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Escudo de Hualqui

Hualqui

Región del BiobíoFounded 175726.746 inhabitantsPoblación proyectada INE 2024540 km² of area50 inh./km²$10.106M ingreso municipalSINIM · ingreso total percibido · 2025
Profile today2050
The comuna in context · among 346 comunas
Livability
1 m²/hab
1st fewest green areas per inhabitant
Explore
Environment
22 µg/m³
30th worst air quality (PM2.5)
Explore
Population
−0,9%
Population would fall between now and 2050
Society
20,9%
Multidimensional poverty · 113th highest of 346
Finance
$378 thousand
per inhabitant per year · rank 267 of 346
Finance
82,38%
It depends on the Common Fund: almost no own revenue
Environment
21,7 µg/m³
Air above the standard: PM2.5
Safety
3.645
cases per 100k inhab. · 326th in the country
Education
549,2 pts
below the national median in the PAES (576,9 pts)
Finance
71st
most dependent on the Common Fund of 340
Summary

What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap

26 Squares and green areas
26 Schools
7 Health centers
3 Carabineros
2 Fire stations
1 Pharmacies
1 Rodeo arenas (medialunas)
1 Kindergartens

Hualqui es una comuna y ciudad de la zona centro sur de Chile situada a 24 kilómetros al sureste de Concepción, en la ribera norte del río Biobío en la provincia de Concepción, región del Biobío.

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

Liveability index · EIU style

40.8 /100
Ver el ranking y simular
#299 of 346 · most liveable in the country (EIU weighting)
Safety47
Health43
Culture and environment32
Education44
Infrastructure40
AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests

Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

Ricardo Fuentes P.
INDEPENDIENTE
6.712
votes (37%)
21.877
Electoral roll
89,88%
Turnout
Mayoral history · 7 terms
RF
Ricardo Fuentes P.
2024-2028 · INDEPENDIENTE
6.712
votes
JA
Jorge Alejandro Contanzo Bravo
2021-2024 · IND
6.760
votes
RF
Ricardo Fuentes Palma
2008-2012 · IND
4.820
votes
RG
Renato Galán Oróstica
2004-2008 · PDC
3.662
votes
RG
Renato Galan Orostica
2000-2004 · PDC
2.898
votes
RG
Renato Galan Orostica
1996-2000 · DC
2.544
votes
RG
Renato Galan Orostica
1992-1996 · DC
1.461
votes

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

Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL

LV
Lorena Veloso S.
POR CHILE, SEGUIMOS · PARTIDO COMUNISTA DE CHILE
2.739
votes
NS
Nelson Sepulveda R.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · PARTIDO SOCIALISTA DE CHILE
917
votes
NG
Nelson Gonzalez C.
PARTIDO SOCIAL CRISTIANO E INDEPENDIENTES · INDEPENDIENTE
905
votes
JL
Javier Lopez R.
CENTRO DEMOCRATICO · INDEPENDIENTE
782
votes
MS
Miguel Sabando E.
REPUBLICANOS E INDEPENDIENTES · PARTIDO REPUBLICANO DE CHILE
753
votes
RV
Randy Valdivia A.
POR CHILE, SEGUIMOS · PARTIDO COMUNISTA DE CHILE
590
votes

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

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

Comptroller auditsSource: CGR · Municipal Observatory

Findingstotal
117
Highly complex
12
Audit reports
0
YearFindingsAltam.Compl.Median.Reports
20255152521
20204112515
201710523
201515177

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

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

  • Id
    Ingeniería de Procesos
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2018
  • MT
    Mataquito Transmisora de Energia
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2019
  • FP
    Fundacion Prodemu
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2016–2018
  • IJ
    Inmobiliaria Jardines de Hualqui
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2016
  • ES
    Entorno Social S. A.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2019
  • JB
    Jorge Bobadilla Construcciones Solsur EIRL
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2018
  • CC
    Claro Chile S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
  • JV
    Jj.vv Villa las Americas
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • CG
    Compañía General de Electricidad Cge S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • CS
    Crecic S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2023
  • ES
    Ebco S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • OA
    Otec Agencia Internacional de Formación para la Excelencia Ltda.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2018
  • es
    Elecproject SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2018
  • JE
    Jj.vv Entre Rios
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • AP
    Agrupación Prais Maximo Neira y Hugo Candia
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • Jd
    Junta de Vecinos los Jazmines
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2017
  • CT
    Cerámicas Toro
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2023
  • FM
    Forestal Mininco SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2015
  • JQ
    Jjvv Quilacoya
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
  • TL
    Tirant Lo Blanch
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
and 6 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

