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Argentines are a fusion of diverse national
and ethnic groups, with descendants of Italian and Spanish
immigrants predominant. Waves of immigrants from many European
countries arrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Syrian, Lebanese, and other Middle Eastern immigrants number
about 500,000, mainly in urban areas. Argentina's population is
overwhelmingly Catholic, but it also has the largest Jewish
population in Latin America, estimated between 280,000 to
300,000 strong, and is home to one of the largest Islamic
mosques in Latin America.
In recent years, there has been a substantial influx of
immigrants from neighboring Latin American countries. The
indigenous population, estimated at 700,000, is concentrated in
the provinces of the north, northwest, and south. The Argentine
population has one of Latin America's lowest growth rates.
Eighty percent of the population resides in cities or towns of
more than 2,000, and over one-third lives in the greater Buenos
Aires area. With 13 million inhabitants, this sprawling
metropolis serves as the focus for national life. Argentines
enjoy comparatively high standards of living; however, following
the economic crisis in 2002, 38.5% of the population was still
living below the poverty line in the 28 largest urban areas as
of June 2005.
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