Introduction: In the year 2000 it was determined that the median of the urinary iodine concentration (UIE) in primary school children from Calama was 2600 ug/L, a very high level which went down to 487 ugI/L in 2004, after the standards of the Food Sanitary Regulation were scaled down from 100 ppm to 40 ppm in the year 2000. Objective: To search the current iodine nutrition in school children of Calama, 12 years after the change in the legislation. Subjects and methods: 332 primary school children from Municipal School D-48 of the City of Calama were assessed in relation to their prevalence of goiter determined through palpation of the thyroid gland. In 22% of them (72 children), UIE was determined by spectrophotometry. 58 samples of salt for human consumption salt were randomly collected from local shops, school canteens and from the children's homes to determine their iodine concentration through the starch technique. In addition, the school children were measured and weighed to determine the adequacy of their height and Body Mass Index (BMI). Results: An 8.2% prevalence of goiter was found; all were grade 1. The iodine concentration in the salt was 31.4 ± 17.8 in the 58 samples analyzed, the average met the adequate range of the current Food Sanitary Regulation (FSR) of Health Ministry of Chile. Conclusion and comments: A non significant increase in the prevalence of goiter was found, the average of UIE continue being high, possible due to an excessive intake of iodine, nevertheless average iodine concentration in the salt for human consumption is within de recommended range by WHO-UNICEF-ICCIDD (20-40 ppm). These findings prompt to search another sources of iodine intake, as an explanation of the persistent elevation of UIE in these children.