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Escudo de Los Vilos

Los Vilos

Coquimbo24.408 inhabitantsPoblación proyectada INE 20241.856 km² of area13 inh./km²$22.653M ingreso municipalSINIM · ingreso total percibido · 2025
Profile today2050
The comuna in context · among 346 comunas
Economy
14.125 jobs
17th most jobs promised by investment projects
Explore
Economy
579/1,000 inhab.
23rd most promised jobs per inhabitant (one megaproject transforms it)
Explore
Environment
57 species in conservation status
17th most documented threatened species
Explore
Finance
+1.684%
26th fastest-growing municipal budget (since 2001)
Explore
Population
+14,8%
Population would grow between now and 2050
Society
20,9%
Multidimensional poverty · 113th highest of 346
Finance
$928 thousand
per inhabitant per year · rank 80 of 346
Finance
79,45%
It depends on the Common Fund: almost no own revenue
Safety
8.694
cases per 100k inhab. · 24th in the country
Education
562,2 pts
below the national median in the PAES (576,9 pts)
Finance
95th
most dependent on the Common Fund of 340
Summary

What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap

28 Squares and green areas
23 Schools
10 Rodeo arenas (medialunas)
7 Health centers
6 Kindergartens
2 Carabineros
2 Fire stations
1 Pharmacies
1 Hospitals
1 Libraries
1 Institutes

Los Vilos es una ciudad y comuna del Norte Chico de Chile, la más austral de la región de Coquimbo, ubicada en la provincia de Choapa. Se encuentra a 246 kilómetros de La Serena y a 224 kilómetros de Santiago.

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

Liveability index · EIU style

44.1 /100
Ver el ranking y simular
#246 of 346 · most liveable in the country (EIU weighting)
Safety28
Health33
Culture and environment72
Education44
Infrastructure40
AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests

Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

Christian Gross H.Re-elected
CONTIGO CHILE MEJOR · PARTIDO SOCIALISTA DE CHILE
5.034
votes (32.52%)
19.646
Electoral roll
85,14%
Turnout
Mayoral history · 7 terms
CG
Christian Gross H.
2024-2028 · PARTIDO SOCIALISTA DE CHILE
5.034
votes
CF
Christian Frank Gross Hidalgo
2021-2024 · IND
1.899
votes
JJ
Juan Jorquera Niño de Zepeda
2008-2012 · RN
4.057
votes
CS
Carlos Salinas Altamirano
2004-2008 · PS
4.042
votes
CS
Carlos Salinas Altamirano
2000-2004 · PS
3.098
votes
CS
Carlos Salinas Altamirano
1996-2000 · PS
3.792
votes
CS
Carlos Salinas Altamirano
1992-1996 · PS
2.818
votes

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

Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL

FC
Fabian Carvajal V.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · RENOVACION NACIONAL
1.914
votes
RU
Roberto Urrutia U.
TU COMUNA RADICAL · INDEPENDIENTE
1.179
votes
MG
Margarita Gonzalez A.
POR CHILE, SEGUIMOS · FRENTE AMPLIO
1.042
votes
CA
Carla Acevedo R.
POR CHILE, SEGUIMOS · INDEPENDIENTE
860
votes
IR
Isaias Ramirez P.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · INDEPENDIENTE
810
votes
BM
Berta Martinez G.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · RENOVACION NACIONAL
537
votes

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

Comptroller auditsSource: CGR · Municipal Observatory

Findingstotal
171
Highly complex
50
Audit reports
0
YearFindingsAltam.Compl.Median.Reports
202121156
2020321
20183715184
201741
20164625119
20156093219

