Chile is a country that is situated in the southwestern part of South America.The length of the country from north to south is about 4 thousand kilometers, while the maximum width - about 200 kilometers.One of the interesting features associated with the number of residents of Chile: the country's population is characterized by the lowest growth in the territory of the Americas.
Colonization
demographic studies show, for the colonial period arrived in the country, according to various sources, from 50 to 75 thousand Europeans.The predominant majority of them was a Basque and Spanish.In the mid-nineteenth century there landed about 20 thousand Germans.In the twentieth century, more than 100 thousand representatives of Europe immigrated to Chile.The country's population during its colonization has increased by 250 thousand foreigners.This is much less compared with those in neighboring South American countries.So now there is every reason to believe that a local ethnic group is mainly the result of the mixing of Spanish and aboriginal persons.
National composition
If we talk about national structure, it is assumed that the population of Chile is composed of three major groups.The first of these are indigenous peoples.They account for about 7% of the total number of inhabitants living in the state.The most famous natives here are the Araucanians, who number more than one million people.The rest of the nations are not so numerous.Moreover, some of them are on the verge of extinction.
second ethnic group - Hispanic Chileans, representing the descendants of the first colonizers of the country.They mix with the indigenous population has meant that now they account for about 92% of the population.
The third group is the European settlers.As mentioned above, most of them were Spaniards and Basques.In the early twentieth century in Chile we immigrated as many people from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Croatia.As of today the Diaspora each country has about half a million people.
One should not forget about the inhabitants of Easter Island belongs to Chile.They are mainly represented by the Polynesians.In addition, in the state live a fairly powerful community Swiss Jews, Dutch and Greek.
Demographic characteristics
population of Chile, the number of which as of today is just over 17 million people, it can be divided into three age categories.On the youth about a quarter of inhabitants of the country, and the elderly - only 8%.Average life expectancy for women is 80 years, while men - 73.3 years.As noted above, the state is characterized by a very low average annual increase in the number of residents who, since the eighties of the twentieth century, did not rise above the level of 1.7%.At the same time, not to mention a significant decline in recent years the infant mortality rate.
Settling
fairly uneven distribution of inhabitants - is another feature of Chile.The population is concentrated mainly in the central regions of the state.They are home to about 67% of people.If the average density of population in the country is 22 people per square kilometer, in the capital, Santiago, it reaches 355 people.This is the maximum figure for Chile.In the northern regions per square kilometer on average, up to three people, and in the south - no more than one.Aborigines live mainly in the south.However, it is impossible not to note the trend towards the gradual relocation of the Indians in urban areas.
Language
State in the country is considered to be Spanish.This is not surprising, since for most Chileans, he is a native.The indigenous population of Chile was able to largely maintain many types of dialects of their ancestors.At the same time, Spanish is used for teaching in schools, as well as a majority of representatives from Aboriginal to communicate with each other.
Religion
Most residents are Roman Catholic.They fall about 70% of all believers Chileans.About 15% of local residents consider themselves to various Protestant movements (usually, Pentecostals).Indians remain largely faithful to the traditions, so profess their religion.It should be noted that the Roman Catholic Church plays an important role not only in social, but also in the political life of the country.In particular, it is actively involved in the conduct of the territory of the various reforms.
Urbanization and employment
the whole country is considered one of the most urbanized in the whole of South America.In Chile, the urban population accounts for about 86% of the population, much of which is concentrated in these two central areas of Santiago and Valparaiso.The biggest cities of the country were established in the colonial era, and therefore is not surprising the ethnic composition of their inhabitants.They are mostly descendants of the Spanish conquerors and the local Aboriginal people.The rural population lives mainly in the resorts and in small villages.
main occupations of the population of Chile - is the service sector, industry and agriculture.In each of these sectors account for respectively 63, 23 and 40 per cent of the total number of able-bodied citizens.As for the unemployment rate in the country, it is at around 8.5%.
