Argentina:: Population: 42,192,494
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Background
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In 1816,
the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the
area that remained became Argentina. The country's population and
culture were heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe, but most particularly Italy and Spain, which provided the largest
percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th
century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by
periods of internal political conflict between Federalists and Unitarians and
between civilian and military factions. After World War II, an era of
Peronist populism and direct and indirect military interference in subsequent
governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976.
Democracy returned in 1983 after a failed bid to seize the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) by force, and
has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a
severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the
successive resignations of several presidents.
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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); diverse geophysical landscapes
range from tropical climates in the north to tundra in the far south; Cerro
Aconcagua is the Western Hemisphere's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carbon
is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere
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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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Area:
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total:
2,780,400 sq km land: 2,736,690 sq km water: 43,710 sq km
Size comparison: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US |
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Land Boundaries:
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total: 9,861
km border countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,261
km, Chile 5,308 km, Paraguay 1,880
km, Uruguay 580 km
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Coastline:
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4,989 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial
sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 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: Laguna del Carbon -105 m (located between Puerto San
Julian and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz)
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m (located in the northwestern
corner of the province of Mendoza)
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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: 10.03% permanent crops: 0.36% other: 89.61% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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15,500 sq
km (2003)
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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 in some areas volcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes
Mountains along the Chilean border; Copahue (elev. 2,997 m) last erupted in 2000; other
historically active volcanoes include Llullaillaco, Maipo, Planchon-Peteroa,
San Jose, Tromen, Tupungatito, and Viedma
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Current Environment 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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International Environment
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, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified:
Marine Life Conservation
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Population:
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42,192,494
(July 2012 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 25.4% (male 5,429,488/female 5,181,289) 15-64 years: 63.6% (male
13,253,468/female 13,301,530) 65 years and over: 11% (male 1,897,144/female
2,706,807) (2011 est.)
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Median age:
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total:
30.7 years male: 29.7 years female: 31.8 years (2012 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.997%
(2012 est.)
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Birth rate:
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17.34
births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
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Death rate:
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7.36
deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 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 (2011 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
10.52 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.76 deaths/1,000 live births female:
9.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 77.14 years male: 73.9 years female: 80.54 years (2012 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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2.29
children born/woman (2012 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.5%
(2009 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with
HIV/AIDS:
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110,000
(2009 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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2,900
(2009 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 (mixed white and Amerindian
ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white 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), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Mapudungun,
Quechua)
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.2% male: 97.2%
female: 97.2% (2001 census)
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Argentine Republic conventional short form: Argentina local long form: Republica Argentina local short form: Argentina
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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name: Buenos Aires geographic coordinates: 34 35 S,
58 40 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight
saving time: none scheduled for 2011
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Administrative divisions:
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23
provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 autonomous city*; Buenos
Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires*, 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 (Tierra del Fuego), 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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Constitution:
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1 May
1853; amended many times starting in 1860
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Legal system:
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civil law
system based on West European legal systems; note - efforts at civil code
reform begun in the mid-1980s has stagnated
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Suffrage:
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18-70
years of age; universal and compulsory
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since 10 December 2007);
Vice President Amado BOUDOU (since 10 December 2011); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President
Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since 10 December 2007); Vice President Amado
BOUDOU (since 10 December 2011) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:
president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for
four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23
October 2011 (next election to be held in October 2015) election results:
Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER reelected president; percent of vote -
Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER 54%, Hermes BINNER 16.9%, Ricardo ALFONSIN
11.1%, Alberto Rodriguez SAA 8%, Eduardo DUHALDE 5.9%, other 4.1%
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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
elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies
(257 seats; members are elected by direct vote; one-half of the members
elected every two years to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last
held on 23 October 2011 (next to be held in 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last
held on 23 October 2011 (next to be held in 2013) election results: Senate -
percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or party - FpV 38, UCR
