Iquique: population and official figures
In depth
- Poverty and living standards in Iquique: An estimated 16.2% of people in Iquique comuna were in income poverty in 2024 (95% interval 14.8% to 17.6%), 31st lowest of 63 Chilean cities on this site and 81st 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 Iquique?
Iquique comuna had a projected 231,962 residents on 30 June 2024 according to INE, 22nd largest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; INE projected 202,891 for 2017 and 173,611 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 Iquique growing?
Between 2017 and 2024 the projected population of Iquique comuna changed by +14.3%, a gain of 29,071 people, 17th 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 Iquique be in 2035?
INE projects 240,905 residents for Iquique comuna in 2035, an increase of 8,943 (+3.9%) from 2024, 28th 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 Iquique?
Women and girls make up 49.8% of the projected 2024 population of Iquique comuna (115,428 women, 116,534 men), 9th 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 Iquique?
People aged 65 and over are 11.4% of the projected 2024 population of Iquique comuna (26,401), 19th lowest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; children under 15 are 19.2% (44,442).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyHow old is the population of Iquique?
Iquique comuna has 59 people aged 65 or over for every 100 children under 15 in the 2024 projection, 19th lowest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; the national figure is 75.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyWho runs Iquique?
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
- Temuco 309,696
- Puerto Montt 280,955
- Quilicura 275,744
- Coquimbo 275,644
- Rancagua 274,407
- Peñalolén 272,913
- La Serena 267,400
- Ñuñoa 266,906
- Pudahuel 261,596
- Arica 257,163
- Talca 242,344
- Concepción 239,776
- Los Ángeles 223,751
- Estación Central 221,901
- Chillán 204,091
- Colina 197,370
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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