Sociedad Suiza de Beneficencia, Victoria, Chile.jpg|Swiss Charitable Society of Victoria, year 1886. FamigliaCastagnaColoniCapitanPastene1910.jpg|One of the Italian settler families who founded Capitán Pastene, year
1910. Inmigrantes franceses.jpg|French family in Chile, year 1920. Familia Alessandri.JPG|Alessandri Family, with two future presidents of Chile, year 1920. 1951 settler families.JPG|Family of German colonists, in the agricultural expansion in Aysén, year 1951. Recordatorio Cemeterio Suizo.jpg|Plaque of the Swiss Cemetery, located in Victoria, Araucanía Region. Casa de madera y Tejuela, Camino a Alerce, Puerto Varas.jpg|Typical house of German settlers in southern Chile, in Los Ríos and Los Lagos regions. Puerto varas church.jpg|German-style parish church in Puerto Varas, Los Lagos Region. Arco Británico.jpg|British Arch, located in the city of Valparaíso. Calle de Morandé - Santiago de Chile.JPG|Plaque in the house of the French immigrant
Morandais, origin of the Chilean surname
Morandé. Fachada.jpeg|Greek Orthodox Church of the Saints Constantine and Elena, located in the commune of Ñuñoa, Santiago. Spaniards were the most relevant group among European immigration to Chile. The largest ethnic group in Chile arrived from Spain during the colonial age, prior to 1810. Too, until the 18th century, the country experienced massive immigration from the
Basque Country and
Navarre, reaching 27% of the total Chilean colonial population, as well as Portuguese and Italian immigrants who accompanied the
Spanish Empire. The situation changed for the early 20th century Chile was not a particularly attractive destination for migrants simply because it was far from Europe, and reaching such a remote place was difficult. In other counts, with only immigrants born in their countries of origin, and without counting their descendants, came to represent 4.1% of the national population, with the exception of
Magallanes Region, where 1/4 people had been born abroad, mostly on the European continent. However, some relevant groups arrived anyway, especially for the colonization of Araucanía, and in search of luck in mining activity in the north of the country. In any case, this immigration does not compare to that of the South American Atlantic countries. Between 1851 and 1924 Chile only received the 0,5% of the European immigration flow to Latin America, against 46% of Argentina, 33% of Brazil, 14% of Cuba, and 4% of Uruguay. These colonists were given lands in the
Chilean Central Valley and their descendants are principally found in Temuco, Concepción, and Ercilla. In 1903, a fleet of 88
Canarian families—400 persons—arrived in
Budi Lake, Chile, that currently have more than 1,000 descendants, as a response to the government's call to populate this region and signed contracts for the benefit of a private company. While many
Canarians obeyed their service, some of those who disobeyed the provisions of repopulation tried to escape their service and were arrested, and the indigenous
Mapuche people took pity on the plight of these Canarians who were established on their former lands. The Mapuches welcomed them and joined their demonstrations in the so-called "revolt of the Canarians", and many Canarians integrated into Mapuche population to add the large
mestizo population that exists in Chile. Today, the Spanish colony continues to be the most significant in the country, having its own football (soccer) club,
Unión Española and more than 80 institutions of varying purpose throughout Chile (charitable, sports, philanthropic, social, etc.). It is estimated that some 400,000 Chileans are descendants of Spanish immigrants who came to Chile during the 20th century, more than 100,000 descending from the Spanish who settled in Araucanía.
Basque Estimates of the number of Chileans with Basque ancestry currently range from 10% (1,600,000) to as high as 27% (4,700,000). The
Basque community in Chile is large, visible, and has existed since the 16th century. Basque immigration can be divided into historical periods: the discovery, foundation, and colonial period; the wave of immigration in the 18th century; and the recent immigration period (19th and 20th centuries). A substantial number of traders from the Basque country arrived between 1750 and 1800. These Basque immigrants prospered and married the daughters of the old commissioned officers who came originally from the south of Spain, making them landlords of economic, social, and political power, which has given them a certain preeminence. The Basque presence in Chile began in the
conquistador period. A contingent from the
Basque Provinces, including
Navarra, was part of the original Spanish army. In the 16th century, of the 157 families from the Iberian Peninsula that settled in Chile, 39 had Basque surnames. The number grew steadily, and many Chilean governors have been of Basque origin. During the 18th century, Chile saw a mass immigration coming from the Basque country. By the end of the 18th century, Chileans with Basque surnames comprised 27% of
the Chilean population. Basques became the most important regional group in the population, displacing both the native population and descendants of those born in
New Castile,
Old Castile, and
Andalucía. These immigrant families initially dedicated themselves to their preferred forms of business, and in successive years entered into many alliances with families of Castilian origin possessing lands and titles, giving birth to a new social group known in Chilean history as the "Castilian-Basque Aristocracy." In the second half of the 19th century came a new wave of Basque immigration, with as many from the French Basque country as from the Spanish Basque country. The migratory flood continued, with varying intensity, almost until the end of the
Spanish Civil War. To describe the Basque-Chilean relationship,
Miguel de Unamuno, himself of Basque ancestry, said: "There are at least two things that clearly can be attributed to Basque ingenuity: the
Society of Jesus and the
Republic of Chile."
