Argentina by Arielle M

Category: Immigration

Population 40,301,927

Ethnic composition Argentina is a melting pot of different peoples, both indigenous and immigrants. Citizens of European descent make up the great majority of the population, with estimates varying from white 89.7% to 97%of the total population.

Birth rate / death rate 16.53 births/1,000 population / 7.55 deaths/1,000 population

Rate of immigration 0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Reasons for immigration or emigration Argentina is witnessing an enormous increase in emigration, with Spain, Italy, the United States, and Israel making up the main destinations, according to the country's National Migration Directorate. Analysts place the lion's share of the blame for increased emigration on the country's faltering economy. According to National Migration Directorate estimates, in the past two and a half years Argentina has witnessed an exodus of 255,000 people, or roughly six times the total number of emigrants in the period 1993-2000. The large numbers of Argentines who wish to move abroad are mainly motivated by the country's recent economic, political, and social instability, say analysts. The country is now confronting the largest recession in its history. In the past two years, Argentina has defaulted on $141 billion in foreign debt, unemployment has risen to 21.5 percent, and an estimated 55 percent of the population of 37 million has fallen below the poverty line. The average industrial wage fell by 7.9 percent from 2001 to 2002, and in the past four years, the homeless population has doubled.

For many, these statistics are startling. Argentina has always been hailed as the "jewel" of Latin America, characterized by an abundance of natural resources, as well as a large and highly educated population. For most of Argentina's history, it has actually been an immigration magnet, drawing its largest inflows from European countries such as Italy and Spain.

However, the old realities have been changed by a series of recent events, including the December 2001 resignation of then president Fernando de la Rua following the deaths of dozens of people in protests over economic hardships. According to the MORI poll, many Argentines have grown weary of government corruption, and others cannot afford to wait an indeterminable amount of time until economic conditions improve. At the same time, Argentines seem to have learned a lesson from their Latin American neighbors: emigration can provide relief and, in many cases, improve one's standard of living.

Political and social reactions to immigration Recent developments, both political and economic, may help curb Argentine emigration in the next few years. The May 2003 swearing-in of Nestor Kirchner made him the first elected president to hold office since de la Rua's 2001 resignation, and brought an end to a succession of "interim" presidents. Kirchner's efforts to oust corrupt military, government, and judicial branch officials have won him wide support. If his anti-corruption campaign leads to greater political stability, Argentines may find staying home more bearable.

Source: http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?ID=146