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Torres del Paine

Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena1.081 inhabitantsPoblación proyectada INE 20246.097 km² of area0 inh./km²$3.554M ingreso municipalSINIM · ingreso total percibido · 2025
Profile today2050
The comuna in context · among 346 comunas
Education
143 km to the nearest campus
10th most isolated from higher education
Explore
Society
+104%
15th fastest population growth (since 2002)
Explore
Finance
$2.679.992/inhab.
18th highest budget per inhabitant
Explore
Population
+8,6%
Population would grow between now and 2050
Society
3,3%
Multidimensional poverty · 331st highest of 346
Finance
$3,3 million
per inhabitant per year · rank 16 of 346
Finance
77,34%
It depends on the Common Fund: almost no own revenue
Safety
1.758
cases per 100k inhab. · 344th in the country
Finance
115th
most dependent on the Common Fund of 340
Summary

What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap

3 Carabineros
3 Schools
3 Libraries
1 Kindergartens
1 Squares and green areas
1 Rodeo arenas (medialunas)
1 Health centers
1 Fire stations

Torres del Paine es una comuna situada en la provincia de Última Esperanza, en la región de Magallanes y Antártica Chilena. Según el censo de 2024, tiene una población de 203 habitantes.

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

Liveability index · EIU style

53.5 /100
Ver el ranking y simular
#111 of 346 · most liveable in the country (EIU weighting)
Safety52
Health67
Culture and environment52
Education76
Infrastructure33
AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests

Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

Anahí Cárdenas R.Re-elected
CHILE VAMOS · INDEPENDIENTE
665
votes (64.25%)
1.309
Electoral roll
81,36%
Turnout
Mayoral history · 7 terms
AC
Anahí Cárdenas R.
2024-2028 · INDEPENDIENTE
665
votes
AM
Anahi Marcela Cardenas Rodriguez
2021-2024 · IND
524
votes
AC
Anahi Cárdenas Rodríguez
2008-2012 · IND
580
votes
FP
Fernando Paredes Mansilla
2004-2008 · UDI
704
votes
FP
Fernando Paredes Mansilla
2000-2004 · UDI
384
votes
FP
Fernando Paredes Mansilla
1996-2000 · ILDUD
306
votes
LG
Luis Garcia Cerda
1992-1996 · UCC
107
votes

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

Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL

EB
Edmundo Bilbao P.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · INDEPENDIENTE
254
votes
FV
Felipe Vidal G.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · UNION DEMOCRATA INDEPENDIENTE
160
votes
SS
Silvana Silva P.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · EVOLUCION POLITICA
127
votes
JS
Jose Soto A.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · PARTIDO SOCIALISTA DE CHILE
122
votes
SR
Soraya Rojel F.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · UNION DEMOCRATA INDEPENDIENTE
75
votes
RL
Raul Lorca S.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · INDEPENDIENTE
48
votes

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

726 minutes publishedindex updated on 12-08-2026Municipal transparency

Comptroller auditsSource: CGR · Municipal Observatory

Findingstotal
155
Highly complex
46
Audit reports
7
YearFindingsAltam.Compl.Median.Reports
20244025481
2021122911
201914771
201839920101
2017141931
201536915102

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

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

  • EE
    Empresa Eléctrica de Magallanes S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 14 audiencias · 2017–2025
  • SL
    Sisinf Ltda.
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2024–2026
  • CS
    Constructora Subgal SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2023
  • TA
    Turismo Alto Pehoe Ltda.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2019
  • IM
    Ilustre Mucilpalidad de Torres del Paine
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2023
  • L
    Ligup
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2020–2022
  • Ly
    Logistica y Servicios Ltda.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2017
  • US
    Uclases SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2021
  • BS
    Buk SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2023–2024
  • DI
    Di Internacional SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2021–2022
  • FS
    Fedok SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2023–2025
  • CA
    Contratista Armando Nuñez Parada EIRL
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2023
  • GE
    Grg E.I.R.L.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2021
  • PS
    Pretium Soluciones Tecnológicas SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • HY
    Hoteleria y Turismo Ecolodge Limitada
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2019
  • Cy
    Comercial y Distribuidora Bertonati S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2018
  • E
    Explora
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2021
  • Ee
    Ecologia en Tu Barrio SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2022
  • IP
    Innovacion Patagonia Circular SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
  • CL
    Comercializadora Lizette Faundez Martinez EIRL
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
and 57 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

