People
Chile's population of 14 million is relatively young. Nearly half the population is under 25 years of age and 72 percent is under 40. Women have an average of 2.4 children. Despite the country's length, most of the population is concentrated in the southern and central regions - Santiago alone accounting for 5.5 million. Chile as a whole has practically eliminated illiteracy, and the average school attendance level has doubled in the last two decades. In June 1996, President Eduardo Frei mandated an increase of classroom hours to benefit students and bring new vigor to the educational enterprise, or at least that is the hope.
The Chilean people and their culture is a mix of Spanish and indigenous groups native to the region. Chile was the last country in the Americas to be occupied by the Spaniards. A later dose of immigrant influence, particularly European, was added to the mix following the second world war. The common religion is Roman Catholic. Although Chilean society is not riddled by ethnic, religious or regional conflicts, certain class barriers and distinctions still exist. Over the past 20 years, modernization in a vast array of fields has improved the quality of life for many Chileans, yet great disparities in income are still apparent. The present challenge is to overcome the growing gap between those with easiest access to a modern Chile, and those left behind.