France 960,000 are the descendants of French in Chile today. In World War II, a group of over 10,000 Chileans of French descent, the majority have French relatives joined the
Free French Forces and fought the
Nazi occupation of France. The incumbent Chilean President,
Michelle Bachelet is of French origin. Former dictator,
Augusto Pinochet, is another Chilean of French descent. A large percentage of politicians, businessmen, professionals and entertainers in the country are of French ancestry.
Germany According to the last census and estimations, year 2019, 9,689 German immigrants resided in Chile at that time, The German immigrants succeeded in creating vigorous villages and communities in virtually uninhabited regions, completely changing the landscape of the southern zones.
Carlos Anwandter left evidence of this great spirit of building, proclaiming to all the colonists: "We will be Chileans, as honorable and hardworking as ever there were, we will defend our adopted country united in the ranks of our new compatriots, against all foreign oppression and with the resolve and fortitude of the man that defends his country, his family, and his interests. This country that we have adopted as sons will never have reason to repent of its enlightened, humane, and generous gesture..." (18 November 1851). Later years brought a new, great wave of German immigrants who settled throughout the country, especially in
Temuco,
Santiago, and in the country's principal commercial zones. During World War II, many German Jews settled in Chile, fleeing the
Holocaust. After the war, many leaders and collaborators from
Nazi Germany sought to take refuge in the southern region of the country.
Paul Schäfer even founded
Colonia Dignidad (Dignity Colony), a German enclave in Region VII, where massive human rights violations were carried out. Among many distinguished descendants of the Germans in Chile are counted the commander Fernando Matthei Aubel, the architect
Mathias Klotz, tennis players
Gabriel Silberstein and
Hans Gildemeister, golf players
Joaquín Niemann and
Felipe Aguilar, the athletes
Sebastián Keitel and
Marlene Ahrens Ostertag and her daughter, TV host and journalist
Karin Ebensperger, the musicians
Patricio Manns and Emilio Körner, the economist
Ernesto Schiefelbein, the politicians
Miguel Kast and
Evelyn Matthei, the entrepreneurs Jürgen Paulmann and
Carlos Heller, the painters Uwe Grumann and Rossy Ölckers, television presenters
Karen Doggenweiler,
Allison Göhler, and
Margot Kahl, writers
César Müller and Mexican-born
Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller, and the actors
Gloria Münchmeyer and her daughter
Catalina Guerra,
Antonia Zegers,
Aline Kuppenheim, and
Bastian Bodenhofer. It is now difficult to tabulate the full number of German descendants in Chile because of the large amount of time that has passed and because they have mixed with the Chilean population for more than 150 years. Because many areas of the Chilean South are sparsely populated, the traces of German immigration are rather obvious that the German culture is well preserved. In reality, the descendants of these first immigrants mostly live in the big cities.
Britain and Ireland British descendants in Chile are estimated to number between 350,000 and 420,000 to 1,000,000; with 120,000 Irish-Chileans. The English, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish population rose to more than 32,000 during the port of Valparaíso's boom period at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century during the
saltpeter bonanza. The role of British colonial influence is important to understanding the boom and bust of the port of Valparaíso. The English immigration and influence was also important in the northern regions of the country during the saltpeter boom, in the ports of
Iquique and
Pisagua. The
King of Saltpeter,
John Thomas North, was the principal backer of nitrate mining. The British legacy is reflected in the street names of the historic district of the city of Iquique, and the foundation of various institutions, such as the Club Hípico (Racing Club). Nevertheless, British influence came to an end with the saltpeter crisis during the 1930s. Today the descendants of British and Irish immigrants are found dispersed throughout the country. Well-known descendants of these colonists include
Patricio Aylwin,
Gustavo Leight,
Alberto Blest Gana,
Joaquín Edwards, Carlos Condell de la Haza,
Juan Williams, Patricio Lynch Solo de Zaldívar, Jorge O'Ryan,
Benjamín Vicuña MacKenna,
Bernardo Leighton,
Enrique Mac Iver,
Bernardo O'Higgins,
José Manuel "Rojo" Edwards,
Emilio Edwards,
Rodrigo Millar,
Solange Lackington,
Olivia Collins, and
Sussan Taunton.
