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Escudo de Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

Región del Libertador Gral. Bernardo O'Higgins42.582 inhabitantsPoblación proyectada INE 2024394 km² of area108 inh./km²$17.860M ingreso municipalSINIM · ingreso total percibido · 2025
Profile today2050
The comuna in context · among 346 comunas
Population
+9,2%
Population would grow between now and 2050
Society
10,6%
Multidimensional poverty · 315th highest of 346
Finance
$419 thousand
per inhabitant per year · rank 243 of 346
Education
607,3 pts
above the national median in the PAES (576,9 pts)
Finance
257th
most dependent on the Common Fund of 340
Summary

What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap

88 Squares and green areas
32 Schools
17 Health centers
13 Pharmacies
13 Rodeo arenas (medialunas)
6 Kindergartens
4 Fire stations
3 Hospitals
2 Libraries
1 Carabineros
1 Universities

Santa Cruz es una ciudad y comuna de Chile situada en la provincia de Colchagua, en la Región de O’Higgins. Se localiza aproximadamente a 45 km al sur de San Fernando y a 150 km al sur-suroeste de Santiago de Chile. Según el censo de 2017, su población es de 37 855 habitantes. Santa Cruz es un núcleo importante de la zona vitivinícola del país y punto central de la denominada “ruta del vino” chilena.

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

Liveability index · EIU style

56.5 /100
Ver el ranking y simular
#76 of 346 · most liveable in the country (EIU weighting)
Safety52
Health73
Culture and environment53
Education53
Infrastructure52
AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests

Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

Yamil Ethit R.
CHILE VAMOS · INDEPENDIENTE
15.278
votes (54.46%)
33.376
Electoral roll
90,44%
Turnout
Mayoral history · 7 terms
YE
Yamil Ethit R.
2024-2028 · INDEPENDIENTE
15.278
votes
GW
Gustavo William Arevalo Cornejo
2021-2024 · IND
6.000
votes
HV
Héctor Valenzuela Valenzuela
2008-2012 · ILC
7.036
votes
LP
Lidia Pizarro Gamboa
2004-2008 · IND
6.200
votes
HV
Hector Valenzuela Valenzuela
2000-2004 · PS
4.103
votes
HV
Hector Valenzuela Valenzuela
1996-2000 · PS
5.890
votes
HV
Hector Valenzuela Valenzuela
1992-1996 · PS
3.069
votes

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

Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL

JD
Juan Dutzan M.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · INDEPENDIENTE
2.012
votes
RG
Rossana Gonzalez V.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · PARTIDO DEMOCRATA CRISTIANO
1.637
votes
LM
Luis Mella C.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · UNION DEMOCRATA INDEPENDIENTE
1.581
votes
LP
Luis Piña G.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · RENOVACION NACIONAL
1.234
votes
RS
Rosita Slack R.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · INDEPENDIENTE
1.214
votes
YM
Yasna Mancilla H.
VERDES LIBERALES POR UNA COMUNA SEGURA · INDEPENDIENTE
1.114
votes

Sesiones

Última sesión1 minWatch session

En una línea: La sesión no pudo realizarse por falta de quórum y fue suspendida a los pocos minutos de iniciada.

Temas tratados

  • No se trató ningún punto de tabla: la sesión fue declarada sin quórum y levantada de inmediato.

Acuerdos y votaciones

  • No hubo acuerdos ni votaciones; la única resolución fue posponer la sesión para una fecha a confirmar internamente.

Plata y obras

  • No se abordó ningún tema presupuestario ni de obras.

Puntos de debate o controversia

  • La ausencia de concejales se debió a una capacitación nacional de consejeros realizada en la Región de Coquimbo, autorizada previamente por el propio Concejo Municipal.

Para seguir

  • La sesión ordinaria será convocada nuevamente en fecha y hora a definir; no se informó un plazo concreto.

