Chile Military - 2021

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of Chile (Fuerzas Armadas de Chile):  Chilean Army (Ejército de Chile), Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes marine units and coast guard or Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine Directorate (Directemar)), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile, FACh); Ministry of Interior: Carabineros de Chile (National Police Force) (2021)

note: Carabineros de Chile are responsible to both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior

Military expenditures

1.8% of GDP (2019)

1.9% of GDP (2018)

2% of GDP (2017)

2% of GDP (2016)

2% of GDP (2015)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Armed Forces of Chile have approximately 80,000 active personnel (45,000 Army; 20,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force); approximately 50,000 Carabineros (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Chilean military inventory is comprised of a wide mix of mostly Western equipment and some domestically-produced systems; since 2010, it has received military hardware from nearly 15 countries, with Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the US as the leading suppliers; Chile's defense industry has capabilities in military aircraft, ships, and vehicles (2020)

Military service age and obligation

18-45 years of age for voluntary male and female military service, although the right to compulsory recruitment of males 18-45 is retained; service obligation is 12 months for Army and 22 months for Navy and Air Force (2019)

NOTE: The information regarding Chile on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Chile 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Chile 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.