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

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

  • IL
    Inmobiliaria los Vilos Limitada
    Lobby / interest management · 15 audiencias · 2018
  • FM
    Fundaciòn Minera los Pelambres
    Lobby / interest management · 13 audiencias · 2016–2018
  • S
    Synthesis
    Lobby / interest management · 10 audiencias · 2019–2022
  • JD
    Junta de Vecinos la Noria de Pichidangui
    Lobby / interest management · 9 audiencias · 2016–2018
  • Ad
    Asociación de Funcionarias de Jardines Infantiles y Salas Cunas Vtf
    Lobby / interest management · 7 audiencias · 2016–2019
  • AD
    Academia Deportiva de Patinaje Artístico de los Vilos.
    Lobby / interest management · 7 audiencias · 2016–2019
  • CG
    Compañía General de Electricidad S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 6 audiencias · 2019–2026
  • CL
    Club Laboral Campomar de los Vilos
    Lobby / interest management · 6 audiencias · 2016–2019
  • JD
    Junta de Vecinos Matagorda
    Lobby / interest management · 6 audiencias · 2015–2021
  • BE
    Banco Estado
    Lobby / interest management · 5 audiencias · 2018–2025
  • FR
    Fundaciòn Rondo
    Lobby / interest management · 5 audiencias · 2016–2017
  • CM
    Comité Monte Verde de los Vilos
    Lobby / interest management · 5 audiencias · 2017–2019
  • Cd
    Casa de la Mujer los Vilos
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2018–2019
  • Ad
    Agrupación de Taxis Básicos N°1 los Vilos.
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2016–2019
  • AG
    Asociación Gremial Caleta las Conchas
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2016–2020
  • FJ
    Fundación Junto al Barrio
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2020
  • PR
    Pozo, Ríos, Rodríguez y Torres Ltda. (Zecovery)
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2020–2022
  • IN
    Inmobiliaria Nuevo Norte SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2020–2021
  • CR
    Corporación Regional de Desarrollo Productivo Fomento
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2021–2025
  • JD
    Junta de Vecinos Nº4 Caimanes
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2016–2018
and 258 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

17.920
inhabitants
24.641
inhabitants
20022025

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

See the full trajectory to 2050
Since 2002
+39%
inhabitants
Estimated population 2050
28.544
+7% vs. 2035 (26.670)
Over 60 · 2050
37,47%
28,37% 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)87,2 %CENSO 2017 2017
School disengagement (leaves the system)1,2 %MINEDUC 2023
School enrollment254 studentsMINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
Municipal enrollment50 %MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE)562,2 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE)574,2 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
poblacion_censo22.879 inh.2024 Census 2024
Income poverty (CASEN 2022)8,5 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022)20,9 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Indigenous peoples11,83 %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 287 students registered for the PAES.

Registro Social de Hogares

People in the RSH
25.057
12.751 households
Households in the most vulnerable 40%
7.714
60% of RSH households
Female-headed households
51%
6.556
Elderly (60+)5.88723%
Children and adolescents (<18)5.32621%
Foreign nationals8343%
Belonging to indigenous peoples6753%
People with moderate/severe dependency3291%
Single-person households6.18148%

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
4.780
27 schools
Students per teacher
12,4
385 teachers
national median: 10,15
Average attendance
89%
national median: 89,8%
Priority studentsSEP
68,5%
socioeconomic vulnerability
national median: 66,8%
Where they study · by provider
Public (municipal + SLEP) 52%Private subsidized 48%
Pass rate
99%
national median: 98,2%
Dropoutschool withdrawal
1,85%
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
5
FONASA enrollees
8.436
35% of the population
Doctors employed
4
Health staff by contract type
Permanent staff: 47Contract staff: 35Fee contracts: 0
Primary-care medical visits · per year
14.955
81.534
20102025
Medical specialties served · 6 in the comuna (public system)
PediatricsInternal MedicineAdult GynecologyObstetricsAdult NephrologyPediatric Gynecology

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
1.414
1.501
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 (8.412 in total)
CenterTypeProvider typeEnrollees% brackets A-B
Posta de Salud Rural CaimanesRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal4.78466%
Posta de Salud Rural QuilimaríRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal2.55768%
Posta de Salud Rural los CóndoresRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal51482%
Posta de Salud Rural GuangualíRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal41378%
Posta de Salud Rural TilamaRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal14163%
Hospital San Pedro (los Vilos)HospitalHealth Service30%

