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Chile is a relatively homogenous country and most of its population is of Spanish descent with varying degrees of Amerindian admixture, the product of the racial mixture between colonial Spanish immigrants and the native Amerindian tribes.

According to the 1992 Chilean census, a total of 10.5% of the total population declared themselves indigenous, irrespective of whether they currently practiced or spoke a native culture and language; almost one million people (9.7% of the total) declared themselves Mapuche, 0.6% declared to be Aymara, and a 0.2% reported as Rapanui. At the 2002 census, only indigenous people that still practiced or spoke a native culture and language were surveyed: 4.6% of the population (692,192 people) fit that description; of these, 87.3% declared themselves Mapuche. .

Small numbers of non-Spanish European immigrants arrived in Chile - mainly to the northern and southern extremities of the country - during the XIX and XX centuries, including English, Irish, Italians, French, and Balkans. In 1848 a small but noteworthy German immigration took place, sponsored by the Chilean government with aims of colonising the southern region. With time, and although undertaken by no more than 7,000 people, that German immigration influenced in a certain way the cultural composition of the southern provinces of Valdivia, Llanquihue and Osorno. To these immigrations it is also worth mentioning the Korean and Palestinian communities. The volume of immigrants from neighbouring countries to Chile during these same periods has been of a similar value.

Ethnicity and Social Status

The ethnic composition of Chileans, is marked by a socio-genetic gradient where Amerindian admixture typically correlates to social levels. According to recent genetic studies amerindian contribution tends to be strongest in the lower echelons of society (35%-40% amerindian admixture). The middle classes show a small amount of admixture (less than 20%), whereas the higher classes normally show none at all and lowest in the highes classes. Thus, amerindian admixture is present in a large majority of Chilean population. An earlier study (Rothhammer 1987) had established average Amerindian admixture in Chileans stands at 43%.

This correlation is generally noticeable phenotypically and this perception is reinforced by the fact that those Chileans of Northern European (German, French, British) extraction can be placed almost entirely in the upper echelons of society. Albeit, these apparent differences between social classes are not due to any present form of racial discrimination whatsoever. They are rather the result of Chile's colonial past and its large influx of immigration.

Demographic Trends

During the last decade immigration to Chile has doubled to 184,464 people in 2002, originating primarily from the neighbouring countries of Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. On the other hand, although emigration of Chileans has decreased during the last decade, it is estimated that 857,781 Chileans live abroad, 50.1% of those being in Argentina, 13.3% in the United States and a 4.9% in Sweden. Interregional population mobility within Chile has also increased in the last decades causing a massive migration from the rural areas towards the larger cities. While in the south-central regions of the country more than 80% of the population was local born (in the Region of Biobío levels reach 86.11%), in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago only 71% of the population was local born, while in the more extreme regions such as the Region of Magallanes this number reaches only 55%.

About 85% of Chile's population lives in urban areas, with 40% living in Greater Santiago. Chile's population growth is among the lowest in Latin America, at around 0.97%, it comes third only to Uruguay and Cuba.

Demographic data

Population

16,134,219 (April 2006 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.7% (male 2,035,278/female 1,944,754)

15-64 years: 67.1% (male 5,403,525/female 5,420,497)

65 years and over: 8.2% (male 555,075/female 775,090) (2006 est.)

Median age

Total: 30.4 years

Male: 29.5 years

Female: 31.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate

0.94% (2006 est.)

Birth rate

15.23 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate

5.81 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.72 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate

Total: 8.58 deaths/1,000 live births

Male: 9.32 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total population: 76.77 years

Male: 73.49 years

Female: 80.21 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

2 children born/woman (2006 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

Spanish and Spanish Amerindian >90%, officially recognised Amerindian population 4.6%, Whites and others constitute the remainder

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.)

References

• Template:CIA WFB 2006

• Chilean society
• Demographics by country