17, PJ Disidente 10, FAP 4, other 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by
bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or party - FpV 134, UCR 41, PJ Disidente
28, FAP 22, PRO 11, CC 7, other 14
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court or Corte Suprema (the Supreme Court judges are appointed by the
president with approval of the Senate) note: the Supreme Court has seven
judges; the Argentine Congress in 2006 passed a bill to gradually reduce the number
of Supreme Court judges to five
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Political parties and leaders:
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Broad
Progressive Front or FAP [Hermes BINNER]; Civic Coalition or CC (a broad
coalition loosely affiliated with Elisa CARRIO); Dissident Peronists (PJ
Disidente) or Federal Peronism (a sector of the Justicialist Party opposed to
the Kirchners); Front for Victory or FpV (a broad coalition, including
elements of the PJ, UCR, and numerous provincial parties) [Cristina FERNANDEZ
DE KIRCHNER]; Justicialist Party or PJ [vacant]; Radical Civic Union or UCR
[Mario BARLETTA]; Republican Proposal or PRO [Mauricio MACRI]; Socialist
Party or PS [Ruben GIUSTINIANI]; numerous 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 Confederation or CRA (small to
medium landowners' association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners'
association); Central of Argentine Workers or CTA (a radical union for
employed and unemployed workers); General Confederation of Labor or CGT
(Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); White and Blue CGT (dissident
CGT labor confederation); Roman Catholic Church other: business
organizations; Peronist-dominated labor movement; Piquetero groups (popular
protest organizations that can be either pro or anti-government); students
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International organization
participation:
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AfDB
(nonregional member), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (associate), CELAC,
FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM
(observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA
(observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina
(observer), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Jorge Martin Arturo ARGUELLO chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
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Diplomatic representation from the
US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Vilma MARTINEZ embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Aires
mailing address: international mail: use embassy street address; APO address: US Embassy Buenos Aires,
Unit 4334, APO AA 34034 telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533 FAX: [54] (11)
5777-4240
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Argentina benefits from rich natural
resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural
sector, and a diversified industrial base. Although one of the world's
wealthiest countries 100 years ago, Argentina suffered during most of the
20th century from recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal and current
account deficits, high inflation, mounting external debt, and capital flight.
A severe depression, growing public and external indebtedness, and a bank run
culminated in 2001 in the most serious economic,
social, and political crisis in the country's turbulent history. Interim
President Adolfo RODRIGUEZ SAA declared a default - the largest in history -
on the government's foreign debt in December of that year, and abruptly
resigned only a few days after taking office. His successor, Eduardo DUHALDE,
announced an end to the peso's decade-long 1-to-1 peg to the US dollar in
early 2002. The economy bottomed out that year, with real GDP 18% smaller
than in 1998 and almost 60% of Argentines under the poverty line. Real GDP
rebounded to grow by an average 8.5% annually over the subsequent six years,
taking advantage of previously idled industrial capacity and labor, an
audacious debt restructuring and reduced debt burden, excellent international
financial conditions, and expansionary monetary and fiscal policies.
Inflation also increased, however, during the administration of President
Nestor KIRCHNER, which responded with price restraints on businesses, as well
as export taxes and restraints, and beginning in early 2007, with
understating inflation data. Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER succeeded her
husband as President in late 2007, and the rapid economic growth of previous
years began to slow sharply the following year as government policies held
back exports and the world economy fell into recession. The economy has
rebounded strongly from the 2009 recession, but the government's continued
reliance on expansionary fiscal and monetary policies risks exacerbating
already high inflation.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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GDP
(purchasing power parity): $725.6 billion (2011 est.) $666.5 billion (2010
est.) $610.6 billion (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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GDP
(official exchange rate): $447.6 billion (2011 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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8.9%
(2011 est.) 9.2% (2010 est.) 0.9% (2009 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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GDP - per
capita (PPP): $17,700 (2011 est.) $16,400 (2010 est.) $15,200 (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
10% industry: 30.7% services: 59.2% (2011 est.)
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Labor force:
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16.76
million note: urban areas only (2011 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture:
5% industry: 23% services: 72% (2009 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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7.2%
(2011 est.) 7.8% (2010 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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30% note:
data are based on private estimates (2010)
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Household income or consumption by
percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 29.5% (3rd Quarter, 2010)
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Distribution of family income -
Gini index:
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45.8
(2009)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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Inflation
rate (consumer prices): 22% (2010 est.) 16% (2009 est.) note: data are
derived from private estimates
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Investment (gross fixed):
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Investment
(gross fixed): 22.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues:
$105.8 billion expenditures: $113.3 billion (2011 est.)
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Public debt:
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41.4% of
GDP (2011 est.) 45.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
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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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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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6.5%
note: based on private estimates (2011 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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115.4
billion kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity - consumption:
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104.7
billion kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity - exports:
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3 billion
kWh (2009 est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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5.53
billion kWh (2009 est.)
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Oil - production:
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763,600
bbl/day (2010 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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618,000
bbl/day (2010 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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238,100
bbl/day (2009 est.)
