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Escudo de Vicuña

Vicuña

CoquimboFounded 182130.541 inhabitantsPoblación proyectada INE 20247.577 km² of area4 inh./km²$19.147M ingreso municipalSINIM · ingreso total percibido · 2025
Profile today2050
The comuna in context · among 346 comunas
Economy
10.503 jobs
27th most jobs promised by investment projects
Explore
Livability
38.8/100
29th least liveable in the country
Explore
Population
+3,8%
Population would grow between now and 2050
Society
19,5%
Multidimensional poverty · 145th highest of 346
Finance
$627 thousand
per inhabitant per year · rank 134 of 346
Finance
75,89%
It depends on the Common Fund: almost no own revenue
Safety
8.385
cases per 100k inhab. · 29th in the country
Education
557,5 pts
below the national median in the PAES (576,9 pts)
Finance
136th
most dependent on the Common Fund of 340
Summary

What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap

30 Schools
25 Squares and green areas
11 Health centers
7 Kindergartens
4 Pharmacies
4 Carabineros
2 Rodeo arenas (medialunas)
1 Fire stations
1 Hospitals

Vicuña es una ciudad y comuna de Chile ubicada en el Norte Chico, en la provincia de Elqui, Región de Coquimbo. Limita al norte con la comuna de Alto del Carmen, al oeste con las comunas de La Higuera, La Serena y Andacollo, al este con la República Argentina y al sur con las comunas de Paihuano y Río Hurtado.

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

Liveability index · EIU style

38.8 /100
Ver el ranking y simular
#318 of 346 · most liveable in the country (EIU weighting)
Safety25
Health56
Culture and environment42
Education26
Infrastructure41
AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests

Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

Mario Aros C.
CHILE VAMOS · INDEPENDIENTE
10.671
votes (52.36%)
24.889
Electoral roll
87,85%
Turnout
Mayoral history · 7 terms
MA
Mario Aros C.
2024-2028 · INDEPENDIENTE
10.671
votes
RE
Rafael Enrique Vera Castillo
2021-2024 · DC
5.303
votes
FG
Fernando Guaman Guaman
2008-2012 · IND
3.770
votes
GT
Gloria Torres Espejo
2004-2008 · IND
3.774
votes
FG
Fernando Guaman Guaman
2000-2004 · UDI
3.448
votes
FG
Fernando Guaman Guaman
1996-2000 · UDI
2.484
votes
PS
Pedro Segundo Rojas Rivera
1992-1996 · PR
2.647
votes

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

Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL

CP
Cristian Pinto T.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · RENOVACION NACIONAL
2.117
votes
FA
Fernando Alvarez R.
POR CHILE, SEGUIMOS · FRENTE AMPLIO
1.444
votes
MR
Margarita Rodriguez P.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · INDEPENDIENTE
1.064
votes
ES
Enrique Silva R.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · INDEPENDIENTE
895
votes
CA
Caroll Alcayaga C.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · PARTIDO SOCIALISTA DE CHILE
883
votes
FG
Fernando Guaman G.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · INDEPENDIENTE
851
votes

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

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

Resolutions extracted
162
of 61 minutes read
Money involved
$4.833.062.611
sum of resolutions with amounts
ResolutionTypeAmountVote
26/2025 · Se aprueba nueva fecha para el último concejo ordinario del mes de enero.Otherunanimidad
4.2 · Aprobación de subvención municipal extraordinaria a la Asociación Valle del Elqui por $500,000.Subsidy$500.000
1 · Aprobación del pago de bonificación por retiro complementario para un funcionario favorecido por la ley 21.135.Budget amendment
4.5 · Asistencia a la convocatoria del directorio y alcaldes de parte de la asociación turística de Chile en CoyhaiqueOtherunanimidad
4.4 · Comisiones de Salud y Régimen InternoOtherunanimidad
4.3 · Subvención Extraordinaria para Bomberos de VicuñaSubsidy$5.000.000mayoria

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
132
Highly complex
24
Audit reports
0
YearFindingsAltam.Compl.Median.Reports
2021241311
20182912143
2017431
2016319153
2015443289

