festivites
Here are some of the major festivities and holidays in Argentina:
1. Carnaval: Celebrated in February or March, this festival is a time for colorful parades, music, dancing, and costumes. It takes place in various parts of the country, but the most famous carnival celebrations are held in Gualeguaychu (Entre Ríos province), Corrientes, Jujuy, and Salta.
2. Dia de la Memoria por la Verdad y la Justicia: On March 24th, Argentina commemorates the victims of the military dictatorship that ruled the country from 1976 to 1983. The day is marked by protests, marches, and speeches, as well as moments of silence and remembrance.
3. Semana Santa: Holy Week, which leads up to Easter, is a major religious holiday in Argentina. Many people attend church services and participate in processions and other religious events during this time.
4. Día del Trabajador: May 1st is Labor Day, a public holiday in Argentina. Workers often celebrate by participating in rallies and demonstrations to demand better pay and working conditions.
5. Revolution Day: On May 25th, Argentines celebrate the anniversary of the May Revolution of 1810, which marked the beginning of Argentina's struggle for independence from Spain. The day is marked by parades, speeches, and patriotic ceremonies throughout the country.
6. Día de la Bandera: On June 20th, Argentina celebrates its flag, which was designed by General Manuel Belgrano in 1812. The day is marked by ceremonies and festivals, and many people display the Argentine flag outside their homes and businesses.
7. Independence Day: July 9th is Argentina's Independence Day, marking the country's declaration of independence from Spain in 1816. The day is celebrated with parades, flag-raising ceremonies, and other patriotic events.
8. Dia de la Pachamama: On August 1st, many people in the northern provinces of Argentina celebrate Dia de la Pachamama, a festival honoring Mother Earth. Offerings of food, drink, and other gifts are made to the earth goddess in gratitude for her bounty.
9. Day of the Race: October 12th is known as the Day of the Race, commemorating the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas. The day is celebrated with parades, music, and cultural events that showcase Argentina's diverse ethnic heritage.
10. Christmas: December 25th is a major religious holiday in Argentina, marked by family gatherings, gift-giving, and elaborate feasts. Many people attend midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, and some also participate in the tradition of La Nochebuena, a late-night meal eaten after the service.
seasons
Argentina's tourist seasons can be broadly classified into four categories:
1. Summer Season (December to February): It is the peak tourist season in Argentina, especially for beach destinations like Mar del Plata and Villa Gesell. The weather is hot and humid, and it is an ideal time for outdoor activities like hiking, trekking, and water sports.
2. Autumn Season (March to May): The autumn season is relatively mild and less crowded than summer. It is an excellent time to visit wine regions like Mendoza and Salta. The foliage during this time is breathtaking, especially in Patagonia.
3. Winter Season (June to August): The winter season is popular among skiers as the Andes mountains are covered in snow during these months. Ski resorts like Bariloche and Las Lenas attract a significant number of tourists during this time.
4. Spring Season (September to November): The spring season is a good time to visit Argentina because the weather is pleasant, and the crowds are thinner. The landscapes are stunning during this time, especially in areas like Tierra del Fuego and the Lake District.
Recommendations:
- During peak tourist seasons, particularly in summer (December to February), it is advisable to book accommodations and tours well in advance.
- For winter sports enthusiasts, it is recommended to bring warm clothing and proper gear for skiing/snowboarding.
- In autumn, visitors can enjoy the grape harvest season and taste some of Argentina's best wines.
- Spring is a great time for hiking and exploring natural parks, but be aware that some trails may still be closed due to late snow melts.
visa
Some special VISA rules for visiting Argentina include:
1. Reciprocity Fee: Citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia must pay a reciprocity fee before entering Argentina. The fee ranges from $50 to $92 USD depending on the country of origin and is valid for multiple entries within ten years.
2. Visa-Free Entry: Citizens of certain countries, including most of South America and some European nations, do not require a visa to enter Argentina for stays of up to 90 days.
3. Tourist Visa: Citizens of countries that do not have a visa-free agreement with Argentina must apply for a tourist visa. The cost of a tourist visa varies depending on the country of origin but typically ranges from $150 to $200 USD.
It's important to note that visa requirements and fees are subject to change, so it's always best to check with the nearest Argentine embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information.
souvenirs
1. Leather Goods: Argentina is known for its high-quality leather products such as jackets, bags, and wallets. Prices vary depending on the item's quality and size, but you can find good deals starting at around $50 USD. San Telmo neighborhood in Buenos Aires is a great place to browse and purchase leather goods.