19.774
inhabitants
26.850
inhabitants
20022025

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

See the full trajectory to 2050
Since 2002
+36%
inhabitants
Estimated population 2050
26.691
-2% vs. 2035 (27.336)
Over 60 · 2050
36,03%
26,44% 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)85,44 %CENSO 2017 2017
School disengagement (leaves the system)1 %MINEDUC 2023
School enrollment166 studentsMINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
Municipal enrollment50 %MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE)549,2 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE)563,4 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
poblacion_censo25.795 inh.2024 Census 2024
Income poverty (CASEN 2022)10,3 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022)20,9 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Indigenous peoples7,18 %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 141 students registered for the PAES.

Registro Social de Hogares

People in the RSH
27.236
13.433 households
Households in the most vulnerable 40%
8.269
62% of RSH households
Female-headed households
52%
6.933
Elderly (60+)5.94022%
Children and adolescents (<18)5.97522%
Foreign nationals2161%
Belonging to indigenous peoples1.3925%
People with moderate/severe dependency5942%
Single-person households5.97244%

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
3.788
30 schools
Students per teacher
9,7
391 teachers
national median: 10,15
Average attendance
88,4%
national median: 89,8%
Priority studentsSEP
74,1%
socioeconomic vulnerability
national median: 66,8%
Where they study · by provider
Public (municipal + SLEP) 59%Private subsidized 41%
Pass rate
97,9%
national median: 98,2%
Dropoutschool withdrawal
1,2%
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
2
FONASA enrollees
25.354
95% of the population
Doctors employed
13
Health staff by contract type
Permanent staff: 195Contract staff: 82Fee contracts: 39
Primary-care medical visits · per year
17.392
66.553
20102025
Comprehensive home visits · per year
1.057
916
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 (25.029 in total)
CenterTypeProvider typeEnrollees% brackets A-B
Centro de Salud Familiar HualquiFamily Health Center (CESFAM)Municipal18.71660%
Centro Comunitario de Salud Familiar HualquiCommunity Family Health Center (CECOSF)Municipal3.50960%
Posta de Salud Rural TalcamávidaRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal1.62864%
Posta de Salud Rural QuilacoyaRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal1.17665%

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

Costs · 2025
Health spending accrued: $8.602.137.000 ($339.281/enrollee)MINSAL per capita: $5.154.990.000Municipal contribution: $280.000.000

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

Indigenous population
1.853
7.2% of the census population (Census 2024)
PeoplePeople% of total
Mapuche1.79797.0%

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
2
Councils per 1,000 inhabitants
0.1
density of territorial organization
Non-profit organizations
45
the entire active civil fabric
Sports
9
Social and aid
8
Committees (water, housing, progress)
6
For the elderly
5
Cultural
5
Foundations and corporations
1
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.

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

Local mediaTypedial
ACAgrupacion Cultural y Recreativa Radio Fm · holderComunitaria106.9 FM
AJAgrupacion Juvenil Infantil Un Mundo Mejor · holderComunitaria107.3 FM
CLClaudio Luis Flores Espinoza Radiodifusion y Comercializacion de Programas E.I.R.L. · holderFM99.5 FM
SdSoc. de Comunicaciones Medio a Medio Ltda. · holderFM90.5 FM

The dial (frequency) of every FM, AM and community radio with a studio in the comuna (SUBTEL, active sound broadcasting concessions). National networks appear in their headquarters' comuna, not necessarily where they broadcast. When SUBTEL records no brand name, its holder (the concession holder).

Foreign-born populationSource: 2024 Census · INE

Foreign nationals
264
1% of the census population (Census 2024)
Main origin
Venezuela
100 people · 38% of the foreigners
Main countries of origin
100 Venezuela
38 Haití
38 Argentina
24 Colombia

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

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

Families in informal settlements
182
3 encampments (2024 Registry)
Housing deficit
450
5,1% of the comuna's households
Housing permits · 2024
7
1.029 m² · new construction
Subsidies Integrated System · DS01
246
paid · 2011–2025
Subsidies Solidarity Fund · DS49
650
beneficiaries · 2014–2023
Subsidies Rental · DS52
93
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

17.724homes · by type (2017)
House
8.773 · 97.3%
House
8.647 · 99.3%
Shack/hut/shanty
182 · 2%
Other private
41 · 0.5%
Other private
36 · 0.4%
Room in old house/tenement
20 · 0.2%
Shack/improvised dwelling
17 · 0.2%
Apartment
3 · 0%
Room in old house/tenement
2 · 0%
Mobile
2 · 0%
Mobile
1 · 0%
75%owner-occupied · tenure (2002)
Owned outright
2.876 · 57.9%
Owned, being paid off
861 · 17.3%
Rented
546 · 11%
Provided for work
387 · 7.8%
Free of charge
294 · 5.9%

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

Elderly careSource: Chile Cuida · National Assets / SENAMA

Long-stay residencesELEAM
1
Beds
12
2,2 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 20% (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: 20% 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.

