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Chile vs Mexico
Side-by-side comparison of Chile and Mexico from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Chile
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 216 years
Mexico
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 216 years
In short
Chile scores 64.1 in the NationsTree Index (50th in the world) and Mexico scores 52.6 (76th), a gap of 11.6 points. Their trees are 17 m and 35 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Mexico has 6.6 times the population of Chile. Mexico is 2.6 times larger than Chile by land area. Mexico has an economy 4.5 times the size of Chile (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Chile 19.9 million and Mexico 131.9 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $37,774 in Chile and $25,868 in Mexico (2025, international dollars). People in Chile live on average 6.1 years longer (81.4 vs 75.3 years).
Of 38 indicators reported by both countries, Chile ranks higher in the world on 31 and Mexico on 7. Chile is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, society & health and infrastructure & digital. Mexico is clearly stronger in tourism, main industries and land & people.
Over the last five years Mexico improved faster (direction score 57 vs 37 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Chile and Mexico.
Chilebetter
70.2
35th of 207
Mexico
29.0
164th of 207
UnemploymentEconomy
Chile
9.0%
142nd of 187
Mexicobetter
2.7%
27th of 187
Rule of lawInstitutions & safety
Chilebetter
69.8
52nd of 207
Mexico
39.4
175th of 207
Safely managed drinking waterInfrastructure & digital
Chilebetter
97.8%
38th of 150
Mexico
43.0%
118th of 150
Tertiary enrolmentSociety & health
Chilebetter
110.2%
7th of 150
Mexico
48.2%
81st of 150
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Chile overtook Mexico in GDP per person (PPP) in 2006 and has stayed ahead since.
Chile has been ahead of Mexico in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Mexico has been ahead of Chile in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Chile has been ahead of Mexico 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
ChileMexico 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 | Chile | Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 756,55637th/216 · 2024 | 1,957,19413th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 742,03238th/216 · 2024 | 1,943,95013th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 19.9 m65th/217 · 2025 | 131.9 m11th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.48%136th/217 · 2025 | 0.83%112th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 26.6179th/216 · 2024 | 67.3138th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 89.2%34th/217 · 2025 | 80.0%58th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 16.5%158th/217 · 2025 | 24.1%102nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 14.6%69th/217 · 2025 | 8.5%113th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $357.37 bn45th/210 · 2025 | $1.83 trn14th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $750.19 bn42nd/199 · 2025 | $3.41 trn13th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $612.95 bn42nd/199 · 2025 | $2.89 trn13th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $17,99583rd/210 · 2025 | $13,88992nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $37,77468th/199 · 2025 | $25,86890th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $16,96074th/201 · 2025 | $13,73082nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 2.5%133rd/210 · 2025 | 0.6%186th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 4.2%129th/180 · 2025 | 3.8%113th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 9.0%142nd/187 · 2025 | 2.7%27th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 13.1%2000 | 50.3%24th/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 41.5%65th/189 · 2025 | 61.7%119th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.8%99th/192 · 2025 | -4.9%147th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 3.5%120th/197 · 2025 | 3.9%116th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 31.4%48th/200 · 2025 | 30.6%51st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 9.0%113th/192 · 2025 | 20.0%19th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 55.5%117th/200 · 2025 | 58.9%93rd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $123.52 bn45th/182 · 2025 | $726.56 bn16th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $108.72 bn48th/182 · 2025 | $738.16 bn14th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 34.6%98th/183 · 2025 | 39.6%85th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 30.4%131st/183 · 2025 | 40.3%102nd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 65.0%119th/183 · 2025 | 79.9%94th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.9%122nd/170 · 2025 | 3.0%87th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 11.3%129th/171 · 2025 | 81.2%17th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 21.9%67th/171 · 2025 | 7.5%125th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 58.6%4th/171 · 2025 | 2.4%99th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 8.6%76th/168 · 2024 | 19.3%34th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -1.2%95th/191 · 2025 | -0.5%80th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 4.1%53rd/196 · 2025 | 2.4%85th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 16.9%31st/209 · 2021 | 3.6%84th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.01%102nd/197 · 2021 | 2.07%37th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.02%75th/197 · 2021 | 0.09%61st/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%66th/195 · 2021 | 0.02%46th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 16.23%5th/209 · 2021 | 1.36%40th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.64%65th/209 · 2021 | 0.11%113th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 1.9%172nd/206 · 2024 | 10.3%103rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 45,26212th/183 · 2022 | 3,18080th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 5.4 m34th/194 · 2019 | 51.1 m3rd/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.03 bn72nd/175 · 2020 | $11.45 bn15th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 1.3%146th/168 · 2020 | 2.6%118th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 4.1 m32nd/107 · 2019 | 36.1 m5th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 81.443rd/217 · 2024 | 75.3105th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 6.854th/196 · 2024 | 13.192nd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 3.3352nd/174 · 2023 | 2.5971st/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.989th/145 · 2023 | 1.0117th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 95%59th/193 · 2024 | 78%150th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 87.8%56th/153 · 2024 | 69.0%84th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 105.6%37th/173 · 2024 | 103.1%48th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 85.6%8th/55 · 2022 | 48.2%32nd/55 · 2022 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 21.2%71st/217 · 2025 | 12.6%111th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 10.5%23rd/193 · 2024 | 5.5%118th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 96.4%2017 | 95.6%36th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 110.2%7th/150 · 2024 | 48.2%81st/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.87845th/193 · 2023 | 0.78981st/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 43.095th/108 · 2024 | 42.694th/108 · 2024 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.4%27th/108 · 2024 | 1.6%57th/108 · 2024 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 99.0%135th/215 · 2024 | 99.8%126th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 97.8%38th/150 · 2024 | 43.0%118th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 95.1%24th/144 · 2024 | 62.7%70th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 95.6%25th/186 · 2024 | 83.1%89th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 13351st/210 · 2024 | 116102nd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 23.779th/208 · 2024 | 21.784th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.8063rd/164 · 2022 | 2.8063rd/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 2,39648th/82 · 2021 | — |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 21.3 m32nd/161 · 2023 | 78.8 m15th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 3.94130th/203 · 2024 | 3.64124th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 24.2%94th/212 · 2021 | 13.0%127th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 23.1134th/200 · 2023 | 16.696th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 24.5%120th/214 · 2024 | 34.2%100th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 2,06756th/149 · 2024 | 1,49876th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 73.738th/205 · 2025 | 48.6121st/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 70.235th/207 · 2025 | 29.0164th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 69.852nd/207 · 2025 | 39.4175th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 68.6102nd/207 · 2025 | 55.0163rd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 66.448th/205 · 2025 | 51.5115th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 76.738th/205 · 2025 | 52.5119th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 6.3103rd/145 · 2023 | 24.9131st/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $5.33 bn47th/156 · 2025 | $13.65 bn30th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.5%88th/156 · 2025 | 0.7%134th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 5.7%67th/154 · 2025 | 2.5%128th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 114,00051st/170 · 2020 | 341,00019th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.28%51st/168 · 2020 | 0.64%99th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 14.0 m99th/163 · 2025 | 9.0 m111th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 8.0 m49th/65 · 2022 | 1.0 m2019 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.39%66th/110 · 2022 | 0.25%79th/110 · 2024 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 39051st/137 · 2024 | 1,17228th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 8,57348th/197 · 2023 | 18,98226th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Chile or Mexico?
Mexico has the larger population: 131.9 m (2025) compared with 19.9 m for Chile (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Chile or Mexico?
Mexico is larger: 1,957,194 km² (2024) compared with 756,556 km² for Chile (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Chile or Mexico?
Mexico has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $3.41 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, Chile or Mexico?
Chile has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $37,774 intl. (2025) compared with $25,868 intl. for Mexico (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Chile or Mexico?
Chile has the higher life expectancy at birth: 81.4 years (2024) compared with 75.3 years for Mexico (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Chile or Mexico?
Mexico spends more on the military: $13.65 bn (2025) compared with $5.33 bn for Chile (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Chile or Mexico?
Chile: 64.1 points (50th in the world); Mexico: 52.6 points (76th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Colombia
Peru
Venezuela
Australia
Canada
Indonesia
ItalySources
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). Chile vs Mexico — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/chile-vs-mexico. Data as of 26 October 2026.