Calama: population and official figures
In depth
- Poverty and living standards in Calama: An estimated 17.2% of people in Calama comuna were in income poverty in 2024 (95% interval 14.8% to 19.6%), 27th highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site and 101st lowest of 345 comunas in the ministry's estimates. The estimate combines the direct Casen 2024 survey estimate for the comuna with a statistical model (Fay-Herriot).
What is the population of Calama?
Calama comuna had a projected 196,152 residents on 30 June 2024 according to INE, 28th largest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; INE projected 171,875 for 2017 and 142,211 for 2002. The projections are based on the 2017 census, and the figure covers the comuna as an administrative area.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyIs the population of Calama growing?
Between 2017 and 2024 the projected population of Calama comuna changed by +14.1%, a gain of 24,277 people, 18th fastest-growing of 63 Chilean cities on this site; Chile as a whole changed by +9.1% on the same projections.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyWhat will the population of Calama be in 2035?
INE projects 200,900 residents for Calama comuna in 2035, an increase of 4,748 (+2.4%) from 2024, 17th lowest of 63 Chilean cities on this site for projected change; the national projection is +5.2%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyHow many women and men live in Calama?
Women and girls make up 49.7% of the projected 2024 population of Calama comuna (97,470 women, 98,682 men), 6th lowest of 63 Chilean cities on this site for the female share.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyHow many older people live in Calama?
People aged 65 and over are 8.0% of the projected 2024 population of Calama comuna (15,705), 5th lowest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; children under 15 are 21.0% (41,210).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyHow old is the population of Calama?
Calama comuna has 38 people aged 65 or over for every 100 children under 15 in the 2024 projection, 5th lowest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; the national figure is 75.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyWho runs Calama?
In Chile, cities and towns are run by municipalities: Mayor (alcalde) and municipal council (concejo) directly elected for four years. Local services, primary education and health in many communes, urban planning, waste; advised by a civil society council (COSOC).
How local power works in Chile
Cities of a similar size in Chile
- La Serena 267,400
- Ñuñoa 266,906
- Pudahuel 261,596
- Arica 257,163
- Talca 242,344
- Concepción 239,776
- Iquique 231,962
- Los Ángeles 223,751
- Estación Central 221,901
- Chillán 204,091
- Colina 197,370
- Recoleta 196,856
- La Pintana 188,980
- Valdivia 182,086
- Osorno 176,304
- Copiapó 176,100
Up a level: all cities in Chile · Chile · government and power
Sources
- Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia: Estimaciones de inseguridad alimentaria moderada-severa por comuna 2024 (small-area estimation applied to Casen 2024), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c7b37113503d…)
- Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia: Estimaciones de tasa de pobreza por ingresos por comuna 2024 (small-area estimation applied to Casen 2024), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 44b0f2a534ca…)
- Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia: Estimaciones del indice de pobreza multidimensional (H) por comuna 2024 (small-area estimation applied to Casen 2024), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f5fc8bc7a23…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE): Estimaciones y proyecciones de poblacion 2002-2035, comunas (base: Censo 2017), by sex and single year of age, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 de4ed9522031…)
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