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Chile is a relatively homogenous country and most of its population is of predominantly Spanish origin, with varying degrees of native Amerindian admixture, the product of the racial mixture between colonial Spanish immigrants and the native Amerindian tribes. About 85% of its 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.

Ethnography

The ethnic composition of Chileans is marked by a socio-genetic gradient where Amerindian admixture typically correlates to social levels. Amerindian contribution tends to be strongest in the lower echelons of society, in the upper class and middle class, tend to register the lowest degree of Amerindian contribution. Almost the entirety of the population, however, presents a racially mixed origin, and only a small minority can truly be said to be unmixed European or unmixed Amerindian. The unmixed Amerindian population, in fact, is said to be now extinct. + Nevertheless, based solely on phenotypic structure, between 5 and 10% of the current population would be classified as Amerindian, some 40% would be classified as white, and the remaining majority, between 50 and 55%, would be the discernably mestizo population whose average racial mixture is not much lower than the average generalized racial contribution of Chile According to the Program of Human Genetics of the University of Chile, the generalized racial contribution of Chile's population, calculated by the use of nuclear markers, is approximately 70% European contribution and 30% Amerindian, depending on the socioeconomic level. 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. . - According to 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

Immigration

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. The German immigration influenced the cultural composition of the southern provinces of Valdivia, Llanquihue and Osorno. The prevalence of german, french and english surnames among the governing body of modern Chile are a testament to their contribution to Chile. Also worth mentioning are the Korean and especially Palestinian communities, the latter being the largest colony of that people outside of the Arab world. The volume of immigrants from neighboring countries to Chile during those same periods was of a similar value. Currently, immigration from neighboring countries to Chile is greatest, and during the last decade immigration to Chile has doubled to 184,464 people in 2002, originating primarily from Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. 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, 4.9% in Sweden, and around 2% in Australia, with the rest being scattered in smaller numbers accross the globe.

Indigenous communities

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.

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

Mestizo, in various degrees of admixture marked by a sociogenetic gradient (see above), over 90%;

Officially recognised Amerindian population as cited by and according to the current parameters of the Chilean National Institute of Statistics, 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