Summary generated by AI (claude-sonnet-4-6) from the official broadcast transcript · may contain inaccuracies

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

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

Resolutions extracted
50
of 66 minutes read
Money involved
$32.763.603.867
sum of resolutions with amounts
ResolutionTypeAmountVote
Contrato para el servicio de arriendo de impresoras multifuncional (fotocopias, impresiones y Scanner)Tender
Actualización de ficha de recursos humanos para retiro docente proceso 2022 según la Ley 20.976Regulation
Nombrar como representantes de la entidad administradora del Comité de Bienestar de Salud a los funcionariosAppointment
Contrato de Comodato entre la Ilustre Municipalidad de Santa Cruz y Comité de agua potable rural Isla del Guindo-ChomedahueLoan for use
Revoca Contrato de comodato entre la Ilustre Municipalidad de Santa Cruz y Comité de agua potable rural Isla del Guindo-ChomedahueLoan for use
Rectificación y Ratificación de contrato de comodato entre la Municipalidad de Santa Cruz y el Club de Rodeo Chileno de Santa CruzLoan for use

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
123
Highly complex
4
Audit reports
0
YearFindingsAltam.Compl.Median.Reports
2025126
20189845538
20161111
201522

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 · 4 audiencias · 2025–2026
  • CC
    Casino Colchagua
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2023–2025
  • CD
    Cge Distribución S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2015
  • IA
    Inmobiliaria Acacios Limitada
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2019–2025
  • FI
    Fundacion Integra
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2021
  • AD
    Asesorías Deportivas Hp Ltda.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2017
  • SS
    Sosafe S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2019
  • GT
    Gtd Teleductos
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2019
  • IS
    Inmobiliaria Santa Cruz S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2019
  • A
    Amisoft
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2020
  • Cd
    Corporación de Desarrollo Pro Ohiggins
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
  • Ce
    Constructora e Inmobiliaria San Esteban
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • Ad
    Asociacion de Funcionarias Vtf Santa Cruz
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • SE
    Sicom Electronics International S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2020
  • SS
    Servap S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2019
  • EN
    Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • Sd
    Sociedad de Imagenologia Nueva San Lorenzo
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
  • CS
    Corporacion Sistema Colectivo de Gestion de Envases y Embalajes Resimple
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
  • UT
    Universidad Tecnológica de Chile
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2019
  • FV
    Fundación Volver a Empezar
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
and 28 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

33.631
inhabitants
42.914
inhabitants
20022025

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

See the full trajectory to 2050
Since 2002
+29%
inhabitants
Estimated population 2050
47.240
+4% vs. 2035 (45.510)
Over 60 · 2050
39,85%
29,75% in 2035 · +10 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)96,33 %CENSO 2017 2017
School disengagement (leaves the system)0,8 %MINEDUC 2023
School enrollment848 studentsMINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
Municipal enrollment28,6 %MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE)607,3 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE)640,3 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
poblacion_censo41.209 inh.2024 Census 2024
Income poverty (CASEN 2022)6,7 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022)10,6 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Indigenous peoples2,97 %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 946 students registered for the PAES.

Registro Social de Hogares

People in the RSH
41.652
23.310 households
Households in the most vulnerable 40%
13.821
59% of RSH households
Female-headed households
50%
11.755
Elderly (60+)9.63723%
Children and adolescents (<18)8.36920%
Foreign nationals2.1755%
Belonging to indigenous peoples6392%
People with moderate/severe dependency5991%
Single-person households12.26353%

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
10.831
34 schools
Students per teacher
12,3
883 teachers
national median: 10,15
Average attendance
87,8%
national median: 89,8%
Priority studentsSEP
56,2%
socioeconomic vulnerability
national median: 66,8%
Where they study · by provider
Public (municipal + SLEP) 42%Private subsidized 52%Private paid 6%
Pass rate
98,8%
national median: 98,2%
Dropoutschool withdrawal
1,53%
dropout during the year
national median: 1,77%

Aggregate of all the comuna's schools (RBD → comuna). Pass/withdrawal and attendance are from the 2025 school year. SIMCE is not published as open data (managed by the Quality Agency, by request only); the available quality proxy is passing, dropout and attendance. The PAES result appears in the social section.

