Lebanese Chileans

Lebanese Chileans
Total population
27,000 descendants
Regions with significant populations
Valparaíso, La Serena, Santiago
Languages
Chilean Spanish, Lebanese Arabic
Religion
Majority: Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism
Minority: Judaism, Islam
Related ethnic groups
Arab Chileans, Chilean Jews

Lebanese Chileans, are immigrants to Chile from Lebanon. Most are Christian and they arrived in Chile in the mid-19th to early-20th centuries to escape from poverty. Ethnically Lebanese Chileans are often called "Turks" (Spanish: Turcos), a term believed to derive from the fact that they arrived from present day Lebanon, which at that time was occupied by the Ottoman Turkish Empire. Most arrived as members of the Eastern Orthodox church and the Maronite church, but became Roman Catholic. Lebanese Jews from Beirut immigrated to Chile in the late 19th century. A minority of Lebanese Muslims are also present in the country.

See also

References

  1. ↑ iLoubnan (2009). "Geographical distribution of Lebanese diaspora". Ya Libnan. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  2. ↑ Arab and Jewish immigrants in Latin America: images and realities, by Ignacio Klich, Jeff Lesser, 1998, p. 165.
  3. ↑ In Santiago Society, No One Cares If Your Name Is Carey or de Yrarrazaval, By ENID NEMY September 14, 1969, Sunday, Arab and Jewish immigrants in Latin America.
  4. ↑ Frank, Ben G. (2005). A Travel Guide to the Jewish Caribbean and Latin America. Pelican Publishing. p. 405. ISBN 9781455613304. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  5. ↑ Jaime, Davied (23 November 2015). "EyN: Chilenos ganan espacio dentro de la diversa comunidad islámica de Tarapacá". www.economiaynegocios.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 April 2026.