Chile: housing

How big is Chile's housing deficit?

Chile's quantitative housing deficit was about 405 thousand households in 2024, the lowest in the 2006-2024 series, according to the CASEN 2024 housing report of the Ministry of Social Development and Family. Using the 2024 census, the Ministry of Housing estimates a higher deficit of 491,904 homes.

The quantitative deficit counts homes needed for households sharing a dwelling, overcrowded family units and homes that cannot be repaired. Households sharing with another household made up 41.0% of it. The two estimates differ by 86,352 units because they use different sources and definitions.

Official sources: CASEN 2024 housing report

How many homes in Chile need repairs or upgrades?

About 1.24 million homes in Chile were affected by the qualitative housing deficit in 2024, according to the Ministry of Social Development and Family's CASEN 2024 housing report.

The qualitative deficit counts homes that can be fixed rather than replaced: those with poor materials, lack of sanitation or overcrowding that can be resolved by extending the home. Unlike the quantitative deficit, which fell in 2024, the report says the qualitative deficit has followed an uneven path and increased again after 2015.

Official sources: CASEN 2024 housing report

Have house prices in Chile risen faster than wages?

The Central Bank of Chile's house price index rose 39.0% between March 2015 and March 2024, from 153.98 to 214.06, while the INE's real wage index rose 9.3%, according to figures cited in the CASEN 2024 housing report. The report concludes that house prices rose about 4.2 times faster than labour income.

The house price index is calculated by the Central Bank from property transactions and is published quarterly in its statistical database. The comparison uses real wages, so it already allows for inflation in pay but not for changes in mortgage rates.

Official sources: CASEN 2024 housing report

What is Chile's urbanisation rate?

89.2%: that is the share of people living in urban areas in Chile for 2025, according to the UN Population Division. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 4th highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 66.2%. World rank, highest first: 21st of 193.

What share of Chile's city dwellers live in slums?

According to UN-Habitat, the share of city dwellers living in slums in Chile was 7.3% in 2022. It was 7.3% in 2008. Latin America & Caribbean median: 14.7%; Chile is 20th highest of 26. World rank, highest first: 104th of 170.

What share of people in Chile have electricity?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2024, is 99.0%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 97.7% (2005) to 100.0% (2012). Latin America & Caribbean median: 99.5%; Chile is 18th highest of 33. World rank, highest first: 113th of 193.

How many people in Chile have clean water?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 97.8%. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 1st highest of 14 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 66.3%. World rank, highest first: 32nd of 134.

What is access to sanitation in Chile?

95.1%: that is the share of people using safely managed sanitation in Chile for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. Its high point since 2005 was 2021, at 95.1%; its low point was 2005, at 73.7%. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 44.7%, and Chile placed 1st highest of 16. Worldwide: 24th of 134.

What is access to clean cooking in Chile?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2024, is 96.0%. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 95.0%, and Chile placed 11th highest of 33. Worldwide: 76th of 192.