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Freire

Región de la AraucaníaFounded 189525.488 inhabitantsPoblación proyectada INE 2024875 km² of area29 inh./km²$10.956M ingreso municipalSINIM · ingreso total percibido · 2025
Profile today2050
The comuna in context · among 346 comunas
Population
−7,4%
Population would fall between now and 2050
Society
25%
Multidimensional poverty · 59th highest of 346
Finance
$430 thousand
per inhabitant per year · rank 237 of 346
Finance
77,5%
It depends on the Common Fund: almost no own revenue
Education
565,1 pts
around the national median in the PAES (576,9 pts)
Finance
112th
most dependent on the Common Fund of 340
Summary

What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap

38 Schools
13 Squares and green areas
12 Health centers
6 Kindergartens
4 Libraries
3 Fire stations
3 Carabineros
1 Pharmacies
1 Universities

Freire es una comuna de la provincia de Cautín, en la Región de La Araucanía, en la zona sur de Chile.

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

Liveability index · EIU style

46.4 /100
Ver el ranking y simular
#212 of 346 · most liveable in the country (EIU weighting)
Safety44
Health38
Culture and environment55
Education53
Infrastructure44
AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests

Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

José Colihuil B.
INDEPENDIENTE
7.369
votes (40.3%)
23.592
Electoral roll
86,47%
Turnout
Mayoral history · 7 terms
JC
José Colihuil B.
2024-2028 · INDEPENDIENTE
7.369
votes
LA
Luis Armando Arias Lopez
2021-2024 · DC
2.689
votes
LA
Luis Arias López
2008-2012 · PDC
5.434
votes
GC
Gricelda Campos Ruiz
2004-2008 · RN
4.825
votes
LA
Luis Arias Lopez
2000-2004 · PDC
3.970
votes
LA
Luis Arias Lopez
1996-2000 · DC
5.000
votes
LA
Luis Arias Lopez
1992-1996 · DC
1.147
votes

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

Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL

MR
Marcelo Riveros B.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · INDEPENDIENTE
1.147
votes
LF
Luis Figueroa L.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · UNION DEMOCRATA INDEPENDIENTE
1.140
votes
LG
Luis Garcia F.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · RENOVACION NACIONAL
939
votes
MC
Marcos Colicoi B.
VERDES LIBERALES POR UNA COMUNA SEGURA · INDEPENDIENTE
815
votes
IG
Ivette Gutierrez S.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · UNION DEMOCRATA INDEPENDIENTE
739
votes
JI
Jose Inostroza C.
REPUBLICANOS E INDEPENDIENTES · PARTIDO REPUBLICANO DE CHILE
630
votes

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

142 minutes publishedindex updated on 11-08-2026Municipal transparency
Recent minutes indexed

Documents indexed from the Transparency Portal (Law 20.285); they link to the PDF published by the municipality.

Comptroller auditsSource: CGR · Municipal Observatory

Findingstotal
22
Highly complex
1
Audit reports
0
YearFindingsAltam.Compl.Median.Reports
2021936
201513112

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

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

  • TV
    Transmisora Valle Allipén S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • RT
    Recreaciones Trensur E.I.R.L.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • CA
    Club Adulto Mayor Vinculos de Freire
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • PR
    Pozo, Ríos, Rodríguez y Torres Ltda. (Zecovery)
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2021
  • CI
    Comunidad Ingena Juan Llanquileo y Felipe Quilaqueo
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • CD
    Comite de Desarrollo Comunal Altos de Cuicuicura
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • CI
    Comunidad Indígena Juan José Iturra
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2015
  • Gc
    Gespública Consultores Limitada
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2021
  • FT
    Fundacion Tras las Huellas de Justicia a la Edad Madura
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • Fl
    Fundación Lucha Contra la Retinitis Pigmentosa
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • CD
    Comite de Salud Hacienda Allipen
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • CI
    Comunidad Indigena Caciques Calfuman y Cayupi
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • CD
    Comite de Salud Huilio
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • AS
    Avenatop S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2022
  • CI
    Comunidad Indigena Pedro Melin Traitraico Puaco
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
  • CI
    Comunidad Indigena Bartolo Quintulen de Huilio
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2015
  • Fd
    Fundacion de Ayuda Ecologica y Social Faes
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2023
  • CA
    Comite Agricola Social y Cultural We Newen de Guiñimo
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016

Organisations that registered Lobby Law meetings with this municipality. Registering the meeting is mandatory for the official, so the list shows who asked to be heard, not whether they got anything.

