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Argentina

South America Sovereign GEC: AR ISO: AR

Introduction

<p>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.</p> <p>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.</p>

Geography

Land
2,736,690 sq km
Total
2,780,400 sq km
Water
43,710 sq km

slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

4,989 km

South America

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 Carb&oacute;n (located between Puerto San Juli&aacute;n and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz) -105 m
Mean elevation
595 m

34 00 S, 64 00 W

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 Carb&oacute;n is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere; shares Iguaz&uacute; Falls, the world's largest waterfalls system, with Brazil

13,910 sq km (2018)

Border countries
Bolivia 942 km; Brazil 1,263 km; Chile 6,691 km; Paraguay 2,531 km; Uruguay 541 km
number of neighbors
5
Total
11,968 km
Agricultural land
42.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 14.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 27.3% (2023 est.)
arable land
14.76%
Forest
17.2% (2023 est.)
Other
40.4% (2023 est.)
permanent crops
0.39%

No

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

Guaran&iacute; Aquifer System

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 Mart&iacute;n (shared with Chile) - 1,010 sq km; Lago Colhu&eacute; 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;

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<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage
Paran&aacute; (2,582,704 sq km)
Google Maps
https://goo.gl/maps/Z9DXNxhf2o93kvyc6
OpenStreetMap
https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/286393

South America

Contiguous zone
24 nm
Continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Territorial sea
12 nm

San Miguel de Tucumán and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; <em>pamperos </em>are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding in some areas <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> 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

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

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

South America

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

UTC-03:00
number of time zones
1

People and Society

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)
Beer
3.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols
0.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits
0.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total
7.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine
2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

10.47 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Women married by age 15
2.4% (2020)
Women married by age 18
15.5% (2020)

2% (2018 est.)

49.7% (2020 est.)

7.94 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
adult female
82 per 1,000
adult male
124 per 1,000
Elderly dependency ratio
19.6 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio
5.1 (2025 est.)
Total dependency ratio
49.9 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio
30.3 (2025 est.)
Improved: urban
urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total
total: (2020 est.) NA
Unimproved: urban
urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
14% national budget (2023 est.)

6 % of GDP

European (mostly Spanish and Italian descent) and Mestizo (mixed European and Indigenous ancestry) 97.2%, Indigenous 2.4%, African descent 0.4% (2010 est.)

0.69 (2025 est.)

10 % of GDP
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
9.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
15.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.2%

3.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Female
7.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Male
9.9 deaths/1,000 live births
neonatal
5 deaths/1,000 live births
Total
7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Languages
Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Quechua, Guarani, Mapudungun)
Major-language sample(s)
<br>La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
number of languages
2
Female
82 years
Male
75.8 years
Total population
78.8 years (2024 est.)
Female
99.2% (2020 est.)
Male
99.1% (2020 est.)
Total population
99.1% (2020 est.)

15.490 million BUENOS AIRES (capital), 1.612 million C&oacute;rdoba, 1.594 million Rosario, 1.226 million Mendoza, 1.027 million San Miguel de Tucum&aacute;n, 914,000 La Plata (2023)

33 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female
34.6 years
Male
32.1 years
Total
34.6 years (2025 est.)

26 births/1,000 women 15-19

Adjective
Argentine
Noun
Argentine(s)

0.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

28.3% (2016)

5.11 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Female
22,882,118
Male
22,535,980
Total
45,418,098 (2025 est.)

0.26% (2025 est.)

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.)

Improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Female
21 years (2022 est.)
Male
17 years (2022 est.)
Total
19 years (2022 est.)
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
At birth
1.07 male(s)/female
Total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Female
17.1% (2025 est.)
Male
26.9% (2025 est.)
Total
21.9% (2025 est.)

