Rancagua: population and official figures
In depth
- Poverty and living standards in Rancagua: An estimated 18.2% of people in Rancagua comuna were in income poverty in 2024 (95% interval 16.2% to 20.3%), 21st highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site and 129th 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 Rancagua?
Rancagua comuna had a projected 274,407 residents on 30 June 2024 according to INE, 14th largest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; INE projected 255,550 for 2017 and 222,553 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 Rancagua growing?
Between 2017 and 2024 the projected population of Rancagua comuna changed by +7.4%, a gain of 18,857 people, 29th 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 Rancagua be in 2035?
INE projects 293,704 residents for Rancagua comuna in 2035, an increase of 19,297 (+7.0%) from 2024, 23rd highest 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 Rancagua?
Women and girls make up 50.2% of the projected 2024 population of Rancagua comuna (137,883 women, 136,524 men), 14th 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 Rancagua?
People aged 65 and over are 14.7% of the projected 2024 population of Rancagua comuna (40,270), 24th highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; children under 15 are 18.8% (51,652).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyHow old is the population of Rancagua?
Rancagua comuna has 78 people aged 65 or over for every 100 children under 15 in the 2024 projection, 31st highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; the national figure is 75.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyWho runs Rancagua?
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
- Maipú 586,812
- Santiago 544,388
- Antofagasta 444,276
- La Florida 407,297
- Viña del Mar 371,490
- San Bernardo 348,640
- Las Condes 343,632
- Valparaíso 320,816
- Temuco 309,696
- Puerto Montt 280,955
- Quilicura 275,744
- Coquimbo 275,644
- Peñalolén 272,913
- La Serena 267,400
- Ñuñoa 266,906
- Pudahuel 261,596
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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