The preliminary results of the 2024 Census revealed that Chile's population has reached 18.5 million people—significantly lower than previous projections, which estimated around 20 million. This discrepancy has sparked a necessary debate about current demographic dynamics and their implications for the future.

In her opinion column published in El Mostrador, demographer and CISS researcher Sarahí Rueda-Salazar, argues that we are entering a new demographic phase, characterized by a sustained decline in fertility (with a rate of 1.16 children per woman), accelerated population aging, increased life expectancy, and a growing role of migration in population growth.

Rueda points out that while immigration has fueled recent population growth—with an increase of 600,000 foreign nationals between 2018 and 2023—the overall growth rate has slowed considerably (from 16% between 2002 and 2017 to just 5% between 2017 and 2024).

According to the author, these figures should prompt serious reflection and a review of public policies concerning key issues such as healthy aging, migration governance, and the balance between work and family life.

You can read the full column here: Censo 2024: radiografía inesperada – El Mostrador

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