World Factbook
Argentina
Introduction
Background
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, with Italy and Spain providing 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 unrest and conflict 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. The years 2003-15 saw Peronist rule by Nestor and Cristina FERNANDEZ de KIRCHNER, whose policies isolated Argentina and caused economic stagnation. With the election of Mauricio MACRI in November 2015, Argentina began a period of reform and international reintegration.
Geography
Location
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Geographic coordinates
34 00 S, 64 00 W
Map references
South America
Area
total: 2,780,400 sq km
land: 2,736,690 sq km
water: 43,710 sq km
country comparison to the world: 9
Area - comparative
slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Land boundaries
total: 11,968 km
border countries (5): Bolivia 942 km, Brazil 1263 km, Chile 6691 km, Paraguay 2531 km, Uruguay 541 km
Coastline
4,989 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
contiguous zone: 24nm
continental shelf: 200nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate
mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
Terrain
rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border
Elevation
mean elevation: 595 m
lowest point: Laguna del Carbon (located between Puerto San Julian and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz) -105 m
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua (located in the northwestern corner of the province of Mendoza; highest point in South America) 6,962 m
Natural resources
fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 53.9% (2016 est.)
arable land: 13.9% (2016 est.)/permanent crops: 0.4% (2016 est.)/permanent pasture: 39.6% (2016 est.)
forest: 10.7% (2016 est.)
other: 35.4% (2016 est.)
Irrigated land
23,600 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
one-third of the population lives in Buenos Aires; pockets of agglomeration occur throughout the northern and central parts of the country; Patagonia to the south remains sparsely populated
Natural hazards
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 (2,997 m) last erupted in 2000; other historically active volcanoes include Llullaillaco, Maipo, Planchon-Peteroa, San Jose, Tromen, Tupungatito, and Viedma
Environment - current issues
environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation (erosion, salinization), desertification, air pollution, and water pollution
note: Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse gas targets
Environment - international agreements
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
Geography - note
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; shares Iguazu Falls, the world's largest waterfalls system, with Brazil
People and Society
Population
44,694,198 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Nationality
noun: Argentine(s)
adjective: Argentine
Ethnic groups
European (mostly Spanish and Italian descent) and mestizo (mixed European and Amerindian ancestry) 97.2%, Amerindian 2.4%, African 0.4% (2010 est.)
Languages
Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Mapudungun, Quechua)
Religions
nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%
Demographic profile
Argentina's population continues to grow but at a slower rate because of its steadily declining birth rate. Argentina's fertility decline began earlier than in the rest of Latin America, occurring most rapidly between the early 20th century and the 1950s, and then becoming more gradual. Life expectancy has been improving, most notably among the young and the poor. While the population under age 15 is shrinking, the youth cohort - ages 15-24 - is the largest in Argentina's history and will continue to bolster the working-age population. If this large working-age population is well-educated and gainfully employed, Argentina is likely to experience an economic boost and possibly higher per capita savings and investment. Although literacy and primary school enrollment are nearly universal, grade repetition is problematic and secondary school completion is low. Both of these issues vary widely by region and socioeconomic group.Argentina has been primarily a country of immigration for most of its history, welcoming European immigrants (often providing needed low-skilled labor) after its independence in the 19th century and attracting especially large numbers from Spain and Italy. More than 7 million European immigrants are estimated to have arrived in Argentina between 1880 and 1930, when it adopted a more restrictive immigration policy. European immigration also began to wane in the 1930s because of the global depression. The inflow rebounded temporarily following WWII and resumed its decline in the 1950s when Argentina's military dictators tightened immigration rules and European economies rebounded. Regional migration increased, however, supplying low-skilled workers escaping economic and political instability in their home countries. As of 2015, immigrants made up almost 5% of Argentina's population, the largest share in South America. Migration from neighboring countries accounted for approximately 80% of Argentina's immigrant population in 2015.The first waves of highly skilled Argentine emigrant workers headed mainly to the United States and Spain in the 1960s and 1970s, driven by economic decline and repressive military dictatorships. The 2008 European economic crisis drove the return migration of some Argentinean and other Latin American nationals, as well as the immigration of Europeans to South America, where Argentina was a key recipient. In 2015, Argentina received the highest number of legal migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean. The majority of its migrant inflow came from Paraguay and Bolivia.