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

Costs · 2025
Health spending accrued: $2.796.884.000 ($331.541/enrollee)MINSAL per capita: $1.876.497.000Municipal contribution: $568.000.000

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

Indigenous population
2.707
11.8% of the census population (Census 2024)
Indigenous communities
3
RNAI CONADI registry · Mar 2024
PeoplePeople% of total
Chango1.34949.8%
Mapuche78328.9%
Diaguita40715.0%
Aymara562.1%

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
70
Councils per 1,000 inhabitants
2.9
density of territorial organization
Non-profit organizations
749
the entire active civil fabric
Committees (water, housing, progress)
269
Sports
86
Social and aid
64
For the elderly
25
Cultural
20
Foundations and corporations
5
Trade associations and cooperatives
4
Fire brigades
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.

17 Local media · 1 Comunitaria · 16 FMSource: SUBTEL · broadcasting licences · Regional Media Survey (MSGG)

Local mediaTypedial
BBALNEARIOFM98.1 FM
DFDEFINICION FMFM89.7 FM
DFDIGITAL FM2FM92.1 FM
DDULCEFM99.5 FM
LVLA VOZ DEL MARFM99.9 FM
PPOSITIVAFM101.7 FM
RMRADIO MASFM93.3 FM
DlDistrito los Vilos de la Mision Pacifico de la Iglesia Adventista del Septimo Dia · holderComunitaria107.9 FM
IeIngenieria en Radio, Television y Telecomunicaciones Lucas Gonzalez Rivera E.I.R.L. · holderFM105.9 FM
IdIsaias del Rosario Ramirez Pereira Irp Comunicaciones E.I.R.L. · holderFM99.1 FM
JdJunta de Vecinos Quilimari Alto · holderFM106.5 FM
O&Ossandon & Jamett Comunicaciones SpA · holderFM103.7 FM
PEProducciones Eventos y Comunicaciones Space SpA · holderFM95.5 FM
RdRigoberto de la Cruz Godoy Gonzalez Comunicaciones E.I.R.L. · holderFM101.3 FM
SCSistema Cristiano de Radiodifusion Ltda. · holderFM99.5 FM
SRSoc. Radiodifusora Palacios Ltda. · holderFM104.9 FM
SRStereo Radiodifusion E.I.R.L. · holderFM88.1 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
1.382
6% of the census population (Census 2024)
Main origin
Venezuela
853 people · 62% of the foreigners
Main countries of origin
853 Venezuela
213 Colombia
62 Argentina
52 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
315
1 encampment (2024 Registry)
Housing deficit
578
6,8% of the comuna's households
Housing permits · 2024
466
32.248 m² · new construction
Subsidies Integrated System · DS01
179
paid · 2011–2025
Subsidies Solidarity Fund · DS49
603
beneficiaries · 2013–2025
Subsidies Rental · DS52
25
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

21.534homes · by type (2017)
House
12.935 · 97.7%
House
8.236 · 99.3%
Shack/hut/shanty
208 · 1.6%
Other private
53 · 0.4%
Other private
33 · 0.4%
Room in old house/tenement
25 · 0.2%
Shack/improvised dwelling
13 · 0.2%
Apartment
10 · 0.1%
Room in old house/tenement
9 · 0.1%
Mobile
4 · 0%
Apartment
3 · 0%
Mobile
3 · 0%
Indigenous dwelling
2 · 0%
73%owner-occupied · tenure (2002)
Owned outright
2.685 · 57.4%
Owned, being paid off
725 · 15.5%
Rented
552 · 11.8%
Provided for work
426 · 9.1%
Free of charge
286 · 6.1%

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
Los Pelambres ↔ Caimanes (Acuerdo Marco)community
Acuerdo Marco de Entendimiento (mayo 2016, voluntario)

Fondo comunitario ~US$36 M voluntario de Minera Los Pelambres (Antofagasta Minerals), aprobado por ~81% de los residentes de Caimanes. Cerró el conflicto del tranque El Mauro.

