Punta Arenas: population and official figures
In depth
- Poverty and living standards in Punta Arenas: An estimated 9.8% of people in Punta Arenas comuna were in income poverty in 2024 (95% interval 8.3% to 11.3%), 5th lowest of 63 Chilean cities on this site and 17th 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 Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas comuna had a projected 145,713 residents on 30 June 2024 according to INE, 21st smallest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; INE projected 136,476 for 2017 and 121,265 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 Punta Arenas growing?
Between 2017 and 2024 the projected population of Punta Arenas comuna changed by +6.8%, a gain of 9,237 people, 27th slowest-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 Punta Arenas be in 2035?
INE projects 152,488 residents for Punta Arenas comuna in 2035, an increase of 6,775 (+4.6%) from 2024, 31st 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 Punta Arenas?
Women and girls make up 49.4% of the projected 2024 population of Punta Arenas comuna (72,031 women, 73,682 men), the 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 Punta Arenas?
People aged 65 and over are 14.3% of the projected 2024 population of Punta Arenas comuna (20,858), 28th highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; children under 15 are 16.9% (24,693).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyHow old is the population of Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas comuna has 84 people aged 65 or over for every 100 children under 15 in the 2024 projection, 23rd highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; the national figure is 75.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyWho runs Punta Arenas?
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
- Osorno 176,304
- Copiapó 176,100
- Quilpué 173,591
- Curicó 171,589
- El Bosque 169,855
- Providencia 164,009
- Renca 163,102
- Talcahuano 158,167
- Independencia 153,624
- San Pedro de la Paz 153,516
- Melipilla 148,899
- Villa Alemana 147,418
- San Miguel 145,424
- Alto Hospicio 143,294
- Lampa 143,032
- Quinta Normal 141,823
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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