Croatia One of the most important groups of European immigrants in Chile are the
Croats, whose number of descendants today (2009) is estimated to be 500,000 persons, Other authors claim, on the other hand, that close to 4.6% of the Chilean population must have some
Croatian ancestry. Chile is the second-ranked country in the world for number of Croatian descendants, after Croatia itself. The first Croatian immigrants came from
Dalmatia, arriving in the mid-19th century in escape from the wars unleashed in that region or from pestilence on the islands in the
Adriatic Sea. The major concentrations of Croatians can be found in Santiago, Antofagasta, and Punta Arenas, but a large concentration also exists in
Viña del Mar,
Porvenir, and
La Serena. Many descendants of Croatian immigrants who settled in the north and south of Chile later moved to the capital. Arturo Givovich is considered to be the first Croatian in Chile, having arrived in the 17th century on an English pirate ship belonging to
Sir Francis Drake. Givovich jumped ship in Chile, abandoning the Navy and staying on land for the sake of love. In the mid-19th century, three sailors from the Dalmatian-Croatian coast—
Antonio Letic, Antonion Zupicic, and Esteban Costa (Kosta)—were hired by the Chilean Navy and sent to the
Straits of Magellan. They arrived in October, 1843, with a relief and resupply mission for Fort Búlnes, which had been erected only months before. Without a doubt, most Croatian immigrants, approximately 58,000, arrived in Chile at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, up until World War I. Consequently, the Croatian colony in Chile was officially considered
Austro-Hungarian. The Croatian immigrants dedicated themselves to business. In
Punta Arenas, they dedicated themselves to the estates, or the extraction of gold, primarily found in Cañón Baquedano. In the north of Chile, they dedicated themselves to mining saltpeter. Various institutions created by the Croatian colony have persisted, including clubs, schools, stadiums, gymnasiums, and charity institutions. The cities of Punta Arenas and Antofagasta are sister cities of the city of
Split in
Dalmatia.
Croatian immigration in Punta Arenas was crucial to the development of
Magallanes and the city in particular. Currently, you can see their legacy in the names of shops and many buildings. According to some references, up to 50% of the population of Punta Arenas are
descendants of Croats.
Italy In 1989, the estimated number of people of Italian descent in Chile was 300,000 persons. After
independence, the Chilean government encouraged Italian
emigration especially after the formation of the Kingdom of Italy in the 1860s and 1870s, but without getting the results from the nearby Argentina. However, there was a substantial flow of migration from
Liguria to the area of
Valparaíso, which came to control 70% of the city. These immigrants founded the 'Body of Fire' (called
Cristóforo Colombo) of the city and its
Scuola Italiana, whose building has been declared by the Government of Chile "Monumento Histórico Nacional". In comparison, larger numbers of Italian immigrants to Chile were from the Northern Italian regions such as Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont and Lombardy and to a much smaller number of Central or Southern. Italian Chileans along with
French Chileans contributed to the development, cultivation and ownership of the world-famous
Chilean wines from
haciendas in the
Central Valley ever since the first wave of Italians arrived in colonial Chile in the early 19th century. With akin Latin culture, the Italian settlers, along with French, quickly assimilated into mainstream Chilean society. At the end of the 19th century many Italian merchants are rooted in the northern part of
Arica, where they began exploiting the rich mines of
saltpetre. Meanwhile, many Italian families settled in the capital
Santiago,
Concepción,
Viña del Mar,
La Serena and
Punta Arenas. Although being just a fraction of the size of the migration to Argentina, Italian immigration to Chile has been present since the arrival of the first Spaniards into the country, like captain
Giovanni Battista Pastene who helped
Pedro de Valdivia's expedition. Thence, with akin Latin culture, Italians have helped forge the nation, with architects (
Gioacchino Toesca), painters (
Camilo Mori), businessmen (
Anacleto Angelini), Economists (
Vittorio Corbo) and statesmen (
Arturo Alessandri) among others.
