Chilean People and Demographics

Below are some general facts about the Chilean People. For insight into the Chileans and their culture, visit the Chilean Culture section.

Population: 16,284,741
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24.1% (male 2,010,576/female 1,920,951); 15-64 years: 67.4% (male 5,480,703/female 5,492,988); 65 years and over: 8.5% (male 576,698/female 802,825)
Median age: total: 30.7 years; male: 29.8 years; female: 31.7 years
Population growth rate: 0.916%
Birth rate: 15.03 births/1,000 population
Death rate: 5.87 deaths/1,000 population
Life expectancy: total population: 76.96 years; male: 73.69 years; female: 80.4 years
Ethnic groups: white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%
Religions: Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3%
Language: Spanish
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write; total population: 95.7%; male: 95.8%; female: 95.6%

All numbers are 2007 estimates

Source: The Central Intelligence Agency