536
inhabitants
1.093
inhabitants
20022025

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

See the full trajectory to 2050
Since 2002
+106%
inhabitants
Estimated population 2050
1.198
+4% vs. 2035 (1.157)
Over 60 · 2050
14,51%
12,01% in 2035 · +3 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)10,4 %CENSO 2017 2017
School disengagement (leaves the system)0 %MINEDUC 2023
poblacion_censo203 inh.2024 Census 2024
Income poverty (CASEN 2022)5,3 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022)3,3 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Indigenous peoples13,79 %2024 Census 2024

Registro Social de Hogares

People in the RSH
270
179 households
Households in the most vulnerable 40%
41
23% of RSH households
Female-headed households
31%
56
Elderly (60+)5420%
Children and adolescents (<18)3312%
Foreign nationals124%
Belonging to indigenous peoples3312%
People with moderate/severe dependency00%
Single-person households12268%

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
22
2 schools
Students per teacher
1,8
12 teachers
national median: 10,15
Average attendance
86%
national median: 89,8%
Priority studentsSEP
40,9%
socioeconomic vulnerability
national median: 66,8%
Where they study · by provider
Public (municipal + SLEP) 100%Private subsidized 0%
Pass rate
100%
national median: 98,2%
Dropoutschool withdrawal
0%
dropout during the year
national median: 1,77%

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

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

CESFAM
0
Clinics
0
Rural health posts
1
FONASA enrollees
4
0% of the population
Doctors employed
0
Health staff by contract type
Permanent staff: 5Contract staff: 8Fee contracts: 1
Primary-care medical visits · per year
59
997
20102025
Medical specialties served · 1 in the comuna (public system)
Ophthalmology

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
13
11
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 (4 in total)
CenterTypeProvider typeEnrollees% brackets A-B
Posta de Salud Rural Cerro Castillo (Torres del Paine)Rural Health Post (PSR)Municipal425%

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

Costs · 2025
Health spending accrued: $457.459.000 ($114.364.750/enrollee)MINSAL per capita: $141.119.000Municipal contribution: $204.000.000

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

Indigenous population
28
13.8% of the census population (Census 2024)

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
0.9
density of territorial organization
Non-profit organizations
14
the entire active civil fabric
Committees (water, housing, progress)
3
Sports
3
For the elderly
1
Social and aid
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.

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

Local mediaTypedial
EEVAFM94.1 FM
RVRadiodifusora Victor Navarro E.I.R.L. · holderFM95.5 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
17
8,4% of the census population (Census 2024)
Main origin
Argentina
7 people · 41% of the foreigners
Main countries of origin
7 Argentina
3 Bolivia
2 Venezuela

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
9
9% of the comuna's households
Subsidies Integrated System · DS01
1
paid · 2020–2025
Subsidies Solidarity Fund · DS49
4
beneficiaries · 2014–2018
Subsidies Rental · DS52
0
paid · 2014–2014

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

286homes · by type (2017)
House
183 · 97.3%
House
93 · 94.9%
Other private
5 · 5.1%
Apartment
3 · 1.6%
Other private
1 · 0.5%
Shack/hut/shanty
1 · 0.5%
17%owner-occupied · tenure (2002)
Provided for work
97 · 77.6%
Owned outright
21 · 16.8%
Free of charge
4 · 3.2%
Rented
3 · 2.4%

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

ResourcesBudget, spending, municipal procurement and more

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

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

Tax exemptions
Bonificación a la mano de obra en zonas extremasworkers
DL 889/1975 → Ley 19.853

17% de las remuneraciones imponibles (hasta tope base ~$182.000 reajustable IPC) de trabajadores con domicilio y trabajo permanente en la zona. En Aysén/Magallanes/Chiloé/Palena solo si la remuneración supera en 20% el salario mínimo.

17% de remuneraciones imponibles (con tope)· vigenteSource
Ley Austral — crédito tributario a la inversióncompanies
Ley 19.606

Crédito contra renta de 1ª categoría por inversiones sobre 500 UTM destinadas a producción de bienes/servicios. Por tramos: 32% hasta 200.000 UTM, 15% entre 200k–2,5M UTM, 10% sobre 2,5M UTM; tope 80.000 UTM por contribuyente.