Greece The Greek community in Chile are estimated to number 150,000, and reside either in the
Santiago area or in the Antofagasta area, mostly. Chile is one of the 5 countries with the most descendants of Greeks in the world. The Greek community has great importance in Chile. The first immigrants arrived during the 16th century from
Crete, so named "Candia" in honor of the island's capital, the current
Heraklion. The surname, although at present, is very disconnected from its ancient origins. The majority of Greek immigrants arrived in Chile at the beginning of
century, some as part of their spirit of adventure and escape from the rigors of the
World War and the catastrophe of
Smyrna in
Asia Minor, although many Greeks had already settled in Antofagasta, a city in northern Chile, including crews of the ships commanded by
Arturo Prat for the
Pacific War (1879–1883) in
naval battle of Iquique (boatswain
Constantine Micalvi). It is very likely that the good climate of the area has been a major attraction for immigrants Greeks. However, the chronicles of the time show that most attracted by the reputation he had acquired the northern Chilean operation of
salt and the wealth they had in the country. According to
El Mercurio of
Antofagasta, between the years 1920 and 1935 there were about 4,000 Greeks in the city and other 3,000 in offices saltpeter. The majority of Greek immigrants arrived in Chile at the beginning of the 20th century for his spirit adventurer. However, the chronicles of the time show that most attracted by the reputation he had acquired the north by the operation of nitrate. The country was plunging into an economic boom that lasted a very large period in which the Chileans did not pay taxes. Salitre fever attracted thousands of foreigners who came from Europe and some of the United States. The "nitrate" or city offices located close to the mineral operations were a glorious time. Furniture, curtains, carpets were imported from France or England and foreigners also imported European governesses to educate their shoots. Amid this flood of foreigners who populated northern Chilean appeared Greece. Was a numerous Collectivité Hellenic whose records were listed in two sources. One of these was the extensive collaboration that gave the Chilean press through its pages in the newspaper
El Mercurio. The other end of the fire under the rubble of the first home that housed the proto-Hellenes of Chile. In 1926 the first women's association for excellence, filóptoxos (friends of the poor) which was chaired by
Xrisí Almallotis. Since then to date there have been about four or five generations of descendants of Greeks. Some have moved south and are grouped mainly in
Santiago and
Valparaíso. Others returned to the motherland after the first war but most of the immigrants stayed in their new country and founded
numerous Greek-Chilean families. The main member of this community the employer is
Constantino Kochifas, owner of the ships Skorpios in
Puerto Montt.
Switzerland There are currently 5,000 Swiss citizens residing in Chile, In the 19th century, the opening up of new lands in the New World and the economic crisis in Europe motivated the most impoverished sectors of society to emigrate, mainly to United States in North America, to Australia, and to
Brazil,
Uruguay, Argentina and Chile in South America. It was an organized exodus of limited duration. As economic immigration increased, the State assumed a regulatory role by granting or denying requests for permission to settle there. Formal reports of Swiss immigrants' experiences in southern Chile began in 1853. Official reports of the Swiss Consulate in
Valparaiso highlighted the advantages and disadvantages that Chile offered to migrants from Europe. Around 1884, the Chilean Government invited citizens from various European countries to settle in supposedly "pacified" southern territories in Araucania, where the first Swiss, French and German settlers continued to be harassed by the hosts commanded by the mapuche leader Colipi until 1889. The procedure was as follows: the settlers were met by government authorities at Talca, held in quarantine, and then taken to Angol, where each family received farming tools and a cart with oxen to travel to the "promised land." In one documented case, in the town of Puren, each family was freely assigned 40 hectares, plus other 20 hectares for each son capable of working those lands. In addition, each family received a subsidy of 15 pesos per month and one milking cow. In turn, the family had to undertake to live in their allocated plot, fence it, build a home and work it directly. Only 28 years after the commencement of
German colonization in southern Chile, the Federal Council in 1881 authorized specialized agencies to operate in Switzerland to recruit migrants. The Federal Council, after years of examining the advantages and disadvantages to admitting migrants, posed as a premise the assumption that the Chilean authorities insisted on peace in Araucanía, which had not yet been fully accomplished. The first contingent departed Switzerland in November 1883. Subsequent authorizations would depend on its success. The first group was composed of 1311 families who landed in a Chilean port 19 December 1883. Between 1883 and 1886 12,602 people, representing 7% of emigration from Switzerland overseas, traveled to the territory of Araucanía . The operations continued until 1890, when it was recorded that 22,708 Swiss had come to the heart of
the Araucania. Between 1915 and 1950, after the last recorded mass exodus of Swiss to Chile 30,000 residents were found to be installed in the central area of the country, primarily in
Santiago and
Valparaiso.
