Poverty and living standards in Calama, Chile: official figures
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).
How many people live in poverty in Calama?
That is about 33,810 people in income poverty out of 196,282 residents counted in the ministry's 2024 population base for Calama comuna, 28th most people of 63 Chilean cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia · saved copyWhat is the multidimensional poverty rate in Calama?
The multidimensional poverty rate in Calama comuna was an estimated 20.4% in 2024 (95% interval 17.6% to 23.3%), 23rd highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site and 122nd highest of 345 comunas; multidimensional poverty looks at education, health, work, housing and social-network deprivations as well as income.
Source: Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia · saved copyHow many people live in multidimensional poverty in Calama?
About 40,070 people in Calama comuna were in multidimensional poverty in 2024 on the ministry's estimate, 26th most people of 63 Chilean cities on this site.
Source: Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia · saved copyIs multidimensional poverty higher than income poverty in Calama?
In Calama comuna the multidimensional poverty rate (20.4%) is 3.2 percentage points above the income poverty rate (17.2%) in the 2024 estimates.
Source: Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia · saved copyHow many households in Calama are food insecure?
An estimated 15.5% of households in Calama comuna had moderate or severe food insecurity in 2024 (95% interval 12.9% to 18.0%), 22nd lowest of 63 Chilean cities on this site and 152nd lowest of 345 comunas.
Source: Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia · saved copyHow reliable is the poverty estimate for Calama?
The 95% interval for income poverty in Calama comuna is 4.8 percentage points wide, because the estimate comes from a sample survey. Between 2022 and 2024 the ministry updated its income poverty method, so 2024 figures are not directly comparable with earlier Casen releases.
Source: Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia · saved copyHow Calama compares with other cities in Chile
Income poverty rate 2024, Casen small-area estimate (comuna) (2024)
Calama ranks 27 of 63, highest first.
| Rank | City | Income poverty rate 2024, Casen small-area estimate (comuna) |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Valdivia | 17.8% |
| 25 | Quilpué | 17.6% |
| 26 | Talcahuano | 17.4% |
| 27 | Calama | 17.2% |
| 28 | Osorno | 17.0% |
| 29 | San Pedro de la Paz | 16.7% |
| 30 | Copiapó | 16.6% |
Multidimensional poverty rate 2024, Casen small-area estimate (comuna) (2024)
Calama ranks 23 of 63, highest first.
| Rank | City | Multidimensional poverty rate 2024, Casen small-area estimate (comuna) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Puente Alto | 22.1% |
| 21 | Valparaíso | 21.4% |
| 22 | San Joaquín | 21.0% |
| 23 | Calama | 20.4% |
| 24 | Quilicura | 19.9% |
| 25 | Quinta Normal | 19.5% |
| 26 | Rancagua | 19.0% |
Households with moderate or severe food insecurity 2024, Casen small-area estimate (comuna) (2024)
Calama ranks 42 of 63, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with moderate or severe food insecurity 2024, Casen small-area estimate (comuna) |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Puerto Montt | 16.4% |
| 40 | Macul | 16.1% |
| 41 | San Miguel | 16.0% |
| 42 | Calama | 15.5% |
| 43 | San Pedro de la Paz | 15.1% |
| 44 | Valdivia | 15.1% |
| 45 | Coquimbo | 15.0% |
People in income poverty 2024, Casen small-area estimate (comuna) (2024)
Calama ranks 28 of 63, highest first.
| Rank | City | People in income poverty 2024, Casen small-area estimate (comuna) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Curicó | 35,411 |
| 26 | Estación Central | 34,596 |
| 27 | El Bosque | 34,049 |
| 28 | Calama | 33,810 |
| 29 | Valdivia | 32,428 |
| 30 | Melipilla | 32,005 |
| 31 | Quilpué | 30,681 |
More on Calama: overview · all cities in Chile
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…)
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