Crédito 10–32% de la inversión· vigenteSource
Zona Franca de Extensiónresidentspreliminary data
DL 1.055/1975; gravamen Ley 18.211

Los residentes compran mercaderías en la zona franca primaria sin pagar impuestos ni derechos de internación, pagando solo un gravamen especial de 0,46% sobre el valor CIF (tasa vigente desde 1-abr-2019, se reajusta). Caveat: la cobertura exacta de la extensión (p. ej. Alto Hospicio) es ambigua en la propia documentación BCN 2025.

Gravamen 0,46% CIF en vez de impuestos de internación· vigenteSource
Subsidized connectivity
Subsidio al cabotaje de combustiblesresidents
Subsidio estatal al cabotaje (Magallanes/Aysén)

Cubre el flete de combustibles desde refinerías del norte hasta Cabo Negro (Magallanes), evitando sumar hasta +$48/litro en Magallanes y +$28/litro en Aysén. Sensibilidad política alta: estuvo en disputa oct-2025 (se eliminó y se revirtió en horas).

Evita +$28–$48/litro de sobrecosto· vigente (revisado oct-2025)Source
Subsidio al gas de Magallanes (vía ENAP)residents
Ley de Presupuesto anual → Min. Energía → ENAP

El Fisco asigna fondos por Ley de Presupuesto a Energía, que los traspasa a ENAP para subsidiar el precio del gas en la región. ~$56 mil M (2015) → ~$64 mil M (2016). Cifras 2015–2018; mecánica vigente, montos 2026 sin confirmar.

~$56–64 mil millones/año (regional)· desde 2011Source
Subsidio MTT a transporte en zonas aisladasresidents
Ley 20.378 mod. por Ley 20.696

Tarifas rebajadas en 5 modos de transporte (+900.000 personas), con complemento extra para zonas extremas/australes. La "Tarifa Cero" da pasaje GRATUITO, pero solo para 65+ y personas con discapacidad (con sola cédula), en 130+ servicios incluyendo barcazas. Para el residente común es descuento, no gratuidad.

Tarifa rebajada (gratis solo 65+/discapacidad)· vigenteSource
Others
Asignación de zona 85% (DL 249)workers
DL 249/1974 art. 7 · DL 3.551/1980 art. 25 · Ley 19.354

Sobresueldo mensual a funcionarios públicos según aislamiento/costo de vida: 85% 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.

85% 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
$3.553.812.000
Own revenue
$632.162.000
18% of the total
Municipal Common Fund
$2.157.072.000
61% of the total
State transfers
$517.224.000
15% of the total
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios

Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)

$386.857.000
$3.553.812.000
20012025

Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025

33.6%
36.7%
17.2%
12.5%
Property tax$212.162.000
Business licenses$231.820.000
Vehicle permits$108.894.000
Other own revenue$79.286.000
Special-law revenues · 2025

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

Revenue by sector · 2025
85.1%
11.2%
Municipal$3.553.812.000
Education$153.428.000
Health$469.365.000
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Net recipient: it receives $1.972.671.000 more than it contributes.
Evolución por fuente de ingreso

Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend

$55.260.000
$632.162.000
20012025

FCM received · trend

$294.394.000
$2.157.072.000
20012025

State transfers · trend

$1.679.000
$517.224.000
20012025

Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Current budget · 2025
$4.249.148.000
Accrued spending · 2025
$3.535.444.000
Execution rate
83.2%
Unexecuted: $713.704.000
Medium execution: it executed 83.2%. Left unspent: $713.704.000.

Accrued spending · trend

$373.645.000
$3.535.444.000
20012025

Distribution by management area · 2025

86.8%
6.2%
Internal management$3.068.984.000
Community services$217.859.000
Social programs$58.157.000
Municipal activities$170.698.000
Recreational programs$19.746.000

What the budget is spent on · 2025

Spending lineAmount% of spending
Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees$1.286.871.00036.4%
Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance$1.108.081.00031.3%
Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending$457.459.00012.9%
Investment (works and projects)$454.585.00012.9%
Transfers to health$204.000.0005.8%
Councillor stipends$95.333.0002.7%
Cleaning, garbage and landfills · waste collection and disposal$91.956.0002.6%
Electricity (facilities)$37.857.0001.1%
Travel allowances$25.548.0000.7%
Commissions and representation$14.686.0000.4%
Street lighting$3.129.0000.1%
Water (facilities)$2.035.0000.1%