Municipal healthcare (primary care)Source: SINIM · MINSAL / FONASA

CESFAM
1
Clinics
0
Rural health posts
4
FONASA enrollees
46.688
110% of the population
Doctors employed
31
Health staff by contract type
Permanent staff: 235Contract staff: 216Fee contracts: 6
Primary-care medical visits · per year
41.306
113.586
20102025
Medical specialties served · 17 in the comuna (public system)
Adult Orthopedics and TraumaInternal MedicineObstetricsAdult General SurgeryAnesthesiologyAdult GynecologyAdult CardiologyAdult UrologyAdult PsychiatryOphthalmologyAdult NeurologyAdult Respiratory MedicinePediatric Orthopedics and TraumaAdult GastroenterologyPediatricsChild PsychiatryPediatric Surgery

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
1.819
2.929
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 (46.561 in total)
CenterTypeProvider typeEnrollees% brackets A-B
Centro de Salud Familiar Santa CruzFamily Health Center (CESFAM)Municipal40.68162%
Posta de Salud Rural Isla de YáquilRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal1.94875%
Posta de Salud Rural QuinahueRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal1.24672%
Posta de Salud Rural ApaltaRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal1.00161%
Cecosf PaniahueCommunity Family Health Center (CECOSF)Municipal88572%
Posta de Salud Rural Guindo AltoRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal80077%

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

Costs · 2025
Health spending accrued: $12.794.982.000 ($274.053/enrollee)MINSAL per capita: $9.000.492.000Municipal contribution: $626.761.000

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

Indigenous population
1.223
3.0% of the census population (Census 2024)
PeoplePeople% of total
Mapuche1.11391.0%

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
82
Councils per 1,000 inhabitants
1.9
density of territorial organization
Non-profit organizations
562
the entire active civil fabric
Committees (water, housing, progress)
104
Sports
78
For the elderly
49
Cultural
27
Social and aid
18
Foundations and corporations
13
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.

13 Local media · 1 AM · 2 Comunitaria · 8 FM · 2 Digital pressSource: SUBTEL · broadcasting licences · Regional Media Survey (MSGG)

Local mediaTypedial
CCOLCHAGUAAM1580 AM
EKEl KeltehueDigital press
EENSUEÑOFM105.5 FM
EEXODOFM89.7 FM
LSLUNA SANTACRUZANAFM88.1 FM
MMANIAFM92.1 FM
SCSANTA CRUZ FMFM94.3 FM
wwww.encolchagua.clDigital press
ACAgrupacion Cien por Ciento Vida · holderComunitaria107.7 FM
CyComunicaciones y Asociados Ltda. · holderFM95.1 FM
JdJunta de Vecinos Villa Cordillera · holderComunitaria107.3 FM
MVMarlene Vicuña Guerrero E.I.R.L. · holderFM93.5 FM
NFNibaldo Fuenzalida Briones y Cia. Ltda. · holderFM102.7 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
2.385
5,8% of the census population (Census 2024)
Main origin
Venezuela
1.298 people · 54% of the foreigners
Main countries of origin
1.298 Venezuela
237 Haití
229 Bolivia
206 Colombia

International immigrants per the 2024 Census (people born outside Chile living in the comuna). Nationwide they are 1,608,650 people, 8.8% of the population.

Housing and housing deficitSource: MINVU (Encampment Registry + 2024 Census deficit + subsidies) · INE

Encampments
0
no encampments registered
Housing deficit
915
6,2% of the comuna's households
Housing permits · 2024
78
7.606 m² · new construction
Subsidies Integrated System · DS01
874
paid · 2011–2025
Subsidies Solidarity Fund · DS49
731
beneficiaries · 2012–2025
Subsidies Rental · DS52
196
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

28.712homes · by type (2017)
House
13.159 · 91.3%
House
12.690 · 88.7%
Apartment
1.203 · 8.3%
Apartment
1.152 · 8.1%
Shack/hut/shanty
351 · 2.5%
Other private
55 · 0.4%
Room in old house/tenement
51 · 0.4%
Shack/improvised dwelling
24 · 0.2%
Other private
20 · 0.1%
Room in old house/tenement
4 · 0%
Traditional/indigenous dwelling
1 · 0%
Mobile
1 · 0%
Mobile
1 · 0%
72%owner-occupied · tenure (2002)
Owned outright
5.056 · 60.6%
Rented
1.148 · 13.8%
Owned, being paid off
978 · 11.7%
Free of charge
626 · 7.5%
Provided for work
531 · 6.4%

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

Elderly careSource: Chile Cuida · National Assets / SENAMA

Long-stay residencesELEAM
3
Beds
63
6,3 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

