Chilean Swedes

Chilean Swedes
Suecos chilenos
Svenskchilenare

Mauricio Rojas Malin Diaz Daniel Espinosa Rossana Dinamarca Miiko Albornoz Tilde de Paula Notable Chilean Swedes:
Total population
(50,000 (est.) (ca. 0.5% of the Swedish population))
Regions with significant populations
, Göteborg, Malmö
Languages
Swedish, Chilean Spanish
Religion
Irreligion, Atheism, Roman Catholicism, and Evangelicalism

(50,000 (est.)

Chilean Swedes are Chilean immigrants in Sweden and citizens of Sweden who are of Chilean ancestry.

It is estimated that some 50,000 people have Chilean background (first and second generation). Earlier estimations were 45,000 (2008).

Before the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, there were some 90 Chileans in Sweden. Compared to other Latin American countries, Chile had a tradition of democratic rule and relative political stability. The early stages of mass migration were mainly consistent of politicians, militants, intellectuals and other left-leaning elements seeking political refuge, but recent arrivals usually involve working-class Chileans in search of better living conditions for themselves and their families. Today many live in the bigger cities such as Gothenburg, Malmö and . Chilean Swedes are the largest and most prominent group among Latin American communities residing in Sweden.

Chilean people started immigrating in the 1970s in order to escape the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Sweden was known to be a social democratic country and the government allowed refugees to come to Sweden. But for many the time adapting to the new country was difficult. Language barriers, colder weather and monopolies on TV, radio and alcohol sales, for example, were a huge contrast to Chile. Many who came to Sweden continued to support the overthrown government of Salvador Allende. When Sweden was scheduled to play a Davis Cup tennis match against Chile in 1975, a large protest movement instigated by the Chilean diaspora sought to boycott the match and have it cancelled. The Hoola Bandoola Band even wrote a song titled "Stoppa matchen" ("Stop the match"). Almost 10,000 people demonstrated against the decision to play the match, which was eventually held as scheduled, but without spectators. When Milton Friedman received his Nobel Prize in 1976, similar protests organized both by Swedes and Chileans were once again seen on the streets.

During the 1980s, after Pinochet's economic reforms many poverty-stricken Chileans left their home country in hope to seek better opportunities in Sweden, where there was already a sizable presence of Chileans arrived in the previous decade. Some helped the newly arrived so they could integrate in the Swedish society. For a short period immigration from Chile increased after the 1970s and once again peaked. Today Chile is considered to be democratic and prosperous by Latin American standards, which has decreased immigration after the installation of a democratic government in 1990. Chileans who want to visit Sweden can stay three months without a visa thanks to diplomatic agreements between the countries. On the other hand, for Chileans who want to stay permanently in Sweden, it has become much more difficult for them to gain a permanent visa.