Santiago: population and official figures
In depth
- Poverty and living standards in Santiago: An estimated 10.2% of people in Santiago comuna were in income poverty in 2024 (95% interval 7.3% to 13.1%), 6th lowest of 63 Chilean cities on this site and 18th 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 Santiago?
Santiago comuna had a projected 544,388 residents on 30 June 2024 according to INE, 3rd largest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; INE projected 446,490 for 2017 and 224,989 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 Santiago growing?
Between 2017 and 2024 the projected population of Santiago comuna changed by +21.9%, a gain of 97,898 people, 8th 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 Santiago be in 2035?
INE projects 595,600 residents for Santiago comuna in 2035, an increase of 51,212 (+9.4%) from 2024, 14th 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 Santiago?
Women and girls make up 49.5% of the projected 2024 population of Santiago comuna (269,670 women, 274,718 men), 2nd 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 Santiago?
People aged 65 and over are 9.0% of the projected 2024 population of Santiago comuna (48,853), 6th lowest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; children under 15 are 11.3% (61,416).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyHow old is the population of Santiago?
Santiago comuna has 80 people aged 65 or over for every 100 children under 15 in the 2024 projection, 28th highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site; the national figure is 75.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (INE) · saved copyWho runs Santiago?
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
- Puente Alto 667,904
- Maipú 586,812
- 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
- Rancagua 274,407
- Peñalolén 272,913
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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