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

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

  • CG
    Compañía General de Electricidad S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 6 audiencias · 2018–2026
  • W
    Wom
    Lobby / interest management · 5 audiencias · 2021–2026
  • CM
    Compañia Minera Arqueros
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2020–2024
  • UC
    Uvax Chile SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2019–2022
  • FN
    Fundación Niebla
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2026
  • CT
    Chilquinta Transmision S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2021
  • CR
    Centro Recreacional Ripaluna SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2019
  • CD
    Colegio de Profesoras y Profesores de Chile Rm
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2017–2018
  • sd
    Sociedad de Ingeniería y Construcción Assieme Limitada
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2021
  • IH
    Itelecom Holding Chile SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2019
  • BS
    Bus Service Ltda.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2018–2023
  • CM
    Constructora Marcelo Enrique Penna Morgado E.I.R.L
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2018–2019
  • AG
    Asesoría Gestión y Servicios
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2023
  • AD
    Aguas del Valle S. A.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2019–2025
  • c
    Codees
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2023–2025
  • AC
    Asociacion Chilena de Seguridad
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2017–2023
  • GY
    Guard You SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
  • ID
    Inversiones del Este SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2023
  • MG
    Marquesa Glp SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2021
and 67 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

24.584
inhabitants
30.703
inhabitants
20022025

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

See the full trajectory to 2050
Since 2002
+26%
inhabitants
Estimated population 2050
32.022
+0% vs. 2035 (31.865)
Over 60 · 2050
36,18%
27,28% 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)94,28 %CENSO 2017 2017
School disengagement (leaves the system)0,8 %MINEDUC 2023
School enrollment270 studentsMINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
Municipal enrollment33,3 %MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE)557,5 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE)566,7 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
poblacion_censo28.047 inh.2024 Census 2024
Income poverty (CASEN 2022)10,9 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022)19,5 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Indigenous peoples13,56 %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 363 students registered for the PAES.

Registro Social de Hogares

People in the RSH
30.087
16.331 households
Households in the most vulnerable 40%
10.036
61% of RSH households
Female-headed households
51%
8.330
Elderly (60+)7.00723%
Children and adolescents (<18)6.32221%
Foreign nationals9153%
Belonging to indigenous peoples1.0063%
People with moderate/severe dependency4321%
Single-person households8.47152%

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
6.155
27 schools
Students per teacher
11,7
525 teachers
national median: 10,15
Average attendance
89,3%
national median: 89,8%
Priority studentsSEP
60,3%
socioeconomic vulnerability
national median: 66,8%
Where they study · by provider
Public (municipal + SLEP) 37%Private subsidized 63%
Pass rate
95,1%
national median: 98,2%
Dropoutschool withdrawal
2,26%
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
9
FONASA enrollees
16.784
55% of the population
Doctors employed
4
Health staff by contract type
Permanent staff: 124Contract staff: 42Fee contracts: 9
Primary-care medical visits · per year
11.795
50.158
20102025
Medical specialties served · 1 in the comuna (public system)
Otorhinolaryngology

Specialties with services recorded at the comuna's public facilities (REM DEIS, 2024). These are services performed, not doctor headcount. Excludes the private network.

Comprehensive home visits · per year
1.455
1.592
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 (16.845 in total)
CenterTypeProvider typeEnrollees% brackets A-B
Posta de Salud Rural CalingastaRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal3.20661%
Centro de Salud Familiar CalingastaFamily Health Center (CESFAM)Municipal2.83059%
Posta de Salud Rural Peralillo VicuñaRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal2.31365%
Posta de Salud Rural el Tambo (Vicuña)Rural Health Post (PSR)Municipal1.88957%
Posta de Salud Rural DiaguitasRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal1.83761%
Posta de Salud Rural RivadaviaRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal1.33356%
Posta de Salud Rural TalcunaRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal1.32156%
Posta de Salud Rural el MolleRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal1.19951%
Posta de Salud Rural ChapilcaRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal40860%
Posta de Salud Rural GualliguaicaRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal40865%
Posta de Salud Rural HuantaRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal10163%

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

Costs · 2025
Health spending accrued: $5.146.261.000 ($306.617/enrollee)MINSAL per capita: $3.369.643.000Municipal contribution: $685.429.000

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

Indigenous population
3.802
13.6% of the census population (Census 2024)
Indigenous communities
3
RNAI CONADI registry · Mar 2024
PeoplePeople% of total
Diaguita2.58968.1%
Mapuche68418.0%
Aymara2276.0%
Otro792.1%
Quechua721.9%
Atacameño o Lickanantay551.4%

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
56
Councils per 1,000 inhabitants
1.8
density of territorial organization
Non-profit organizations
437
the entire active civil fabric
Committees (water, housing, progress)
114
Sports
60
Social and aid
39
For the elderly
23
Cultural
16
Foundations and corporations
5
Fire brigades
2
Trade associations and cooperatives
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.

