Where Most Chileans Live: The Central Valley Corridor

Population Concentration

Over 80% of Chile's 19.6 million people reside in the Central Valley (Regiones Metropolitana, O'Higgins, Maule, Ñuble, Biobío, La Araucanía), a 1,000 km long fertile depression between the Andes and the Coastal Range.

Major Urban Centers

• Santiago (Metropolitan Region): 7.2 million – capital, economic/political hub.
• Valparaíso–Viña del Mar: 1.0 million – main port, legislative seat, tourism.
• Concepción–Talca–Chillán corridor: 1.5 million – industrial, university, agricultural heartland.
• Temuco: 300K – gateway to Mapuche territory, forestry.

Why the Central Valley?

• Mediterranean climate: wet winters, dry summers – ideal for agriculture (wine, fruit, wheat).
• Flat, irrigable land; dense transport network (Pan-American Highway, rail).
• Historical settlement pattern from colonial era.

Peripheral Regions

• Norte Grande/Chico (Atacama/Coquimbo): Mining towns (Antofagasta, Calama, Copiapó) – 1.5M total.
• Sur (Los Lagos, Aysén, Magallanes): Sparsely populated; forestry, salmon, tourism, sheep.