People and Society of Argentina

Argentina's population continues to grow but at a slower rate because of its steadily declining birth rate. Argentina's fertility decline began earlier than in the rest of Latin America, occurring most rapidly between the early 20th century and the 1950s, and then becoming more gradual. Life expectancy has been improving, most notably among the young and the poor. While the population under age 15 is shrinking, the youth cohort - ages 15-24 - is the largest in Argentina's history and will continue to bolster the working-age population. If this large working-age population is well-educated and gainfully employed, Argentina is likely to experience an economic boost and possibly higher per capita savings and investment. Although literacy and primary school enrollment are nearly universal, grade repetition is problematic and secondary school completion is low. Both of these issues vary widely by region and socioeconomic group. Argentina has been primarily a country of immigration for most of its history, welcoming European immigrants (often providing needed low-skilled labor) after its independence in the 19th century and attracting especially large numbers from Spain and Italy. More than 7 million European immigrants are estimated to have arrived in Argentina between 1880 and 1930, when it adopted a more restrictive immigration policy. European immigration also began to wane in the 1930s because of the global depression. The inflow rebounded temporarily following WWII and resumed its decline in the 1950s when Argentina's military dictators tightened immigration rules and European economies rebounded. Regional migration increased, however, supplying low-skilled workers escaping economic and political instability in their home countries. As of 2015, immigrants made up almost 5% of Argentina's population, the largest share in South America. Migration from neighboring countries accounted for approximately 80% of Argentina's immigrant population in 2015. The first waves of highly skilled Argentine emigrant workers headed mainly to the United States and Spain in the 1960s and 1970s, driven by economic decline and repressive military dictatorships. The 2008 European economic crisis drove the return migration of some Argentinean and other Latin American nationals, as well as the immigration of Europeans to South America, where Argentina was a key recipient. In 2015, Argentina received the highest number of legal migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean. The majority of its migrant inflow came from Paraguay and Bolivia.

Nationality

noun: Argentine(s) adjective: Argentine

Ethnic Groups

European (mostly Spanish and Italian descent) and Mestizo (mixed European and Indigenous ancestry) 97.2%, Indigenous 2.4%, African descent 0.4%

Population

41,343,201

Population (Male / Female)

male: 23,274,794 female: 23,719,590

Population Distribution

one-third of the population lives in Buenos Aires; pockets of agglomeration occur throughout the northern and central parts of the country; Patagonia to the south remains sparsely populated

Urban Population

urban population: 92.5% of total population rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change

Population in Major Urban Areas

15.490 million BUENOS AIRES (capital), 1.612 million Córdoba, 1.594 million Rosario, 1.226 million Mendoza, 1.027 million San Miguel de Tucumán, 914,000 La Plata

Age Structure

0-14 years: 23.3% (male 5,632,983/female 5,301,778) 15-64 years: 63.9% (male 15,071,215/female 14,956,069) 65 years and over: 12.8% (male 2,570,596/female 3,461,743)

Median Age

total: 33.3 years male: 32.1 years female: 34.6 years

Sex Ratio at Birth

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female

Life Expectancy at Birth

total population: 78.8 years male: 75.8 years female: 82 years

Infant Mortality Rate

total: 9 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Drinking Water Source

mproved: urban: 99.8% of population unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 100% of population

Tobacco Use

total: 24.5% male: 29.4% female: 19.6%

Alcohol Consumption

total: 7.95 liters of pure alcohol beer: 3.62 liters of pure alcohol wine: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol spirits: 0.72 liters of pure alcohol other alcohols: 0.72 liters of pure alcohol

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Total School Life Expectancy

total: 18 years male: 17 years female: 20 years

Classroom

In order to create a sense of equality among students, regardless of economic background, students wear standard uniforms consisting of knee-length white smocks over their everyday clothes: the boys' smocks button down the front, and the girls' button down the back. The smocks resemble white laboratory coats. Students must buy their own books and uniforms. Private schools are conducted by churches and other organizations, but they of course charge tuition. Separate programs are available for special needs children. Schools have varying schedules, but many will have split sessions, with half of the students attending in the morning and half in the afternoon. School sessions provide three 10-minute breaks during each morning and afternoon session.

Education Culture

Most citizens of Argentina aged 15 or older can read and write. The country has one of the better-educated populations in Latin America. Indeed, education is prized as one of the most important assets people can have. The government provides free public education for children ages 5-14, covering elementary and high school. There are also many privately-funded schools that charge tuition for their schools. Children attend school from March, which is Fall in South America, until late November. Summer vacation occurs when it is hottest, during December, January, and February. The length of the school day can vary, especially among private schools, but in general, the day begins at approximately 8:00 in the morning and will conclude in the early afternoon. School is finished each day by 4:30 in the afternoon. For younger children, the school session either runs from 8:00 until noon or from 1:00 until 5:00. Subjects for children in elementary school include math, science, history, geography, Spanish, English, music, belief systems, technology, and physical education. Until the age of nine, a child must study English for at least two hours a day.