15 Local media · 1 AM · 1 Comunitaria · 12 FM · 1 Digital pressSource: SUBTEL · broadcasting licences · Regional Media Survey (MSGG)

Local mediaTypedial
AAMERICAFM97.5 FM
AVASTRONOMICA VALLE DE ELQUIFM91.5 FM
ddiarioelqui.clDigital press
MMISTRALFM95.3 FM
MMONTECARLOFM98.7 FM
SBSAN BARTOLOMEFM89.9 FM
CSComunicaciones San Gabriel SpA · holderFM93.9 FM
CdCorporacion de Radio Valparaiso Ltda. · holderFM90.9 FM
IMIlustre Municipalidad de Vicuña · holderFM100.1 FM
NENueva Elqui E.i.e. · holderComunitaria107.1 FM
OPOscar Patricio Berrios Alday Eventos y Radiodifusion E.I.R.L. · holderFM92.7 FM
PDProductora Domingo Sandoval E.I.R.L. · holderFM98.1 FM
PVProductora Valle de Elqui Eventos y Radiodifusion E.I.R.L. · holderFM96.9 FM
RDRadiodifusora Diaguitas Ltda. · holderFM103.1 FM
RVRadiodifusora Valle Hermoso S.A. · holderAM1080 AM

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
1.239
4,4% of the census population (Census 2024)
Main origin
Bolivia
448 people · 36% of the foreigners
Main countries of origin
448 Bolivia
405 Venezuela
72 Colombia
68 Haití

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
36
1 encampment (2024 Registry)
Housing deficit
669
6,8% of the comuna's households
Housing permits · 2024
43
2.682 m² · new construction
Subsidies Integrated System · DS01
321
paid · 2011–2025
Subsidies Solidarity Fund · DS49
439
beneficiaries · 2012–2025
Subsidies Rental · DS52
69
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

20.325homes · by type (2017)
House
10.347 · 96.4%
House
9.425 · 98.3%
Shack/hut/shanty
237 · 2.2%
Apartment
87 · 0.9%
Apartment
60 · 0.6%
Other private
39 · 0.4%
Other private
35 · 0.4%
Shack/improvised dwelling
32 · 0.3%
Room in old house/tenement
29 · 0.3%
Mobile
14 · 0.1%
Room in old house/tenement
11 · 0.1%
Indigenous dwelling
7 · 0.1%
Mobile
2 · 0%
73%owner-occupied · tenure (2002)
Owned outright
3.585 · 54.5%
Owned, being paid off
1.195 · 18.2%
Rented
637 · 9.7%
Free of charge
618 · 9.4%
Provided for work
540 · 8.2%

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

Elderly careSource: Chile Cuida · National Assets / SENAMA

Long-stay residencesELEAM
1
Beds
16
2,4 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.

Others
Asignación de zona 15% (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: 15% 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.

15% 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
$19.147.099.000
Own revenue
$3.168.658.000
17% of the total
Municipal Common Fund
$9.973.741.000
52% of the total
State transfers
$4.694.084.000
25% of the total
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios

Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)

$1.488.997.000
$19.147.099.000
20012025

Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025

18.2%
14.0%
11.1%
54.9%
Property tax$578.120.000
Business licenses$442.245.000
Vehicle permits$351.683.000
Cleaning fees$56.076.000
Other own revenue$1.740.534.000
Special-law revenues · 2025
Mining licenses (Law 19.143): $412.818.000

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

Revenue by sector · 2025
62.1%
20.2%
17.7%
Municipal$19.147.099.000
Education$6.219.422.000
Health$5.447.752.000
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Net recipient: it receives $9.361.146.000 more than it contributes.
Evolución por fuente de ingreso

Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend

$269.661.000
$3.168.658.000
20012025

FCM received · trend

$764.814.000
$9.973.741.000
20012025

State transfers · trend

$97.740.000
$4.694.084.000
20012025

Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Current budget · 2025
$24.734.524.000
Accrued spending · 2025
$15.998.634.000
Execution rate
64.7%
Unexecuted: $8.735.890.000
Low execution: it only executed 64.7% of the budget — $8.735.890.000 unspent.