Budget and revenue sourcesSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Total revenue · 2025
$17.860.139.000
Own revenue
$7.036.044.000
39% of the total
Municipal Common Fund
$6.787.640.000
38% of the total
State transfers
$2.344.460.000
13% of the total
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios

Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)

$1.540.205.000
$17.860.139.000
20012025

Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025

22.2%
31.7%
7.3%
34.6%
Property tax$1.564.800.000
Business licenses$2.227.924.000
Vehicle permits$513.798.000
Cleaning fees$292.224.000
Other own revenue$2.437.298.000
Special-law revenues · 2025
Casinos (Law 19.995): $823.629.000Mining licenses (Law 19.143): $1.036.000

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

Revenue by sector · 2025
34.5%
39.1%
26.4%
Municipal$17.860.139.000
Education$20.220.786.000
Health$13.660.704.000
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Net recipient: it receives $5.904.166.000 more than it contributes.
Evolución por fuente de ingreso

Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend

$603.896.000
$7.036.044.000
20012025

FCM received · trend

$591.214.000
$6.787.640.000
20012025

State transfers · trend

$95.193.000
$2.344.460.000
20012025

Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Current budget · 2025
$24.410.459.000
Accrued spending · 2025
$15.525.918.000
Execution rate
63.6%
Unexecuted: $8.884.541.000
Low execution: it only executed 63.6% of the budget — $8.884.541.000 unspent.

Accrued spending · trend

$1.491.266.000
$15.525.918.000
20012025

Distribution by management area · 2025

71.8%
18.3%
Internal management$11.155.128.000
Community services$2.838.424.000
Social programs$791.617.000
Municipal activities$467.669.000
Recreational programs$158.886.000
Cultural programs$114.194.000

What the budget is spent on · 2025

Spending lineAmount% of spending
Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending$12.794.982.00082.4%
Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance$5.130.747.00033.0%
Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees$3.823.011.00024.6%
Investment (works and projects)$1.848.068.00011.9%
Cleaning, garbage and landfills · waste collection and disposal$1.556.683.00010.0%
Transfers to education$850.000.0005.5%
Transfers to health$709.761.0004.6%
Electricity (facilities)$603.147.0003.9%
Councillor stipends$81.842.0000.5%
Water (facilities)$46.196.0000.3%
Travel allowances$12.854.0000.1%
Commissions and representation$830.0000.0%

Share of total accrued spending. Lines overlap (personnel sits inside several areas), so they don't add to 100%. Source: SINIM.

Personal y dotación municipal

Spending composition · 2025

24.6%
33.0%
42.3%
Personnel (Subt. 21)$3.823.011.000
Goods and services (Subt. 22)$5.130.747.000
Others$6.572.160.000

Personnel by contract type · 2025

54.0%
24.3%
16.4%
Permanent staff$2.495.588.000
Contract staff$1.123.076.000
Fee contracts$204.347.000
Labor Code$39.005.000
Community progs.$758.705.000

Municipal headcount · 2023

55.4%
38.5%
6.1%
Permanent staff82
Contract staff57
Fee contracts9
Total: 148 staffFee contracts: 6.1% of the headcountWomen: 41.7%Professionalization: 68.3%
Cost/staffer permanent: $27.171.915/yearCost/staffer contract: $14.696.018/yearCost/staffer fees: $28.615.556/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: $1.848.068.000 (11.9% of spending)Councillor stipends: $81.842.000Travel allowances: $12.854.000Commissions and representation: $830.000

Basic and general services · 2025

Garbage and landfills: $1.556.683.000Electricity: $603.147.000Water: $46.196.000

Final works approvals (DOM) · per year

130
150
20012025

Building permits issued · per year

259
36
20122025

Management indicator · 2025

Maintained green areas per inhabitant
6 m²/inh.
Security/patrol cars
0
Security/patrol bicycles
0
Surveillance cameras
52
Security/patrol pickups
2
Security booths
0
CESFAM in the comuna
1
Primary-care medical visits
113.586
Clinics
0
urban and rural
Dependence on the Municipal Common Fund
49,1%
of own revenue
Security drones
1
Permanent staff
64
Permanent own revenue
39,4%
of total revenue
Doctors employed
31
as of Dec 31
Security/patrol motorcycles
0
Building permits
36
Health staff
216
contract
Health staff
6
fee-based
Health staff
235
permanent
FONASA-enrolled population
46.688
municipal health
Rural health posts
4
Street-market stalls
545
Final works approvals
150