2. Mate Set: A traditional Argentine tea set made of gourd and silver or metal. It's a unique and practical souvenir that costs around $20-30 USD. You can find them in most tourist shops or markets throughout the country.
3. Wine: Argentina produces some of the world's best wines, especially Malbec. A bottle of decent wine ranges from $10-20 USD, while higher-end options can cost up to $50 USD. You can buy wine at supermarkets, wine shops, and wineries across the country.
4. Dulce De Leche: A caramel-like spread made from sweetened condensed milk, it's a popular Argentine treat that can be found in most grocery stores. The price varies from $2-5 USD per jar.
5. Tango Music and Dance Items: Argentina is famous for tango, so why not bring home some tango music or dance-related souvenirs? You can get CDs, sheet music, or even dance lessons. The prices range from $10-50 USD, and you can find them in music or dance stores throughout the country.
6. Artisanal Crafts: From colorful ponchos to hand-painted ceramics, there are many unique artisanal crafts available in Argentina. Prices depend on the item's size and complexity, but you can expect to pay around $20-40 USD for a typical piece. You can find them in markets and souvenir shops in almost any city.
Note: These prices are approximate and subject to change based on location, vendor, and other factors.
If you have 1 week
Welcome to Argentina! As a DAN, I will suggest a one-week itinerary that includes some of the must-see places in your beautiful country.
Day 1 - Buenos Aires: Start your trip by exploring the colorful capital city. Visit the iconic Obelisco and Plaza de Mayo where you can see the Presidential Palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Make sure to take a stroll through the charming neighborhood of San Telmo with its cobblestone streets, antique shops, and tango shows. End the day at La Boca, known for its colorful houses and the famous Caminito street.
Day 2 - Iguazu Falls: Take a flight to Puerto Iguazu to witness one of the natural wonders of the world, the Iguazu Falls. Explore both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides of the falls and take a boat tour to get up close and personal with the cascading waterfalls. The stunning views and the sound of the roaring falls will leave you in awe.
Day 3 - Salta: Fly to Salta, a charming colonial town located in the north part of the country. Take a walk around the historic center, visit the main square, Plaza 9 de Julio and the beautiful pink neoclassical cathedral. In the afternoon, take the cable car to Cerro San Bernardo for panoramic views of Salta and the surrounding mountains.
Day 4 - Cafayate: Rent a car or take a tour to the breathtaking town of Cafayate, located south of Salta. Known for its vineyards, make sure to visit some of the wineries and taste the famous Torrontes wine. The drive to Cafayate is also a highlight as it passes through Quebrada de las Conchas, a valley with stunning rock formations.
Day 5 - Mendoza: Travel to Mendoza, another famous wine region known for its Malbec wine. Take a wine tour to the vineyards and enjoy a picnic with a view of the Andes mountains. If you have time, visit the Aconcagua Provincial Park, home to the highest peak in the Americas.
Day 6 - Bariloche: Fly to Bariloche, located in the heart of the Argentine Patagonia region. Known for its stunning scenery, take a hike around the beautiful Nahuel Huapi Lake and visit the charming Swiss-style village of Colonia Suiza. Make sure to try some of the famous chocolate in Bariloche too!
Day 7 - El Calafate: End your trip by flying to El Calafate, home to the famous Perito Moreno Glacier. Take a boat tour to see the glacier up close and hear the sounds of the ice breaking off. If you have time, visit the Glaciarium Museum to learn more about glaciers and their impact on the environment.
These are just some of the many amazing places to visit in Argentina. Each place offers a unique experience and highlights the beauty and diversity of your country. Enjoy your trip!
If you have 2 weeks
Great to hear you're in Argentina! Here's a two week itinerary that I recommend:
Week 1:
Day 1-2: Buenos Aires - Start your journey by exploring the vibrant capital city of Argentina. Visit the iconic landmarks such as the Casa Rosada, the Recoleta Cemetery, and the Obelisk. Take a stroll around the colorful neighborhood of La Boca and try some delicious Argentine cuisine while you're there.
Day 3-4: Iguazu Falls - Head up north to witness one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world. Spend a couple of days exploring the Iguazu Falls from both the Argentine and Brazilian sides. The sheer scale and beauty of these falls make it an unforgettable experience.
