Facts and Figures

Capital: Santiago Population (2011): 17.3 million Area: 756,096 sq km Major Languages: Spanish Currency: Chilean Peso (CLP) GDP per Capita PPP (2010): USD 15,732 HDI Rank (2011): 44 of 187 Remittances (2011 estimate): USD 3 million Net Migration Rate (2010-2015): 0.3 migrants / 1,000 population Population under 15 (2011): 21.7% Adult HIV Prevalence (2009): 0.4%
Sources and Definitions More Facts and Figures
Immigrants (2010): 1.9% Women as a Percentage of Immigrants (2010): 53.5% Refugees as a Percentage of Immigrants (2010): 0.4% Population under 15 (2010): 22.3% HIV Prevalence (2007): 0.3% Remittances from Chile (2009): USD 6 million Number of Emigrants (2010): 633,600 Emigrants as a Percentage of the Population (2010): 3.7% Top 10 Countries of Origin (2010): Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Spain, United States, Brazil, Germany, Venezuela, Colombia Top 10 Destination Countries (2010): Argentina, United States, Spain, Canada, Sweden, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, France

Latest News

• IOM Builds 1,500 Emergency Shelters in Areas Severely Affected by the February Earthquake in Chile
• IOM to Assist Families Affected by the Earthquake in Maule and Biobío Provinces
• IOM, Local Partners Help Vulnerable, Earthquake-Affected Migrants in Chile
• IOM Stands Ready to Work with the Government of Chile and Local Partners to Assist Vulnerable Migrants
• Research Sheds New Light on Human Trafficking in Chile

Overview

Over the past six years the migrant population in Chile grew from 184,500 in 2002 to 317,000 in 2008: a 71.9 per cent increase. The main reasons are linked to political and economical stability, even during the last financial crisis which had a mild impact on the Chilean labour market thanks to effective measures taken by the government.

Nevertheless, this explosive increase in the migrant population demanding new integration spaces and rights protection is affecting the juridical, economical and political structure of Chilean society which is not sufficiently prepared to receive this massive flow. Chile is still in need of a legislative reform to protect migrants in line with international standards, especially victims of trafficking in persons.

Movement, Emergency and Post-crisis Migration Management

IOM Chile continues with the mobility programme providing moderate air ticket prices to students, scholarship holders and migrant workers and members of their families in partnership with different airlines.

Emergency

IOM Chile recently participated in formulating the draft of the Chilean National Plan for Emergencies and Natural Disasters in partnership with other United Nations agencies.

Migration Health

Migratory movements through and within the region create public health challenges for governments. IOM is addressing the need to develop health migration studies and health programmes for resident migrants and guaranteeing the application of norms contained in the international instruments related to migrants' rights.

Activities

• Publication and presentation to civil society and relevant public institutions of the study "Diagnosis and Global Feasibility for Implementation of Local Health Policies for Immigrants in the Northern Area of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile"
• Publication and presentation to civil society and relevant public institutions of the study "Global Feasibility for the Implementation of Local Policies on the Mental Health of Migrants Residing in the Northern Area of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago"
• Compilation of relevant articles and related material on mental and global health for future publications in partnership with the Ministry of Health

Migration and Development

During the past years IOM has implemented several initiatives to support orderly and humane migration in Chile through information and training policies:

• National Information Campaign aimed at migrant women on rights access in partnership with NGOs and civil society
• Participation in the South American Conference on Migration 2008 and 2009
• Regional Seminar on Interculturalism and Migration for the academic community, civil society, NGOs and public officials
• Establishment of a technical Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Chile, Faculty of Social Sciences and with the National Academy of Strategic and Political Studies
• International Summit: Chile-Bolivia on the migration reality and the role of migrant women in the integration process and interculturalism
• Capacity building for union leaders on the migration process and labour markets

IOM Chile continues its counter-trafficking efforts through research, information campaigns, and training.

Activities

• Presentation and publication of the study "Trafficking in Persons in Chile 2008" to public institutions, diplomatic authorities and civil society
• Presentation and publication of the study "The Diagnosis, Prevention, Training and Dissemination of Information on Counter-trafficking"
• Development of a Protocol to Assist Victims of Trafficking in Persons in Partnership with the Chilean Public Ministry
• Technical Assistance to the Chilean Senate on the Trafficking in Persons Law project
• Permanent capacity-building cycles to public officials, law enforcement officers, Chilean Gendarmerie, NGO members and civil society in counter-trafficking issues
• Permanent capacity building cycles to public officials, law enforcement officers, Chilean Gendarmerie, NGO members and civil society in counter-trafficking issues on northern and southern regions
• Workshop on counter-trafficking and good practices for public officials, diplomatic authorities and civil society in partnership with INTERPOL
• Training and capacity building cycles on counter-trafficking in children for officials of the Chilean National Service of Minors
• Integration and return assistance to victims of trafficking in persons
• Support to social organizations working on mental health assistance to migrants and victims of human trafficking
• Support to national awareness campaigns on the prevention of trafficking in persons

Facilitating Migration

IOM Chile’s initiatives in this area focus on capacity building programmes for public officials on migration issues such as the protection of migrant workers and their families, the prevention of trafficking in persons and assistance to victims, labour migration, tolerance, and gender and migration.

Activities

• Reinforcement of training programme on trafficking
• Capacity building for public officials and civil society
• Awareness campaigns on migration and integration

Voluntary Return and Reintegration

IOM Chile supports the assistance of Chilean nationals who voluntarily return to their country through a return and reintegration programme. The programme covers airport assistance, shelter assistance, medical assistance, paid scholar fees for returnees’ dependents, financing of small enterprises, vocational trainings, among others.

Last updated:
Main text: March 2010
Facts and figures: May 2012