Argentina - AR - ARG - ARG - South America

Last updated: April 23, 2025

Argentina Images

Opened as a cathedral in 1932, with the structure completed in 2000, the Cathedral of La Plata is the largest church in Argentina and one of the seven largest in the Western Hemisphere.
The Avenida 9 de Julio, shown here with a view of the Obelisk (El Obelisco) and the "BA" topiary, is the main thoroughfare of downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is considered the widest avenue in the world. The Plaza de la Republica is a favorite gathering spot for local celebrations.
The Casa Rosada (Pink House) in Buenos Aires is the office of the president of Argentina. Officially, the palatial mansion's name is Casa de Gobierno ("House of Government" or "Government House").
Plaza de Mayo, in the heart of downtown Buenos Aires, is named after the Argentine revolution, which began on May 25, 1810. It serves as a gathering place for public events and provides a view of the Casa Rosada (Pink House), the presidential office.
The Obelisk (El Obelisco) along Avenida 9 de Julio in Buenos Aires. The thoroughfare, named after Argentina's independence day (9 July 1816), is generally considered the widest avenue in the world. The Obelisk, built in 1936, measures 67 meters high (220 feet) and commemorates the founding of the city.
Fountains surround the Plaza de Mayo, the oldest public square in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The plaza serves as a gathering spot for public events and provides views of historic buildings.
The Rio Darsena Sur is the historical location of Buenos Aires' protected harbor area known as Puerto Madero. Now revitalized, the old port is filled with hotels, shops, and restaurants. Also pictured here is the corvette ARA Uruguay, built in 1874, that once sailed with Argentina's navy and is now a floating museum.
A rainbow appears in the mist of Iguazu Falls. The falls are part of a nearly virgin jungle ecosystem surrounded by national parks on both the Argentine and the Brazilian sides of the cascades. The Iguazu River begins in Brazil's Parana state, then crosses a 1,200-km (750 mi) plateau before reaching a series of faults that form the falls.
Mount Aconcagua, located in Argentina's Mendoza province, rises to a height of 6,962 m (22,838 ft). It is the tallest mountain in the Western Hemisphere and the tallest mountain outside of Asia. This photo was taken at an elevation of just under 3,000 m (9,843 ft) on a trail that leads to Confluencia, the first Aconcagua base camp.
The Monument to the Army of the Andes is situated atop Cerro de la Gloria (Glory Hill) in the city of Mendoza, Argentina. It commemorates the Army of the Andes crossing the Andes to free Chile from Spanish rule in January 1817. The monument, designed by Uruguayan sculptor Juan Manuel Ferrari, was dedicated on 12 February 1914, the 97th anniversary of the battle.
Puente del Inca, or "The Inca Bridge," is a natural bridge that spans the Cuevas River in Argentina's Mendoza province. Mineral deposits from hot springs have led to colorful shades of red and yellow on the face of the rocks.
Opened as a cathedral in 1932, with the structure completed in 2000, the Cathedral of La Plata is the largest church in Argentina and one of the seven largest in the Western Hemisphere.
The Avenida 9 de Julio, shown here with a view of the Obelisk (El Obelisco) and the "BA" topiary, is the main thoroughfare of downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is considered the widest avenue in the world. The Plaza de la Republica is a favorite gathering spot for local celebrations.

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Argentina Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Abigail L. DRESSEL (since 17 January 2025)

embassy:
Avenida Colombia 4300, (C1425GMN) Buenos Aires

mailing address: 3130 Buenos Aires Place, Washington DC 20521-3130

telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533

FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240

email address and website:
Buenosairespublicaffairs@state.gov

https://ar.usembassy.gov/

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.3% (male 5,632,983/female 5,301,778)

15-64 years: 63.9% (male 15,071,215/female 14,956,069)

65 years and over: 12.8% (2024 est.) (male 2,570,596/female 3,461,743)

This is the population pyramid for Argentina. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

