The economy of this region is based mainly in the extraction of natural resources, specially mining and fishing.
Besides, it is characterized for having two categories of development: one is the economy registering a growth very similar to the rest of the territory and, the other, the survival one (in the interior of the region)
Mining
The main minerals extracted are copper, caliche (saltpeter), silver, gold, iodum, potassium, borax, diatomite, brimstone, lime, sodium sulfate, aluminum sulfate, alabaster, Tripoli and marble.
Nevertheless, the deposits of these resources are found in places not easily accessible. This produces that not all can be extracted in a great scale and then commercialized in benefit of the regional economy.
Besides, some of these minerals are of a low base, in other words, the performance of pure material is low in relationship to the volume extracted, which affects negatively as they are little profitable for exploitation.
Fishing
Some years ago, the fishing activity was the most important entry for the regional economy, since the abundance of marine resources, especially anchovy and mackerel, generated great income sources.
However, since some time ago, the effects of El NIÑO phenomena has produced great losses in the environment and, thus, lowered its importance at local level. Nowadays, the extraction of piure and Spanish sardine.
Agriculture and Cattle raising
The agricultural sowings are almost null in this region due to the dryness of the soils. But, there are some creek zones in the valleys of Azapa, Lluta y Camarones where some products are grown. The main ones are olives, lemons, lucern and mangos.
Also, there is agriculture in the pre Andean ranges and in the high plateau, but only as means of survival.
This means that the crops are used for feeding and, also, they are bartered among families. Putre, Belen and Codpa are the places in this situation.
Cattle growing are principally ovine and are associated with lucern cultivation. In the high plateau sector, where wetlands are formed, camelids are reared such as llamas and alpacas.
Lately, the port of Arica has increased its activity thanks to the shipping of Peruvian and Bolivian cargo.
Human Geography
The two provinces forming this region are notoriously different in what concerns the population, social and economic development, mainly by the characteristics of its relief.
Arica province
In this province-that has the Arica and camarones comunas- is concentrated the 90% of the regional population, especially in the litoral zone.
– Arica: in this community only the 5,3% belongs to rural population. The population above the 60 years old slowly increased through the years, contrasting with the under aged which decreased in 15 years.
Accordingly with the 2002 Census, 97.8% of people over 10 years old are literate (know how to write and speak).
In the educational ambience, 42% has reached only up to the basic education; the 32% has reached the elemental education and 19%, superior education.
Concerning the housing issue, the 95% of homes are houses or apartments, known as permanent housing.
– Camarones: accordingly with the 2002 census, this is one of the least populated communities in the country, living 1.220 persons, 372 more than the registered in 1992. In the educational issue, 90,6% of the persons over 10 years are alphabetic, the 34% of the population has done the basic and elementary education, and only the 5% has done superior or technical studies.
Parinacota province
Is located in fully in the high plateau, making live more difficult. Thus, there are no great urban centers in the communities forming it (Putre and General Lagos), but a group of small rural villages with little inhabitants.
– Putre: in this sector diminished the number of inhabitants in between n1992 and 2002. The last census registered 1.997 inhabitants, while in the previous one reached 2.803. The alphabetic population reached 89,5% and people with basic education reach 37%.
The permanent housing in this commune belong to the 785, the rest of the houses are huts or shanty houses.
– General Lagos: in 1992, the 72,5% of the population could read and write, in 2002, the percentage rose to 79,2%. In education, only the 40% of the inhabitants coursed the basic education, 29% the elementary and only the 8% the superior education.
Accordingly the 2002 Census, the 76% of the permanent houses in this place were houses, this is, more than the registered in 1992, when it was calculated only a 53%.