PopulationWho lives here, how they study, their healthcare and more

Population and living conditionsSource: INE · CENSO · MINEDUC · ADIS

Population trend

24.852
inhabitants
25.485
inhabitants
20022025

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

See the full trajectory to 2050
Since 2002
+3%
inhabitants
Estimated population 2050
23.603
-6% vs. 2035 (25.222)
Over 60 · 2050
40,71%
31,04% 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)51,22 %CENSO 2017 2017
School disengagement (leaves the system)1,5 %MINEDUC 2023
School enrollment187 studentsMINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
Municipal enrollment25 %MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE)565,1 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE)571,3 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
poblacion_censo26.164 inh.2024 Census 2024
Income poverty (CASEN 2022)14,4 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022)25 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Indigenous peoples54,68 %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 127 students registered for the PAES.

Registro Social de Hogares

People in the RSH
27.775
13.703 households
Households in the most vulnerable 40%
9.592
70% of RSH households
Female-headed households
46%
6.257
Elderly (60+)7.14626%
Children and adolescents (<18)5.43020%
Foreign nationals1200%
Belonging to indigenous peoples14.28151%
People with moderate/severe dependency4762%
Single-person households6.20045%

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
3.410
33 schools
Students per teacher
8,2
417 teachers
national median: 10,15
Average attendance
92,3%
national median: 89,8%
Priority studentsSEP
81,5%
socioeconomic vulnerability
national median: 66,8%
Where they study · by provider
Public (municipal + SLEP) 41%Private subsidized 59%
Pass rate
97%
national median: 98,2%
Dropoutschool withdrawal
1,64%
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
2
Clinics
0
Rural health posts
8
FONASA enrollees
25.789
101% of the population
Doctors employed
71
Health staff by contract type
Permanent staff: 141Contract staff: 62Fee contracts: 144
Primary-care medical visits · per year
29.930
37.107
20102025
Comprehensive home visits · per year
1.546
693
20192024

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 (24.682 in total)
CenterTypeProvider typeEnrollees% brackets A-B
Centro de Salud Familiar FreireFamily Health Center (CESFAM)Municipal10.01264%
Centro de Salud Familiar QuepeFamily Health Center (CESFAM)Municipal7.21465%
Centro Comunitario de Salud Familiar el BosqueCommunity Family Health Center (CECOSF)Municipal2.90054%
Posta de Salud Rural RadalRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal1.16670%
Posta de Salud Rural HuilíoRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal71481%
Posta de Salud Rural QuetrocoRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal56174%
Posta de Salud Rural Coipué (Freire)Rural Health Post (PSR)Municipal55469%
Posta de Salud Rural GuiñimoRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal48077%
Posta de Salud Rural ChucaucoRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal45071%
Posta de Salud Rural Lliuco(Freire)Rural Health Post (PSR)Municipal37478%
Posta de Salud Rural AllipénRural Health Post (PSR)Municipal25765%

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

Costs · 2025
Health spending accrued: $7.419.316.000 ($287.693/enrollee)MINSAL per capita: $5.003.857.000Municipal contribution: $0

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

Indigenous population
14.307
54.7% of the census population (Census 2024)
Indigenous communities
113
RNAI CONADI registry · Mar 2024
Land grants
115
indigenous lands registry 2022
PeoplePeople% of total
Mapuche14.23699.5%

2024 Census: people who consider themselves as belonging to an indigenous people (small counts are suppressed for confidentiality at the source and not shown). Communities: CONADI national registry as of March 2024 — Araucanía and Los Lagos not refreshed in that update, the count is a floor. Land grants: 2022 registry.

Community organizationSource: RPJSFL Civil Registry (Law 20.500/19.418) · as of Jun 2026

Active neighborhood councils
1
Councils per 1,000 inhabitants
0.0
density of territorial organization
Non-profit organizations
128
the entire active civil fabric
Committees (water, housing, progress)
64
Social and aid
16
Sports
10
For the elderly
4
Foundations and corporations
3
Cultural
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.