Day 5-6: Salta - Travel to the northwest province of Salta to immerse yourself in the rich culture and history of the region. Visit the charming colonial town of Salta and learn about its fascinating past. Take a scenic drive through the breathtaking landscape of Quebrada de Humahuaca and visit the pre-Columbian ruins of Pucará de Tilcara.
Day 7: Cafayate - Journey further south to the wine region of Cafayate. Sample some of the best wines in Argentina while enjoying the stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
Week 2:
Day 8-9: Mendoza - Continue your wine adventure by visiting the famous vineyards in Mendoza. Take a guided tour to learn about the wine-making process and taste some of the finest Malbecs in the world.
Day 10-11: Bariloche - Travel to the picturesque region of Bariloche to explore the beautiful lakes and mountains. Go hiking, biking, or skiing in the nearby national parks or simply relax and soak in the stunning scenery.
Day 12-13: El Calafate - Head down south to witness the majestic Perito Moreno Glacier. Take a boat tour to get up close and personal with this incredible natural wonder.
Day 14: Ushuaia - End your trip by visiting the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. Take a boat tour to explore the Beagle Channel and see some of the local wildlife such as penguins and sea lions.
I recommend this itinerary because it offers a diverse range of experiences that showcase the beauty and culture of Argentina. From the bustling streets of Buenos Aires to the stunning natural wonders of Iguazu Falls and Perito Moreno Glacier, there's something for everyone. The wine regions of Cafayate and Mendoza offer a chance to taste some of the best wines in the world while enjoying the scenic views. The northern region of Salta and Bariloche provide an opportunity to discover the rich history and stunning landscapes of Argentina. Finally, the southernmost city of Ushuaia provides a unique experience unlike any other.
Culture
Argentina is a multicultural country with significant European influences. Modern Argentine culture has been largely influenced by Italian, Spanish and other European immigration from France, Russia, United Kingdom, among others. Its cities are largely characterized by both the prevalence of people of European descent, and of conscious imitation of American and European styles in fashion, architecture and design. Museums, cinemas, and galleries are abundant in all the large urban centres, as well as traditional establishments such as literary bars, or bars offering live music of a variety of genres although there are lesser elements of Amerindian and African influences, particularly in the fields of music and art. The other big influence is the gauchos and their traditional country lifestyle of self-reliance. Finally, indigenous American traditions have been absorbed into the general cultural milieu. Argentine writer Ernesto Sabato has reflected on the nature of the culture of Argentina as follows: "With the primitive Hispanic American reality fractured in La Plata Basin due to immigration, its inhabitants have come to be somewhat dual with all the dangers but also with all the advantages of that condition: because of our European roots, we deeply link the nation with the enduring values of the Old World; because of our condition of Americans we link ourselves to the rest of the continent, through the folklore of the interior and the old Castilian that unifies us, feeling somehow the vocation of the Patria Grande San Martín and Bolívar once imagined."
Although Argentina's rich literary history began around 1550, it reached full independence with Esteban Echeverría's El Matadero, a romantic landmark that played a significant role in the development of 19th century's Argentine narrative, split by the ideological divide between the popular, federalist epic of José Hernández' Martín Fierro and the elitist and cultured discourse of Sarmiento's masterpiece, Facundo.
The Modernist movement advanced into the 20th century including exponents such as Leopoldo Lugones and poet Alfonsina Storni; it was followed by Vanguardism, with Ricardo Güiraldes's Don Segundo Sombra as an important reference.
Jorge Luis Borges, Argentina's most acclaimed writer and one of the foremost figures in the history of literature, found new ways of looking at the modern world in metaphor and philosophical debate and his influence has extended to authors all over the globe. Short stories such as Ficciones and The Aleph are among his most famous works. He was a friend and collaborator of Adolfo Bioy Casares, who wrote one of the most praised science fiction novels, The Invention of Morel. Julio Cortázar, one of the leading members of the Latin American Boom and a major name in 20th century literature, influenced an entire generation of writers in the Americas and Europe.
A remarkable episode in the Argentine literature's history is the social and literarial dialectica between the so-called Florida Group named this way because its members used to meet together at the Richmond Cafeteria at Florida street and published in the Martin Fierro magazine, like Jorge Luis Borges, Leopoldo Marechal, Antonio Berni (artist), among others, versus the Boedo Group of Roberto Arlt, Cesar Tiempo, Homero Manzi (tango composer), that used to meet at the Japanese Cafe and published their works with the Editorial Claridad, with both the cafe and the publisher located at the Boedo Avenue.