20% del sueldo base (municipal: ×1,4 por Ley 19.354)· vigente (art. 7 versión 22-dic-2021, verificado 2026-07-02)Source

Budget and revenue sourcesSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Total revenue · 2025
$10.105.699.000
Own revenue
$1.591.599.000
16% of the total
Municipal Common Fund
$7.443.492.000
74% of the total
State transfers
$286.279.000
3% of the total
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios

Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)

$977.230.000
$10.105.699.000
20012025

Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025

19.7%
31.2%
18.1%
25.4%
Property tax$313.043.000
Business licenses$496.923.000
Vehicle permits$287.294.000
Cleaning fees$89.428.000
Other own revenue$404.911.000
Special-law revenues · 2025
Mining licenses (Law 19.143): $10.514.000

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

Revenue by sector · 2025
37.3%
30.5%
32.2%
Municipal$10.105.699.000
Education$8.274.842.000
Health$8.728.747.000
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Net recipient: it receives $6.960.243.000 more than it contributes.
Evolución por fuente de ingreso

Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend

$133.195.000
$1.591.599.000
20012025

FCM received · trend

$657.704.000
$7.443.492.000
20012025

State transfers · trend

$82.893.000
$286.279.000
20012025

Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Current budget · 2025
$12.377.943.000
Accrued spending · 2025
$10.468.038.000
Execution rate
84.6%
Unexecuted: $1.909.905.000
Medium execution: it executed 84.6%. Left unspent: $1.909.905.000.

Accrued spending · trend

$952.387.000
$10.468.038.000
20012025

Distribution by management area · 2025

43.9%
33.8%
8.9%
10.2%
Internal management$4.594.303.000
Community services$3.536.843.000
Social programs$934.145.000
Municipal activities$1.062.904.000
Recreational programs$278.490.000
Cultural programs$61.353.000

What the budget is spent on · 2025

Spending lineAmount% of spending
Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending$8.602.137.00082.2%
Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance$4.579.123.00043.7%
Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees$2.806.217.00026.8%
Cleaning, garbage and landfills · waste collection and disposal$1.555.845.00014.9%
Electricity (facilities)$594.222.0005.7%
Investment (works and projects)$318.437.0003.0%
Transfers to health$280.000.0002.7%
Councillor stipends$86.379.0000.8%
Street lighting$72.991.0000.7%
Water (facilities)$48.149.0000.5%
Travel allowances$26.973.0000.3%
Commissions and representation$6.108.0000.1%

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

26.8%
43.7%
29.4%
Personnel (Subt. 21)$2.806.217.000
Goods and services (Subt. 22)$4.579.123.000
Others$3.082.698.000

Personnel by contract type · 2025

52.2%
19.2%
22.7%
Permanent staff$1.933.213.000
Contract staff$711.901.000
Fee contracts$161.103.000
Labor Code$56.374.000
Community progs.$839.937.000

Municipal headcount · 2023

16.0%
7.6%
76.4%
Permanent staff46
Contract staff22
Fee contracts220
Total: 288 staffFee contracts: 76.4% of the headcountWomen: 57.3%Professionalization: 66.2%
Cost/staffer permanent: $37.645.370/yearCost/staffer contract: $33.151.227/yearCost/staffer fees: $422.682/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: $318.437.000 (3.0% of spending)Councillor stipends: $86.379.000Travel allowances: $26.973.000Commissions and representation: $6.108.000

Basic and general services · 2025

Garbage and landfills: $1.555.845.000Street lighting: $72.991.000Electricity: $594.222.000Water: $48.149.000

Final works approvals (DOM) · per year

218
105
20012025

Building permits issued · per year

93
117
20122025

What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data

Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público
Historic amount
$69.380.923.098
Purchase orders
47.608

