According to the latest version of the Imagen de Chile study, which measures the different indicators that sustain our identity, 61% said they feel proud to be Chilean. This is 11 points higher than during COVID-19 confinement.
Privileged skies for astronomy, a solid democratic electoral system and our innovative character are some of the elements most celebrated by Chileans. This is according to the latest “Chilean Pride” study, carried out annually by Fundación Imagen de Chile. The study analyzes the elements of their identity that Chileans value the most.
“Since its first version in 2019, this study has allowed us to learn more about the different elements that make up our culture, something that is key when it comes to defining the country image that we present to the world,” explains Rossana Dresdner, executive director of Fundación Imagen de Chile. “On this occasion, one of the results that we highlight the most is the increased pride in being Chilean, which had weakened a few years ago and has now returned to almost pre-pandemic levels,” she states.
According to the latest research, prepared in conjunction with the Department of Studies at the Universidad Católica (DESUC), 61% of those surveyed said that they feel “very proud” to be Chilean. This figure has shown a progressive increase since 2020 (50%) and is now close to the 71% recorded in the second half of 2019.
“The first study coincided with the social protests of 2019, a moment in which Chile and its people were put to the test. Time has allowed us to rediscover who we are and what we share. This process is reflected in the increased pride in being Chilean,” stated Cristian Ayala, director of DESUC.
Pride in their country for those born in Chile was 37%. Although the figure is lower than the percentage that feels proud to be Chilean (61%), it has also shown a progressive increase since 2019, when it reached 31%.
When differentiating by region, people from Tarapacá were those who showed the most pride in being Chilean (77%) and for their country (44%). At the other extreme was Los Ríos Region, with 44% proud to be Chilean, and the Valparaíso Region, with 26%.
Elements that generate pride
When asked about the pride generated by Chile’s different elements, our democratic electoral system, culture and commitment to the environment were those that showed the most positive variation in recent years. In this sense, the high level of pride in our democratic electoral system went from 24% in 2021 to 45% in 2022, a growth of 21 percentage points.
“We have elements, such as our geography and our strength, that have historically generated widespread pride; but we have also seen a progressive increase in other areas, such as our commitment to the environment, democracy or culture. This is aligned with the country image positioning strategy that we are currently promoting,” states Guadalupe Zegers, head of research at Fundación Imagen de Chile.
Men tend to value “privileged skies for astronomy” and the “democratic electoral system” more, while women feel prouder of “culture, art and heritage”, “indigenous peoples”, the “innovative character of Chileans” and the “development of science and technology”.
When organized according to macro-zones, the north and south showed greater pride in the innovative character of the Chilean people and in the democratic electoral system than the central zone and the Metropolitan Region.
Science and the environment continue to top the list of elements and milestones that make Chileans proud. Geography and environmental diversity top the list, with 89% stating they feel proud, followed by our privileged skies (75%), the quality of our export products (66%) and the strength of the Chilean people when facing challenges (54%).