1.43 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization
0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Urban population
92.5% of total population (2023)
measles
82%

Government

23 provinces (<em>provincias</em>, singular - <em>provincia</em>) 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 Atlántico Sur (Tierra del Fuego - Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands), Tucuman
note
<strong>note:</strong> the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica
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
Geographic coordinates
34 36 S, 58 22 W
Name
Buenos Aires
Time difference
UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Citizenship by birth
yes
Citizenship by descent only
yes
Dual citizenship recognized
yes
Residency requirement for naturalization
2 years
svg
https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/ar.svg
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
History
several previous; latest effective 11 May 1853
alternative spellings
AR, Argentine Republic, República Argentina
Conventional long form
Argentine Republic
Conventional 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
FIFA code
ARG
Local long form
Rep&uacute;blica Argentina
local long form (grn)
Argentine Republic
Local short form
Argentina
Chief of mission
Ambassador Peter LAMELAS (since 4 November 2025)
Email address and website
<br>Buenosairespublicaffairs@state.gov<br><br>https://ar.usembassy.gov/
Embassy
<br>Avenida Colombia 4300, (C1425GMN) Buenos Aires
FAX
[54] (11) 5777-4240
Mailing address
3130 Buenos Aires Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-3130
Telephone
[54] (11) 5777-4533
Chancery
1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Chief of mission
Ambassador Alejandro (Alec) Carlos Francisco OXENFORD (since 11 June 2025)
Consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Email address and website
<br>eeeuu@mrecic.gov.ar<br><br>https://eeeuu.cancilleria.gob.ar/en
FAX
[1] (202) 332-3171
Telephone
[1] (202) 238-6400
Cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
Chief of state
President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023)
Election results
<br>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)<em> </em>2.7%; percent of vote in second round - Javier Gerardo MILEI 55.7%, Sergio Tomás MASSA 44.3%<em><br><br>2019:</em> 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%
Election/appointment process
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)
Expected date of next election
October 2027
Head of government
President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023)
Most recent election date
22 October 2023, with a runoff held 19 November 2023

<strong>description:</strong> 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 that is known as the Sun of May<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the colors represent the clear skies and snow of the Andes Mountains; the sun commemorates the first mass demonstration in favor of independence on 25 May 1810, when the sun broke through the clouds; the sun is designed to look like Inti, the Incan god of the sun

The flag of Argentina features three equal horizontal bands of light blue, white and light blue. A brown-edged golden sun is centered in the white band.

svg
https://flagcdn.com/ar.svg

presidential republic

9 July 1816 (from Spain)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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
civil law system based on Western European legal systems
note
<strong>note:</strong> in 2015, Argentina adopted a new civil code, replacing the old one in force since 1871
Legislative structure
bicameral
Legislature name
National Congress (Congreso de la nación)
Chamber name
Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
Electoral system
proportional representation
Expected date of next election
October 2025
Most recent election date
10/22/2023
Number of seats
257 (all directly elected)
Parties elected and seats per party
Union for the Homeland (UP) (48); Freedom Advances (LLA) (28); Together for Change (JxC/Juntos) (27); Other (25)
Percentage of women in chamber
42.4%
Scope of elections
partial renewal
Term in office
4 years
Chamber name
Senate (Senado)
Electoral system
proportional representation
Expected date of next election
October 2025
Most recent election date
10/22/2023
Number of seats
72 (all directly elected)
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%
Scope of elections
partial renewal
Term in office
6 years

sky blue, white

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)
Total World Heritage Sites
12 (7 cultural, 5 natural)

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

Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol)