Other highly regarded Argentine writers, poets and essayists include Estanislao del Campo, Eugenio Cambaceres, Pedro Bonifacio Palacios, Hugo Wast, Benito Lynch, Enrique Banchs, Oliverio Girondo, Ezequiel Martínez Estrada, Victoria Ocampo, Leopoldo Marechal, Silvina Ocampo, Roberto Arlt, Eduardo Mallea, Manuel Mujica Láinez, Ernesto Sábato, Silvina Bullrich, Rodolfo Walsh, María Elena Walsh, Tomás Eloy Martínez, Manuel Puig, Alejandra Pizarnik, and Osvaldo Soriano.
Tango, a Rioplatense musical genre with European and African influences, is one of Argentina's international cultural symbols. The golden age of tango (1930 to mid-1950s) mirrored that of jazz and swing in the United States, featuring large orchestras like those of Osvaldo Pugliese, Aníbal Troilo, Francisco Canaro, Julio de Caro and Juan d'Arienzo. After 1955, virtuoso Astor Piazzolla popularized Nuevo tango, a subtler and more intellectual trend for the genre. Tango enjoys worldwide popularity nowadays with groups like Gotan Project, Bajofondo and Tanghetto.
Argentina developed strong classical music and dance scenes that gave rise to renowned artists such as Alberto Ginastera, composer; Alberto Lysy, violinist; Martha Argerich and Eduardo Delgado, pianists; Daniel Barenboim, pianist and symphonic orchestra director; José Cura and Marcelo Álvarez, tenors; and to ballet dancers Jorge Donn, José Neglia, Norma Fontenla, Maximiliano Guerra, Paloma Herrera, Marianela Núñez, Iñaki Urlezaga and Julio Bocca.
A national Argentine folk style emerged in the 1930s from dozens of regional musical genres and went to influence the entirety of Latin American music. Some of its interpreters, like Atahualpa Yupanqui and Mercedes Sosa, achieved worldwide acclaim. The romantic ballad genre included singers of international fame such as Sandro de América. Tenor saxophonist Leandro "Gato" Barbieri and composer and big band conductor Lalo Schifrin are among the most internationally successful Argentine jazz musicians.
Argentine rock developed as a distinct musical style in the mid-1960s, when Buenos Aires and Rosario became cradles of aspiring musicians. Founding bands like Los Gatos, Sui Generis, Almendra and Manal were followed by Seru Giran, Los Abuelos de la Nada, Soda Stereo and Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota, with prominent artists including Gustavo Cerati, Litto Nebbia, Andrés Calamaro, Luis Alberto Spinetta, Charly García, Fito Páez and León Gieco.
A dance and a musical genre popular at the present is Cachengue a subgenre of Argentine cumbia and reggaeton spreading in popularity in nearby countries such as Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay, and Bolivia.
Buenos Aires is one of the great theatre capitals of the world, with a scene of international caliber centered on Corrientes Avenue, "the street that never sleeps", sometimes referred to as an intellectual Broadway in Buenos Aires. Teatro Colón is a global landmark for opera and classical performances; its acoustics are considered among the world's top five.
The Argentine film industry has historically been one of the three most developed in Latin American cinema, along with those produced in Mexico and Brazil. Started in 1896; by the early 1930s it had already become Latin America's leading film producer, a place it kept until the early 1950s. The world's first animated feature films were made and released in Argentina, by cartoonist Quirino Cristiani, in 1917 and 1918.
Argentine films have achieved worldwide recognition: the country has won two Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, for The Official Story (1985) and The Secret in Their Eyes (2009). In addition, Argentine composers Luis Enrique Bacalov and Gustavo Santaolalla have been honored with Academy Awards for Best Original Score, and Armando Bó and Nicolás Giacobone shared in the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for 2014. Also, the Argentine French actress Bérénice Bejo received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2011 and won the César Award for Best Actress and won the Best Actress award in the Cannes Film Festival for her role in the film The Past. Argentina also has won seventeen Goya Awards for Best Spanish Language Foreign Film, being by far the most awarded country in Latin America with twenty-four nominations. Many other Argentine films also have been acclaimed by the international critique. about 100 full-length motion pictures were being created annually.