Age structure
0-14 years: 24.44%(male 5,629,345 /female 5,293,680)
15-24 years: 15.2%(male 3,476,344 /female 3,317,151)
25-54 years: 39.46%(male 8,808,591 /female 8,826,379)
55-64 years: 9.12%(male 1,977,421 /female 2,096,665)
65 years and over: 11.79%(male 2,216,487 /female 3,052,135) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 56.5 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 39.4 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 17.1 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 5.8 (2015 est.)
Median age
total: 31.9 years (2018 est.)
male: 30.7 years
female: 33.1 years
country comparison to the world: 107
Population growth rate
0.89% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Birth rate
16.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Death rate
7.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Net migration rate
-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Population distribution
one-third of the population lives in Buenos Aires; pockets of agglomeration occur throughout the northern and central parts of the country; Patagonia to the south remains sparsely populated
Urbanization
urban population: 92% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 1.07% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population
15.057 million BUENOS AIRES (capital), 1.560 million Cordoba, 1.510 million Rosario, 1.153 million Mendoza, 971,000 San Miguel de Tucuman, 874,000 La Plata (2019)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2018 est.)
Maternal mortality rate
39 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Infant mortality rate
total: 9.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 10.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 138
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.5 years (2018 est.)
male: 74.4 years
female: 80.8 years
country comparison to the world: 70
Total fertility rate
2.25 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Contraceptive prevalence rate
81.3% (2013)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 99% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 99.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 1% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0.9% of population (2015 est.)
Current Health Expenditure
7.5% (2016)
Physicians density
3.96 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density
5 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 96.2% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 98.3% of population (2015 est.)
total: 96.4% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 3.8% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 1.7% of population (2015 est.)
total: 3.6% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.4% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
140,000 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
HIV/AIDS - deaths
1,700 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Major infectious diseases
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
28.3% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 30
Education expenditures
5.5% of GDP (2017)
country comparison to the world: 37
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.1%
female: 99.1% (2016)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 18 years
male: 16 years
female: 19 years (2016)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 22.6%
male: 19.9%
female: 26.9% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Argentine Republic
conventional short form: Argentina
local long form: Republica Argentina
local short form: Argentina
etymology: originally the area was referred to as Tierra Argentina, i.e., "Land beside the Silvery River" or "silvery land," which referred to the massive estuary in the east of the country, the Rio de la Plata (River of Silver); over time the name shortened to simply Argentina or "silvery"
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Buenos Aires
geographic coordinates: 34 36 S, 58 22 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name translates as "fair winds" in Spanish and derives from the original designation of the settlement that would become the present-day city, "Santa Maria del Buen Aire" (Saint Mary of the Fair Winds)
Administrative divisions
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 - Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands), Tucuman
note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica
Independence
9 July 1816 (from Spain)
National holiday
Revolution Day (May Revolution Day), 25 May (1810)
Constitution
history: several previous; latest effective 11 May 1853
amendments: a declaration of proposed amendments requires two-thirds majority vote by both houses of the National Congress followed by approval by an ad hoc, multi-member constitutional convention; amended many times, last significant amendment in 1994 (2018)
Legal system
civil law system based on West European legal systems; note - in mid-2015, Argentina adopted a new civil code, replacing the old one in force since 1871
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years
Suffrage
18-70 years of age; universal and compulsory; 16-17 years of age - optional for national elections
Executive branch
chief of state: President Alberto Angel FERNANDEZ (since 10 December 2019); Vice President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since 10 December 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Alberto Angel FERNANDEZ (since 10 December 2019); Vice President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since 10 December 2019)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified majority vote (to win, a candidate must receive at least 45% of votes or 40% of votes and a 10-point lead over the second place candidate; if neither occurs, a second round is held ); the president serves a 4-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held on 27 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2023)
election results: Alberto Angel FERNANDEZ elected president; percent of vote - Alberto Angel FERNANDEZ (TODOS) 48.1%, Mauricio MACRI (PRO) 40.4%, Roberto LAVAGNA (independent) 6.2%, other 5.3%
