Argentina’s Population: Growth and Demographic Trends
The last National Census of Population and Housing, conducted in 2001, recorded a total of 36,260,130 people in Argentina. This figure indicates an increase of about 4,700,000 inhabitants with respect to the previous census conducted in 1991, showing a trend of low population growth.
Regional Population Distribution
- Patagonia is the least populated region of Argentina, representing 4.8% of the total population in 2001. However, it has consistently increased its population over all censuses.
- The Pampas region has had the most weight in the country since the first census but has maintained a downward trend since 1914.
- The metropolitan region increased its share until 1970, when it reached its highest levels with 37.7% of the total population. Since 1980, its share has dropped.
- The West showed a decline since the first census but has achieved a slow recovery in the past.
- The regions of Cuyo and Northwest did not show big changes over the period.
Components of Population Growth
The components of population growth are twofold: natural vegetative growth and migration. The population growth rate is the difference between the number of births and the number of deaths. It can be positive or negative; in the latter case, the population declines. The migratory balance is the difference between immigration and emigration. Immigration is positive when the migration is over.
With respect to growth performance over the census, we can see that it was not constant. The largest population increases in Argentina were recorded in the period before 1930, with rates that exceeded 30%. During this period, net migration was the major component of growth due to the arrival of the European immigration alluvium. In recent periods, with no significant migration contributions, the total population growth has depended almost exclusively on vegetative growth.
Currently, the low population growth is due to:
- Declining birth rates, a decrease in fertility, and mortality stagnation.
- Reduced migratory balances due to the disappearance of European immigration, fluctuations in neighboring labor flows, and the migration of natives to other countries, mainly skilled labor.
Population Growth Rate Variations
The rate of population growth has had different behaviors in the Argentine territory. The population of the City of Buenos Aires decreased in the period 1991-2001 and has had a growth rate of -6.4%. Other provinces such as Buenos Aires, Rio Negro, and Santa Fe have low growth rates below the national average of 10%. However, other provinces greatly exceed the national average, such as Tierra del Fuego at 36.5%, La Rioja (26.3%), San Luis (24.1%), and Catamarca (22.7%). These differences occur not only due to changes in the vegetative growth of the provinces but also due to the development of the economies and labor markets acting on the push and pull of the population.
Demographic Indicators
The demographic structure of a population can be understood by analyzing some demographic indicators and their interrelationships.
Birth Rate: The number of births that occur on average in a population in one year per thousand people. In Argentina, it has been decreasing over all periods, from around 50% in 1870 to 32% in 1930, and currently stands at 17.9%.
Mortality: The average number of deaths occurring in a year for every 1000 inhabitants. In Argentina, the rate registered a decent trend over the periods due to improvements in the living conditions of the population, especially in health care and hygiene. Currently, it amounts to 7.5%, and declines are not as pronounced due to the increased population aged 65 years and over.
Infant Mortality: The average number of deaths of children under one year of age produced annually per 1000 live births. In Argentina, this indicator was down to 12.9% currently. This rate varies according to the sanitary conditions of a place, the level of education of the mother, and household income.
Life Expectancy: The number of years a person is expected to live, calculated at the time of their birth. Argentina’s population has a life expectancy of about 73.7 years; it is higher for women (77.6 years) than for men (70 years). Among the causes of increased life expectancy are access to health services and education, adequate nutrition, better sanitation, and the use of new drugs.