Purchase-order amount · trend

$505.569.322
$2.733.662.326
20072026
Top suppliersAmountPOs
Constructora Jose Miguel Garcia y Cia. Ltda.$4.351.720.3532
Figuz S.A.$3.792.709.0351
Empresa Constructora Bellolio Ltda.$3.199.222.9025
Constructora Yubini Araya y Cia.Ltda.$3.008.595.1985
Carlos Dario Montino Carrasco$2.288.000.0004
Produccione Fenixs Limitada$1.822.969.252475
Mildren Muñoz Gutierrez$1.394.431.5742.645
Constructora Proessa SpA$1.187.992.2831

Purchase mechanism · 2026

Tender $1.587.972.95158%
Agile Purchase $582.594.05521%
Framework Agreement $295.119.72911%
Direct award discretionary$267.975.59110%

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

Registered companies
1.384
domiciled in the comuna
Dependent workers
3.080

Pyramid by sales bracket

66.5%
14.5%
16.2%
Micro (≤2,400 UF)921 companies
Small (≤25k UF)200 companies
Medium (≤100k UF)28 companies
Large (>100k UF)11 companies
No sales/no info224 companies

Largest companies domiciled in the comuna

CompanyLine of businessSales bracketWorkers
Inmobiliaria Gama LimitadaACTIVIDADES INMOBILIARIASLarge 310
Inmobiliaria y Agricola Carrera LimitadaACTIVIDADES INMOBILIARIASLarge 215
Sociedad de Inversiones Maravilla LimitadaACTIVIDADES FINANCIERAS Y DE SEGUROSLarge 210
Negocios e Inversiones Nuevo Horizonte LimitadaACTIVIDADES FINANCIERAS Y DE SEGUROSLarge 21
Rentas Nuevo Horizonte LimitadaACTIVIDADES FINANCIERAS Y DE SEGUROSLarge 2
Inmobiliaria y Comercial Galaxia S.A.COMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACLarge 147
Inversiones e Inmobiliaria Gyhra SpAACTIVIDADES FINANCIERAS Y DE SEGUROSLarge 17
Castor Inversiones LimitadaACTIVIDADES FINANCIERAS Y DE SEGUROSLarge 13
Inmobiliaria Vr Ltda.ACTIVIDADES INMOBILIARIASLarge 11
Pares y Alvarez S.A.ACTIVIDADES FINANCIERAS Y DE SEGUROSLarge 1

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
0
US$ 0 M declared
Approved last 5 years
1
US$ 16 M declared
Construction jobsapproved 5 yrs
35
peak labor
ProjectOwnerStatusInvestment (US$M)Constr. jobs
Sistema de Transmisión Zonal Grupo 3 S/E Itahue- S/E HualquiEIAMataquito Transmisora de Energía S.Approved324,02698

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
1 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

MP2,5 · annual average
21,7µg/m³· above the Chilean standard
OMS 5
CL standard 20
4,3× the WHO 2021 guideline · 1,1× the Chilean standard · 31 days above daily standard (50 µg/m³)
MP10 · annual average
32,7µg/m³· above the WHO guideline, below the Chilean standard
OMS 15
CL standard 50
2,2× the WHO 2021 guideline · 0,7× the Chilean standard · 0 days above daily standard (150 µg/m³)
1monitoring stations · 1 from the MMA Network· measures MP2,5; MP10; O3; SO2; NO2· station: Hualqui
PM2.5 latest reading
15 µg/m³
15-08-2026 · 26 days above standard in the last 12 months
Monthly PM2.5 trend
norma 2007/24: 60,6 µg/m³08/24: 35,3 µg/m³09/24: 22 µg/m³10/24: 13,2 µg/m³11/24: 8,6 µg/m³12/24: 8,2 µg/m³01/25: 7,7 µg/m³02/25: 10,7 µg/m³03/25: 10,1 µg/m³04/25: 24,5 µg/m³05/25: 34,2 µg/m³06/25: 44,4 µg/m³07/25: 38,4 µg/m³08/25: 26,3 µg/m³09/25: 15,6 µg/m³10/25: 8,2 µg/m³11/25: 5,8 µg/m³12/25: 4 µg/m³01/26: 9,6 µg/m³02/26: 4,2 µg/m³03/26: 7,9 µg/m³04/26: 25,7 µg/m³05/26: 50,6 µg/m³06/26: 39,2 µg/m³07/26: 27,4 µg/m³08/26: 24,5 µg/m³07/2408/26
24,5 µg/m³
promedio 08/26
PM10 latest reading
19 µg/m³
15-08-2026
Monthly PM10 trend
norma 5007/24: 66,3 µg/m³08/24: 40,1 µg/m³09/24: 28,3 µg/m³10/24: 23,4 µg/m³11/24: 19 µg/m³12/24: 25,6 µg/m³01/25: 27,8 µg/m³02/25: 30,4 µg/m³03/25: 25,7 µg/m³04/25: 32 µg/m³05/25: 41,5 µg/m³06/25: 48,9 µg/m³07/25: 43,6 µg/m³08/25: 31,1 µg/m³09/25: 21 µg/m³10/25: 16,4 µg/m³11/25: 14,9 µg/m³12/25: 16,8 µg/m³01/26: 27,8 µg/m³02/26: 16,6 µg/m³03/26: 18,3 µg/m³04/26: 35,7 µg/m³05/26: 57 µg/m³06/26: 44,1 µg/m³07/26: 31,9 µg/m³08/26: 28,5 µg/m³07/2408/26
28,5 µg/m³
promedio 08/26
vigenteleña residencialMP2,5
PPDA Concepción Metropolitano
DS 6/2018 · published 2019 · see plan