Some of the best-known Argentine painters are Cándido López and Florencio Molina Campos (Naïve style); Ernesto de la Cárcova and Eduardo Sívori (Realism); Fernando Fader (Impressionism); Pío Collivadino, Atilio Malinverno and Cesáreo Bernaldo de Quirós (Postimpressionism); Emilio Pettoruti (Cubism); Julio Barragán (Concretism and Cubism) Antonio Berni (Neofigurativism); Roberto Aizenberg and Xul Solar (Surrealism); Gyula Košice (Constructivism); Eduardo Mac Entyre (Generative art); Luis Seoane, Carlos Torrallardona, Luis Aquino, Alfredo Gramajo Gutiérrez (Modernism); Lucio Fontana (Spatialism); Tomás Maldonado, Guillermo Kuitca (Abstract art); León Ferrari, Marta Minujín (Conceptual art); Gustavo Cabral (Fantasy art), and Fabián Pérez (Neoemotionalism).
In 1946 Gyula Košice and others created The Madí Movement in Argentina, which then spread to Europe and United States, where it had a significant impact. Tomás Maldonado was one of the main theorists of the Ulm Model of design education, still highly influential globally. Other Argentine artists of worldwide fame include Adolfo Bellocq, whose lithographs have been influential since the 1920s, and Benito Quinquela Martín, the quintessential port painter, inspired by the immigrant-bound La Boca neighbourhood. Internationally laureate sculptors Erminio Blotta, Lola Mora and Rogelio Yrurtia authored many of the classical evocative monuments of the Argentine cityscape.
The colonization brought the Spanish Baroque architecture, which can still be appreciated in its simpler Rioplatense style in the reduction of San Ignacio Miní, the Cathedral of Córdoba, and the Cabildo of Luján. Italian and French influences increased at the beginning of the 19th century with strong eclectic overtones that gave the local architecture a unique feeling.
Print media industry is highly developed in Argentina, with more than two hundred newspapers. The major national ones include Clarín (centrist, Latin America's best-seller and the second most widely circulated in the Spanish-speaking world), La Nación (centre-right, published since 1870), Página/12 (leftist, founded in 1987), La Voz del Interior (centre, founded in 1904), and the Argentinisches Tageblatt (German weekly, liberal, published since 1878)
Argentina began the world's first regular radio broadcasting on 27 August 1920, when Richard Wagner's Parsifal was aired by a team of medical students led by Enrique Telémaco Susini in Buenos Aires' Teatro Coliseo. there were 260 AM and 1150 FM registered radio stations in the country.
The Argentine television industry is large, diverse and popular across Latin America, with many productions and TV formats having been exported abroad. Since 1999 Argentines enjoy the highest availability of cable and satellite television in Latin America, totaling 87.4% of the country's households, a rate similar to those in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Argentina also had the highest coverage of networked telecommunications among Latin American powers: about 67% of its population had internet access and 137.2%, mobile phone subscriptions.
Besides many of the pasta, sausage and dessert dishes common to continental Europe, Argentines enjoy a wide variety of Indigenous and Criollo creations, including empanadas (a small stuffed pastry), locro (a mixture of corn, beans, meat, bacon, onion, and gourd), humita and mate.
The country has the highest consumption of red meat in the world, traditionally prepared as asado, the Argentine barbecue. It is made with various types of meats, often including chorizo, sweetbread, chitterlings, and blood sausage.
Common desserts include facturas (Viennese-style pastry), cakes and pancakes filled with dulce de leche (a sort of milk caramel jam), alfajores (shortbread cookies sandwiched together with chocolate, dulce de leche or a fruit paste), and tortas fritas (fried cakes)
Argentine wine, one of the world's finest, is an integral part of the local menu. Malbec, Torrontés, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chardonnay are some of the most sought-after varieties.
Pato is the national sport, an ancient horseback game locally originated in the early 1600s and predecessor of horseball. The most popular sport is football. Along with Brazil and France, the men's national team is the only one to have won the most important international triplet: World Cup, Confederations Cup, and the Olympic Gold Medal. It has also won 15 Copas América, 7 Pan American Gold Medals and many other trophies. Alfredo Di Stéfano, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi are among the best players in the game's history.
The country's women's field hockey team Las Leonas, is one of the world's most successful with four Olympic medals, two World Cups, a World League and seven Champions Trophy. Luciana Aymar is recognized as the best female player in the history of the sport, being the only player to have received the FIH Player of the Year Award eight times.