1 Local media · ComunitariaSource: SUBTEL · broadcasting licences · Regional Media Survey (MSGG)

Local mediaTypedial
ASAgrupacion Social, Cultural, Deportiva, Artistica, Agricola y Ganadera Newen de Freire · holderComunitaria107.3 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
229
0,9% of the census population (Census 2024)
Main origin
Argentina
96 people · 42% of the foreigners
Main countries of origin
96 Argentina
28 Bolivia
24 Venezuela
17 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
48
3 encampments (2024 Registry)
Housing deficit
428
4,4% of the comuna's households
Housing permits · 2024
100
6.965 m² · new construction
Subsidies Integrated System · DS01
148
paid · 2011–2025
Subsidies Solidarity Fund · DS49
890
beneficiaries · 2012–2025
Subsidies Rental · DS52
57
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

18.921homes · by type (2017)
House
9.559 · 99.2%
House
8.998 · 96.9%
Shack/hut/shanty
198 · 2.1%
Shack/improvised dwelling
45 · 0.5%
Room in old house/tenement
33 · 0.4%
Other private
33 · 0.4%
Other private
16 · 0.2%
Indigenous dwelling
14 · 0.2%
Room in old house/tenement
6 · 0.1%
Traditional/indigenous dwelling
6 · 0.1%
Apartment
5 · 0.1%
Apartment
4 · 0%
Mobile
4 · 0%
79%owner-occupied · tenure (2002)
Owned outright
4.579 · 70.9%
Provided for work
675 · 10.5%
Owned, being paid off
506 · 7.8%
Rented
383 · 5.9%
Free of charge
312 · 4.8%

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

Elderly careSource: Chile Cuida · National Assets / SENAMA

Long-stay residencesELEAM
1
Beds
8
1,3 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

Benefits under special regimesSource: Laws/SII/BCN/MTT/Treasury · deep-research verified

Fiscal or economic treatments that apply only to this comuna or its zone, not the rest of Chile. The chip color shows who it reaches: municipality, community, residents, companies or workers.

Others
Asignación de zona 15% (DL 249)workerspreliminary data
DL 249/1974 art. 7 · DL 3.551/1980 art. 25 · Ley 19.354

Sobresueldo mensual a funcionarios públicos según aislamiento/costo de vida: 15% del sueldo base (art. 7 DL 249). A los funcionarios municipales llega vía art. 25 del DL 3.551/1980 y el monto se aumenta en 40% (Ley 19.354) — salud primaria municipal (Ley 19.378) la percibe sin ese aumento; asistentes de la educación y personal de corporaciones no la perciben (Código del Trabajo). El %/territorio usa la división de 1974: dentro de una comuna pueden regir % mayores en localidades específicas (retenes, islas, cordillera) no reflejados acá; la CGR resuelve caso a caso. Comunas sin asignación no aparecen.

15% del sueldo base (municipal: ×1,4 por Ley 19.354)· vigente (art. 7 versión 22-dic-2021, verificado 2026-07-02)Source

Budget and revenue sourcesSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Total revenue · 2025
$10.956.219.000
Own revenue
$2.119.412.000
19% of the total
Municipal Common Fund
$7.300.962.000
67% of the total
State transfers
$744.941.000
7% of the total
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios

Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)

$1.331.942.000
$10.956.219.000
20012025

Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025

28.1%
25.4%
18.6%
26.1%
Property tax$596.376.000
Business licenses$538.452.000
Vehicle permits$395.229.000
Cleaning fees$36.120.000
Other own revenue$553.235.000
Special-law revenues · 2025

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

Revenue by sector · 2025
39.9%
32.3%
27.7%
Municipal$10.956.219.000
Education$8.864.877.000
Health$7.612.882.000
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Net recipient: it receives $6.613.519.000 more than it contributes.
Evolución por fuente de ingreso

Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend

$344.441.000
$2.119.412.000
20012025

FCM received · trend

$675.524.000
$7.300.962.000
20012025

State transfers · trend

$11.600.000
$744.941.000
20012025

Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Current budget · 2025
$13.597.529.000
Accrued spending · 2025
$10.645.484.000
Execution rate
78.3%
Unexecuted: $2.952.045.000
Low execution: it only executed 78.3% of the budget — $2.952.045.000 unspent.