Legislative branch
description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of:
Senate (72 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms with one-third of the membership elected every 2 years)
Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 2 years)
elections:
Senate - last held on 27 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2021)
Chamber of Deputies - last held on 27 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2021)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or party - TODOS 13, Cambiemos 8, FCS 2, JSRN 1;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or party - TODOS 64, Cambiemos 56, CF 3, FCS 3, JSRN 1, other 3
Judicial branch
highest courts: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (consists of the court president, vice president, and 5 justices)
judge selection and term of office: justices nominated by the president and approved by the Senate; justices can serve until mandatory retirement at age 75; extensions beyond 75 require renomination by the president and approval by the Senate
subordinate courts: federal level appellate, district, and territorial courts; provincial level supreme, appellate, and first instance courts
Political parties and leaders
Argentina Federal [coalition led by Pablo KOSINER]
Cambiemos [Mauricio MACRI] (coalition of CC-ARI, PRO, and UCR)
Citizen's Unity or UC [Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER]
Civic Coalition ARI or CC-ARI [Elisa CARRIO, Maximiliano FERRARO]
Civic Front for Santiago or FCS [Gerardo ZAMORA]
Everyone's Front (Frente de Todos) or TODOS [Alberto Angel FERNANDEZ]
Federal Consensus or CF [Roberto LAVAGNA, Juan Manuel URTUBEY]
Front for the Renewal of Concord or FRC
Front for Victory or FpV [coalition led by Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER and Agustin ROSSI]
Generation for a National Encounter or GEN [Monica PERALTA]
Justicialist Party or PJ [Miguel Angel PICHETTO]
Radical Civic Union or UCR [Alfredo CORNEJO]
Renewal Front (Frente Renovador) or FR [Sergio MASSA]
Republican Proposal or PRO [Mauricio MACRI, Humberto SCHIAVONI]
Socialist Party or PS [Antonio BONFATTI]
Socialist Workers’ Party or PTS [Jose MONTES]
Together We Are Rio Negro or JSRN [Alberto Edgardo WERETILNECK]
We Do For Cordoba (Hacemos Por Cordoba) or HC [Juan SCHIARETTI]
Workers' Party or PO [Jorge ALTAMIRA]
Worker’s Socialist Movement or MST [Alejandro BODDART; Vilma RIPOLL]
numerous provincial parties
International organization participation
AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), 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 (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
Ambassador Fernando ORIS DE ROA (since 24 January 2018)
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, Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward Charles PRADO (since 16 May 2018)
telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533
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
FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of sky blue (top), white, and sky blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face (delineated in brown) known as the Sun of May; the colors represent the clear skies and snow of the Andes; the sun symbol commemorates the appearance of the sun through cloudy skies on 25 May 1810 during the first mass demonstration in favor of independence; the sun features are those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun
National symbol(s)
Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol); national colors: sky blue, white
National anthem
name: "Himno Nacional Argentino" (Argentine National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Vicente LOPEZ y PLANES/Jose Blas PARERA
note: adopted 1813; Vicente LOPEZ was inspired to write the anthem after watching a play about the 1810 May Revolution against Spain
Economy
Economy - overview
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.Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER succeeded her husband as president in late 2007, and in 2008 the rapid economic growth of previous years slowed sharply as government policies held back exports and the world economy fell into recession. In 2010 the economy rebounded strongly, but slowed in late 2011 even as the government continued to rely on expansionary fiscal and monetary policies, which kept inflation in the double digits.In order to deal with these problems, the government expanded state intervention in the economy: it nationalized the oil company YPF from Spain's Repsol, expanded measures to restrict imports, and further tightened currency controls in an effort to bolster foreign reserves and stem capital flight. Between 2011 and 2013, Central Bank foreign reserves dropped $21.3 billion from a high of $52.7 billion. In July 2014, Argentina and China agreed on an $11 billion currency swap; the Argentine Central Bank has received the equivalent of $3.2 billion in Chinese yuan, which it counts as international reserves.With the election of President Mauricio MACRI in November 2015, Argentina began a historic political and economic transformation, as his administration took steps to liberalize the Argentine economy, lifting capital controls, floating the peso, removing export controls on some commodities, cutting some energy subsidies, and reforming the country’s official statistics. Argentina negotiated debt payments with holdout bond creditors, continued working with the IMF to shore up its finances, and returned to international capital markets in April 2016.In 2017, Argentina’s economy emerged from recession with GDP growth of nearly 3.0%. The government passed important pension, tax, and fiscal reforms. And after years of international isolation, Argentina took on several international leadership roles, including hosting the World Economic Forum on Latin America and the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference, and is set to assume the presidency of the G-20 in 2018.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$922.1 billion (2017 est.)
