Introduction
Background
In 1816, the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay left, the area that remained became Argentina. European immigrants heavily shaped the country's population and culture.
Geography
Area
total : 2,780,400 sq km
land: 2,736,690 sq km
water: 43,710 sq km
Climate
mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
Natural resources
fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium, arable land
People and Society
Population
total: 46,994,384
Ethnic groups
European (mostly Spanish and Italian descent) and Mestizo (mixed European and Indigenous ancestry) 97.2%, Indigenous 2.4%, African descent 0.4% (2010 est.)
Languages
Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Quechua, Guarani, Mapudungun)
Religions
Roman Catholic 62.9%, Evangelical 15.3% (Pentecostal 13%, other Evangelical 2.3%), Jehovah's Witness and Church of Jesus Christ 1.4%, other 1.2% (includes Muslim, Jewish), none 18.9% (includes agnostic and atheist), unspecified 0.3% (2019 est.)
Population growth rate
0.79% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Buenos Aires
Executive branch
chief of state: President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023)
head of government: President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023)
Legislative branch
description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of:
Senate or Senado (72 seats; members directly elected from 24 provincial districts by closed-list proportional representation vote; 2 seats per district awarded to the party with the most votes and 1 seat per district to the party with the second highest votes; members serve 6-year terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years)
Chamber of Deputies or Cámara de Diputados (257 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 2 years)
Economy
Economic overview
large diversified economy; financial risks from debt obligations, rapid inflation, and reduced investor appetites; resource-rich, export-led growth model; increasing trade relations with China; G20 and OAS leader; tendency to nationalize businesses and under-report inflation
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.235 trillion (2023 est.)
$1.254 trillion (2022 est.)
$1.195 trillion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$26,500 (2023 est.)
$27,100 (2022 est.)
$26,100 (2021 est.)
Agricultural products
maize, soybeans, wheat, sugarcane, milk, barley, sunflower seeds, beef, sorghum, chicken (2022)
Industries
food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Exports
$83.359 billion (2023 est.)
$103.002 billion (2022 est.)
$87.486 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
Brazil 15%, China 9%, US 8%, Chile 6%, India 5% (2022)
Exports - commodities
soybean meal, corn, soybean oil, wheat, trucks (2022)
Imports
$92.574 billion (2023 est.)
$97.558 billion (2022 est.)
$72.392 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
China 21%, Brazil 20%, US 14%, Germany 3%, Paraguay 2% (2022)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas, fertilizers, cars (2022)
Exchange rates
Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar -
Page last updated: Wednesday, July 24, 2024
