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The People of Chile

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Chile was the last remaining country in the Americas to be subjugated by the Spaniards. Because of this, the Chilean people and their culture are a combination of Spanish and local groups native to the area. Chile’s population of 14 million is comprised of Mestizos, individuals of mixed Native American and Spanish ancestry, who make up for 93 percent of the existing population. Pure Native Americans only make up 3 percent of the current population, primarily Araucanians who live predominantly in the southern region. The other 2 percent of Chile’s existing population is made up of unmixed European race.

The general population of Chile is relatively young. Almost half of the population is under the age of 25 and 72 percent is under the age of 40. Women typically give birth to an average of 2.4 children.

In spite of the relatively long length of Chile, the majority of the population is located in the southern and central regions. Most of the people of Chile take up residency in urban centers, and over one-third of the population (nearly 5.5 million people) resides in Santiago, the capital city. Those who live in the southern region or in the northern desert are typically isolated and alienated by extensive, nearly unpopulated stretches.

The common religion of Chile is Roman Catholic. The Chilean society does not have a tainted history of religious, regional, or ethnic conflicts; however, there are some particular class distinctions still present today. In the last twenty years, modernization in a considerable range of fields has greatly improved the standard of living for many Chileans, but there are still significant differences in income evident. One amazing accomplishment of the people, however, testifies to the hope of the future. The country of Chile as a whole has virtually done away with illiteracy and the average school attendance has doubled.

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