$896.5 billion (2016 est.)
$913.2 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 28
GDP (official exchange rate)
$637.6 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
2.9% (2017 est.)
-1.8% (2016 est.)
2.7% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$20,900 (2017 est.)
$20,600 (2016 est.)
$21,200 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 88
Gross national saving
17.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
16.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
15.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 65.9% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 18.2% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 14.8% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 3.7% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 11.2% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -13.8% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 10.8% (2017 est.)
industry: 28.1% (2017 est.)
services: 61.1% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products
sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock
Industries
food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Industrial production growth rate
2.7% (2017 est.)
note: based on private sector estimates
country comparison to the world: 111
Labor force
18 million (2017 est.)
note: urban areas only
country comparison to the world: 33
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 5.3%
industry: 28.6%
services: 66.1% (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate
8.4% (2017 est.)
8.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Population below poverty line
25.7% (2017 est.)
note: data are based on private estimates
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 31% (2017 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
41.7 (2017 est.)
45.8 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 54
Budget
revenues: 120.6 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 158.6 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
18.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Public debt
57.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
55% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Fiscal year
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
25.7% (2017 est.)
26.5% (2016 est.)
note: data are derived from private estimates
country comparison to the world: 219
Central bank discount rate
NA
Commercial bank prime lending rate
26.58% (31 December 2017 est.)
31.23% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Stock of narrow money
$62.61 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$59 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Stock of broad money
$62.61 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$59 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Stock of domestic credit
$219.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$194 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Market value of publicly traded shares
$56.13 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$60.14 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$53.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Current account balance
-$31.32 billion (2017 est.)
-$14.69 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Exports
$58.45 billion (2017 est.)
$57.78 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Exports - partners
Brazil 16.1%, US 7.9%, China 7.5%, Chile 4.4% (2017)
Exports - commodities
soybeans and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, wheat
Imports
$63.97 billion (2017 est.)
$53.5 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Imports - commodities
machinery, motor vehicles, petroleum and natural gas, organic chemicals, plastics
Imports - partners
Brazil 26.9%, China 18.5%, US 11.3%, Germany 4.9% (2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$55.33 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$38.43 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Debt - external
$214.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$190.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$76.58 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$72.11 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$40.94 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$39.74 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Exchange rates
Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar -
16.92 (2017 est.)
14.76 (2016 est.)
14.76 (2015 est.)
9.23 (2014 est.)