Zone with decontamination plan Plan Concepcion Metropolitano · critical pollutant MP2.5

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

Air quality observed at MMA's SINCA stations within the comuna (2024); when there are several, the worst is shown. The scale compares the annual average with the WHO 2021 guideline (PM2.5 = 5 · PM10 = 15 µg/m³, international health reference) and the Chilean annual primary standard (PM2.5 = 20 · PM10 = 50 µg/m³): green within the WHO guideline, amber between guideline and standard, red above the national standard. "Days above standard" use the 24-h daily standard (PM2.5 = 50 · PM10 = 150 µg/m³). RETC emissions = declared point sources (industry/energy), excludes diffuse sources like residential firewood.

Biodiversity and protected areasSource: SNASPE · SEIA baselines

Species of flora, fauna and funga documented in the baselines of the projects evaluated by SEIA in the comuna — what their environmental studies recorded in the territory. Conservation status (RCE/IUCN) and Chilean endemism are flagged.

159
Species
105
Flora
52
Fauna
2
Funga
43
In conservation status
29
Endemic to Chile
Species in conservation category
PitaoPitavia punctataENQueuleGomortega keuleENRuilNothofagus alessandriiENHuillipatagua, naranjillo, pataguaCitronella mucronataVUCarmelita de concepciónPercilia irwiniENBelloto del norte, belloto (genérico)Beilschmiedia miersiiVUBelloto del surBeilschmiedia berteroanaENBagre grandeNematogenys inermisENCarmelitaPercilia gillissiENSapo de vanzoliniAlsodes vanzoliniiENRana chilenaCalyptocephalella gayiVUBagrecitoBullockia maldonadoiENPocha de los lagosCheirodon galusdaeVUGuindo santo, ñire, ñirreEucryphia glutinosaVULagartija de schröederLiolaemus schroederiVUPalma chilena, palmera chilena, palmera de coquitos, palma de miel, palma de vino de chile, can – canJubaea chilensisENHongoHygrocybe striatellaVUPatagua, patahuaCrinodendron pataguaVULinguePersea lingueVUBagrecitoTrichomycterus areolatusVUAraucaria, pehuén, piñonero, pino piñonero, pino chileno, pino araucaria, pewen, guiliuAraucaria araucanaENPudúPudu puduVUOlivillo, teque, tique, palo muerto, aceitunilloAextoxicon punctatumVULamprea de bolsaGeotria australisVUHongoEntoloma necopinatumVUGüiñaLeopardus guignaVURanita de darwinRhinoderma darwiniiENAbejorro, abejorro colorado, moscardón, duillin, diwmeñ, abejorro gigante de la patagonia, don basilioBombus dahlbomiiENZorro colorado, zorro culpeo, zorro coloradode tierra del fuego, zorro culpeo de tierra del fuegoLycalopex culpaeusVUTricahueCyanoliseus patagonusENPuyeGalaxias maculatusVUHualoNothofagus glaucaNTSapito de cuatro ojosPleurodema thaulNTRana de ceja, ranita de antifazBatrachyla taeniataNTConcón, kongkong, lechuza batarazStrix rufipesNTPerca truchaPercichthys truchaNTPalito negro, doradillaAdiantum chilenseNTPalmilla, quilquil, arriquilquilBlechnum hastatumNTCuervo de pantanoPlegadis chihiNTPato cortacorrientesMerganetta armataNTPato anteojillo, pato perro (argentina y chile), pato de anteojos, ánade anteojillo (español), spectacled duck, bronze-winged duck (inglés)Speculanas specularisNTCarpintero negro, gallos del monte, rere (mapudungún)Campephilus magellanicusNTMonito del monteDromiciops gliroidesNT

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.