34 00 S, 64 00 W

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Natural hazards

San Miguel de Tucumán 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, Planchón-Peteroa, San José, Tromen, Tupungatito, and Viedma

Area - comparative

slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

Military service age and obligation

18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription suspended in 1995; citizens can still be drafted in times of crisis, national emergency, or war, or if the Defense Ministry is unable to fill all vacancies to keep the military functional (2024)

note: as of 2023, women comprised nearly 20% of the active duty military

Background

In 1816, the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. European immigrants heavily shaped the country's population and culture, with Italy and Spain providing the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. 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, former President Juan Domingo PERÓN -- the founder of the Peronist political movement -- introduced an era of populism, serving three non-consecutive terms in office until his death in 1974. Direct and indirect military interference in government throughout the PERÓN years led to a military junta taking power in 1976. In 1982, the junta failed in its bid to seize the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) by force from the United Kingdom. Democracy was reinstated in 1983 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 Néstor KIRCHNER (2003-07) and his spouse Cristina FERNÁNDEZ DE KIRCHNER (2007-15), who oversaw several years of strong economic growth (2003-11) followed by a gradual deterioration in the government’s fiscal situation and eventual economic stagnation and isolation. Argentina underwent a brief period of economic reform and international reintegration under Mauricio MACRI (2015-19), but a recession in 2018-19 and frustration with MACRI’s economic policies ushered in a new Peronist government in 2019 led by President Alberto FERNÁNDEZ and Vice President Cristina FERNÁNDEZ DE KIRCHNER. Argentina's high public debts, its pandemic-related inflationary pressures, and systemic monetary woes served as the catalyst for the 2023 elections, culminating with President Javier MILEI's electoral success. Argentina has since eliminated half of its government agencies and is seeking shock therapy to amend taxation and monetary policies.

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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population below poverty line

39.2% (2022 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% (2022 est.)

highest 10%: 29.8% (2022 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Exports - commodities

soybean meal, corn, trucks, soybean oil, crude petroleum (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Brazil 18%, USA 9%, Chile 8%, China 8%, India 4% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

Agricultural products

maize, soybeans, sugarcane, wheat, milk, sunflower seeds, barley, beef, potatoes, chicken (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic (Fuerzas Armadas de la República Argentina): Argentine Army (Ejercito Argentino, EA), Navy of the Argentine Republic (Armada Republica, ARA; includes naval aviation and naval infantry), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, FAA)

Ministry of Security: Gendarmería Nacional Argentina (National Gendarmerie), Coast Guard (Prefectura Naval) (2025)

note: all federal police forces are under the Ministry of Security

Budget

revenues: $113.553 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $138.622 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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; the full original name, Nuestra Senora Santa Maria de los Buenos Aires, was given only to the port; the city was founded separately from the port in 1536 and was named Ciudad de la Santissima Trinidad (City of the Most Holy Trinity); the shortened version of the port name eventually became the city name

Imports - commodities

soybeans, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, natural gas, cars (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Climate

mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

Coastline

4,989 km

Constitution

history: several previous; latest effective 11 May 1853

amendment process: 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

Exchange rates

Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
296.258 (2023 est.)
130.617 (2022 est.)
94.991 (2021 est.)
70.539 (2020 est.)
48.148 (2019 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023)

head of government: President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023)

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 22 October 2023 with a runoff held 19 November 2023 (next to be held in October 2027)

election results:
2023: Javier Gerardo MILEI elected president in second round; percent vote in first round - Sergio Tomás MASSA (FR) 36.7%, Javier Gerardo MILEI (PL) 30%, Patricia BULLRICH 23.8% (JxC/PRO), Juan SCHIARETTI (PJ) 6.8%, Myriam BREGMAN (PTS) 2.7%; percent of vote in second round - Javier Gerardo MILEI 55.7%, Sergio Tomás MASSA 44.3%