8.08 (2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
Electricity - production
131.9 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Electricity - consumption
121 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Electricity - exports
55 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Electricity - imports
9.851 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Electricity - installed generating capacity
38.35 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Electricity - from fossil fuels
69% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
24% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Electricity - from other renewable sources
3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Crude oil - production
489,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Crude oil - exports
36,630 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Crude oil - imports
16,740 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Crude oil - proved reserves
2.162 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Refined petroleum products - production
669,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Refined petroleum products - consumption
806,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Refined petroleum products - exports
58,360 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Refined petroleum products - imports
121,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - production
40.92 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - consumption
49.04 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Natural gas - exports
76.45 million cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - imports
9.826 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Natural gas - proved reserves
336.6 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
203.7 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 9,530,349
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 61,897,379
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 144 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Telephone system
general assessment: Argentina opened its telecommunications market to competition and foreign investment encouraging the growth of modern telecommunications technology in 1998; major networks are entirely digital and the availability of telephone service continues to improve to rural areas; even with numerous providers there is a lack of competition; still Argentina is the 3rd largest in the region after Brazil and Mexico (2018)
domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network; 22 per 100 fixed-line, 144 per 100 mobile-cellular (2018)
international: country code - 54; landing points for the UNISUR, Bicentenario, Atlantis-2, SAm-1, and SAC, Tannat, Malbec and ARBR submarine cable systems that provide links to Europe, Africa, South and Central America, and US; satellite earth stations - 112 (2019)
Broadcast media
government owns a TV station and radio network; more than 2 dozen TV stations and hundreds of privately owned radio stations; high rate of cable TV subscription usage
Internet country code
.ar
Internet users
total: 30,786,889
percent of population: 70.2% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 7,870,222
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Military and Security
Military expenditures
0.86% of GDP (2018)
0.86% of GDP (2017)
0.95% of GDP (2016)
0.86% of GDP (2015)
0.88% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 127
Military and security forces
Argentine Army (Ejercito Argentino), Navy of the Argentine Republic (Armada Republica; includes naval aviation and naval infantry), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, FAA) (2019)
Military service age and obligation
18-24 years of age for voluntary military service (18-21 requires parental consent); no conscription; if the number of volunteers fails to meet the quota of recruits for a particular year, Congress can authorize the conscription of citizens turning 18 that year for a period not exceeding one year (2012)
Military - note
The Argentine military is a well-organized force constrained by the country's prolonged economic hardship; the military is implementing a modernization plan aimed at making the ground forces lighter and more responsive.
President Mauricio Macri in July of 2019 said he would remove a 2006 decree that limited the armed forces to defending against external attacks and banned military involvement in internal security issues. Macri said he wanted the military to be able to collaborate in internal security, primarily by providing logistic support in the border areas. (2018)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 6 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 107 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 14,245,183 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 243,772,567mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
LV (2016)
Airports
1,138 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 6
Airports - with paved runways
total: 161 (2017)
over 3,047 m: 4 (2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 29 (2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 65 (2017)
914 to 1,523 m: 53 (2017)
under 914 m: 10 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 977 (2013)
over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 43 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 484 (2013)
under 914 m: 448 (2013)
Heliports
2 (2013)
Pipelines
29930 km gas, 41 km liquid petroleum gas, 6248 km oil, 3631 km refined products (2013)
Railways
total: 36,917 km (2014)
standard gauge: 2,745.1 km1.435-m gauge (41.1 km electrified) (2014)
narrow gauge: 7,523.3 km1.000-m gauge (2014)
broad gauge: 26,391 km1.676-m gauge (149 km electrified) (2014)
258 km 0.750-m gauge
country comparison to the world: 6
Roadways
total: 281,290 km (2017)
paved: 117,616 km (2017)
unpaved: 163,674 km (2017)
country comparison to the world: 21
Waterways
11,000 km (2012)
country comparison to the world: 11
Merchant marine
total: 167
by type: container ship 1, general cargo 9, oil tanker 27, other 130 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 66
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, La Plata, Punta Colorada, Ushuaia
container port(s) (TEUs): Buenos Aires (1,851,701)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Bahia Blanca
river port(s): Arroyo Seco, Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin (Parana)
Terrorism
Terrorist groups - foreign based
Hizballah: aim(s): largely limited to generating political and financial support from the Lebanese diaspora
area(s) of operation: conducted operations in the 1990s; maintains a limited presence (2019)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Argentina continues to assert its claims to the UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands in its constitution, forcibly occupying the Falklands in 1982, but in 1995 agreed to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks; territorial claim in Antarctica partially overlaps UK and Chilean claims; uncontested dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; in 2010, the ICJ ruled in favor of Uruguay's operation of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina; the two countries formed a joint pollution monitoring regime; the joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001 has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur); contraband smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotic trafficking are problems in the porous areas of the border with Bolivia
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 182,942 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2019)
Illicit drugs
a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe, heroin headed for the US, and ephedrine and pseudoephedrine headed for Mexico; some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; law enforcement corruption; a source for precursor chemicals; increasing domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers, especially cocaine base and synthetic drugs