What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data

Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público
Historic amount
$123.384.204.422
Purchase orders
32.592

Purchase-order amount · trend

$1.992.860.635
$8.118.274.204
20072026
Top suppliersAmountPOs
Starco S a$8.132.407.2659
Patricia Balesca López Romero$6.707.080.10571
Constructora Réné Corvalán Correa$3.318.188.6702
Constructora e Inmobiliaria San Esteban Ltda.$2.653.939.3371
Alberto Enrique$2.617.319.83421
Patricia Balesca López Romero$2.417.491.88815
Jaime Cristóbal$2.408.029.3135
Sece S.A.$1.673.388.8619

Purchase mechanism · 2026

Tender $4.408.531.46354%
Direct award discretionary$2.225.604.73927%
Agile Purchase $840.138.39510%
Framework Agreement $643.999.6058%

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

Registered companies
4.853
domiciled in the comuna
Dependent workers
20.299

Pyramid by sales bracket

60.5%
16.7%
19.7%
Micro (≤2,400 UF)2.938 companies
Small (≤25k UF)810 companies
Medium (≤100k UF)100 companies
Large (>100k UF)49 companies
No sales/no info956 companies

Largest companies domiciled in the comuna

CompanyLine of businessSales bracketWorkers
Supermercado Mayorista la Fama Santa Cruz Sociedad AnonimaCOMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACLarge 2295
Hotel Santa Cruz Plaza S aACTIVIDADES DE ALOJAMIENTO Y DE SERVICIO DE CLarge 2264
Supermercado la Colchaguina SpACOMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACLarge 2221
Viu Manent S.A.INDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERALarge 2203
Domaines Bournet-Lapostolle Chile SpACOMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACLarge 2137
Agricola y Comercial la Capellania Sociedad AnonimaAGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCALarge 2121
Distribuidora Mayorista la Colchaguina SpACOMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACLarge 288
Distribuidora de Materiales de Ferreteria LimitadaCOMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACLarge 248
S & W Ingenieria Agricola y Propiedad Intelectual SpAACTIVIDADES DE SERVICIOS ADMINISTRATIVOS Y DELarge 223
Comercial Colchagua SpACOMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACLarge 218

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$ 8 M declared
Approved last 5 years
3
US$ 10 M declared
Construction jobsunder review
60
+ 10 in operations
Construction jobsapproved 5 yrs
37
peak labor
ProjectOwnerStatusInvestment (US$M)Constr. jobs
Nueva Línea de Transmisión Eléctrica 2X154 Kv Tinguiririca - Santa CruDIAAlto Huemul Transmision SpAApproved2897
Ampliación Subestación Eléctrica Santa CruzDIASistema de Transmisión del Sur S.A.Under Review8,3660
Extracción Mecanizada de Áridos en río Tinguiririca, comunas de NancagDIAMaquinarias Tierra del Valle LimitaApproved1,83
Mejoras al Sistema de Tratamiento de RILes Bodega Clos ApaltaDIADomaines Bournet-Lapostolle Chile SApproved0,13

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)
0 t MP10
0 t MP2,5
0 t Material particulado
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

Nearest protected wilderness area (SNASPE)
Las Palmas de CocalanNational Parkat 53.4 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.