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

Monday

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

Yes

Economy

maize, soybeans, sugarcane, wheat, milk, sunflower seeds, barley, beef, potatoes, chicken (2023)
note
<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
On alcohol and tobacco
1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On food
23.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Expenditures
$139.037 billion (2023 est.)
Note
<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues
$115.69 billion (2023 est.)
code
ARS
name
Argentine peso (ARS) [$]
$5.7 billion
Current account balance 2022
-$4.055 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$20.956 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
$6.285 billion (2024 est.)
Note
<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$242.36 billion
Debt - external 2023
$74.362 billion (2023 est.)
Note
<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Currency
Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
70.539 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
94.991 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
130.617 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
296.258 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
914.695 (2024 est.)
$97.35 billion
Exports 2022
$102.928 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$82.947 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$96.899 billion (2024 est.)
Note
<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
soybean meal, corn, trucks, soybean oil, crude petroleum (2023)
note
<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Brazil 18%, USA 9%, Chile 8%, China 8%, India 4% (2023)
note
<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
net inflows
$11.64 billion
Exports of goods and services
15.3% (2024 est.)
Government consumption
15% (2024 est.)
Household consumption
68.1% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services
-12.8% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital
15.8% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories
-0.1% (2024 est.)
Note
<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agriculture
6% (2024 est.)
Industry
24% (2024 est.)
Note
<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Services
53.4% (2024 est.)
$633.267 billion (2024 est.)
note
<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$13,970

42.9 (2019)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
42.4 (2023 est.)
Note
<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$625.19 billion

$13,530

16 % of GDP

Highest 10%
31% (2023 est.)
Lowest 10%
1.9% (2023 est.)
Note
<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
$80.94 billion
Imports 2022
$97.399 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$92.3 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$79.999 billion (2024 est.)
Note
<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
soybeans, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, natural gas, cars (2023)
note
<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Brazil 23%, China 20%, USA 12%, Paraguay 5%, Germany 4% (2023)
note
<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
-7.2% (2024 est.)
note
<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

219.88%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
40.5% (2020 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
47.1% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
73.1% (2022 est.)
Note
<strong>note:</strong> annual % change based on consumer prices
22.286 million (2024 est.)
note
<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
total
22.42 million persons
agriculture
7%
industry
21.18%
services
71.81%
41.7% (2023 est.)
note
<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line
Public debt 2016
55% of GDP (2016 est.)
$1.39 trillion
Note
<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$1.255 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$1.234 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$1.213 trillion (2024 est.)
-1.34%
Note
<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
-1.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
-1.7% (2024 est.)
$30,431
Note
<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022
$27,600 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$27,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$26,500 (2024 est.)
$1.04 billion
Note
<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022
0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
$29.56 billion
Note
<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$44.795 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$23.081 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$29.56 billion (2024 est.)

18 % of GDP

10 % of GDP

10% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note
<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
7.15%
Note
<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022
6.9% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
6.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
7.9% (2024 est.)
Female
23% (2024 est.)
Male
19.8% (2024 est.)
Note
<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total
21.2% (2024 est.)

Energy

Consumption
2.534 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports
300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports
1.936 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Production
869,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves
799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption
114.667 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption per capita
2,822 kWh
Exports
31 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports
11.393 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity
47.631 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses
27.027 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Biomass and waste
1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels
61.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectric
27.18%
Hydroelectricity
16.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear
6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
renewable
25.54%
Solar
2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Wind
11% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
1,832 kg of oil equivalent
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
78.496 million Btu/person (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.)
Production
43.69 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves
396.464 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors
1.64GW (2025 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors under construction
1 (2025)
Number of operational nuclear reactors
3 (2025)
Percent of total electricity production
6.3% (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves
2.483 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption
749,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Total petroleum production
807,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

9.2%

Communications

per 100 inhabitants
25 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
25 (2023 est.)
Total
11.5 million (2023 est.)

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

.ar

Percent of population
89% (2023 est.)

@####@@@

+54

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
14 (2024 est.)
Total subscriptions
6.42 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100
138 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
140 (2024 est.)
Total subscriptions
64.1 million (2024 est.)