10 Wetlands · 10 urban · 3.240 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)

CodeWetlandHectares
HUR-08-78Ríos Biobío- Laja y Trib.urban3.041 /25.795
HUR-08-P-10Estero Quilacollaurban108
HUR-08-127Hualqui 1urban38
HUR-08-21Boca Mauleurban31 /53
HUR-08-P-12Hualqui 1urban12
HUR-08-P-11H. Quilacollaurban4
HUR-08-113Talcamavida 1urban3
HUR-08-62Laguna Rayencuraurban1
HUR-08-82Piscina 1 Hualquiurban1
HUR-08-83Piscina 2 Hualquiurban1

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. 9 projects totaling US$ 107 million, approved between 1997 and 2024. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.

Energy6 projects · US$ 67 M · 1997–2024
Gasoducto del Pacífico S.A.Gasoducto Trasandino y Distribución de Gas Natural en Chile · Sistema de Transmisión Zonal Grupo 3 S/E Itahue- S/E Hualqui
Real estate2 projects · US$ 30 M · 2008–2018
Constructora José Miguel García y Cia Ltda.Macro Loteo Hualqui · Lomas de Santa Josefina (e-seia)
Hydraulic Infrastructure1 project · US$ 10 M · 2012
Ministerio de Obras PúblicasReposición Ruta O-60, Sector Chiguayante - Hualqui, Provincia de Concepción, VIII Región del Biobío

Approved is not the same as built or operating: the RCA authorises the project, but some were never carried out and others have since closed.

Source: projects with an RCA approved by SEIA (investment declared by the developer, split among the comunas the project spans). Under each sector are its two largest projects by investment. It is the best public proxy for large industrial sites; SERNAGEOMIN’s registry of active mining operations (by mineral and type of operation) is a layer not yet incorporated.

Basic utilitiesSource: SISS · CNE · MINEDUC

Distribuidora eléctrica
CGE · also Frontel, Coelcha
Empresa sanitaria (agua y alcantarillado)
ESSBIO
Higher education
No campus · nearest in Lota at 24.2 km

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

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

Appeals before the Environmental Courts

Appeals
1
on projects in the comuna
Case no.Parties / projectSubjectDecision
R-8-2020
3TA
Unión Comunal de Juntas de Vecinos de la comuna de Hualqui y otro con Director Ejecutivo del Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Construcción y operación de un sistema de tratamiento biológico de RILes
Environmental assessment - Citizen participationRejects

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

Green areasSource: SINIM · SUBDERE (2025)

Green space per capita
1 m²
10% 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
PTAS - HUALQUIPTAS · lodos activadosESSBIO S.A. · discharges into estero patricio lynch
Where this comuna's waste goes
Relleno Sanitario Cemarc (Penco) · 10.169 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
40
Area affected
66 ha
mostly shrubland
Cumulative last 5 seasons
6.846 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
94
At high or very high risk
60
23 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.

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

Mean annual temperature
13,21°C
2035-2065 projection: +1,28°C
Annual precipitation
1.232 mm
projection: -1%
Hot days>30°C
12
projection: +17 days
Frost days
6

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
975
all crimes
Rate per 100,000 inhab.
3.645
Police cases · trend
1.148
975
20102025
By crime type · 2025
CrimeCasesRate/100k
Domestic violence177662
Threats169632
Property damage122456
Alcohol and drug use in public spaces73273
Larceny58217
Minor injuries56209
Burglary of an inhabited place47176
Motor vehicle theft31116
Drug-related crimes29108
Robbery with violence or intimidation29108
Burglary of an uninhabited place27101
Other burglaries (forcible entry)27101

Showing the 12 crimes with most cases of 29.

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
22
Guards and inspectors
0
1 per 26.746 hab
Patrol fleet
7
cars, pickups, motorcycles, bikes
Patrol fleet by type
Pickups: 5Motorcycles: 2Drones: 1
Surveillance cameras · trend
21
22
20202025

Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)

Crashes · 2024
74
Deaths
3
11,2 per 100,000 inhab.
Injured
59
12 serious
Pedestrian collisions
7

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.