Basketball is a very popular sport. The men's national team is the only one in the FIBA Americas zone that has won the quintuplet crown: World Championship, Olympic Gold Medal, Diamond Ball, Americas Championship, and Pan American Gold Medal. It has also conquered 13 South American Championships, and many other tournaments. Emanuel Ginóbili, Luis Scola, Andrés Nocioni, Fabricio Oberto, Pablo Prigioni, Carlos Delfino and Juan Ignacio Sánchez are a few of the country's most acclaimed players, all of them part of the NBA. Argentina hosted the Basketball World Cup in 1950 and 1990.
Rugby is another popular sport in Argentina. the men's national team, known as 'Los Pumas' has competed at the Rugby World Cup each time it has been held, achieving their highest ever result in 2007 when they came third. Since 2012 the Los Pumas have competed against Australia, New Zealand & South Africa in The Rugby Championship, the premier international Rugby competition in the Southern Hemisphere. Since 2009 the secondary men's national team known as the 'Jaguares' has competed against the US, Canada, and Uruguay first teams in the Americas Rugby Championship, which Los Jaguares have won six out of eight times it has taken place.
Argentina has produced some of the most formidable champions for boxing, including Carlos Monzón, the best middleweight in history; Pascual Pérez, one of the most decorated flyweight boxers of all times; Horacio Accavallo, the former WBA and WBC world flyweight champion; Víctor Galíndez, record holder for consecutive world light heavyweight title defenses and Nicolino Locche, nicknamed "The Untouchable" for his masterful defense; they are all inductees into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Tennis has been quite popular among people of all ages. Guillermo Vilas is the greatest Latin American player of the Open Era, while Gabriela Sabatini is the most accomplished Argentine female player of all time—having reached number 3 in the WTA ranking, are both inductees into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Argentina has won the World Team Cup four times, in 1980, 2002, 2007 and 2010 and has reached the semifinals of the Davis Cup 7 times in the last 10 years, losing the finals against Russia in 2006 and Spain in 2008 and 2011; the Argentine team also played the final in 1981, where they lost against the United States. The national squad won the 2016 Davis Cup.
Argentina reigns undisputed in polo, having won more international championships than any other country and been seldom beaten since the 1930s. The Argentine Polo Championship is the sport's most important international team trophy. The country is home to most of the world's top players, among them Adolfo Cambiaso, the best in Polo history.
Historically, Argentina has had a strong showing within auto racing. Juan Manuel Fangio was five times Formula One world champion under four different teams, winning 102 of his 184 international races, and is widely ranked as the greatest driver of all time. Other distinguished racers were Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Juan Gálvez, José Froilán González and Carlos Reutemann.
Religion
Christianity is the largest religion in Argentina. The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Although it enforces neither an official nor a state faith, it gives Roman Catholicism a preferential status.
According to a 2008 CONICET poll, Argentines were 76.5% Catholic, 11.3% Agnostics and Atheists, 9% Evangelical Protestants, 1.2% Jehovah's Witnesses, and 0.9% Mormons, while 1.2% followed other religions, including Islam, Judaism and Buddhism. These figures appear to have changed quite significantly in recent years: data recorded in 2017 indicated that Catholics made up 66% of the population, indicating a drop of 10.5% in nine years, and the nonreligious in the country standing at 21% of the population, indicating an almost doubling over the same period.
The country is home to both one of the largest Muslim and largest Jewish communities in Latin America, the latter being the seventh most populous in the world. Argentina is a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
Argentines show high individualization and de-institutionalization of religious beliefs; 23.8% claim to always attend religious services; 49.1% seldom do and 26.8% never do.
On 13 March 2013, Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church. He took the name "Francis", and he became the first Pope from either the Americas or from the Southern Hemisphere; he is the first Pope born outside of Europe since the election of Pope Gregory III (who was Syrian) in 741.
Demographics
The 2010 census counted 40,117,096 inhabitants, up from 36,260,130 in 2001. Argentina ranks third in South America in total population, fourth in Latin America and 33rd globally. Its population density of 15 persons per square kilometer of land area is well below the world average of 50 persons. The population growth rate in 2010 was an estimated 1.03% annually, with a birth rate of 17.7 live births per 1,000 inhabitants and a mortality rate of 7.4 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants. Since 2010, the crude net migration rate has ranged from below zero to up to four immigrants per 1,000 inhabitants per year.
