Chile Population

Population Distribution

As of 2023, the latest population of Chile is 18,186,770, based on our calculation of the current data from UN (United Nations).

People in Chile

The Chileans

The majority of Chileans are whites or mestizos, namely just under 90 percent. The Mapuche Indians count 9 percent. That corresponds to 1.5 million Mapuche. This makes you the largest indigenous people in Chile. The Mapuche live in the Patagonian part of Chile. Today the city of Temuco is considered to be its center, because a particularly large number of Mapuche live here.

The second largest indigenous group are the Aymara in the far north on the border with Peru. About 115,000 of them live in Chile, that is 0.7 percent of the population. Small groups are Diaguita (45,000 people), Quechua (the descendants of the Inca) and Colla (around 13,000 each), Rapa Nui (who live on Easter Island, around 8,000) and Atacameño (who live in the Atacama Desert in the north, around 6,000).

The southernmost Indian peoples are the Kawesqar and the Yagan (Yámana). 1700 Kawesqar and 1200 Yagan still exist in Chile. They used to live as sea nomads. They carried all their possessions on their canoes. They caught fish and seals and the women dived for clams. They were almost wiped out by the white settlers by the beginning of the 20th century. Many died from imported diseases. Some indigenous peoples such as the Chango on the northern coast or the Chono on the Taitao peninsula in the south died out completely.

• Children: Every woman in Chile has an average of 1.7 children. In Germany, every woman has an average of 1.4 children.
• Urban and rural: 88 percent of all Chileans live in cities. Incidentally, that is more than here in Germany (75 percent). More than 6 million Chileans live in the capital Santiago. There are also other larger cities such as Valparaíso and Concepción. Most of the big cities are in the center of the country.

Languages in Chile

Spanish is the official language in Chile. It is spoken by almost all Chileans (99.5 percent). Only a small minority still speaks indigenous languages, namely around 1 percent of the population. The indigenous languages ​​include Mapudungun (the Mapuche language), Aymara, Quechua and Rapa Nui.

Spanish in Chile

Chilean Spanish is different from the Spanish spoken in Spain. While in Spain, for example, the c is usually pronounced like an English th, i.e. between the teeth, (as in the English word through), in Chile, as in all of Latin America, the c is spoken like a sharp s (as in see). This is called Seseo.

It is also typical that one always says ustedes instead of vosotros (her). In Spanish Spanish that would be the polite form (Siezen), in Chile and all of Latin America you always say it when addressing several people.

The Voseo (use of vos instead of do for you) is not common in Chile. So you use tu. However, the verb is given its own form (example: tu hacís instead of tu haces – you do, tu venís instead of tu vienes – you come). The final s is also only breathed.

There are also deviations in vocabulary. It is said to potatoes papas (and not patatas) or strawberry frutilla (and not fresa) and Auto car (and not coche). This can easily lead to misunderstandings with Spaniards.

Mapudungun

Mapudungun is the language of the Mapuche. Not all Mapuche speak it, however, many speak Spanish. By the way, you probably know a word from the Mapudungun, namely the word poncho. It’s a kind of coat that is made from a piece of cloth and has a hole in the middle through which you stick your head. Perhaps you have already seen that, even with us ponchos are trendy right now. The word poncho means “blanket” in Mapudungun. Funnily enough, the poncho is called differently on Mapudungun, namely makunh.

There are other words from the Mapudungun that we also use in German. These include huemul (Andean deer), degu (bush rat) or pudu (southern deer) – all typical animals of Patagonia.

Mapudungun is written with Latin letters. Example: Kim-wigka-sdugu-ken. That means: I speak a foreign language. Incidentally, the word Mapuche means “people of the country” from mapu (country) and ce (people).

Religions in Chile

67 percent of the population of Chile belong to the Catholic Church, 16 percent to a Protestant church. So 83 percent of the population are Christians. 11 percent feel they do not belong to any religion.

Chile Overview

Chile, a long and narrow country stretching along the western coast of South America, is famous for its diverse landscapes, ranging from the arid Atacama Desert in the north to the pristine fjords and glaciers of Patagonia in the south. The country is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, exemplified by its vibrant music, literature, and cuisine. Chile is also known for its winemaking industry, producing world-class wines in regions such as the Maipo Valley and Colchagua Valley. Santiago, the capital city, is a bustling metropolis located in the central valley, surrounded by the Andes Mountains.

• Capital City: Santiago
• Population: Approximately 19.7 million
• Area: 756,102 square kilometers
• Full Country Name: Republic of Chile
• Currency: Chilean Peso (CLP)
• Language: Spanish
• ISO Country Codes: CL, CHL

Bordering Countries of Chile

Chile is bordered by Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south. Peru is a country located in western South America and is home to a rich culture and diverse geography. In terms of physical geography, Peru has three distinct regions: coast, highlands, and jungle. The coast region is a narrow strip of desert land that extends from Ecuador to Chile and contains some of Peru’s most important ports. The highlands region lies in the Andes Mountains and consists of several mountain ranges including Cordillera Blanca, Cordillera Negra, and Cordillera Huayhuash. This region also includes Lake Titicaca which borders both Peru and Bolivia. Finally, the jungle region is home to Amazonian rainforest that covers nearly 60% of Peru’s territory.

Bolivia lies just north of Chile’s border with Argentina and encompasses an area that was once part of both Incan Empire as well as Spanish colonial rule. This country contains two distinct regions; the western highlands which are part of the Andes mountain range with snow-capped peaks over 6500 meters above sea level; while to east lies La Paz which has an elevation ranging from 900 meters up to 4000 meters above sea level making it one of the highest capitals in world. Bolivia has been known for its mineral wealth such as silver ore which has been mined since pre-Colombian times; while more recently its natural gas reserves have become increasingly important for regional development.

Argentina is located eastward from Chile along its long border with Argentina stretching for over 5800 km (3600 mi). It is composed mostly of flat terrain featuring grassy plains or pampas in central Argentina’s interior but also consists of several mountain ranges including the Andes Mountains along its western edge as well as Patagonia located further south towards Tierra del Fuego archipelago at its southernmost point. The capital city Buenos Aires lies along Rio de la Plata estuary on Atlantic coast while other major metropolitan areas include Mendoza in wine-producing Cuyo region as well as Bariloche nestled within Andean foothills near Lake Nahuel Huapi in Patagonia region.