Transportation

passengers carried
21.06 million passengers
registered carrier departures
156,614 departures

764 (2025)

LV

Right

148 (2025)

By type
container ship 1, bulk carrier 1 general cargo 8, oil tanker 33, other 158
Total
201 (2023)
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
Large
1
Medium
2
Ports with oil terminals
19
Small
10
Total ports
37 (2024)
Very small
24
Total
17,866 km (2018)

RA

Military and Security

armored vehicles
tanks

the Argentine military’s primary responsibilities are territorial defense and protecting the country’s sovereignty; duties also include border security, countering narcotics trafficking, and other internal missions, such as disaster response and infrastructure development; it conducts support operations and has bases in Antarctica to promote an active presence in areas of national territory that are sparsely populated; the military also participates in both bilateral and multinational training exercises and supports UN peacekeeping operations<br><br>Argentina participates in the Tripartite Command, an interagency security mechanism created by Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay to exchange information and combat transnational threats, such as crime and terrorism, in the Tri-Border Area; in addition, Argentina and Chile have a joint peacekeeping force known as the Combined Southern Cross Peacekeeping Force, designed to be made available to the UN; 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<br><br>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 1982 Falklands War led to the downfall of the military junta (2025)

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)<br><br>Ministry of Security: Gendarmería Nacional Argentina (National Gendarmerie), Coast Guard (Prefectura Naval) (2025)
active duty personnel
103,000
note
<strong>note: </strong>all federal police forces are under the Ministry of Security
percent of total labor force
0.53 %

approximately 75,000 active-duty Armed Forces (45,000 Army; 15,000 Navy, including about 3,500 marines; 15,000 Air Force) (2025)

230 Cyprus (UNFICYP) (2025)

the inventory of Argentina's armed forces is a mix of domestically produced and 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 (2025)

1 % of GDP
current USD
$4,177,618,452
Military Expenditures 2020
0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
percent of central government expenditure
1.93 %
percent of GDP
0.62 % of GDP
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 (2025)
note
<strong>note 1: </strong>as of 2024, women comprised nearly 20% of the active-duty military<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> in 2025, the Argentine Government announced the creation of a Voluntary Military Service program for people aged 18–28 to be managed by the Ministries of Defense and Human Capital; the program's goals include to instill values like discipline  and patriotism while offering training in trades such as cooking, mechanics, and security, alongside opportunities to complete compulsory education
PowerIndex score
0.5983

Transnational Issues

IDPs
74 (2024 est.)
Refugees
9,175 (2024 est.)
Stateless persons
34 (2024 est.)

Space

1961-1967 - launched first rocket (Alfa Centauro) and was first country in Latin America to send an animal into space<br><br>1997 - first domestically built communications satellite (Nahuel-1A) launched on European satellite launch vehicle (SLV)<br><br>2007 - launch of first sub-orbital test rocket for domestic SLV (Tronador) project <br><br>2018 - first domestically built, synthetic-aperture-radar remote sensing satellite (SAOCOM 1A) launched by US<br><br>2020-2021 - worked with Mexico to create the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) <br><br>2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration<br><br>2025 - continued development of two-stage Tronador SLV

Argentina National Space Activities Commission (Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, CONAE; formed in 1991) (2025)
note
<strong>note:</strong> CONAE’s predecessor was the National Commission for Space Research (Comisión Nacional de Investigaciones Espaciales, CNIE; formed in 1960)

Manuel Belgrano Space Center (Buenos Aires province); Punta Indio Space Center (Buenos Aires province); Teofilo Tabanera Space Center (CETT; Cordoba Province; testing/mission control) (2025)

has a national space program and a history 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; 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 (2025)

Terrorism

Hizballah
note
<strong>note:</strong> 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

Environment

From coal and metallurgical coke
5.022 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas
90.122 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids
102.998 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Total emissions
198.141 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

deforestation; soil degradation (erosion, salinization); desertification; air pollution; water pollution

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
Agriculture
3,035.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy
1,553.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Other
89.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste
631 kt (2019-2021 est.)

12 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

10 % of total land area

9 % of total

876.24 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

13 % of internal resources
Agricultural
27.93 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial
4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Municipal
5.85 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually
17.911 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled
9.6% (2022 est.)

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