Learning

One of Latin America's most frequent problems with education is the number of malnourished children who attend school hungry. Argentina is one of the best countries on the continent for ensuring that its children are fed properly. Certainly, a small percentage of poor families cannot provide their children with sufficient nourishment, but only 2% of children under the age of five are considered underweight because of a lack of food. Furthermore, almost three-fourths of the entire population has ready access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities. Recently, Argentina's educators have teamed up with some wealthy businessmen to improve the technological part of education. Over 50,000 personal computers have been installed in schools around the country, and the plan is to install another 50,000 before 2008. This is a tremendous asset for educators and provides children with a background that will allow them to get higher-paying jobs because of their familiarity with computers and the Internet. Spanish is the national language, though it is spoken in many accents, including a significant Italian influence in much of the country. Other languages are spoken in the country including German and French. When students are 14 years old, they take exams that dictate which type of secondary school they can enter. Some schools are for those who plan to attend college, others train children for vocations (business, industries, or trades), and yet others prepare students for teaching primary school.

To School

There are no public school buses, so kids will usually walk or ride a public transportation bus to school, depending on the local circumstances. They will catch their bus in time to arrive at school around 8:00. Wealthier parents often drive their children to school. In the country or rural areas, some children will even go to school on horseback. Argentina is home to many large cattle ranches, and children who grow up on such ranches are very comfortable riding horses from the time they are very young. Larger ranches may even have their own one-room school for the children on the ranch to attend.

• Roman Catholic90.0%
• other6.0%
• Protestant2.0%
• Jewish2.0%

Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Mapudungun, Quechua)

Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Quechua, Guarani, Mapudungun)

• Spanish

• Pedro de Mendoza

  A Spainish colonist who founded Buen Aire (Buenos Aires)

• San Martin Jose de

  Helped raise an army in Argentina to gain its Independence from Spain

• Maria Eva Duarte

  A women who got married to Juan Peron, and became the first, First Lady of Argentina

• Carlos de Saavedra Lamas

  jurist/ 1936 Nobel Prize for Peace

• Juan Domingo Peron

Crime Information

Most U.S. citizens visit Argentina without incident. Nevertheless, street crime in the larger cities, especially greater Buenos Aires and Mendoza, is a problem for residents and visitors alike. As in any big city, visitors to Buenos Aires and popular tourist destinations should be alert to muggers, pickpockets, scam artists, and purse-snatchers on the street, in hotel lobbies, at bus and train stations, and in cruise ship ports. Be careful in San Telmo, an older traditional neighborhood specializing in antique stores, and La Boca neighborhood (home to the famous “Caminito” street and “Boca Juniors” soccer stadium) in Buenos Aires, where violent robberies have been occurring with increasing frequency. Tourists who go to La Boca should limit their visits to the designated tourist areas during daylight hours.<br /> <br /> Criminals usually work in groups, and travelers should assume they are armed. Criminals employ a variety of ruses to distract and victimize unsuspecting visitors. Be suspicious of anyone who approaches you on the street. A common scam is to spray mustard or a similar substance on the tourist from a distance. A pickpocket will then approach the tourist offering to help clean the stain, and while doing so, he or an accomplice robs the victim. Another scam is to entice tourists into a bar known as a “wiskeria” with a flyer for a shopping discount or free show. Once inside, the victim is not allowed to leave until he or she pays an exorbitant amount for a drink. Thieves regularly nab unattended purses, backpacks, laptops, and luggage, and criminals will often distract visitors for a few seconds to steal valuables. While most U.S. citizens are not physically injured when robbed, criminals are known to use force when they encounter resistance, and there have been some violent and even fatal attacks on foreigners carrying valuables such as expensive cameras and equipment. Visitors are advised to immediately hand over all cash and valuables if confronted. Thieves may target visitors wearing expensive watches or jewelry, or carrying laptop computer cases. When staying in a hotel or apartment, it is a good precaution to call the front desk or security to identify uninvited individuals before giving them access.<br /> <br /> Some travelers have received counterfeit currency in Argentina. Unscrupulous vendors and taxi drivers sometimes pretend to help tourists review their pesos, then trade bad bills for good ones. Characteristics of good currency can be reviewed at the Argentine Central Bank website.<br /> <br /> Along with conventional muggings, "express kidnappings" occur. Victims are grabbed off the street based on their appearance and vulnerability. They are made to withdraw as much money as possible from ATM machines, and then their family or co-workers are contacted and told to deliver all the cash that they have on hand or can gather in a couple of hours. Once the ransom is paid, the victim is usually quickly released unharmed. There have been some foreign victims. Visitors are particularly advised not to let children and adolescents travel alone.<br /> <br /> Travelers worldwide are advised to avoid packing valuables in their checked baggage. In Argentina, officials have publicly acknowledged the systematic theft of valuables and money from checked baggage at Buenos Aires airports. Authorities are working to resolve the problem and have made a number of arrests, but travelers should exercise continued care and caution.<br /> <br /> Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.<br /> <br /> Your passport is a valuable document and should be guarded. Passports and other valuables should be locked in a hotel safe, and a photocopy of your passport should be carried for identification purposes. The U.S. Embassy has observed an increase in reports of stolen passports.