Accrued spending · trend

$1.417.215.000
$15.998.634.000
20012025

Distribution by management area · 2025

42.7%
43.0%
7.8%
Internal management$6.831.518.000
Community services$6.874.639.000
Social programs$350.437.000
Municipal activities$527.029.000
Recreational programs$161.064.000
Cultural programs$1.253.947.000

What the budget is spent on · 2025

Spending lineAmount% of spending
Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending$5.146.261.00032.2%
Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance$4.453.561.00027.8%
Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees$3.934.546.00024.6%
Investment (works and projects)$1.716.427.00010.7%
Transfers to health$685.429.0004.3%
Electricity (facilities)$680.979.0004.3%
Cleaning, garbage and landfills · waste collection and disposal$447.303.0002.8%
Water (facilities)$106.338.0000.7%
Councillor stipends$100.096.0000.6%
Travel allowances$20.459.0000.1%
Transfers to education$16.041.0000.1%
Commissions and representation$13.631.0000.1%

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

24.6%
27.8%
47.6%
Personnel (Subt. 21)$3.934.546.000
Goods and services (Subt. 22)$4.453.561.000
Others$7.610.527.000

Personnel by contract type · 2025

39.5%
16.5%
35.9%
Permanent staff$2.538.438.000
Contract staff$1.061.947.000
Fee contracts$334.161.000
Labor Code$188.162.000
Community progs.$2.310.904.000

Municipal headcount · 2023

39.3%
52.6%
8.1%
Permanent staff53
Contract staff71
Fee contracts11
Total: 135 staffFee contracts: 8.1% of the headcountWomen: 33.9%Professionalization: 32.3%
Cost/staffer permanent: $25.339.264/yearCost/staffer contract: $9.904.113/yearCost/staffer fees: $20.823.000/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: $1.716.427.000 (10.7% of spending)Councillor stipends: $100.096.000Travel allowances: $20.459.000Commissions and representation: $13.631.000

Basic and general services · 2025

Garbage and landfills: $447.303.000Electricity: $680.979.000Water: $106.338.000

Final works approvals (DOM) · per year

103
120
20012025

Building permits issued · per year

66
164
20122025

Management indicator · 2025

Maintained green areas per inhabitant
10 m²/inh.
Security/patrol cars
1
Security/patrol bicycles
0
Surveillance cameras
150
Security/patrol pickups
2
Security booths
0
CESFAM in the comuna
1
Primary-care medical visits
50.158
Clinics
0
urban and rural
Dependence on the Municipal Common Fund
75,89%
of own revenue
Security drones
1
Permanent staff
94
Permanent own revenue
16,55%
of total revenue
Doctors employed
4
as of Dec 31
Security/patrol motorcycles
0
Building permits
164
Health staff
42
contract
Health staff
9
fee-based
Health staff
124
permanent
FONASA-enrolled population
16.784
municipal health
Rural health posts
9
Street-market stalls
240
Final works approvals
120

What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data

Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público
Historic amount
$103.369.186.885
Purchase orders
41.503

Purchase-order amount · trend

$1.267.017.383
$5.599.435.886
20072026
Top suppliersAmountPOs
Toconao Ltda. Soc. Corredora de Seguros$9.004.537.7255
Transgarden Ltda.$4.968.855.969354
Constructora Zurcal Ltda.$3.520.431.7364
Constructora Nuevo Chañar S A.$3.033.893.72951
Sima$2.313.364.25361
Hilton Barahona y Cia Ltda.$2.223.900.570256
Soc de Ingenieria y Construccion Assieme Ltda.$1.750.392.71115
Zepeda y Salas Ltda.$1.404.526.797273

Purchase mechanism · 2026

Tender $4.121.170.57074%
Agile Purchase $809.291.43114%
Direct award discretionary$344.626.3366%
Framework Agreement $324.347.5496%