Argentina is in the midst of a demographic transition to an older and slower-growing population. The proportion of people under 15 is 25.6%, a little below the world average of 28%, and the proportion of people 65 and older is relatively high at 10.8%. In Latin America this is second only to Uruguay and well above the world average, which is currently 7%. Has a comparatively low infant mortality rate. Its birth rate of 2.3 children per woman is considerably below the high of 7.0 children born per woman in 1895, though still nearly twice as high as in Spain or Italy, which are culturally and demographically similar. The median age is 31.9 years and life expectancy at birth is 77.14 years.
In 2010, Argentina became the first country in Latin America, the second in the Americas, and the tenth worldwide to legalize same-sex marriage.
Argentina is considered a country of immigrants. Argentines usually refer to the country as a crisol de razas (crucible of races, or melting pot). A 2010 study conducted on 218 individuals by the Argentine geneticist Daniel Corach established that the genetic map of Argentina is composed of 79% from different European ethnicities (mainly Italian and Spanish), 18% of different indigenous ethnicities, and 4.3% of African ethnic groups; 63.6% of the tested group had at least one ancestor who was Indigenous.
In colonial times, the ethnic composition of Argentina was the result of the interaction of the pre-Columbian indigenous population with a colonizing population of Spanish origin and with sub-Saharan African slaves. Before the middle 19th century, the ethnic make up of Argentina was very similar to that of other countries of Latin America.
Between 1857 and 1950 Argentina was the country with the second biggest immigration wave in the world, at 6.6 million, second only to the United States in the numbers of immigrants received (27 million) and ahead of other areas of new settlement like Canada, Brazil and Australia. However, mass European immigration did not have the same impact in the whole country. According to the 1914 national census, 30% of Argentina's population was foreign-born, including 50% of the people in the city of Buenos Aires, but foreigners were only 2% in the provinces of Catamarca and La Rioja (North West region).
Strikingly, at those times, the national population doubled every two decades. This belief is endured in the popular saying "los argentinos descienden de los barcos" (Argentines descend from the ships). Therefore, most Argentines are descended from the 19th- and 20th-century immigrants of the great European immigration wave to Argentina (1850–1955), with a great majority of these immigrants coming from diverse European countries, particularly Italy and Spain. The majority of Argentines descend from multiple European ethnic groups, primarily of Italian and Spanish descent, with over 25 million Argentines (almost 60% of the population) having some partial Italian origins.
Argentina is also home to a notable Asian population, the majority of whom are descended from either West Asians (namely Lebanese and Syrians) or East Asians (such as the Chinese, Koreans, and the Japanese). The latter of whom number at around 180,000 individuals. The total number of Arab Argentines (most of whom are of Lebanese or Syrian origin) is estimated to be 1.3 to 3.5 million. Many immigrated from various Asian countries to Argentina during the 19th century (especially during the latter half of the century) and the first half of the 20th century. Most Arab Argentines are Christians belonging to the Catholic Church (the Latin Rite church and Eastern Rite churches), and Eastern Orthodox churches. A minority are Muslims.
From the 1970s, immigration has mostly been coming from Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru, with smaller numbers from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Romania. The Argentine government estimates that 750,000 inhabitants lack official documents and has launched a program to encourage illegal immigrants to declare their status in return for two-year residence visas—so far over 670,000 applications have been processed under the program.
The de facto official language is Spanish, spoken by almost all Argentines. The country is the largest Spanish-speaking society that universally employs voseo, the use of the pronoun vos instead of tú ("you"), which imposes the use of alternative verb forms as well. Owing to the extensive Argentine geography, Spanish has a strong variation among regions, although the prevalent dialect is Rioplatense, primarily spoken in the Pampean and Patagonian regions and accented similarly to the Neapolitan language. Italian and other European immigrants influenced Lunfardo—the regional slang—permeating the vernacular vocabulary of other Latin American countries as well.
There are several second-languages in widespread use among the Argentine population: English taught since elementary school; 42.3% of Argentines claim to speak it, with 15.4% of them claiming to have a high level of language comprehension.); Italian (by 1.5 million people); Arabic (specially its Northern Levantine dialect, by one million people); Standard German (by 200,000 people); Guaraní (by 200,000 people, mostly in Corrientes and Misiones); Catalan (by 174,000 people); Quechua (by 65,000 people, mostly in the Northwest); Wichí (by 53,700 people, mainly in Chaco where, along with Kom and Moqoit, it is official de jure); Vlax Romani (by 52,000 people); Albanian (by 40,000 people); Japanese (by 32,000 people); Aymara (by 30,000 people, mostly in the Northwest); Ukrainian (by 27,000 people);
Christianity is the largest religion in Argentina. The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Although it enforces neither an official nor a state faith, it gives Roman Catholicism a preferential status.
