Abstract Introduction: The limited availability of data in Chile on the use of diagnostic images (DI) poses a challenge in the efficient management of resources. Objective: To quantify and characterize the use of DI in hospitalized subjects in Chile for 1 year. Method: Descriptive population based study on the use of DI in Chile during 2019 in hospitalized subjects using an official national database recorded with the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) system. Demographic variables related to hospitalization and derived from the DRG were analyzed. Results: 55.5% of hospital events involved at least one DI (n = 466,306). The most used imaging technique was radiography/X-ray (36.4%), followed by computed tomography (35%). The Magallanes and Aysén regions exhibited the highest DI rates. Hospitalized patients who required some DI had an average of days of hospitalization and mortality rate that were 3.4 and 5.5 times greater than those who did not require DI (p < 0.01). Conclusions: There are important geographical differences in the use of DI in Chile. Our description will facilitate future studies that delve deeper and explore access or socioeconomic differences.