Chile has a population of approximately 20 million people as of 2025, making it the 61st most populous country in the world and the seventh most populous in South America. Spread across a famously long, narrow strip of land between the Andes and the Pacific, those 20 million Chileans are concentrated overwhelmingly in the temperate central valley around the capital, Santiago.
How Many People Live in Chile?
Chile's population sits at around 20 million in 2025, a figure that has roughly doubled since the early 1970s, when fewer than 10 million people lived there. Today the country ranks 61st globally for population, placing it well behind regional giants such as Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina, but ahead of neighbouring nations like Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
What makes the number striking is how it is distributed. Chile stretches more than 4,300 km from north to south yet averages only about 175 km in width. As a result, the national population density of roughly 26 people per square kilometre is misleading: vast stretches of the Atacama Desert and Patagonia are nearly empty, while the central regions are densely settled. You can learn more in our chile country guide.
Population Growth and Trends
Chile's population is currently growing at a modest annual rate of about 0.65%, low by Latin American standards and a clear sign of a maturing, increasingly developed society. Several forces are pulling the figure down:
- Falling fertility: The fertility rate has dropped to roughly 1.5 births per woman, comfortably below the 2.1 replacement level.
- An ageing population: The median age is now around 36 years, and life expectancy of about 80 years is among the highest in the region.
- Immigration as a counterweight: Significant recent arrivals from Venezuela, Haiti, Colombia, and Peru have partly offset the declining birth rate.
Demographers project that Chile's population will continue to rise slowly before peaking around 2050 at roughly 22 million, after which a gradual decline is expected, mirroring patterns already seen in much of Europe and East Asia.
The Biggest Cities
Chile is a highly urbanised nation, with close to 90% of its people living in towns and cities. The three largest urban centres are Santiago, Valparaíso, and Concepción.
- Santiago: The capital is home to about 6 million city residents and around 7.5 million in its wider metropolitan area, accounting for roughly 40% of the entire national population. Set in a valley between the Andes and a coastal range, it is the political, financial, and cultural heart of the country.
- Valparaíso: With around 300,000 residents, this colourful Pacific port is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its steep hillside neighbourhoods and historic funicular railways.
- Concepción: Anchoring Chile's second-largest metropolitan area at roughly 1 million people, Concepción is a major industrial and university city in the country's south-central region.
This extreme concentration in Santiago makes Chile one of the world's most pronounced examples of a "primate city," where a single metropolis dwarfs all others.
Who Are the Chilean People?
Chile has a comparatively homogeneous population. Estimates suggest around 60% identify as mestizo (mixed European and Indigenous heritage) and about 25% as White, primarily of Spanish descent but with notable German, Italian, Croatian, and British communities. The largest Indigenous group, the Mapuche, makes up roughly 11% of the population and is concentrated in the southern Araucanía region.
Spanish is the official language and is spoken almost universally, though Indigenous languages such as Mapudungun survive among Mapuche communities. Religiously, Chile is changing fast: around 55% identify as Roman Catholic, a share that is falling steadily, while roughly 16% are Protestant and a growing minority report no religious affiliation. The country is governed as a presidential republic.
Population by Geography
Chile's geography shapes its demographics like few other countries. The central regions around Santiago, Valparaíso, and the Maule valley hold the overwhelming majority of residents, drawn by a Mediterranean climate ideal for agriculture and city life. By contrast, the far north — dominated by the hyper-arid Atacama Desert — contains some of the least populated inhabited areas on Earth, with several districts having almost no permanent residents. In the far south, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego are likewise sparsely settled, with windswept landscapes supporting only small towns and ranches. This north-to-south spread across 38 degrees of latitude means Chileans live in environments ranging from subtropical desert to subantarctic ice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Chile in 2025?
Chile's population is approximately 20 million people in 2025, ranking it 61st in the world and seventh in South America.
What is the largest city in Chile?
Santiago is by far the largest city. Its metropolitan area holds around 7.5 million people — close to 40% of all Chileans — making it one of the most dominant capital cities on the planet.
Is Chile's population growing or shrinking?
It is still growing, but slowly, at about 0.65% per year. With a fertility rate of roughly 1.5 children per woman, the population is expected to peak near 22 million around 2050 before gradually declining.
How densely populated is Chile?
Chile averages about 26 people per square kilometre, but this masks huge variation: the central valley is crowded while the Atacama Desert and Patagonia are nearly empty.