65
Species
17
Flora
48
Fauna
35
In conservation status
23
Endemic to Chile
Species in conservation category
Belloto del surBeilschmiedia berteroanaENQueuleGomortega keuleENBelloto del norte, belloto (genérico)Beilschmiedia miersiiVURuilNothofagus alessandriiENPochaCheirodon pisciculusVULagartija de gravenhorstLiolaemus gravenhorstiVUPancoraAegla laevisENSapo de ruloRhinella aruncoVURana chilenaCalyptocephalella gayiVUCarmelitaPercilia gillissiENPocha de los lagosCheirodon galusdaeVUPejerrey chilenoBasilichthys australisVULamprea de agua dulceMordacia lapicidaENPerca negraPercichthys melanopsVUPejerrey chilenoBasilichthys microlepidotusVUCauqueOdontesthes mauleanumVUPitaoPitavia punctataENZorro colorado, zorro culpeo, zorro coloradode tierra del fuego, zorro culpeo de tierra del fuegoLycalopex culpaeusVUAlerceFitzroya cupressoidesENAraucaria, pehuén, piñonero, pino piñonero, pino chileno, pino araucaria, pewen, guiliuAraucaria araucanaENBagrecitoTrichomycterus areolatusVUGuanacoLama guanicoeVUPiuquén, piquén, guayataChloephaga melanopteraENCiprés de cordillera, lenAustrocedrus chilensisVULamprea de bolsaGeotria australisVUPuyeGalaxias maculatusVUTricahueCyanoliseus patagonusENGüiñaLeopardus guignaVULagarto nítidoLiolaemus nitidusNTSapito de cuatro ojosPleurodema thaulNTPerca truchaPercichthys truchaNTConcón, kongkong, lechuza batarazStrix rufipesNTPalito negro, doradillaAdiantum chilenseNTFlamenco chilenoPhoenicopterus chilensisNTCuervo de pantanoPlegadis chihiNT

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

4 Wetlands · 4 urban · 172 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)

CodeWetlandHectares
HUR-06-57Rio Tinguiririca y trib.urban106 /2.293
HUR-06-60Estero Guirivilourban37 /71
HUR-06-36Estero de Nilahue - Laguna de Cahuilurban16 /337
HUR-06-56Estero Chimbarongo - Santa Cruzurban14

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. 5 projects totaling US$ 76 million, approved between 2003 and 2026. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.

Environmental Sanitation1 project · US$ 23 M · 2003
Montes S.A.Declaración de Impacto Ambiental Viña Montes Bodega Apalta (e-seia)
Energy2 projects · US$ 22 M · 2017–2026
Alto Huemul Transmision SpANueva Línea de Transmisión Eléctrica 2X154 Kv Tinguiririca - Santa Cruz · Parque Solar Fotovoltaico La Lajuela
Hydraulic Infrastructure1 project · US$ 17 M · 2004
Dirección General de Concesiones de Obras Públicas del Ministerio de Obras PúblicasConvento Viejo Etapa II
Miscellaneous industrial facilities1 project · US$ 14 M · 2011
Agrícola Sun SpAPlanta de Secadores Cunaquito - Fase II

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)
ESSBIO
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
1 UTA
1 with fines
Sanctioned entityAuditable unitCategoryFine (UTA)
Jorge Meneses DonosoTALLER MECÁNICO AVENIDA DIEGO PORTALESAmenities1

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
6 m²
60% of the CNDU standard
standard 10 m²

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

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

Infrastructure this comuna carries — often serving others.

FacilityTypeDetail
C.C.P. Santa CruzPrison (CCP)385 inmates · 258 convicted · 123 awaiting trial · 267% occupancy
Where this comuna's waste goes
Relleno Sanitario Parque El Guanaco (Teno) · 17.897 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
30 ha
mostly forest
Cumulative last 5 seasons
576 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
23
At high or very high risk
3
1 very high
Main threat
Inundación por desborde de c…
Inundación por desborde de cauce

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
4
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
14,2°C
2035-2065 projection: +1,2°C
Annual precipitation
687 mm
projection: -3%
Hot days>30°C
30
projection: +26 days
Frost days
8

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
2.477
all crimes
Rate per 100,000 inhab.
5.817
Police cases · trend
2.226
2.477
20102025
By crime type · 2025
CrimeCasesRate/100k
Alcohol and drug use in public spaces5111.200
Threats357838
Domestic violence285669
Property damage275646
Larceny256601
Minor injuries146343
Burglary of an inhabited place98230
Burglary of an uninhabited place87204
Drug-related crimes68160
Robbery with violence or intimidation58136
Weapons-related crimes58136
Crimes and offenses under the arms law50117

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
52
Guards and inspectors
0
1 per 42.582 hab
Patrol fleet
2
cars, pickups, motorcycles, bikes
Patrol fleet by type
Pickups: 2Drones: 1
Surveillance cameras · trend
19
52
20202025

Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)

Crashes · 2024
167
Deaths
5
11,7 per 100,000 inhab.
Injured
130
32 serious
Pedestrian collisions
13

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.