Fondo ~US$36 M (voluntario)· desde 2016Source
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
$22.653.131.000
Own revenue
$3.522.694.000
16% of the total
Municipal Common Fund
$13.621.976.000
60% of the total
State transfers
$4.587.333.000
20% of the total
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios

Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)

$1.269.795.000
$22.653.131.000
20012025

Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025

27.6%
15.8%
13.6%
38.5%
Property tax$972.609.000
Business licenses$558.296.000
Vehicle permits$478.487.000
Cleaning fees$157.431.000
Other own revenue$1.355.871.000
Special-law revenues · 2025
Mining licenses (Law 19.143): $157.489.000Aquaculture licenses (Law 20.033): $1.516.000

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

Revenue by sector · 2025
61.5%
30.2%
8.3%
Municipal$22.653.131.000
Education$11.120.614.000
Health$3.076.685.000
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Net recipient: it receives $12.793.836.000 more than it contributes.
Evolución por fuente de ingreso

Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend

$442.879.000
$3.522.694.000
20012025

FCM received · trend

$670.435.000
$13.621.976.000
20012025

State transfers · trend

$12.186.000
$4.587.333.000
20012025

Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Current budget · 2025
$29.124.105.000
Accrued spending · 2025
$22.374.291.000
Execution rate
76.8%
Unexecuted: $6.749.814.000
Low execution: it only executed 76.8% of the budget — $6.749.814.000 unspent.

Accrued spending · trend

$1.240.348.000
$22.374.291.000
20012025

Distribution by management area · 2025

40.8%
44.2%
8.4%
Internal management$9.118.947.000
Community services$9.889.274.000
Social programs$1.889.751.000
Municipal activities$859.238.000
Recreational programs$345.962.000
Cultural programs$271.119.000

What the budget is spent on · 2025

Spending lineAmount% of spending
Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance$5.962.530.00026.6%
Investment (works and projects)$4.434.554.00019.8%
Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees$3.800.924.00017.0%
Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending$2.796.884.00012.5%
Cleaning, garbage and landfills · waste collection and disposal$1.532.643.0006.9%
Transfers to education$1.499.700.0006.7%
Electricity (facilities)$695.422.0003.1%
Transfers to health$568.000.0002.5%
Street lighting$139.235.0000.6%
Councillor stipends$130.678.0000.6%
Travel allowances$103.623.0000.5%
Water (facilities)$71.576.0000.3%
Commissions and representation$28.337.0000.1%

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

17.0%
26.6%
56.4%
Personnel (Subt. 21)$3.800.924.000
Goods and services (Subt. 22)$5.962.530.000
Others$12.610.837.000

Personnel by contract type · 2025

31.1%
18.9%
43.4%
Permanent staff$2.175.434.000
Contract staff$1.323.148.000
Fee contracts$302.342.000
Labor Code$158.813.000
Community progs.$3.032.074.000

Municipal headcount · 2023

50.5%
47.7%
Permanent staff56
Contract staff53
Fee contracts2
Total: 111 staffFee contracts: 1.8% of the headcountWomen: 50.5%Professionalization: 45.9%
Cost/staffer permanent: $27.863.429/yearCost/staffer contract: $18.785.434/yearCost/staffer fees: $159.602.000/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: $4.434.554.000 (19.8% of spending)Councillor stipends: $130.678.000Travel allowances: $103.623.000Commissions and representation: $28.337.000

Basic and general services · 2025

Garbage and landfills: $1.532.643.000Street lighting: $139.235.000Electricity: $695.422.000Water: $71.576.000

Final works approvals (DOM) · per year

226
74
20012025

Building permits issued · per year

99
81
20122025

What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data

Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público
Historic amount
$91.963.519.081
Purchase orders
34.874

