Recently, the CONICET updated the Quality of Life Index (ICV) that measures the welfare of the Argentine population.
The interactive tool, developed by scientists from the CONICET and the UNICEN, allows visualization of how the quality of life in Argentina has evolved over the last decade.
The project was led by the Institute of Geography, History, and Social Sciences (IGEHCS, CONICET-UNCPBA).
For years, these specialists have been studying the quality of life for more than two decades from a geographical perspective.
In its latest update, the map incorporated data from the National Census of Population, Households, and Housing 2022.
Now, the system includes information from more than 70 thousand census tracts into which the country’s surface is divided.
The latest quality of life map in Argentina from CONICET, with greater detail
The interactive map has a 38% increase in geographic information units compared to the 2012 version.
Thanks to this, this expansion allows for a more precise measurement of welfare in different areas of the national territory.
The tool is freely accessible and facilitates the comparison of the level of welfare in the different census tracts.
The development was carried out with the collaboration of specialists from the Higher Institute of Software Engineering Tandil (ISISTAN, CONICET-UNCPBA).
Thus, users can easily switch between the 2010 maps and the newly incorporated 2022 maps.
This functionality transforms the map into a fundamental tool for decision-making and public policy analysis.
The new, more complex environmental indicators
Guillermo Velázquez, a researcher at CONICET in the IGEHCS and one of the leaders of the development, highlighted a significant novelty.
“In 2010, it was possible to access microdata on floodability, shantytowns, and garbage dumps.
In contrast, for the year 2022, we incorporated information on a series of more complex environmental problems,” explained the specialist.
The new environmental indicators that were incorporated include:
- Use of pesticides in agriculture
- Participation of industry and mining in the gross product
- Different types of pollution
- Noise and congestion
- Hazardous locations
Additionally, the index integrated the rate of criminal acts and homicides per ten thousand inhabitants.
This expansion of variables allows for a more comprehensive evaluation of population welfare.
The ICV measures welfare based on socioeconomic and environmental variables.
The combination of these factors offers a complete view of the Argentine reality in different regions.
The tool is useful for investment planning and the design of public policies aimed at improving the quality of life.
Free access makes it easier for researchers, officials, and citizens to consult the updated information.
The project represents more than two decades of scientific work dedicated to understanding the territorial distribution of welfare.
The update with data from the 2022 Census ensures that the index reflects the current reality of the country.
