Coyhaique Province

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Coyhaique Province
Provincia de Coyhaique
Province
Official seal of Coyhaique Province
Seal


Location in the Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Region
Location in the Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Region
Location in Chile
Location in Chile
Coyhaique Province
Location in Chile
Coordinates: 45°00′S 72°00′W / 45.000°S 72.000°W / -45.000; -72.000
CountryChile
RegionAysén
CapitalCoyhaique
CommunesCoyhaique
Lago Verde
Government
[1]
 • TypeProvincial
Area
[2]
 • Total
12,942.5 km2 (4,997.1 sq mi)
Population
 (2024 Census)
 • Total
58,602
 • Density4.5279/km2 (11.727/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−4 (CLT[3])
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (CLST[4])
Websitewww.gobernacioncoihaique.gov.cl

Coyhaique Province (Spanish: Provincia de Coyhaique) is a province in the Aysén Region of Chile. Its capital is Coyhaique. Spread over an area of 12,942.5 km2 (4,997.1 sq mi), it had a population of 58,602 inhabitants as per the 2024 Chilean census. The province was established by law on 14 July 1974.

History

The region was populated by several indigenous groups such as the Tehuelche, Alacalufe and Chono, who were nomadic, and used the streams for transportation along the Andes mountain. As the Spanish colonialists arrived inteh region, the indigenous population declined. It was repopulated only in the 19th century, when forests were cleared to establish cattle ranches.[5]

The Aysén Region was established on 10 July 1974, as per Law No. 575, which reorganised Chile into thirteen regions.[6] It was named is divided into four provinces–Coyhaique, Aysén, General Carrera and Capitán Prat, which are further divided into ten communes.[7]

The name Coyhaique or Coihaique originated from the Tehuelche language words "koi" meaning "pond" and "aiken" meaning "camp",[8] roughly translating to a "place with ponds or lagoons".[9]

Geography

Coyhaique Province is one of the four provinces of the Aysén Region in Chile.[7][10] It spans an area of 12,942.5 km2 (4,997.1 sq mi).[2] The province is situated in Chilean Patagonia, east of the Andes mountain range.[5] Coyhaique, which lies at the confluence of the Simpson and Coyhaique rivers, serves as the capital of the region.[7][8][9] About 55.7% of the land area of the province belongs to the Aysen River basin.[11]

Climate

The province has a maritime coastal climate towards the west and cold climate towards the eastern border with Argentina. The temperatures are mild with an average annual temperature of 9.13 °C (48.43 °F), and drops below freezing in the winter. The region receives only about 3.35 cm (1.32 in) rainfall on average annually.[5][12]

Administration

Coyhaique is a second-level administrative division of Chile, governed by a governor.[1] It is further sub-divided into two communes (comunas), Coyhaique and Lago Verde,[10][11]

Demographics

According to the 2024 Chilean census, the Coyhaique province had a population of 58,602 inhabitants, and is the most populous of the provinces in the Aysen region.[10][13] The population consisted of 30,005 females (51.2%) and 28,597 males (48.8%). About 19.3% of the population was below the age of 15 years, 68.2% belonged to the age group of 15–64 years, and 12.5% was aged 65 years or older. The province had an urban population of 46,854 inhabitants (80%) and a rural population of 11,748 inhabitants (20%). Most of the residents were born in Chile, accounting for 56,097 inhabitants (95.7%). Non-indigenous people formed the majority of the population with 43,512 inhabitants (74.3%), while 15,073 inhabitants (25.7%) identified themselves as belonging to indigenous groups. Roman Catholics formed the largest religious group with 24,208 adherents (51.5%), followed by 14,858 inhabitants (31.6%) indicating no religious affiliation, and Evangelicals or Protestants with 6,752 adherents (14.4%).[13][14]

References

  1. "Gobierno de Chile: Gobernadores". Government of Chile (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
  2. "Territorial division of Chile" (PDF) (in Spanish). National Statistics Institute (INE). 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
  3. "Chile Time". World Time Zones. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  4. "Chile Summer Time". World Time Zones. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  5. "Coyhaique and Puerto Aisén". Visit Chile. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  6. "Decreto Ley 575 del 14 de julio de 1974" [Decree Law 575 of 14 July 1974]. Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  7. "Region de Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Region" [Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Region]. Ministry of the Interior (Chile) (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  8. "Coihaique". Inter Patagonia. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  9. "Coyhaique". La Ruta de los Parques. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  10. "Administrative division of Chile". City Population.de. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  11. "Provincia details, Coyhaique Provincia" [Details of the Province, Coyhaique Province]. Ministry of the Interior (Chile) (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  12. "Coyhaique". Weather and Climate. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  13. "Coyhaique Province". City Population.de. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  14. Chilean Census 2024, Results. National Statistics Institute (Chile) (Report). Retrieved 1 April 2026.