OUR PEOPLE
Being an islander is at the centre of the identity of Juan Fernández. A community proud of its history and culture, which has been perpetuated since the first settlers, and above all, of its particular way of inhabiting the environment, which is in deep connection to, and with respect towards, the exuberant nature of the place.
1150
inhabitants, mainly living in Robinson Crusoe Island
*Social Registry of Households Municipality of Juan Fernández
60%
of the community depends on artisanal fishing
*National Census 2017
20%
of the population is dedicated to tourism, a figure that is increasing.
*National Census 2017
Living within nature
The sense of remoteness and the abundance of resources intersect here, and forge people whose lifestyle is marked by their relationship with the environment. Everyone can fish, hunt or gather, and that autonomy, along with the sense of belonging to a community with strong networks and solidarity, imprints a feeling of freedom which is experienced with joy.
From settlers to locals
Mostly descendants of European and Chilean settlers, the inhabitants of Juan Fernández identify strongly with the place they inhabit, and its nature. Heirs to a way of life marked by hard work and the ability to adapt to the environment that was characteristic of the first colonizers, today the people of Juan Fernández are a unique community with their own cultural and social traits, which have made the local a symbol of identity.
“The women of the island have always had a fundamental role in the community, our challenge now is to make that contribution visible and continue to grow in different areas.”