Chile

 

Over the last few years, the Chilean social security system has been strengthening steadily, which has allowed citizens to be better protected in situations such as illness, disability, old age, unemployment and poverty. Although the structuring of public social security programmes, financed by workers and general taxes, began in the twentieth century, they have been deepened and coordinated, allowing significant increases in the coverage levels that have been achieved.   

Currently, Chile has an extensive social security system, which covers the population against various contingencies throughout the life cycle, and emphasizes the protection of the most vulnerable population groups. In this regard, children from 60% of lower income households are provided with services and benefits that meet their needs during the first stage of growth; more than 90 thousand families in extreme poverty receive psychosocial support and the solidarity pension system, which complements the contributory system, covers the elderly belonging to 60% of the country's poorest families.   

The challenges the country has set in terms of social security are primarily the eradication of poverty and the inclusion of self-employed workers and those working in the informal economy in the system. Therefore, building and consolidating a Social Protection Floor could be key in achieving those objectives.

Total population : 17.4 million
(UN Population Division | World Population Prospects, 2012)
GDP per capita (PPP US $) : 17125
(World Bank | WDI, 2011)
GDP growth (in %) : 6.0
(World Bank | WDI, 2011)
Human Development Index (HDI) : 0.805 [Rank: 44]
(UNDP | Human Development Indicators, 2011)
Total expenditures on health as % of GDP : 8.0
(WHO | WHO Statistical System, 2010)
Public expenditure on health as % of GDP : 3.8
(WHO | WHO Statistical System, 2010)
Govt. expenditure on health as % of total govt. Expenditure : 16.3
(WHO | WHO Statistical System, 2010)
Health expenditure not financed out of pocket by private households (% total health expenditure) : 66.7
(WHO | WHO Statistical System, 2010)
Public social security expenditure (including health) as % of PIB : 11.25
(ECLAC, 2010)
Share of population above the statutory retirement age benefiting from an old-age pension : 70.9
(ILO Social security inquiry, 2011) Map
Share of economically active population contributing to a pension scheme : 56.9
(ILO Social security inquiry, 2011) Map
Share of unemployed receiving regular periodic unemployment benefits : 27.2
(ILO Social security inquiry, 2012)

Link to SSI: Chile | Data from the ILO Social Security Inquiry


Social security schemes and programs by branch

 

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RESOURCES

Cobertura previsional en Argentina, Brasil y Chile
Bertranou, F.M. (ed); OIT, Departamento de Seguridad Social, 2001
Is Latin America retreating from individual retirement accounts?
Bertranou, F.; Calvo, E.; Bertranou, E., 2009
Trabajadores independientes y protección social en América Latina
Bertranou, F. M. (coordinador), 2009

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NEWS & Calendar

En agosto de 2011 se promulgó la Ley que elimina el pago de 7% en salud para los jubilados más vulnerables
En 2012 comienza a regir en Chile la contribución al sistema de pensiones de los trabajadores independientes

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Links

Ministerio de Desarrollo Social
Gobierno de Chile, 2012
Ministerio del Trabajo y Previsión Social
Gobierno de Chile, 2012
Subsecretaría de Previsión Social
Gobierno de Chile, 2012

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Page updated 2013-01-11

 
Leonor Saravia
lsaravias@gmail.com