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. The country's population and culture were heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe.
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
46,621,847 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups
European (mostly Spanish and Italian descent) and Mestizo (mixed European and Amerindian ancestry) 97.2%, Amerindian 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
0.8% (2023 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Buenos Aires
Executive branch
chief of state: President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023); Vice President Victoria Eugenia VILLARRUEL (since 10 December 2023); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023); Vice President Victoria Eugenia VILLARRUEL (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)
$986.134 billion (2021 est.)
$893.251 billion (2020 est.)
$991.876 billion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$21,500 (2021 est.)
$19,700 (2020 est.)
$22,100 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products
maize, soybeans, wheat, sugar cane, milk, barley, sunflower seed, beef, grapes, potatoes
Industries
food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Remittances
0.19% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.17% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.13% of GDP (2019 est.)
Exports
$87.415 billion (2021 est.)
$64.431 billion (2020 est.)
$79.964 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners
Brazil 16%, China 11%, United States 7%, Chile 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
corn, soybean products, delivery trucks, wheat, beef, gold (2021)
Imports
$72.362 billion (2021 est.)
$52.339 billion (2020 est.)
$66.574 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners
Brazil 21%, China 18%, US 14%, Germany 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, vehicle parts, natural gas, soybeans (2019)
Exchange rates
Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
94.991 (2021 est.)
70.539 (2020 est.)
48.148 (2019 est.)
28.095 (2018 est.)
16.563 (2017 est.)
Page last updated: Monday, December 11, 2023