2019: Alberto Ángel FERNÁNDEZ elected president; percent of vote - Alberto Angel FERNÁNDEZ (TODOS) 48.1%, Mauricio MACRI (PRO) 40.4%, Roberto LAVAGNA (independent) 6.2%, other 5.3%

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

Roadways

total: 240,000 km

paved: 81,355 km

unpaved: 158,645 km (2017)

Illicit drugs

counterfeiting, drug trafficking, and other smuggling offenses in the Tri-Border area; some money laundering organizations in the TBA have may have links to the terrorist organization Hizballah; a large producer of chemical precursors

Independence

9 July 1816 (from Spain)

Industries

food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel

Waterways

11,000 km (2012)

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (consists of the court president, vice president, 2 judges, 1 vacancy)

judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the president and approved by the Senate; ministers 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

Land boundaries

total: 11,968 km

border countries (5): Bolivia 942 km; Brazil 1,263 km; Chile 6,691 km; Paraguay 2,531 km; Uruguay 541 km

Land use

agricultural land: 43.4% (2022 est.)

arable land: 15.7% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0.4% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 27.3% (2022 est.)

forest: 10.4% (2022 est.)

other: 46.2% (2022 est.)

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

Legislative branch

legislature name: National Congress (Congreso de la nación)

legislative structure: bicameral

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99%

male: 98.9%

female: 99.1% (2018)

Maritime claims

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

International organization participation

AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (associate), CD, CABEI, 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, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNOOSA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

National holiday

Revolution Day (May Revolution Day), 25 May (1810)

Nationality

noun: Argentine(s)

adjective: Argentine

Natural resources

fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium, arable land

Geography - note

note 1: 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 Carbón is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere; shares Iguazú Falls, the world's largest waterfalls system, with Brazil

note 2: southeast Bolivia and northwest Argentina seem to be the original development site for peanuts

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

Pipelines

29,930 km gas, 41 km liquid petroleum gas, 6,248 km oil, 3,631 km refined products (2013)

Political parties

Avanza Libertad or AL
Civic Coalition ARI or CC-ARI
Consenso Federal (Federal Consensus) or CF
Frente Cívico por Santiago (Civic Front for Santiago)
Frente de Izquierda y de los Trabajadores – Unidad (Workers' Left Front) or FIT-U (coalition of leftist parties in lower house; includes PTS, PO, and MST)
Frente de la Concordia Misionero (Front for the Renewal of Social Concord) or FRCS
Frente Renovador (Renewal Front) or FR
Generación por un Encuentro Nacional (Generation for a National Encounter) or GEN
Hacemos por Córdoba (We do for Cordoba) or HC
Hacemos por Nuestro Pais (We Do For Our Country) or NHP
Juntos por el Cambio (Together for Change) or JxC (includes CC-ARI, PRO, and UCR); note - primary opposition coalition since 2019
Juntos Somos Río Negro (Together We Are Rio Negro) or JSRN
Partido Justicialista (Justicialist Party) or PJ
La Cámpora
La Libertad Avanza (The Liberty Advances) or LLA
Movimiento Popular Neuquino (Neuquén People's Movement) or MPN
Movimiento Socialista de los Trabajadores (Workers' Socialist Movement) or MST
Partido de los Trabajadores Socialistas (Socialist Workers' Party) or PTS
Partido Demócrata (Democratic Party) or PDN
Partido Libertario (Libertarian Party) or PL; note - party is also a founding member of the coalition La Libertad Avanza
Partido Obrero (Workers' Party) or PO
Partido Socialista or PS
Propuesta Republicana (Republican Proposal) or PRO
Unidad Federal (coalition of provencial parties in the lower house; includes FRCS and JSRN)
Unión Cívica Radical (Radical Civic Union) or UCR
Unión por la Patria (Union for the Homeland) or UP (formerly Frente de Todos (Everyone's Front) or FdT) (includes FR, La Cámpora, and PJ); note - ruling coalition since 2019; includes several national and provincial Peronist political parties
Vamos con Vos (Let's Go with You) or VcV