According to a 2008 CONICET poll, Argentines were 76.5% Catholic, 11.3% Agnostics and Atheists, 9% Evangelical Protestants, 1.2% Jehovah's Witnesses, and 0.9% Mormons, while 1.2% followed other religions, including Islam, Judaism and Buddhism. These figures appear to have changed quite significantly in recent years: data recorded in 2017 indicated that Catholics made up 66% of the population, indicating a drop of 10.5% in nine years, and the nonreligious in the country standing at 21% of the population, indicating an almost doubling over the same period.
The country is home to both one of the largest Muslim and largest Jewish communities in Latin America, the latter being the seventh most populous in the world. Argentina is a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
Argentines show high individualization and de-institutionalization of religious beliefs; 23.8% claim to always attend religious services; 49.1% seldom do and 26.8% never do.
On 13 March 2013, Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church. He took the name "Francis", and he became the first Pope from either the Americas or from the Southern Hemisphere; he is the first Pope born outside of Europe since the election of Pope Gregory III (who was Syrian) in 741.
Health care is provided through a combination of employer and labour union-sponsored plans (Obras Sociales), government insurance plans, public hospitals and clinics and through private health insurance plans. Health care cooperatives number over 300 (of which 200 are related to labour unions) and provide health care for half the population; the national INSSJP (popularly known as PAMI) covers nearly all of the five million senior citizens.
There are more than 153,000 hospital beds, 121,000 physicians and 37,000 dentists (ratios comparable to developed nations). The relatively high access to medical care has historically resulted in mortality patterns and trends similar to developed nations': from 1953 to 2005, deaths from cardiovascular disease increased from 20% to 23% of the total, those from tumors from 14% to 20%, respiratory problems from 7% to 14%, digestive maladies (non-infectious) from 7% to 11%, strokes a steady 7%, injuries, 6%, and infectious diseases, 4%. Causes related to senility led to many of the rest. Infant deaths have fallen from 19% of all deaths in 1953 to 3% in 2005.
The availability of health care has also reduced infant mortality from 70 per 1000 live births in 1948 to 12.1 in 2009 and raised life expectancy at birth from 60 years to 76. Though these figures compare favorably with global averages, they fall short of levels in developed nations and in 2006, Argentina ranked fourth in Latin America.
The Argentine education system consists of four levels. An initial level for children between 45 days to 5 years old, with the last two years being compulsory. An elementary or lower school mandatory level lasting 6 or 7 years. the literacy rate was 98.07%. A secondary or high school mandatory level lasting 5 or 6 years. 38.5% of people over age 20 had completed secondary school. A higher level, divided in tertiary, university and post-graduate sub-levels. there were 47 national public universities across the country, as well as 46 private ones.
7.1% of people over age 20 had graduated from university. The public universities of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, La Plata, Rosario, and the National Technological University are some of the most important. The Argentine state guarantees universal, secular and free-of-charge public education for all levels. Responsibility for educational supervision is organized at the federal and individual provincial states. In the last decades the role of the private sector has grown across all educational stages.
Argentina is highly urbanized, with 92% of its population living in cities: the ten largest metropolitan areas account for half of the population. About 3 million people live in the city of Buenos Aires, and including the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area it totals around 13 million, making it one of the largest urban areas in the world. The metropolitan areas of Córdoba and Rosario have around 1.3 million inhabitants each. Mendoza, San Miguel de Tucumán, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Salta and Santa Fe have at least half a million people each.
The population is unequally distributed: about 60% live in the Pampas region (21% of the total area), including 15 million people in Buenos Aires province. The provinces of Córdoba and Santa Fe, and the city of Buenos Aires have 3 million each. Seven other provinces have over one million people each: Mendoza, Tucumán, Entre Ríos, Salta, Chaco, Corrientes and Misiones. With 64.3 PD/km2, Tucumán is the only Argentine province more densely populated than the world average; by contrast, the southern province of Santa Cruz has around 1.1 /km2.
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