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

Registered companies
1.993
domiciled in the comuna
Dependent workers
10.348

Pyramid by sales bracket

65.8%
13.4%
19.2%
Micro (≤2,400 UF)1.312 companies
Small (≤25k UF)267 companies
Medium (≤100k UF)25 companies
Large (>100k UF)7 companies
No sales/no info382 companies

Largest companies domiciled in the comuna

CompanyLine of businessSales bracketWorkers
Cia Minera San GeronimoEXPLOTACION DE MINAS Y CANTERASLarge 4 (>1M UF)925
Coop Agricola Pisquera Elqui Ltda.INDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERALarge 4 (>1M UF)407
Servicios Mineros del Valle SpAEXPLOTACION DE MINAS Y CANTERASLarge 2202
Servicios a la Mineria Omint SpAEXPLOTACION DE MINAS Y CANTERASLarge 23
Agricola Valle Alto LimitadaAGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCALarge 1201
Soc Agroindustrial Rio Elqui Ltda.INDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERALarge 137
Guillermo Prohens Sommella S aAGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCALarge 1
Corporacion Educacional Senderos ElquiENSEÑANZAMedium 2144
Soc Agricola el Alamo LimitadaAGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCAMedium 278
Agricola Rivadavia LimitadaAGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCAMedium 249

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
1
US$ 45 M declared
Approved last 5 years
8
US$ 276 M declared
Construction jobsunder review
45
+ 5 in operations
Construction jobsapproved 5 yrs
833
peak labor
ProjectOwnerStatusInvestment (US$M)Constr. jobs
Línea de Transmisión Eléctrica HVDC Kimal - Lo AguirreEIAConexión Kimal Lo Aguirre S.A.Approved1.4809.535
Proyecto Minero ArquerosEIACompañía Minera Arqueros S.A.Approved200675
Línea de Transmisión y Central BESS Halcón 13DIABess Halcón 13 SpAApproved91,0820
Sistema de Almacenamiento de Energía (SAE) y Transmisión PuyuhuapiDIASae Volcán Puyuhuapi SpAUnder Review4545
Prospección Minera CampanarioDIAInversiones Barrick Conosur SpAApproved36174
Parque Fotovoltaico y sistema de almacenamiento de energía para el sumDIAThe Association Of Universities ForApproved1050
Modificaciones Proyecto Minero ArquerosDIACompañía Minera Arqueros S.A.Approved3
Crecimiento Tranque de Relaves PanulesDIASociedad Servicios a la Mineria OmiApproved0,25
Mina Yeso CorralDIAYesos Andinos SpAApproved0,14

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 emissions from industrial sources · tons/year (RETC 2020)
1 t MP10
1 t MP2,5
0 t SO₂

Air quality observed at MMA's SINCA stations within the comuna (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.

128
Species
90
Flora
38
Fauna
36
In conservation status
31
Endemic to Chile
Species in conservation category
GuayacánPorlieria chilensisVUSandillón, asiento de la suegraEriosyce aurataVUBelloto del norte, belloto (genérico)Beilschmiedia miersiiVUQueuleGomortega keuleENPitaoPitavia punctataENBelloto del surBeilschmiedia berteroanaENRuilNothofagus alessandriiENSapo de ruloRhinella aruncoVUUvilloMonttea chilensisENDragón de oído cubiertoLiolaemus audituvelatusVULagarto de müllerLiolaemus lorenzmuelleriVUAñañucaPhycella scarlatinaVUPalma chilena, palmera chilena, palmera de coquitos, palma de miel, palma de vino de chile, can – canJubaea chilensisENLagarto gruñidor de álvaroPristidactylus alvaroiCRTricahueCyanoliseus patagonusENCanelo, boique, voigue, fuñe, choólDrimys winteriENGuanacoLama guanicoeVUPiuquén, piquén, guayataChloephaga melanopteraENGüiñaLeopardus guignaVUGolondrina de mar negra, markham’s storm-petrelHydrobates markhamiENGaviota garumaLeucophaeus modestusVUGolondrina de mar de collar, ringed storm petrel (inglés)Hydrobates hornbyiVUCarbonillo, mendozaCordia decandraNT-Copiapoa coquimbanaNTIguanaCallopistes maculatusNTLagarto nítidoLiolaemus nitidusNTDragón de torres-muraLiolaemus torresiNTFrangel, olivillo de la cordillera, pulpicaKageneckia angustifoliaNTJagartija de velosoLiolaemus velosoiNTCóndorVultur gryphusNTMurciélago gris, murciélago de atacama, murciélago orejas de ratón del norteMyotis atacamensisNTColo-coloLeopardus colocoloNTPumaPuma concolorNTPalito negro, doradillaAdiantum chilenseNTChorlito cordilleranoPhegornis mitchelliiNTSapito de cuatro ojosPleurodema thaulNT