Railways

total: 17,866 km (2018)

Suffrage

18-70 years of age; universal and compulsory; 16-17 years of age - optional for national elections

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: Argentina’s ongoing problem with hyperinflation continues to distort the telecom market’s performance, which shows strong growth in revenue but only modest gains in subscriber numbers each year; the fixed broadband segment has penetration levels only slightly higher than the fixed-line teledensity; nearly a quarter of the country’s broadband connections are via DSL, although fiber is starting claim an increasing share of that market as networks expand across most of the main cities; mobile broadband continues to be the preferred platform for internet access, supported by high mobile penetration levels and nationwide LTE coverage; the first 5G service was launched in February 2021 using refarmed LTE frequencies; the anticipated 5G spectrum auctions should drive even stronger uptake in mobile broadband services; while the various fixed, mobile, and cable operators push to expand and enhance their services, the government is also making an active contribution towards boosting broadband connectivity around the country; its national connectivity plan ‘Plan Conectar’, launched in September 2020, provides funding for a range of programs to increase coverage; in August 2021, the telecom regulator announced the release funding to help operators accelerate the rollout of their broadband infrastructure and services (2021)

domestic: roughly 15 per 100 fixed-line and 130 per 100 mobile-cellular; microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network (2021)

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)

Terrain

rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border

Government type

presidential republic

Military - note

the Argentine military’s primary responsibilities are territorial defense and protecting the country’s sovereignty; other duties include border security, countering narcotics trafficking, and other internal missions, such as disaster response and infrastructure development; it also conducts support operations in Antarctica to promote an active presence in areas of national territory that are sparsely populated; the military participates in both bilateral and multinational training exercises and supports UN peacekeeping operations

Argentina participates in the Tripartite Command, an interagency security mechanism created by Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay to exchange information and combat transnational threats, including terrorism, in the Tri-Border Area; in addition, Argentina and Chile have a joint peacekeeping force known as the Combined Southern Cross Peacekeeping Force (FPC), designed to be made available to the UN; the FPC is made up of infantry, command and control, air, naval, and logistics support elements; Argentina has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation

the Army and Navy were both created in 1810 during the Argentine War of Independence, while the Air Force was established in 1945; the military conducted coups d'état in 1930, 1943, 1955, 1962, 1966, and 1976; the 1976 coup, aka the "National Reorganization Process," marked the beginning of the so-called "Dirty War," a period of state-sponsored terrorism that saw the deaths or disappearances of thousands of Argentinians; the defeat in the 1983 Falklands War led to the downfall of the military junta (2024)

Country name

conventional long form: Argentine Republic

conventional short form: Argentina

local long form: República Argentina

local short form: Argentina

etymology: the name is derived from one of the Spanish words for "silver," but the origin is unclear; it may have described the land next to the Rio de la Plata ("Silver River"), a major river that forms the boundary between Argentina and Uruguay; another possible source is the Spanish explorers in the 16th century mistakenly believing that the silver ornaments they bought from inhabitants came from a local source of silver

Location

Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay

Map references

South America

Irrigated land

13,910 sq km (2018)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Juan Manuel CORTELLETTI (since 1 November 2024)

chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400

FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171

email address and website:
eeeuu@mrecic.gov.ar

https://eeeuu.cancilleria.gob.ar/en

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Internet users

percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)

Internet country code

.ar

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 217,742 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2023)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$646.075 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: CCC (2020)

Moody's rating: Ca (2020)

Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2020)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Total renewable water resources

876.24 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 18 years

male: 17 years

female: 20 years (2020)

Urbanization

urban population: 92.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Broadcast media

Argentina is one of South America's biggest media markets, there are dozens of TV networks, hundreds of radio stations and more than 150 daily newspapers (2023)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 99.8% of population

rural: NA

total: NA

unimproved:

urban: 0.2% of population

rural: NA

total: (2020 est.) NA

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

This is an audio of the National Anthem for Argentina. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