Purchase-order amount · trend

$703.667.545
$5.968.960.234
20072026
Top suppliersAmountPOs
Ingenieria Construcciones y Servicios Yagnam Ltda.$8.777.364.5141
Crecer SpA$3.417.002.06726
Guillermo$3.219.674.6664
Kras Construcciones S.A.$2.938.853.8871
Sergio Andres Madariaga Bravo$1.962.057.85513
Ingeniería y Construcción Puerto Principal S.A.$1.671.374.5481
Soloverde S.A.$1.559.999.9881
Constructora San Fernando S a$1.395.288.8122

Purchase mechanism · 2026

Tender $4.021.309.31667%
Framework Agreement $851.123.65914%
Agile Purchase $658.008.32311%
Direct award discretionary$438.518.9347%

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

Registered companies
2.155
domiciled in the comuna
Dependent workers
5.427

Pyramid by sales bracket

65.4%
12.9%
20.5%
Micro (≤2,400 UF)1.409 companies
Small (≤25k UF)278 companies
Medium (≤100k UF)22 companies
Large (>100k UF)5 companies
No sales/no info441 companies

Largest companies domiciled in the comuna

CompanyLine of businessSales bracketWorkers
Ingenieria y Construcccion Profesionales Vilenos SpACONSTRUCCIONLarge 2730
Soc Electrica Hecso LimitadaCONSTRUCCIONLarge 2279
Sociedad de Transportes Frankar LimitadaTRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOLarge 2132
Sociedad Comercial Correa y Correa LimitadaACTIVIDADES DE SERVICIOS ADMINISTRATIVOS Y DELarge 139
M & C Obras y Servicios Generales LimitadaCONSTRUCCIONMedium 2162
Servicios Integrales Hermanas Garcia Miranda SpAACTIVIDADES DE SERVICIOS ADMINISTRATIVOS Y DEMedium 275
Transportes Herrmann LimitadaTRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOMedium 241
Servicios Herrmann LimitadaCOMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACMedium 239
Inversiones Inmobiliarias y Servicios el Corral SpAACTIVIDADES DE ALOJAMIENTO Y DE SERVICIO DE CMedium 232
Transcap SpATRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOMedium 226

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$ 667 M declared
Approved last 5 years
3
US$ 376 M declared
Construction jobsunder review
863
+ 341 in operations
Construction jobsapproved 5 yrs
939
peak labor
ProjectOwnerStatusInvestment (US$M)Constr. jobs
Extensión de Vida Útil de Minera Los PelambresEIAMinera los PelambresUnder Review2.0002.590
Línea de Transmisión Eléctrica HVDC Kimal - Lo AguirreEIAConexión Kimal Lo Aguirre S.A.Approved1.4809.535
Proyecto de Adaptación OperacionalEIAMinera los PelambresApproved1.0002.000
Transporte terrestre de ácido sulfúrico entre la región de Arica y ParDIAAsociación Gremial de Dueños de CamApproved9,72
Logística y transporte de Sustancias peligrosas en las Regiones XV, I,DIASociedad de Servicios y TransportesUnder Review6,3

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

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

Roads and motorwaysSource: OpenStreetMap · 2026 snapshot

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

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

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

No air monitoring station (SINCA) in the comuna.

4monitoring stations· measures MP10· stations: Caimanes, Chacay, El Mauro, Punta Chungo

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

Nearest protected wilderness area (SNASPE)
Las ChinchillasNational Reserveat 45.8 km

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.

