Legend:  Definition
 Field
Listing  Rank
Order
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Background:
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Following independence from Spain in 1816, Argentina experienced
periods of internal political conflict between conservatives and
liberals and between civilian and military factions. After World
War II, a long period of Peronist authoritarian rule and interference
in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that
took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983, and numerous elections
since then have underscored Argentina's progress in democratic consolidation.
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Location:
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Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Chile and Uruguay |
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Geographic coordinates:
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34 00 S, 64 00 W |
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Map references:
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South
America |
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Area:
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total: 2,766,890 sq km
land: 2,736,690 sq km
water: 30,200 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 9,665 km
border countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile
5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km |
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Coastline:
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4,989 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental
margin |
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Climate:
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mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest |
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Terrain:
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rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau
of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Salinas Chicas -40 m (located on Peninsula
Valdes)
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m |
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Natural resources:
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fertile plains of the Pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore,
manganese, petroleum, uranium |
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Land use:
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arable land: 9.14%
permanent crops: 0.8%
other: 90.06% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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15,610 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to
earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the
Pampas and northeast; heavy flooding |
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Environment - current issues:
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environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing
economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification,
air pollution, and water pollution
note: Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse
gas targets |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation |
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Geography - note:
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second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic
location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic and the
South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake
Passage); Cerro Aconcagua is South America's tallest mountain, while
the Valdes Peninsula is the lowest point on the continent
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Population:
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38,740,807 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 26.2% (male 5,185,548; female 4,955,551)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 12,274,625; female 12,282,772)
65 years and over: 10.4% (male 1,659,641; female 2,382,670)
(2003 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 29 years
male: 28 years
female: 29.9 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.05% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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17.47 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.58 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 16.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 18.14 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 75.48 years
male: 71.72 years
female: 79.44 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.28 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.7% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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130,000 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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1,800 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Argentine(s)
adjective: Argentine |
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Ethnic groups:
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white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo, Amerindian, or
other nonwhite groups 3% |
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Religions:
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nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant
2%, Jewish 2%, other 4% |
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Languages:
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Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.1% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Argentine Republic
conventional short form: Argentina
local short form: Argentina
local long form: Republica Argentina |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Buenos Aires |
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Administrative divisions:
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23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), and 1 autonomous
city* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Capital Federal*,
Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba, Corrientes, Entre Rios, Formosa,
Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquen, Rio Negro,
Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero,
Tierra del Fuego - Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur, Tucuman
note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica
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Independence:
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9 July 1816 (from Spain) |
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National holiday:
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Revolution Day, 25 May (1810) |
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Constitution:
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1 May 1853; revised August 1994 |
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Legal system:
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mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal and mandatory |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003);
note - declared winner of a runoff election by default after Carlos
Saul MENEM withdrew his candidacy on the eve of the election; Vice
President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May
2003); note - declared winner of a runoff election by default after
Carlos Saul MENEM withdrew his candidacy on the eve of the election;
Vice President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
election results: results of the presidential primary of
27 April 2003: Carlos Saul MENEM 24.3%, Nestor KIRCHNER 22%, Ricardo
Lopez MURPHY 16.4%, Adolfo Rodriguez SAA 14.4%, Elisa CARRIO 14.2%,
other 8.7%; the subsequent runoff election slated for 25 May 2003
was awarded to KIRCHNER by default after MENEM withdrew his candidacy
on the eve of the election
elections: president and vice president elected on the same
ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; the last election held
was the presidential primary election of 27 April 2003 (next election
to be held NA 2007); a runoff election slated for 25 May 2003 between
the two candidates receiving the highest votes in the primary was
awarded to KIRCHNER by default after MENEM withdrew his candidacy
on the eve of the election |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the
Senate (72 seats; members are elected by direct vote; presently
one-third of the members being elected every two years to a six-year
term) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members are elected
by direct vote; one-half of the members elected every two years
to a four-year term)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party
- NA%; seats by bloc or party - PJ 40, UCR 24, provincial parties
6, Frepaso 1, ARI 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc
or party - NA%; seats by bloc or party - PJ 113, UCR 74, provincial
parties 27, Frepaso 17, ARI 17, AR 9
elections: Senate - last held 14 October 2001 (next to be
held intermittently by province before December 2003); Chamber of
Deputies - last held 14 October 2001 (next to be held intermittently
by province before December 2003) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the nine Supreme Court judges are
appointed by the president with approval by the Senate) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Action for the Republic or AR [Domingo CAVALLO]; Alternative for
a Republic of Equals or ARI [Elisa CARRIO]; Front for a Country
in Solidarity or Frepaso (a four-party coalition) [Dario Pedro ALESSANDRO];
Justicialist Party or PJ [Carlos Saul MENEM] (Peronist umbrella
political organization); Radical Civic Union or UCR [Angel ROZAS];
Federal Recreate Movement [Ricardo LOPEZ MURPHY]; several provincial
parties |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); Argentine
Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Society
(large landowners' association); business organizations; General
Confederation of Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization);
Peronist-dominated labor movement; Roman Catholic Church; students
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International organization participation:
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AfDB, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, ECLAC, FAO, G-6, G-15, G-19, G-24,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MONUC, MTCR, NSG, OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Octavio BORDON
chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
Miami, New York
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador James D. WALSH; note - Lino
GUTIERREZ is designated to replace Ambassador WALSH
embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Aires
mailing address: international mail: use street address;
APO address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034
telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533
FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240 |
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light
blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a
human face known as the Sun of May
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Economy - overview:
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Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate
population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified
industrial base. Over the past decade, however, the country has
suffered recurring economic problems of inflation, external debt,
capital flight, and budget deficits. Growth in 2000 was a negative
0.8%, as both domestic and foreign investors remained skeptical
of the government's ability to pay debts and maintain the peso's
fixed exchange rate with the US dollar. The economic situation worsened
in 2001 with the widening of spreads on Argentine bonds, massive
withdrawals from the banks, and a further decline in consumer and
investor confidence. Government efforts to achieve a "zero deficit,"
to stabilize the banking system, and to restore economic growth
proved inadequate in the face of the mounting economic problems.
The peso's peg to the dollar was abandoned in January 2002, and
the peso was floated in February; the exchange rate plunged and
inflation picked up rapidly, but by mid-2002 the economy had stabilized,
albeit at a lower level. Strong demand for the peso compelled the
Central Bank to intervene in foreign exchange markets to curb its
appreciation in early 2003. Led by record exports, the economy began
to recover with output up 5.5% in 2003, unemployment falling, and
inflation sliced to 4.2% at year-end. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $403.8 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-10.9% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $10,500 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 5%
industry: 28%
services: 66% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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37% (2001 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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41% (2002, yearend) |
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Labor force:
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15 million (1999) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% |
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Unemployment rate:
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21.5% (37377) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $44 billion
expenditures: $48 billion, including capital expenditures
of $NA (2000 est.) |
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Industries:
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food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals
and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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1% (2000 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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97.17 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 52.2%
hydro: 40.8%
other: 0.2% (2001)
nuclear: 6.7% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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92.12 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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5.662 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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7.417 billion kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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828,600 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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486,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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2.927 billion bbl (37257) |
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Natural gas - production:
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37.15 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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31.1 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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6.05 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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768 billion cu m (37257) |
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Agriculture - products:
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sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts,
tea, wheat; livestock |
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Exports:
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$25.3 billion f.o.b. (2002) |
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Exports - commodities:
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edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor vehicles |
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Exports - partners:
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Brazil 23.6%, US 10.9%, Chile 9.7%, Spain 4.3% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$9 billion f.o.b. (2002) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal manufactures,
plastics |
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Imports - partners:
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Brazil 42%, US 12.8%, Germany 4.4% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$155 billion (2001 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$10 billion (2001 est.) |
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Currency:
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Argentine peso (ARS) |
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Currency code:
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ARS |
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Exchange rates:
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Argentine pesos per US dollar - 3.06 (2002), 1 (2001), 1 (2000),
1 (1999), 1 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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7.5 million (1998) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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3 million (December 1999) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: by opening the telecommunications market
to competition and foreign investment with the "Telecommunications
Liberalization Plan of 1998," Argentina encouraged the growth of
modern telecommunication technology; fiber-optic cable trunk lines
are being installed between all major cities; the major networks
are entirely digital and the availability of telephone service is
being improved; however, telephone density is presently minimal,
and making telephone service universally available will take time
domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a
domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk
network; more than 110,000 pay telephones are installed and mobile
telephone use is rapidly expanding
international: satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); Atlantis II and Unisur submarine cables; two international
gateways near Buenos Aires (1999) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 260 (including 10 inactive stations), FM NA (probably more than
1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.ar |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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33 (2000) |
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Internet users:
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3.88 million (2001)
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Railways:
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total: 34,463 km (168 km electrified)
broad gauge: 20,736 km 1.676-m gauge (142 km electrified)
standard gauge: 3,115 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 10,375 km 1.000-m gauge; 237 km 0.750-m gauge
(2002) |
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Highways:
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total: 215,471 km
paved: 63,348 km (including 734 km of expressways)
unpaved: 152,123 km (1999) |
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Waterways:
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10,950 km |
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Pipelines:
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gas 26,797 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 3,668 km; refined
products 2,945 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepcion del Uruguay,
La Plata, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario, Santa
Fe, Ushuaia |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 141,851 GRT/208,821 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, petroleum tanker 8, railcar carrier
1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger
1, specialized tanker 1, includes some foreign-owned ships registered
here as a flag of convenience: United Arab Emirates 1, Uruguay 1
(2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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1,342 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 145
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 62
914 to 1,523 m: 44
under 914 m: 9 (2002) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1,197
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 50
914 to 1,523 m: 572
under 914 m: 571 (2002)
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Military branches:
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Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes naval aviation
and Marines), Coast Guard, Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
National Aeronautical Police Force |
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Military manpower - military age:
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20 years of age (2003 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age 15-49: 9,780,063 (2003 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age 15-49: 7,942,837 (2003 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males: 331,011 (2003 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$4.3 billion (FY99) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.3% (FY00)
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This page was last updated on 18 December,
2003
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