Accrued spending · trend

$1.192.229.000
$10.645.484.000
20012025

Distribution by management area · 2025

52.2%
26.8%
15.4%
Internal management$5.560.285.000
Community services$2.852.684.000
Social programs$1.635.066.000
Municipal activities$112.415.000
Recreational programs$391.797.000
Cultural programs$93.237.000

What the budget is spent on · 2025

Spending lineAmount% of spending
Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending$7.419.316.00069.7%
Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance$3.219.729.00030.2%
Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees$2.616.853.00024.6%
Transfers to education$822.913.0007.7%
Cleaning, garbage and landfills · waste collection and disposal$527.418.0005.0%
Investment (works and projects)$385.309.0003.6%
Electricity (facilities)$349.855.0003.3%
Water (facilities)$94.372.0000.9%
Councillor stipends$85.356.0000.8%
Travel allowances$81.432.0000.8%
Transfers to health$50.425.0000.5%
Commissions and representation$2.038.0000.0%

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%
30.2%
45.2%
Personnel (Subt. 21)$2.616.853.000
Goods and services (Subt. 22)$3.219.729.000
Others$4.808.902.000

Personnel by contract type · 2025

44.8%
17.4%
33.7%
Permanent staff$1.781.947.000
Contract staff$693.683.000
Fee contracts$141.223.000
Labor Code$22.808.000
Community progs.$1.339.543.000

Municipal headcount · 2023

53.1%
42.9%
Permanent staff52
Contract staff42
Fee contracts4
Total: 98 staffFee contracts: 4.1% of the headcountWomen: 38.3%Professionalization: 29.8%
Cost/staffer permanent: $28.395.462/yearCost/staffer contract: $14.834.024/yearCost/staffer fees: $24.402.000/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: $385.309.000 (3.6% of spending)Councillor stipends: $85.356.000Travel allowances: $81.432.000Commissions and representation: $2.038.000

Basic and general services · 2025

Garbage and landfills: $527.418.000Electricity: $349.855.000Water: $94.372.000

Final works approvals (DOM) · per year

94
58
20022025

Building permits issued · per year

114
241
20122025

What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data

Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público
Historic amount
$68.941.181.905
Purchase orders
32.195

Purchase-order amount · trend

$668.507.683
$2.577.481.486
20072026
Top suppliersAmountPOs
Servicios Jorge Hugo Jose Antonio Arnaboldi Caceres Limitada$3.636.885.56413
Soc Constructora y Servicios Cresco Limitada$2.829.251.45029
Compania de Petroleos de Chile Copec S.A.$1.787.202.367452
Copec S.A.$1.702.250.102117
Valtek S.A.$1.134.569.577208
Inversiones Ferremaq Sur SpA$1.120.999.373367
Cia Nacional de Telefonos Telefonica del Sur S.A.$993.220.339243
Renta Nacional Cia de Seguros Generales S a$901.627.77274

Purchase mechanism · 2026

Tender $1.829.348.75671%
Framework Agreement $521.275.82920%
Direct award discretionary$175.453.0697%
Agile Purchase $51.403.8322%

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

Registered companies
1.485
domiciled in the comuna
Dependent workers
4.851

Pyramid by sales bracket

61.4%
14.7%
21.1%
Micro (≤2,400 UF)912 companies
Small (≤25k UF)219 companies
Medium (≤100k UF)27 companies
Large (>100k UF)13 companies
No sales/no info314 companies

Largest companies domiciled in the comuna

CompanyLine of businessSales bracketWorkers
Forestal Andes LimitadaINDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERALarge 3346
Sociedad Forestal Agricola Comercial e Industrial Fatima LimitadaCOMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACLarge 2130
Distribuidora de Combustibles Araucania LimitadaCOMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACLarge 247
Servicios y Comercializacion Forestal LimitadaAGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCALarge 226
Constructora Pucoyan SpACONSTRUCCIONLarge 1288
Supermercados Aranda y Compañía LimitadaCOMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACLarge 159
Fundo Huilquilco SpAAGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCALarge 152
Productos Nutritivos Avelup SpAINDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERALarge 151
Metalurgica Hund LimitadaINDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERALarge 148
Agropecuaria Santa Elena LimitadaAGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCALarge 134