335
Species
216
Flora
118
Fauna
1
Funga
89
In conservation status
63
Endemic to Chile
Species in conservation category
GuayacánPorlieria chilensisVUBelloto del norte, belloto (genérico)Beilschmiedia miersiiVUPalma chilena, palmera chilena, palmera de coquitos, palma de miel, palma de vino de chile, can – canJubaea chilensisENHuillipatagua, naranjillo, pataguaCitronella mucronataVUBelloto del surBeilschmiedia berteroanaENSapo de ruloRhinella aruncoVUQueuleGomortega keuleENRuilNothofagus alessandriiENSandillón, asiento de la suegraEriosyce aurataVUPitaoPitavia punctataENRoble de santiago, roble blanco, roble, hualle, pellín,hualoNothofagus macrocarpaVUUvilloMonttea chilensisENAñañucaPhycella scarlatinaVUParamela de til-tilAdesmia resinosaENRana chilenaCalyptocephalella gayiVULagartija de schröederLiolaemus schroederiVULagarto gruñidor de álvaroPristidactylus alvaroiCRPejerrey chilenoBasilichthys microlepidotusVUSapo de atacamaRhinella atacamensisVUVaquita de la isla choros, vaquita del desiertoGyriosomus granulipennisVUVaquita del desierto de paposoGyriosomus angustusENCascarudo de las docasCallyntra multicostaENDragón de oído cubiertoLiolaemus audituvelatusVUChinchilla costinaChinchilla lanigeraENPatagua, patahuaCrinodendron pataguaVUPancoraAegla laevisENPochaCheirodon pisciculusVUTollo de agua dulceDiplomystes chilensisENBagre grandeNematogenys inermisENGruñidor de valeriaPristidactylus valeriaeENGuanacoLama guanicoeVUCanelo, boique, voigue, fuñe, choólDrimys winteriENTricahueCyanoliseus patagonusENZorro colorado, zorro culpeo, zorro coloradode tierra del fuego, zorro culpeo de tierra del fuegoLycalopex culpaeusVURatón topo del matorralChelemys megalonyxVUGüiñaLeopardus guignaVUAraucaria, pehuén, piñonero, pino piñonero, pino chileno, pino araucaria, pewen, guiliuAraucaria araucanaENPiuquén, piquén, guayataChloephaga melanopteraENOlivillo, teque, tique, palo muerto, aceitunilloAextoxicon punctatumVUAlerceFitzroya cupressoidesENLinguePersea lingueVUGaviota garumaLeucophaeus modestusVUGolondrina de mar de collar, ringed storm petrel (inglés)Hydrobates hornbyiVUTarántula chilena rosada, araña pollitoGrammostola roseaVUBagrecitoTrichomycterus areolatusVUComadrejita trompudaRhyncholestes raphanurusVUGolondrina de mar negra, markham’s storm-petrelHydrobates markhamiENPidencitoLaterallus jamaicensisENBecacina pintadaNycticryphes semicollarisENChungungo, nutria marina, gato de mar, chinchiménLontra felinaENPingüino de humboldt, pingüino, pájaro niño, patranka, humboldt penguin (inglés), peruvian penguin (inglés)Spheniscus humboldtiENAbejorro, abejorro colorado, moscardón, duillin, diwmeñ, abejorro gigante de la patagonia, don basilioBombus dahlbomiiENPuyeGalaxias maculatusVUGato montés andinoLeopardus jacobitaENBallena de aleta, rorcual comúnBalaenoptera physalusCRBallena sei, rorcual bacalao, rorcual de rudolphiBalaenoptera borealisCRChinchilla cordilleranaChinchilla chinchillaCRLagarto nítidoLiolaemus nitidusNTIguanaCallopistes maculatusNTHitigu, arrayán de hoja rojaMyrceugenia rufaNT
and 29 more

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

2 Wetlands · 1 urban · 45 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)

CodeWetlandHectares
HPU-04-02Humedal Laguna Conchali41
HUR-04-58Estero Pichidanguiurban4

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$ 2.024 million, approved between 1997 and 2025. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.

