The population of Latin America: number and composition

Latin America includes more than 30 countries and overseas territories. What unites them? What characterizes the population of Latin America?

What is this region?

America is part of the world, which includes the two continents of our planet - North and South America. However, based on cultural and social characteristics, this division is not enough. The entire southern continent, Mexico and the Caribbean are united by the common name Latin America.

Previously, the region was called Indo-Amerika, or Iberoamerica. For all its countries, official languages are of Latin origin (French, Portuguese, Spanish). Latin America includes territories belonging to the USA (Puerto Rico) and France (Martinique, Guadeloupe, etc.). Sometimes it includes Canada, especially the province of Quebec, most of whose inhabitants communicate in French.

The territory of the region was originally populated by Roman-speaking Europeans. Therefore, talk about the commonality of these countries began in 1830. Later, the idea was taken up by politicians and the local intelligentsia, and in 1856 the unifying term sounded for the first time.

The population of Latin America: the history of development

The first person appeared here about 17-11 thousand years ago. The indigenous population is included in the Central American-South American local race. It encompasses the Amazonian, Californian, Central American, Patagonian, Andean and Fireemelian Indian populations. Scientists suggest that these peoples came here from Asia, crossing the so-called Berengu bridge.

For Europeans, the territory was opened by the Spaniards, who launched full-scale expansion of lands in the 16th century. As a result, the indigenous population of Latin America was exterminated. On the continents came the Portuguese, the British, the Germans, the Dutch, bringing with them African slaves. In the XIX century, workers from India and China arrived. At the same time, Roma, Arabs, Asians, Jews arrived in the region. Numerous mixed marriages led to the appearance of mestizos, mulattoes, sambo. Currently, Latin America has the most diverse and unique racial and genetic composition.

Number and location

The number of inhabitants of the region began to increase markedly after the termination of local wars for independence. Recently, this trend is only continuing. The population of Latin America is about six hundred million people. The most populated countries are Brazil (200 million), Mexico (120 million), Argentina (41 million) and Colombia (47 million).

The density of the population of Latin America is 31 people per square kilometer. The largest increase in residents is recorded in the Dominican Republic, the lowest in Uruguay and Argentina. The average fertility in the region is 30-35 ppm, thanks to this the population of Latin America contains only 8% of citizens of retirement age and about 40% of residents under 15 years of age.

Every year the number of townspeople grows by at least 5%. One hundred years ago, the rural population prevailed, now about 80% of Hispanics live in cities. More than three hundred megacities have a population of 100 thousand people or more (Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, etc.).

In most countries, the population is compactly located. In Mexico and in some states of the South American continent, most of the inhabitants live in mountainous areas. And intermountain regions are considered to be the most densely populated (up to 100 people per sq. Km.).

Ethnic composition and religion

The racial diversity of Latin Americans in all countries is different and varies greatly. Native Indians - no more than 15%, about half of the total population they make in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala and South Mexico. A huge share is occupied by mestizo (up to 50%). In Mexico, for example, almost the entire population belongs to them.

White people are common in Argentina, Costa Rica and Uruguay. In total, there are no more than 20% of them in the region. In Brazil and the Dominican Republic, blacks and mulattoes predominate, while Asians inhabit Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago.

All these indicators are conditional, since the average Hispanic usually has the genes of more than two races. The population of the countries of Latin America basically adheres to the Catholic religion, there are also Protestants. Recently there has been a trend towards atheism.