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
4
US$ 25 M declared
Construction jobsapproved 5 yrs
227
peak labor
ProjectOwnerStatusInvestment (US$M)Constr. jobs
Subestación Quepe 220/66 kVDIABesalco Transmisión SpAApproved13,2144
Parque Fotovoltaico Chilco SolarDIAChilco Solar SpAApproved1050
Línea de Transmisión Río Toltén - Nueva Río TolténDIATrasmisora Melipeuco S.A.Approved2,0135
Saneamiento del Sitio Nº 1, Barrio Industrial Freire?DIAInmobiliaria Melilonco LimitadaApproved0,9515

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
28 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.

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

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)
Cerro ÑielolNatural Monumentat 28.6 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.

174
Species
75
Flora
99
Fauna
59
In conservation status
25
Endemic to Chile
Species in conservation category
QueuleGomortega keuleENRuilNothofagus alessandriiENBelloto del norte, belloto (genérico)Beilschmiedia miersiiVUBelloto del surBeilschmiedia berteroanaENPitaoPitavia punctataENCauqueOdontesthes mauleanumVUCarmelitaPercilia gillissiENRanitaRhinoderma rufumCRPocha del surCheirodon australeVUPejerrey chilenoBasilichthys australisVUPuyeBrachygalaxias bullockiVURana chilenaCalyptocephalella gayiVULamprea de agua dulceMordacia lapicidaENBagrecitoBullockia maldonadoiENTolloDiplomystes camposensisENHuillipatagua, naranjillo, pataguaCitronella mucronataVUPeladillaAplochiton zebraENDelfín chilenoCephalorhynchus eutropiaVUPochaCheirodon kilianiENPocha de los lagosCheirodon galusdaeVUBagrecitoTrichomycterus chiltoniENAraucaria, pehuén, piñonero, pino piñonero, pino chileno, pino araucaria, pewen, guiliuAraucaria araucanaENPudúPudu puduVUCanelo, boique, voigue, fuñe, choólDrimys winteriENBagrecitoTrichomycterus areolatusVUHuillínLontra provocaxENLinguePersea lingueVULamprea de bolsaGeotria australisVUTortuga boba, tortuga cabezonaCaretta carettaCRZorro colorado, zorro culpeo, zorro coloradode tierra del fuego, zorro culpeo de tierra del fuegoLycalopex culpaeusVUPuyeGalaxias maculatusVUBallena azulBalaenoptera musculusENBallena de aleta, rorcual comúnBalaenoptera physalusCRBallena sei, rorcual bacalao, rorcual de rudolphiBalaenoptera borealisCRBallena franca australEubalaena australisENCachalotePhyseter macrocephalusVUDelfín naríz de botellaTursiops truncatusENElefante marinoMirounga leoninaVUChungungo, nutria marina, gato de mar, chinchiménLontra felinaENPingüino reyAptenodytes patagonicusENPingüino emperadorAptenodytes forsteriVUPingüino de adeliaPygoscelis adeliaeENPingüino macaroniEudyptes chrysolophusVUPingüino de humboldt, pingüino, pájaro niño, patranka, humboldt penguin (inglés), peruvian penguin (inglés)Spheniscus humboldtiENTortuga verde, tortuga negraChelonia mydasENTortuga oliváceaLepidochelys olivaceaVUTortuga laúd, baulaDermochelys coriaceaCROlivillo, teque, tique, palo muerto, aceitunilloAextoxicon punctatumVUPeladillaAplochiton taeniatusENGüiñaLeopardus guignaVUPerca truchaPercichthys truchaNTPalmilla, quilquil, arriquilquilBlechnum hastatumNTSapo de cuatro ojos del surPleurodema bufoninaNTSapito de cuatro ojosPleurodema thaulNTColo-coloLeopardus colocoloNTCarpintero negro, gallos del monte, rere (mapudungún)Campephilus magellanicusNTLobo fino australArctocephalus australisNTPingüino de magallanesSpheniscus 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.