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.

7 Wetlands · 4 urban · 529 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)

CodeWetlandHectares
HUR-04-01Rio Elquiurban264 /543
HUR-04-41Río Elqui - Vicuñaurban231
HUR-04-04Rio Cochiguazurban22 /152
HUR-04-06Quebrada Arrayanurban7 /29
HPU-04-01Sin identificar3
HPU-04-05Sin identificar1
HPU-04-04Sin identificar1

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. 18 projects totaling US$ 889 million, approved between 1995 and 2025. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.

Others4 projects · US$ 390 M · 2009–2020
Aura IncConstruccion y Operacion de Gran Telescopio de Rastreo Sinoptico (e-seia) · Ampliación de la Actividad de Transporte de Sustancias Peligrosas de ENAEX Servicios S.A.
Mining7 projects · US$ 316 M · 1995–2024
Compañía Minera Arqueros S.A.Proyecto Minero Arqueros · Proyecto Minero Tambo
Energy7 projects · US$ 183 M · 1996–2025
Conexión Kimal Lo Aguirre S.A.Línea de Transmisión Eléctrica HVDC Kimal - Lo Aguirre · Línea de Transmisión y Central BESS Halcón 13

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 del Valle
Higher education
1 campus in the comuna

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

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

Final SMA sanctions

Final sanctions
1
Sanctioned entities
1
companies, individuals and institutions
Total fines
5 UTA
1 with fines
Sanctioned entityAuditable unitCategoryFine (UTA)
Inversiones Pro SpATerraza Sunset VicuñaAmenities5

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.

Green areasSource: SINIM · SUBDERE (2025)

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

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

National heritageSource: National Monuments Council (Feb 2026)

National monuments
2
Historic monuments
1
Heritage zones
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
Vertedero Quebrada El MollacoVertedero30.072 t/year · receives from 2 comunas
C.D.P. VicuñaPrison (CDP)
PTAS - VICUÑAPTAS · laguna facultativaAGUAS DEL VALLE S.A. · discharges into río elqui
Where this comuna's waste goes
Vertedero Quebrada El Mollaco (Vicuña) · 21.561 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
0
Area affected
0 ha
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
409
At high or very high risk
189
55 very high
Main threat
Interrupción de caminos

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)

Under water-scarcity decreeDecreto MOP N°75 11-07-2025 · in force until 12-07-2026
Years under decree since 2008
10
latest: 2026 · 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
7,73°C
2035-2065 projection: +1,76°C
Annual precipitation
135 mm
projection: -9%
Hot days>30°C
2
projection: +3 days
Frost days
120

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
2.561
all crimes
Rate per 100,000 inhab.
8.385
Police cases · trend
1.922
2.561
20102025
By crime type · 2025
CrimeCasesRate/100k
Alcohol and drug use in public spaces1.0363.392
Threats279914
Domestic violence233763
Property damage194635
Larceny157514
Minor injuries130426
Burglary of an uninhabited place92301
Burglary of an inhabited place75246
Drug-related crimes53174
Weapons-related crimes47154
Robbery with violence or intimidation38124
Sexual abuse35115

Showing the 12 crimes with most cases of 28.

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
150
Guards and inspectors
21
1 per 1.454 hab
Patrol fleet
3
cars, pickups, motorcycles, bikes
Patrol fleet by type
Cars: 1Pickups: 2Drones: 1
Surveillance cameras · trend
52
150
20202025

Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)

Crashes · 2024
56
Deaths
6
19,6 per 100,000 inhab.
Injured
87
6 serious
Pedestrian collisions
4
1 pedestrian killed

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.