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

36.4%
31.3%
32.3%
Personnel (Subt. 21)$1.286.871.000
Goods and services (Subt. 22)$1.108.081.000
Others$1.140.492.000

Personnel by contract type · 2025

61.3%
27.7%
Permanent staff$832.166.000
Contract staff$375.608.000
Fee contracts$79.097.000
Labor Code$69.717.000

Municipal headcount · 2023

78.3%
21.7%
Permanent staff18
Contract staff5
Total: 23 staffWomen: 52.2%Professionalization: 34.8%
Cost/staffer permanent: $43.037.667/yearCost/staffer contract: $49.285.600/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: $454.585.000 (12.9% of spending)Councillor stipends: $95.333.000Travel allowances: $25.548.000Commissions and representation: $14.686.000

Basic and general services · 2025

Garbage and landfills: $91.956.000Street lighting: $3.129.000Electricity: $37.857.000Water: $2.035.000

Final works approvals (DOM) · per year

0
11
20012025

Building permits issued · per year

0
24
20122025

Management indicator · 2025

Maintained green areas per inhabitant
10 m²/inh.
Security/patrol cars
1
Security/patrol bicycles
0
Surveillance cameras
1
Security/patrol pickups
0
Security booths
0
CESFAM in the comuna
0
Primary-care medical visits
997
Clinics
0
urban and rural
Dependence on the Municipal Common Fund
77,34%
of own revenue
Security drones
0
Permanent staff
18
Permanent own revenue
17,79%
of total revenue
Doctors employed
0
as of Dec 31
Security/patrol motorcycles
0
Building permits
24
Health staff
8
contract
Health staff
1
fee-based
Health staff
5
permanent
FONASA-enrolled population
4
municipal health
Rural health posts
1
Final works approvals
11

What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data

Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público
Historic amount
$29.643.976.672
Purchase orders
16.321

Purchase-order amount · trend

$485.188.299
$1.157.392.167
20072026
Top suppliersAmountPOs
Empresa Electrica de Magallanes S a$2.156.515.7912
Pena Spoerer y Cia S a$1.321.989.0882
Contratista Armando Nunez Parada Empresa Individual de Responsabilidad$1.025.118.47416
Cesar Vidal Soto$1.019.484.89492
Rodrigo Ovando Carcamo$775.929.17452
Alejandro Paillan$691.984.39545
Construcciones Cárdenas & Cárdenas Limitada$665.578.20516
Alejandra Paola Cardenas Bustamante$609.054.979294

Purchase mechanism · 2026

Tender $513.436.26244%
Direct award discretionary$321.395.51128%
Agile Purchase $201.193.21617%
Framework Agreement $121.367.17910%

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

Registered companies
41
domiciled in the comuna
Dependent workers
272

Pyramid by sales bracket

34.1%
34.1%
7.3%
24.4%
Micro (≤2,400 UF)14 companies
Small (≤25k UF)14 companies
Medium (≤100k UF)3 companies
No sales/no info10 companies

Largest companies domiciled in the comuna

CompanyLine of businessSales bracketWorkers
Sociedad de Servicios Turisticos Colonos del Sur LimitadaACTIVIDADES DE ALOJAMIENTO Y DE SERVICIO DE CMedium 144
Turismo el Ovejero SpAACTIVIDADES DE ALOJAMIENTO Y DE SERVICIO DE CMedium 139
Ilustre Municipalidad de Torres del PainADMINISTRACION PUBLICA Y DEFENSA; PLANES DE SNo sales54

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$ 17 M declared
Construction jobsapproved 5 yrs
80
peak labor
ProjectOwnerStatusInvestment (US$M)Constr. jobs
REPOSICIÓN COMPLEJO FRONTERIZO RÍO DON GUILLERMODIADelegación Presidencial Provincial Approved17,09380

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 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

State protected wilderness areas (SNASPE) in the comuna
Bernardo O'HigginsNational Park1.858.706 ha
Torres del PaineNational Park237.312 ha

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.