6 Wetlands · 3 urban · 3.153 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)

CodeWetlandHectares
HUR-09-06Sist. Rio Toltén y Trib.urban2.072 /12.313
HUR-09-26Rios Vilcun- Quepe y Estero El Secourban536 /3.914
HUR-09-17Rios Imperal- Cautin- Chonchol y Trib.urban320 /4.860
HPU-09-08Quepe 1204
HPU-09-09Quepe 219
HPU-09-04Sistema de Humedales Estero Huillio2 /555

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. 10 projects totaling US$ 113 million, approved between 1998 and 2025. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.

Energy4 projects · US$ 42 M · 2011–2025
Trasmisora Melipeuco S.A.Linea de Transmisión en postes de Hormigón de 110 Kv Melipeuco-freire · Subestación Quepe 220/66 kV
Transport Infrastructure1 project · US$ 40 M · 2006
Sociedad Concesionaria Nuevo Aeropuerto de la Región de la Araucanía S.A.Anteproyecto Referencial Nuevo Aeropuerto de la Región de La Araucanía
Agriculture and livestock1 project · US$ 20 M · 2019
Granotop S.A.Segundo Molino de Avena, Plantel Agroindustrial de Freire
Environmental Sanitation1 project · US$ 10 M · 1998
Ilustre Municipalidad de FreireRelleno Sanitario Comuna de Freire
Others3 projects · US$ 1 M · 2002–2020
Enaex Servicios S.A.Ampliación de la Actividad de Transporte de Sustancias Peligrosas de ENAEX Servicios S.A. · Ampliación Transporte Terrestre de Sustancias Químicas

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, Codiner
Empresa sanitaria (agua y alcantarillado)
Quepe · also Aguas Araucania
Higher education
No campus · nearest in Temuco at 36.3 km

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

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

Final SMA sanctions

Final sanctions
2
Sanctioned entities
2
companies, individuals and institutions
Total fines
99 UTA
1 with fines
Sanctioned entityAuditable unitCategoryFine (UTA)
Frutera San Fernando Sociedad AnonimaRILES FRUSAN FREIREAgroindustry99
Sociedad Concesionaria Aeropuerto Araucania S.A.NUEVO AEROPUERTO DE LA REGION DE LA ARAUCANIATransport Infrastructure

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

Appeals before the Environmental Courts

Appeals
1
on projects in the comuna
Upheld
1
the court sided with the claimant
Case no.Parties / projectSubjectDecision
1562-2016
3TA
Aguas Araucanía S.A con SEA
Sistema de Tratamiento de Aguas Servidas de Chol Chol - Sistema de Tratamiento de Aguas Servidas de Gorbea - Sistema de Tratamiento de Aguas Servidas de las Localidades de Freire y Pitrufquén
Environmental sanction proceeding — lapseUpheld

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
2 m²
20% 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
2
Historic monuments
2

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
Relleno Sanitario de CoipueRelleno Manual6.677 t/year
PTAS -PITRUFQUÉNPTAS · primario + desinfecciónA. ARAUCANIA S.A. · discharges into río teltén
PTAS -QUEPEPTAS · laguna estabilizacionAGUAS QUEPE S.A. · discharges into río quepe
Where this comuna's waste goes
Relleno Sanitario de Coipue (Freire) · 6.677 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
22
Area affected
159 ha
mostly grassland
Cumulative last 5 seasons
1.149 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
34
At high or very high risk
13
4 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
12,01°C
2035-2065 projection: +1,22°C
Annual precipitation
1.488 mm
projection: -1%
Hot days>30°C
6
projection: +10 days
Frost days
22

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
1.517
all crimes
Rate per 100,000 inhab.
5.952
Police cases · trend
1.256
1.517
20102025
By crime type · 2025
CrimeCasesRate/100k
Property damage2661.044
Threats2601.020
Alcohol and drug use in public spaces241946
Domestic violence236926
Larceny113443
Minor injuries71279
Burglary of an inhabited place56220
Burglary of an uninhabited place56220
Weapons-related crimes32126
Sexual abuse2286
Crimes and offenses under the arms law2182
Theft of items from vehicles1767

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
38
Guards and inspectors
0
1 per 25.488 hab
Patrol fleet
1
cars, pickups, motorcycles, bikes
Patrol fleet by type
Pickups: 1
Surveillance cameras · trend
2
38
20202025

Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)

Crashes · 2024
175
Deaths
4
15,7 per 100,000 inhab.
Injured
158
34 serious
Pedestrian collisions
4

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.