• Colombia!

    Colombia: Caribbean Sea coast. Go Now!

    Colombia
    Although most of the people live inland, Colombia also has its share of coastline along the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea (pictured). Go Now!

  • Ecuador!

    Ecuador: Sally Lightfoot Crab. Go Now!

    Ecuador
    The Galapagos Islands and Ecuador are home to incredible wildlife, such as the famous Galapagos Turtle and the lesser known, but more common Red Rock or Sally Lightfoot crab (pictured). Begin Your Journey!

  • Chile!

    Chile: Torres del Paine National Park. Go Now!

    Chile
    The Andes dominate much of Chile, including the breath-taking Torres del Paine National Park (pictured). However, the country also hosts the world's driest desert and a thriving metropolis. Begin Your Journey!

  • Venezuela!

    Venezuela: Los Roques. Go Now!

    Venezuela
    Rooted in Europe, Venezuela boasts an impressive history, culture, and beauty, including the Caribbean Coast (pictured). Explore Venezuela!

  • Bolivia!

    Bolivia: Salt flats. Go Now!

    Bolivia
    This hidden gem is full of surprises, from the impressive salt flats (pictured) to the migrating flamingos. It also clings to the most historic indigenous culture on the continent. Explore Bolivia!

Ethnicity, Language, & Religion of Argentina

Ethnicity

An overwhelming percentage of Argentina's population is ethnically Spanish, Italian, or European in another form, such as German or a combination of various ethnicities. Only 3% of the population is mestizo (both European and American Indian) or is wholly Amerindian. Among the ethnically-European majority, Spanish and Italian are the most common ethnicities, but German, French, and numerous others are also common. Today most Argentines, whose families have been in Argentina for a couple generations, have at least some Spanish and Italian blood in them.

Language

The only official language in Argentina is Spanish, although there are numerous other languages that are commonly spoken. Italian, German, French, and some indigenous languages, including Quechua and Mapudungun are often spoken in homes of native speakers. English is a commonly taught second language.

Spanish is a Romance language also spoken in Spain; it is closely related to other Romance languages, including Portuguese, Italian, French, Romanian, others. The dialect of Spanish in Argentina is quite distinct in comparison to that of Spain and there are also many minor differences in the language across Latin America.

Quechuan is a language family of South America, primarily found in the Andes Mountains. There are numerous languages that are included in this language family, but all are similar. Mapudungun, like Quechuan, is a language family of South America, which is spoken by the Mapuche people. This language is quite similar across all speakers; the number of people in Argentina that speak these languages is very limited in both numbers and in area.

Religion

Much of Argentina's population is Roman Catholic, which is not a surprise since both the Spanish and Italians are generally Catholic and these two groups make up the majority of Argentina's population. Despite the large percentage of people that are nominally Catholic, the number of practicing Catholics is much lower. Less than 10% of the population adheres to another religion.

Catholicism is a Christian religion that is one of the first Christian religions (founded after the death of Jesus in about 30-33 AD). Catholicism believes that there is a single God who created everything, a savior, the son of God, Jesus Christ who is the forgiver of sins, and there is the Holy Spirit, which makes up the last part of the Holy Trinity. Catholics follow the teachings of the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments. Much of the faith is based on the life and teachings of Jesus, which is found in the gospels (in the New Testament).

Continue reading on Safari the Globe to Learn the Catholic Church's doctrines, liturgy, symbolism, traditions, & hierarchy

This page was last updated: May, 2014