Quality of Life in Argentina in the First National Census (1869)

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the First National Population Census of Argentina (1869) from geographical and historical perspectives. We studied its most relevant variables and also their context in order to show the quality of life at that time. Some usually disregarded variables are considered, particularly those related to education, health and housing conditions. The main objective of this work is to propose an index of quality of life that allows us to analyze the sources of the period and, at the same time, to enable future diachronic comparisons with another contexts. From the methodological point of view, statistical techniques and geographic information systems (GIS) are applied to these spatial units with the highest available disaggregating level (districts/municipalities). Results show high degree of inequality all over the country and provinces inside. They also provide relevant contributions for subsequent researches.