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Argentina vs Chile
Side-by-side comparison of Argentina and Chile from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Argentina
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 210 years
Chile
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 216 years
In short
Chile scores 64.1 in the NationsTree Index (50th in the world) and Argentina scores 54.6 (72nd), a gap of 9.5 points. Their trees are 23 m and 17 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Argentina has 2.3 times the population of Chile. Argentina is 3.7 times larger than Chile by land area. The economy of Argentina is 99% larger than that of Chile (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Argentina 45.9 million and Chile 19.9 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $37,774 in Chile and $32,587 in Argentina (2025, international dollars). People in Chile live on average 3.8 years longer (81.4 vs 77.5 years).
Of 35 indicators reported by both countries, Argentina ranks higher in the world on 10 and Chile on 25. Argentina is clearly stronger in tourism. Chile is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, trade and military.
As a nation, Chile is the older of the two (statehood since 1810, 216 years), compared with Argentina (since 1816). Over the last five years Chile improved faster (direction score 37 vs 19 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Argentina and Chile.
Argentina
75%
157th of 193
Chilebetter
95%
59th of 193
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Argentina
40.3
125th of 207
Chilebetter
70.2
35th of 207
General government gross debtEconomy
Argentina
80.1%
146th of 189
Chilebetter
41.5%
65th of 189
Government budget balanceEconomy
Argentinabetter
-0.2%
40th of 192
Chile
-2.8%
99th of 192
Social protection coverage (incl. pensions)Society & health
Argentina
56.6%
24th of 55
Chilebetter
85.6%
8th of 55
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Chile overtook Argentina in GDP per person (PPP) in 2010 and has stayed ahead since.
Chile has been ahead of Argentina in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Argentina has been ahead of Chile in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Chile has been ahead of Argentina in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
ArgentinaChile All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Argentina | Chile |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 2,780,4008th/216 · 2024 | 756,55637th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 2,736,6908th/216 · 2024 | 742,03238th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 45.9 m35th/217 · 2025 | 19.9 m65th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.34%152nd/217 · 2025 | 0.48%136th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 16.7195th/216 · 2024 | 26.6179th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 92.4%25th/217 · 2025 | 89.2%34th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 21.0%117th/217 · 2025 | 16.5%158th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 12.6%80th/217 · 2025 | 14.6%69th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $683.10 bn24th/210 · 2025 | $357.37 bn45th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $1.49 trn28th/199 · 2025 | $750.19 bn42nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $1.28 trn28th/199 · 2025 | $612.95 bn42nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $14,89886th/210 · 2025 | $17,99583rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $32,58779th/199 · 2025 | $37,77468th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $14,65077th/201 · 2025 | $16,96074th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.4%69th/210 · 2025 | 2.5%133rd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 219.9%180th/180 · 2024 | 4.2%129th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 7.1%128th/187 · 2025 | 9.0%142nd/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 13.1%2000 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 80.1%146th/189 · 2025 | 41.5%65th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.2%40th/192 · 2025 | -2.8%99th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 5.5%103rd/197 · 2025 | 3.5%120th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 22.9%106th/200 · 2025 | 31.4%48th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 13.6%55th/192 · 2025 | 9.0%113th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 56.2%114th/200 · 2025 | 55.5%117th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $106.26 bn48th/182 · 2025 | $123.52 bn45th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $101.16 bn50th/182 · 2025 | $108.72 bn48th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 15.6%161st/183 · 2025 | 34.6%98th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 14.8%177th/183 · 2025 | 30.4%131st/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 30.4%176th/183 · 2025 | 65.0%119th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 9.1%52nd/170 · 2025 | 0.9%122nd/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 12.6%125th/171 · 2025 | 11.3%129th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 50.1%29th/171 · 2025 | 21.9%67th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.1%163rd/171 · 2025 | 58.6%4th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 3.9%106th/168 · 2024 | 8.6%76th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -1.1%93rd/191 · 2025 | -1.2%95th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.6%154th/196 · 2025 | 4.1%53rd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 2.7%89th/209 · 2021 | 16.9%31st/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 1.54%41st/197 · 2021 | 0.01%102nd/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.39%41st/197 · 2021 | 0.02%75th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%65th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%66th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.58%53rd/209 · 