Mining7 projects · US$ 1.354 M · 1997–2023
Minera los PelambresInfraestructura Complementaria · Proyecto de Expansión 85.000 tpd Minera Los Pelambres
Energy13 projects · US$ 458 M · 2005–2025
Conexión Kimal Lo Aguirre S.A.Línea de Transmisión Eléctrica HVDC Kimal - Lo Aguirre · Plan de Expansión Chile LT 2x500 kV Cardones - Polpaico
Real estate1 project · US$ 103 M · 2001
Inmobiliaria Río Quilimarí Ltda.Proyecto Turístico-Inmobiliario Laguna de Quilimarí
Transport Infrastructure1 project · US$ 63 M · 1998
Dirección General de Concesiones de Obras Públicas del Ministerio de Obras PúblicasConcesión Internacional Ruta 5 Tramo Los Vilos - La Serena
Hydraulic Infrastructure1 project · US$ 23 M · 2019
Minera los PelambresMuro Portezuelo Llau-Llau
Port Infrastructure1 project · US$ 21 M · 1998
Minera los PelambresModificación Muelle Mecanizado Los Pelambres
Others7 projects · US$ 2 M · 2011–2020
Enaex Servicios S.A.Ampliación de la Actividad de Transporte de Sustancias Peligrosas de ENAEX Servicios S.A. · TRANSPORTES DE SUSTANCIAS PELIGROSAS REGIONES XV, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, RM, TRANSPORTES BELLO E HIJOS LTDA.

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 · also ESSSI, ESSETO
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
3
Sanctioned entities
3
companies, individuals and institutions
Total fines
9 UTA
3 with fines
Sanctioned entityAuditable unitCategoryFine (UTA)
Manuel Rodrigo Vasquez OlivaresPUB HILDAAmenities4
Maria Silva TalamillaCANCHA FUTBOL BALON DE ORO – LOS VILOSAmenities3
Noemi Ibacache OlivaresPANADERÍA PANCHITOAmenities3

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

Appeals before the Environmental Courts

Appeals
3
on projects in the comuna
Case no.Parties / projectSubjectDecision
R-240-2020
2TA
Organización Comunitaria Funcional Vecinos Los Nogales / Director Ejecutivo del Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Plan de Expansión Chile LT 2x500 kv Cardones-Polpaico
Administrative invalidationRejects
93528-2021
1TA
Jacobo Abraham Ventura Svigilsky y otros con Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente
Proyecto Integral de Desarrollo
SMA complaint archivedRejects
132151-2020
1TA
Álvaro Castro Cepeda y otros con Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Infraestructura complementaria
Administrative invalidation - Environmental AssessmentRejects

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

Green areasSource: SINIM · SUBDERE (2025)

Green space per capita
4 m²
40% 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
13
Historic monuments
9
Nature sanctuaries
4

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 Fundo CaracasVertedero25.117 t/year
ES - LOS VILOSPTAS · emisario submarinoAGUAS DEL VALLE S.A. · discharges into mar
PTAS - PICHIDANGUIPTAS · lombrifiltroESSSI S.A. · discharges into quebrada seca
Where this comuna's waste goes
Vertedero Fundo Caracas (Los Vilos) · 25.117 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
9
Area affected
373 ha
mostly shrubland
Cumulative last 5 seasons
1.943 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
81
At high or very high risk
52
10 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°77 21-07-2025 (prórroga N°94/2024) · in force until 27-07-2026
Years under decree since 2008
13
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
13,47°C
2035-2065 projection: +1,14°C
Annual precipitation
295 mm
projection: -6%
Hot days>30°C
0
projection: +1 days
Frost days
5

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
2.122
all crimes
Rate per 100,000 inhab.
8.694
Police cases · trend
1.525
2.122
20102025
By crime type · 2025
CrimeCasesRate/100k
Alcohol and drug use in public spaces3431.405
Threats2881.180
Property damage2451.004
Burglary of an inhabited place186762
Larceny181742
Domestic violence178729
Minor injuries133545
Burglary of an uninhabited place126516
Drug-related crimes110451
Theft of items from vehicles48197
Receiving stolen goods42172
Robbery with violence or intimidation37152

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
10
Guards and inspectors
12
1 per 2.034 hab
Patrol fleet
3
cars, pickups, motorcycles, bikes
Security booths
5
Patrol fleet by type
Cars: 2Pickups: 1Drones: 1
Surveillance cameras · trend
0
10
20202025

Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)

Crashes · 2024
159
Deaths
4
16,4 per 100,000 inhab.
Injured
79
14 serious
Pedestrian collisions
6

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.