Demographics of Chile

Unlike some of its South American neighbours, Chile is a relatively homogeneous country. Around 95% of Chileans descend from early Spanish colonists, with a large part also possessing Native American ancestry in varying degrees. For this reason, a majority of the population could be deemed mestizo. On the other hand, there is no clear distinction between a theoretically "mestizo" population and a European one and it would be difficult to draw a line on racial grounds. However, physical appearance is associated to status and social background, fairer individuals generally being associated with the upper classes. This perception is reinforced by the dominant position in society of relatively recent immigrant communities from North Western Europe (England, Germany and France).

Native Americans number around 700,000 and are mostly Mapuche that reside in the south-central area of the country. Aymara and Quechua populations live along the northern border with Peru and Bolivia. There are also some people of Polynesian ancestry who are indigenous to the Chilean territory of Easter Island ( Rapanui) in the Pacific.

Chileans descended from non-Spanish European nationalities are not numerous, but include a small yet influential number of English immigrants that arrived in Chile during the Spanish colonial period. Government-sponsored immigration from Germany began in 1848, and in time, changed the cultural makeup of the southern provinces of Valdivia, Llanquihue, and Osorno, which still show a strong German influence. Other immigrant groups include people of Italian, Croatian, and Middle Eastern backgrounds.

In the last decade there has been an influx of Koreans who settled in small sections of Santiago. In recent years, the difficult economic situtation in neighbouring Peru has resulted in work-related trans- Andean migration to Chile.

Chile's population distribution is about 85% urban, with 40% of these living in the greater Santiago de Chile area. The relatively small Central Valley, where Santiago is situated, dominates Chile in terms of population, agricultural resources, and political power. The Central Valley represents Chile's historical center from which it expanded during the late 19th century, integrating the northern and southern regions into its sphere of influence.

Demographic data

Population

15,980,912 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.2% (male 2,062,735/female 1,970,913)

15-64 years: 66.7% (male 5,320,870/female 5,342,771)

65 years and over: 8% (male 534,737/female 748,886) (2005 est.)

Median age

Total: 30.07 years

Male: 29.17 years

Female: 31.05 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate

0.97% (2005 est.)

Birth rate

15.44 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate

5.76 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate

Total: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Male: 9.55 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 8.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total population: 76.58 years

Male: 73.3 years

Female: 80.03 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.02 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS

Adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2003 est.)

People living with HIV/AIDS: 26,000 (2003 est.)

Deaths: 1,400 (2003 est.)

Nationality

Noun: Chilean(s)

Adjective: Chilean

Ethnic groups

Mestizo 93%, Amerindian 3%, European 2% other 2%

Religions

Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL%

Languages

Spanish

Literacy

Definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Total population: 96.2%

Male: 96.4%

Female: 96.1% (2003 est.)