2021 | 16.23%5th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.14%103rd/209 · 2021 | 0.64%65th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 17.1%63rd/206 · 2024 | 1.9%172nd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 6,43160th/183 · 2022 | 45,26212th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 7.4 m28th/194 · 2019 | 5.4 m34th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.70 bn57th/175 · 2020 | $1.03 bn72nd/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 2.6%116th/168 · 2020 | 1.3%146th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 15.4 m14th/107 · 2019 | 4.1 m32nd/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 77.580th/217 · 2024 | 81.443rd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 9.570th/196 · 2024 | 6.854th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 5.119th/174 · 2023 | 3.3352nd/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 3.451st/145 · 2022 | 1.989th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 75%157th/193 · 2024 | 95%59th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 56.4%2003 | 87.8%56th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 105.6%38th/173 · 2023 | 105.6%37th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 56.6%24th/55 · 2022 | 85.6%8th/55 · 2022 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 19.0%77th/217 · 2025 | 21.2%71st/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 10.3%26th/193 · 2023 | 10.5%23rd/193 · 2024 |
| Adult literacy % | 99.1%14th/98 · 2020 | 96.4%2017 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 107.8%9th/150 · 2023 | 110.2%7th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.86547th/193 · 2023 | 0.87845th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 42.493rd/108 · 2024 | 43.095th/108 · 2024 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 1.0%50th/108 · 2024 | 0.4%27th/108 · 2024 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 98.4%140th/215 · 2024 | 99.0%135th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 97.8%38th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 48.5%2016 | 95.1%24th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 89.7%59th/186 · 2024 | 95.6%25th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 14040th/210 · 2024 | 13351st/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 26.172nd/208 · 2024 | 23.779th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.8063rd/164 · 2022 | 2.8063rd/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 17,86611th/82 · 2019 | 2,39648th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 21.1 m33rd/161 · 2023 | 21.3 m32nd/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 4.01135th/203 · 2024 | 3.94130th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 9.2%149th/212 · 2021 | 24.2%94th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 14.379th/200 · 2023 | 23.1134th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 17.1%141st/214 · 2024 | 24.5%120th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,73765th/149 · 2024 | 2,06756th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 58.079th/205 · 2025 | 73.738th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 40.3125th/207 · 2025 | 70.235th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 56.9102nd/207 · 2025 | 69.852nd/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 68.4103rd/207 · 2025 | 68.6102nd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 53.9102nd/205 · 2025 | 66.448th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 65.973rd/205 · 2025 | 76.738th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 4.596th/145 · 2023 | 6.3103rd/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $3.88 bn52nd/156 · 2025 | $5.33 bn47th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.6%142nd/156 · 2025 | 1.5%88th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 1.8%144th/154 · 2025 | 5.7%67th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 103,00053rd/170 · 2020 | 114,00051st/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.53%111th/168 · 2020 | 1.28%51st/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 108.0 m47th/163 · 2025 | 14.0 m99th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.0 m2011 | 8.0 m49th/65 · 2022 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.60%59th/110 · 2023 | 0.39%66th/110 · 2022 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 44548th/137 · 2024 | 39051st/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 8,58947th/197 · 2023 | 8,57348th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Argentina or Chile?
Argentina has the larger population: 45.9 m (2025) compared with 19.9 m for Chile (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Argentina or Chile?
Argentina is larger: 2,780,400 km² (2024) compared with 756,556 km² for Chile (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Argentina or Chile?
Argentina has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $1.49 trn intl. (2025) compared with $750.19 bn intl. for Chile (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Argentina or Chile?
Chile has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $37,774 intl. (2025) compared with $32,587 intl. for Argentina (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Argentina or Chile?
Chile has the higher life expectancy at birth: 81.4 years (2024) compared with 77.5 years for Argentina (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Argentina or Chile?
Chile spends more on the military: $5.33 bn (2025) compared with $3.88 bn for Argentina (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Argentina or Chile?
Chile: 64.1 points (50th in the world); Argentina: 54.6 points (72nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Australia
Canada
Colombia
Indonesia
Italy
Mexico
Peru
VenezuelaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Argentina vs Chile — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/argentina-vs-chile. Data as of 26 October 2026.