82
Species
44
Flora
38
Fauna
23
In conservation status
2
Endemic to Chile
Species in conservation category
Churrete chico de masafueraCinclodes oustaleti baeckstroemiiVULamprea de agua dulceMordacia lapicidaENHuemul, taruca, wümul, güemul, shoan, shoen, trula, hueque, ciervo sur andinoHippocamelus bisulcusCRZorro colorado, zorro culpeo, zorro coloradode tierra del fuego, zorro culpeo de tierra del fuegoLycalopex culpaeusVUGuanacoLama guanicoeVUCanelo, boique, voigue, fuñe, choólDrimys winteriENAraucaria, pehuén, piñonero, pino piñonero, pino chileno, pino araucaria, pewen, guiliuAraucaria araucanaENLamprea de bolsaGeotria australisVUPuyeGalaxias maculatusVUCaiquén, cauquén comúnChloephaga pictaVUÑandúRhea pennataENAguilucho de cola rojizaButeo ventralisVUPumaPuma concolorNTCarpintero negro, gallos del monte, rere (mapudungún)Campephilus magellanicusNTConcón, kongkong, lechuza batarazStrix rufipesNTCóndorVultur gryphusNTPato cortacorrientesMerganetta armataNTColo-coloLeopardus colocoloNTGato montés argentinoLeopardus geoffroyiNTFlamenco chilenoPhoenicopterus chilensisNTLagartija magallánica o de magallanesLiolaemus magellanicusNTPicheZaedyus pichiyNTCanquén común, avutarda, cauquén realChloephaga poliocephalaNT

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.

3 Wetlands · 2 urban · 2.246 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)

CodeWetlandHectares
HUR-12-10Rio Serranourban2.226 /2.476
HPU-12-03Rio de las Chinas16
HUR-12-08Golfo Almirante Montturban4 /209

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. 2 projects totaling US$ 30 million, approved between 2014 and 2025. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.

Real estate1 project · US$ 17 M · 2025
Delegación Presidencial Provincial de Última EsperanzaREPOSICIÓN COMPLEJO FRONTERIZO RÍO DON GUILLERMO
Others1 project · US$ 13 M · 2014
Gobernación Provincial de Última EsperanzaConstrucción Puente Laguna Amarga y Puente Torres del Paine

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
Edelmag
Higher education
No campus · nearest in Natales at 143 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
1
Sanctioned entities
1
companies, individuals and institutions
Total fines
566 UTA
1 with fines
Sanctioned entityAuditable unitCategoryFine (UTA)
Turismo Lago Grey S.A.HOTEL LAGO GREYAmenities566

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
R-28-2019
3TA
Turismo Lago Grey S.A. en contra de la Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente
Complejo Turístico Lago Grey
Environmental sanction proceedingUpheld

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
10 m²
above the CNDU standard
standard 10 m²

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

National heritageSource: National Monuments Council (Feb 2026)

National monuments
1
Historic monuments
1

Monuments declared by decree (official CMN roster). Excludes archaeological and public monuments. Declaration entails legal protection and intervention restrictions.

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

Where this comuna's waste goes
Vertedero Natales (Natales) · 6.637 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
3
Area affected
0 ha
Cumulative last 5 seasons
12 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
47
At high or very high risk
18
1 very high
Main threat
Interrupción de caminos

Points in the comuna where SENAPRED identifies winter-rain risk (channel overflows, flooding, collector collapse, landslides, mudflows, snow), with risk level and the agency responsible for the fix.

Water scarcitySource: DGA · MOP (scarcity-zone decrees)

No scarcity decree in force today.
Years under decree since 2008
1
latest: 2023 · 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
4,85°C
2035-2065 projection: +1,3°C
Annual precipitation
972 mm
projection: +0%
Hot days>30°C
0
projection: +0 days
Frost days
151

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
19
all crimes
Rate per 100,000 inhab.
1.758
Police cases · trend
23
19
20102025
By crime type · 2025
CrimeCasesRate/100k
Property damage8740
Larceny5463
Threats2185
Sexual harassment193
Sexual abuse193
Drug-related crimes193
Domestic violence193

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
1
Guards and inspectors
0
1 per 1.081 hab
Patrol fleet
1
cars, pickups, motorcycles, bikes
Patrol fleet by type
Cars: 1
Surveillance cameras · trend
0
1
20202025

Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)

Crashes · 2024
3
Deaths
0
0 per 100,000 inhab.
Injured
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.