Chile Population
Latin America & Caribbean · 66th most populous · High income
Population right now (estimate)
19,970,789
The population of Chile is about 19,970,789 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 19.9 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.24% of the world's people.
Chile is ranked 66th of 217 by population. Growth has nearly stopped: the population changes by only 0.43% a year. Projections show it peaking around 2041 at about 20.5 million, then declining. That is 2.4 times its 1960 population of 8.2 million. Population density is 27 people per square kilometre. 89% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
19.9 million
Yearly change
+0.43%
World rank
66th
Share of world
0.24%
Density
27/km²
Land area
742,032 km²
Life expectancy
81.4 yrs
Births per woman
1.14
GDP per capita
$17,995
GDP
$357.4B
Population of Chile, 1960–2050
Chile population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 8,153,350 | — | 11 |
| 1970 | 9,845,344 | +1.71% | 13 |
| 1980 | 11,508,550 | +1.49% | 16 |
| 1990 | 13,437,176 | +1.68% | 18 |
| 2000 | 15,503,635 | +1.20% | 21 |
| 2010 | 17,181,464 | +1.01% | 23 |
| 2020 | 19,370,624 | +0.90% | 26 |
| 2024 | 19,764,771 | +0.54% | 27 |
| 2026proj. | 19,945,850 | +0.43% | 27 |
| 2030proj. | 20,233,183 | +0.32% | 27 |
| 2040proj. | 20,542,103 | +0.03% | 28 |
| 2050proj. | 20,320,306 | −0.23% | 27 |
Chile vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 8.9 times as many people as Chile. Bangladesh is 50.8 times more densely populated.
Chile population: questions and answers
What is the population of Chile in 2026?
About 19,945,850 (19.9 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is Chile's population growing?
Yes, by about 0.43% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Chile?
About 27 people per km², with a land area of 742,032 km².
What will the population of Chile be in 2050?
About 20.3 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Chile?
Santiago.
What is the life expectancy in Chile?
81.4 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.