Netherlands In 1600, the Chilean city of
Valdivia was conquered by Dutch pirate
Sebastian de Cordes. He left the city after some months. Then in 1642 the VOC and the WIC sent a fleet of ships to Chile to conquer the city of Valdivia and seize the goldmines of the Spanish. The expedition was conducted by
Hendrik Brouwer, a Dutch general. In 1643 Brouwer conquered the
Chiloé Archipelago and the city of Valdivia. Brouwer died on 7 August 1643, and the vice-general
Elias Herckmans took control. The second
emigration from the
Netherlands to Chile came in 1895. Under the so-called "Inspector General of Colonization and Chilean Immigration" a dozen Dutch families settled between 1895 and 1897 in
Chiloé, particularly in Mechaico,
Huillinco and
Chacao. In the same period Hageman Egbert arrived in Chile. with his family, 14 April 1896, settling in Rio Gato, near
Puerto Montt. The Wennekool family came to Chile and inaugurated the Dutch colonization of
Villarrica. In the early 20th century, a large group of Dutch people, known as
Boers, arrived in Chile from South Africa and worked mainly in construction of the railway. The
Boer War would eventually lead in 1902 to the British annexation of both the Dutch and British colonies. Some of the
Boers, also called Afrikaners decided to return to Europe, many of them after a long stay in British camps. Shortly after their return to the Netherlands, some were presented with the opportunity to immigrate to Chile with the help of the Chilean government. On 4 May 1903, a group of over 200 Dutch emigrants sailed on the steamship "Oropesa," of the "Pacific Steam Navigation Company," from La Rochelle (La Pallice) in France. The majority of migrants were born in the Netherlands: 35% were from North Holland and
South Holland, 13% from
North Brabant, 9% from
Zeeland and another 9% from Gelderland. Only a dozen children had been born in South Africa (in
Pretoria,
Johannesburg, Valkrust, Roode Koog, Muurfontein, Platrand, Watersaltoon and
Cape Town/Kaapstad). Among the emigrants was a small group of singles, but most were married couples with children (some had as many as five children). On 5 June, they traveled by train to their final destination, the city of
Pitrufquén, located south of
Temuco, near the hamlet of Donguil. Another group of Dutch emigres arrived shortly after in Talcahuano, aboard the "Oravi" and the "Orissa". The Dutch colony in Donguil was christened "Colonia Nueva Transvala" or "New Transvaal Colony". Between 7 February 1907 and 18 February 1909, more than 500 families eventually settled in Chile to start a new life. It is currently estimated that there are about 105,000 Chileans of
Dutch descent in Chile, mostly located in
Malleco,
Gorbea,
Pitrufquén, Faja Maisan and around
Temuco.
Hungary In South America, more Hungarians settled in Argentina and Brazil. But Chile was a major point of passage for Hungarians to other countries in North America (the United States or Canada) and Australia. Most Hungarian immigrants to Australia came from South America during the first half of the 20th century. According to 2001 census estimates, there are around 40,000 people of Hungarian descent living in Chile, the main concentration are in
Santiago.
Lithuania Poland A small number of Poles came to Chile, with first of them coming during the
Napoleonic Wars. In the early 20th century, there were around 300 Poles in Chile. After World War II, around 1,500 Poles, mostly former
Zivilarbeiter (forced laborers in Nazi Germany), settled in Chile, and in 1949 the
Association of Poles in Chile was founded. A significant majority of Polish Chileans live in
Santiago. One of the notable Polish Chileans is
Ignacy Domeyko.
Russia It included Poles due to
Partitions of Poland. The first Russians came to Chile in the early 19th century as part of naval expeditions circumnavigating the globe, among them captains
Otto Kotsebu, Fyodor Litke, and Vasili Golovnin. However, they were just temporary visitors; the earliest Russian migrants came in 1854. The immigrants of that time belonged to different ethnic groups of the Russian Empire, particularly to minorities. Among them were seafarers and traders as well as medical professionals such as Alexei Sherbakov, who served as a surgeon in the
Chilean Navy during the
War of the Pacific. In the period between World War I and World War II, political motivations for migration came to the forefront; the number of
White Russian emigres in Chile grew to about 90%. In the 1950s, their numbers were further bolstered by arrivals from among the
Russian expatriate community in Harbin. The Russian Cemetery was founded in 1954 to provide a separate space for burials for the community. ==Immigration from the Americas==