar
Higher education
No campus · nearest in Vallenar at 49.1 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
5 UTA
2 with fines
Sanctioned entityAuditable unitCategoryFine (UTA)
Restaurantes Siany Dominique Diaz Casas E.I.R.LPub La CalleAmenities3
Yasna Rutz RetalamalYass PubAmenities2

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
1
on projects in the comuna
Case no.Parties / projectSubjectDecision
R-7-2018
1TA
Asociación Gremial Agrícola de la Provincia de Huasco con SEA
Eliminación del uso de petcoke en central guacolda, y ajuste de la capacidad de generación eléctrica.
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
8 m²
80% 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
1
Nature sanctuaries
1

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
ES - HUASCOPTAS · emisario submarinoA. CHAÑAR S.A. · discharges into mar
Where this comuna's waste goes
Relleno Sanitario Provincial del Huasco (Vallenar) · 4.421 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
1
Area affected
0 ha
mostly shrubland
Cumulative last 5 seasons
1 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
20
At high or very high risk
20
20 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.

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
14,99°C
2035-2065 projection: +1,24°C
Annual precipitation
46 mm
projection: -29%
Hot days>30°C
0
projection: +3 days
Frost days
0

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
647
all crimes
Rate per 100,000 inhab.
5.582
Police cases · trend
807
647
20102025
By crime type · 2025
CrimeCasesRate/100k
Alcohol and drug use in public spaces106915
Threats103889
Property damage74639
Domestic violence73630
Minor injuries52449
Larceny50431
Burglary of an inhabited place37319
Drug-related crimes27233
Burglary of an uninhabited place19164
Robbery with violence or intimidation15129
Sexual abuse14121
Weapons-related crimes14121

Showing the 12 crimes with most cases of 26.

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
17
Guards and inspectors
0
1 per 11.590 hab
Patrol fleet
1
cars, pickups, motorcycles, bikes
Patrol fleet by type
Pickups: 1
Surveillance cameras · trend
0
17
20202025

Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)

Crashes · 2024
6
Deaths
0
0 per 100,000 inhab.
Injured
10
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.