15.490 million BUENOS AIRES (capital), 1.612 million Córdoba, 1.594 million Rosario, 1.226 million Mendoza, 1.027 million San Miguel de Tucumán, 914,000 La Plata (2023)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Physician density

5.11 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

5 beds/1,000 population (2017)

National symbol(s)

Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol); national colors: sky blue, white

Contraceptive prevalence rate

70.1% (2019/20)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 65.9% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 16.4% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 18.6% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.8% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 12.7% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -13.9% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 54.3

youth dependency ratio: 36

elderly dependency ratio: 18.2

potential support ratio: 5.5 (2021 est.)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years

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

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 107

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 18,081,937 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 311.57 million (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: NA

total: NA

unimproved:

rural: NA

total: (2020 est.) NA

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.)

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.)

Languages

Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Quechua, Guarani, Mapudungun)

major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Spanish audio sample

Imports - partners

Brazil 23%, China 20%, USA 12%, Paraguay 5%, Germany 4% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Elevation

highest point: Cerro Aconcagua (located in the northwestern corner of the province of Mendoza; highest point in South America) 6,962 m

lowest point: Laguna del Carbón (located between Puerto San Julián and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz) -105 m

mean elevation: 595 m

Current health expenditure

9.7% of GDP (2021)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 75,000 active-duty personnel (46,000 Army; 16,000 Navy, including about 3,500 marines); 13,000 Air Force); estimated 20,000 Gendarmerie (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the inventory of Argentina's armed forces is a mix of domestically-produced and mostly older imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; in recent years, France and the US have been the leading suppliers of equipment; Argentina has an indigenous defense industry that produces air, land, and naval systems (2024)

Military deployments

325 Cyprus (UNFICYP) (2024)

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Hizballah

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 5.85 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 27.93 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,910,550 tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,074,633 tons (2010 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6% (2010 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 23.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 12.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 201.35 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 120.66 megatons (2020 est.)

Major aquifers

Guaraní Aquifer System

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 12 (7 cultural, 5 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Los Glaciares National Park (n); Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis (c); Iguazú National Park (n); Cueva de las Manos (c); Valdés Península (n); Ischigualasto/Talampaya National Parks (n); Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba (c); Quebrada de Humahuaca (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lago Buenos Aires (shared with Chile) - 2,240 sq km; Lago Argentino - 1,410 sq km; Lago Viedma - 1,090 sq km; Lago San Martín (shared with Chile) - 1,010 sq km; Lago Colhué Huapi - 800 sq km; Lago Fagnano (shared with Chile) - 590 sq km; Lago Nahuel Huapi - 550 sq km

salt water lake(s): Laguna Mar Chiquita - 1,850 sq km;

Major rivers (by length in km)

Río de la Plata/Paraná river mouth (shared with Brazil [s], Paraguay, and Uruguay) - 4,880 km; Paraguay (shared with Brazil [s], and Paraguay [m]) - 2,549 km; Uruguay (shared with Brazil [s] and Uruguay [m]) - 1,610 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Coal

production: 869,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 2.534 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 1.936 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 61.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 11% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 16.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Natural gas

production: 43.69 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 46.028 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 2.344 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 5.225 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 396.464 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 807,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 749,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 2.483 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.04 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

48.9% (2023 est.)

Remittances

0.16% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.17% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.19% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 3 (2025)

Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.64GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production: 6.3% (2023 est.)