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Oil - imports:
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19,380
bbl/day (2009 est.)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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2.505
billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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40.1
billion cu m (2010 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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43.46
billion cu m (2010 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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880
million cu m (2009 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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3.78
billion cu m (2010 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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378.8
billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
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Current account balance:
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$18
million (2011 est.) $2.818 billion (2010 est.)
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Exports:
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$84.27
billion (2011 est.) $68.13 billion (2010 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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soybeans
and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, wheat
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Exports - partners:
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Brazil 21.8%, China 7.4%, Chile 5.6%, US 5.5% (2011)
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Imports:
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$70.73
billion (2011 est.) $53.87 billion (2010 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery,
motor vehicles, petroleum and natural gas, organic chemicals, plastics
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Imports - partners:
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Brazil 33.2%, US 14.4%, China 12.4%, Germany 4.7% (2011)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and
gold:
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$46.35
billion (31 December 2011 est.) $52.23 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$136.8
billion (31 December 2011 est.) $127.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment
- at home:
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$92.81
billion (31 December 2011 est.) $86.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment
- abroad:
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$30.94
billion (31 December 2011 est.) $29.84 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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Market value of publicly traded
shares:
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$43.58
billion (31 December 2011) $63.91 billion (31 December 2010) $48.93 billion (31 December 2009)
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Exchange rates:
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Argentine
pesos (ARS) per US dollar - 4.132 (2011 est.) 3.8963 (2010 est.) 3.7101
(2009) 3.1636 (2008) 3.1105 (2007)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year
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Telephones in use:
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10 million
(2009) country comparison to the world: 21
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Cellular Phones in use:
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57.3
million (2009)
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: in 1998 Argentina opened its telecommunications market to
competition and foreign investment encouraging the growth of modern
telecommunications technology; fiber-optic cable trunk lines are being
installed between all major cities; major networks are entirely digital and
the availability of telephone service is improving domestic: microwave radio
relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth
stations serve the trunk network; fixed-line teledensity is increasing
gradually and mobile-cellular subscribership is increasing rapidly; broadband
Internet services are gaining ground international: country code - 54;
landing point for the Atlantis-2, UNISUR, South America-1, and South American
Crossing/Latin American Nautilus submarine cable systems that provide links
to Europe, Africa, South and Central America, and US; satellite earth
stations - 112; 2 international gateways near Buenos Aires (2009)
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Internet country code:
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.ar
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Internet hosts:
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10.928
million (2010)
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Internet users:
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13.694
million (2009)
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Airports:
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1,149
(2012) country comparison to the world: 6
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Airports (paved runways):
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total:
159 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 64 914 to
1,523 m: 54
under 914 m: 9 (2012)
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Airports (unpaved runways):
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total:
990 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 45 914 to 1,523 m: 499 under 914 m:
444 (2012)
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Heliports:
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2 (2012)
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Pipelines:
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gas 29,401
km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 6,166
km; refined products 3,631 km (2010)
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Railways:
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total: 36,966
km broad gauge: 26,475 km 1.676-m gauge (94 km electrified) standard gauge: 2,780
km 1.435-m gauge (42 km electrified) narrow gauge: 7,711
km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
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Roadways:
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total: 231,374
km paved: 69,412 km (includes 734 km of expressways) unpaved: 161,962
km (2004)
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Waterways:
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11,000 km (2012)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 36
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 5, chemical tanker 6, container 1,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 4 foreign-owned:
14 (Brazil 1, Chile 6, Spain 3, Taiwan 2, UK 2) registered in other countries:
15 (Liberia 1, Panama 5, Paraguay 5, Uruguay 1, unknown 3) (2010)
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Ports and terminals:
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Arroyo
Seco, Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, La Plata, Punta Colorada, Rosario, San
Lorenzo-San Martin, Ushuaia
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The
Argentine military is a well-organized force constrained by the country's
prolonged economic hardship; the country has recently experienced a strong
recovery, and the military is implementing a modernization plan aimed at
making the ground forces lighter and more responsive (2008)
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Military branches:
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Argentine
Army (Ejercito Argentino), Navy of the Argentine Republic (Armada Republica; includes naval
aviation and naval infantry), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, FAA) (2011)
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Military service age and
obligation:
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18-24
years of age for voluntary military service (18-21 requires parental
consent); no conscription (2001)
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Manpower available for military
service:
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males age
16-49: 10,038,967 females age 16-49: 9,959,134 (2010 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age
16-49: 8,458,362 females age 16-49: 8,414,460 (2010 est.)
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