Space program overview

has a long history of involvement in the development of space-related capabilities, including rockets and satellites; develops, builds, and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites, often in partnership with other countries; developing additional satellites with more advanced payloads; has a national space plan; contracts with commercial and other government space agencies for launches but has a domestic rocket program and is developing space launch vehicle (SLV) capabilities; cooperates with a broad range of space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, China, the European Space Agency and its member states (particularly France, Italy), and the US; also has a commercial space industry, which includes efforts to design, build, and launch reusable small SLVs (2024)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Space launch site(s)

Manuel Belgrano Space Center (Buenos Aires province): planned launch platform of the Tronador SLV (see Appendix S); Punta Indio Space Center (Buenos Aires province): test facility; Teofilo Tabanera Space Center (CETT; Cordoba Province): testing, mission control site (2024)

Space agency/agencies

Argentina National Space Activities Commission (Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, CONAE; formed in 1991); CONAE’s predecessor was the National Commission for Space Research (Comisión Nacional de Investigaciones Espaciales, CNIE; formed in 1960) (2024)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 2.4%

women married by age 18: 15.5% (2020 est.)

Ports

total ports: 37 (2024)

large: 1

medium: 2

small: 10

very small: 24

ports with oil terminals: 19

key ports: Buenos Aires, Campana, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Puerto Belgrano, Puerto Ingeniero White, Puerto Madryn, Rosario, San Sebastian Bay, Santa Fe, Ushuaia, Zarate

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)

number of seats: 257 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: partial renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 10/22/2023

parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Homeland (UP) (48); Freedom Advances (LLA) (28); Together for Change (JxC/Juntos) (27); Other (27)

percentage of women in chamber: 42.4%

expected date of next election: October 2025

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name: Senate (Senado)

number of seats: 72 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: partial renewal

term in office: 6 years

most recent election date: 10/22/2023

parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Homeland (UP) (9); Freedom Advances (LLA) (6); Together for Change (JxC/Juntos) (2); Front for the Renewal of Social Concord – Federal Innovation (2); Federal Renewal (2); For Santa Cruz (2); Other (1)

percentage of women in chamber: 45.8%

expected date of next election: October 2025

Labor force

21.533 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 18% (2023 est.)

male: 16.9% (2023 est.)

female: 19.5% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Net migration rate

-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 33.3 years (2024 est.)

male: 32.1 years

female: 34.6 years

Debt - external

$83.279 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Maternal mortality ratio

45 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$23.081 billion (2023 est.)
$44.795 billion (2022 est.)
$39.653 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Public debt

57.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.15 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.18% (2023 est.)
6.81% (2022 est.)
8.74% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

total: 46,994,384 (2024 est.)

male: 23,274,794

female: 23,719,590

Carbon dioxide emissions

198.141 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.022 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 102.998 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 90.122 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Area

total : 2,780,400 sq km

land: 2,736,690 sq km

water: 43,710 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

11.12% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.234 trillion (2023 est.)
$1.255 trillion (2022 est.)
$1.192 trillion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Airports

764 (2025)

Infant mortality rate

total: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 62.7 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

40.7 (2022 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

25.7% (2017 est.)
26.5% (2016 est.)

note: data are derived from private estimates

Current account balance

-$20.956 billion (2023 est.)
-$4.055 billion (2022 est.)
$6.625 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$27,100 (2023 est.)
$27,600 (2022 est.)
$26,300 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 11.5 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 24.5% (2020 est.)

male: 29.4% (2020 est.)

female: 19.6% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

28.3% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

78.496 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Death rate

7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

15.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 47.631 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 114.667 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 31 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 11.393 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 27.027 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 201 (2023)

by type: container ship 1, bulk carrier 1 general cargo 8, oil tanker 33, other 158

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.7% (2018/19)

Imports

$92.3 billion (2023 est.)
$97.399 billion (2022 est.)
$72.58 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$82.947 billion (2023 est.)
$102.928 billion (2022 est.)
$87.575 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Heliports

148 (2025)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 7.034 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 7.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 3.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.8 years (2024 est.)

male: 75.8 years

female: 82 years

Real GDP growth rate

-1.61% (2023 est.)
5.27% (2022 est.)
10.72% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

-0.23% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 5.9% (2023 est.)

industry: 25.1% (2023 est.)

services: 53.1% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Revenue from forest resources

0.09% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

0.79% (2024 est.)

Sources: