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 conflict between Federalists and Unitarians and 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.

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

34 00 S, 64 00 W

South America

slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

4,989 km

mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

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

highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m (located in the northwestern corner of the province of Mendoza; highest point in South America)

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

arable land 13.9%; permanent crops 0.4%; permanent pasture 39.6%

23,600 sq km (2012)

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

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

environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution

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

43,886,748 (July 2016 est.)

white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3%

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

nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%

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 after its independence in the 19th century and attracting especially large numbers from Spain and Italy. European immigration diminished in the 1950s, when Argentina's military dictatorships tightened immigration rules and European economies rebounded. Regional migration, however, continued to supply low-skilled workers and today it accounts for three-quarters of Argentina's immigrant population. The first waves of highly skilled Argentine emigrant workers headed mainly to the United States and Spain in the 1960s and 1970s. 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.

0.93% (2016 est.)

17 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

7.5 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

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

BUENOS AIRES (capital) 15.18 million; Cordoba 1.511 million; Rosario 1.381 million; Mendoza 1.009 million; San Miguel de Tucuman 910,000; La Plata 846,000 (2015)

52 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

2.28 children born/woman (2016 est.)

78.9% (2004/05)

4.8% of GDP (2014)

3.86 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

4.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

urban: 99% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 99.1% of population

urban: 1% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0.9% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 96.2% of population

rural: 98.3% of population

total: 96.4% of population

urban: 3.8% of population

rural: 1.7% of population

total: 3.6% of population (2015 est.)

0.39% (2015 est.)

109,700 (2015 est.)

2,300 (2015 est.)

26.5% (2014)

2.3% (2005)

5.3% of GDP (2013)

presidential republic

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), Tucuman

9 July 1816 (from Spain)

Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)

several previous; latest effective 11 May 1853; amended many times, last in 1994 (2016)

civil law system based on West European legal systems; note - in 2014, Congress passed government-backed reform to the civil code that will go into effect in 2016

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Cambiemos (a coalition composed of CC, PRO, and UCR) [Mauricio MACRI]

Civic Coalition or CC (a coalition loosely affiliated with Elisa CARRIO)

Dissident Peronists (PJ Disidente) or Federal Peronism (a right-wing faction of the Justicialist Party opposed to the Kirchners) [Ramon PUERTA]

Front for Victory or FpV (left-wing faction of PJ) [Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER]

Peronist (or Justicialist) Party or PJ [Eduardo FELLNER]

Popular Path or PP

Progresistas [Margarita STOLBIZER]

Radical Civic Union or UCR [Ernesto SANZ]

Republican Proposal or PRO [Mauricio MACRI]

Socialist Party or PS [Hermes BINNER]

Renewal Front (Frente Renovador) or FR [Sergio MASSA]

numerous provincial parties

Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs or CILFA

Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association)

Argentine Rural Confederation or CRA (small to medium landowners' association)

Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association)

Blue and White CGT (dissident CGT labor confederation)

Central of Argentine Workers or CTA (a union for employed and unemployed workers)

General Confederation of Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization)

Roman Catholic Church

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, UN Security Council (temporary), UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face 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

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

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.

A severe depression, growing public and external indebtedness, and an unprecedented bank run culminated in 2001 in the most serious economic, social, and political crisis in the country's turbulent history. Interim President Adolfo RODRIGUEZ SAA declared a default - at the time the largest ever - on the government's foreign debt in December of that year, and abruptly resigned only a few days after taking office. His successor, Eduardo DUHALDE, announced an end to the peso's decade-long 1-to-1 peg to the US dollar in early 2002. The economy bottomed out that year, with real GDP 18% smaller than in 1998 and almost 60% of Argentines below the poverty line. Real GDP rebounded to grow by an average 8.5% annually over the subsequent six years, taking advantage of previously idled industrial capacity and labor, an audacious debt restructuring and reduced debt burden, excellent international financial conditions, and expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. Inflation also increased, however, during the administration of President Nestor KIRCHNER, which responded with price restraints on businesses, as well as export taxes and restraints, and beginning in 2007, with understating inflation data.

Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER succeeded her husband as president in late 2007, and the rapid economic growth of previous years began to slow sharply the following year as government policies held back exports and the world economy fell into recession. The economy in 2010 rebounded strongly from the 2009 recession, but has slowed since late 2011 even as the government continued to rely on expansionary fiscal and monetary policies, which have kept inflation in the double digits.

The government has taken multiple steps in recent years to deal with these problems. It expanded state intervention in the economy throughout 2012. In May 2012 the Congress approved the nationalization of the oil company YPF from Spain's Repsol. The government expanded formal and informal measures to restrict imports during the year, including a requirement for pre-registration and pre-approval of all imports. In July 2012, the government also further tightened currency controls in an effort to bolster foreign reserves and stem capital flight. In October 2013, the government settled long standing international arbitral disputes dating to before and following the 2001 Argentine financial crisis. During 2014, the government continued its expansionary fiscal and monetary policies and foreign exchange and imports controls. Between 2011 and 2013, Central Bank foreign reserves had 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.

In 2014, the government also took some measures to mend ties with the international financial community, including engaging with the IMF to improve its economic data reporting, reaching a compensation agreement with Repsol for the expropriation of YPF, and agreeing to pay $9.7 billion in arrears to the Paris Club over five years, including $606 million owed to the US. In July 2014, Argentina made its first payment to Paris Club creditors. At the same time, the Argentine Government in July 2014 entered a technical default on its external debt after it failed to reach an agreement with holdout creditors in the US. The FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER government rejected repeated attempts by the court to encourage a negotiated solution with holdouts. Throughout much of 2015, negotiations to repay holdout creditors stalled. The government’s delay in reaching a settlement and the continuation of interventionist policies contributed to high inflation and a prolonged recession.

After being elected into office on December 10, President MACRI has taken significant steps to liberalize the Argentine economy. His administration lifted capital controls; floated the peso, negotiated debt payments with holdout bond creditors, and removed export controls on some commodities.

$972 billion (2015 est.)

$960.4 billion (2014 est.)

$956.1 billion (2013 est.)

$585.6 billion (2015 est.)

1.2% (2015 est.)

0.5% (2014 est.)

2.9% (2013 est.)

$22,600 (2015 est.)

$22,500 (2014 est.)

$22,700 (2013 est.)

14.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

17.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

16.1% of GDP (2013 est.)

sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock

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

1.1%

17.47 million

7.6% (2015 est.)

7.3% (2014 est.)

30%

45.8 (2009)

24.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

-5.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

50.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

41% of GDP (2014 est.)

calendar year

26.5% (2015 est.)

38.1% (2014 est.)

NA%

24.92% (31 December 2015 est.)

24.01% (31 December 2014 est.)

$52.3 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$62.88 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$150.3 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$138.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$182.2 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$183.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$34.24 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$43.58 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$63.91 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

-$16.11 billion (2015 est.)

-$7.441 billion (2014 est.)

$56.76 billion (2015 est.)

$68.41 billion (2014 est.)

soybeans and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, wheat

Brazil 17%, China 8.6%, US 5.9% (2015)

$57.18 billion (2015 est.)

$62.43 billion (2014 est.)

machinery, motor vehicles, petroleum and natural gas, organic chemicals, plastics

Brazil 22.4%, US 16.3%, China 15.5%, Germany 5.1% (2015)

$25.52 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$31.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$136.1 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$140.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$94.19 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$82.22 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$37.03 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$36.15 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar -

9.2332 (2015 est.)

8.0753 (2014 est.)

8.0753 (2013 est.)

4.54 (2012 est.)

4.1101 (2011 est.)

126 billion kWh (2014 est.)

116 billion kWh (2014 est.)

200 million kWh (2014 est.)

10 billion kWh (2014 est.)

36 million kW (2014 est.)

68.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

2.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

26% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

532,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)

37,690 bbl/day (2013 est.)

7,460 bbl/day (2013 est.)

2.4 billion bbl (1 January 2016 es)

670,900 bbl/day (2013 est.)

751,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

63,060 bbl/day (2013 est.)

109,900 bbl/day (2013 est.)

35.4 billion cu m (2014 est.)

47.23 billion cu m (2014 est.)

70 million cu m (2014 est.)

11.9 billion cu m (2014 est.)

332.1 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

202 million Mt (2013 est.)

government owns a TV station and a radio network; more than 2 dozen TV stations and hundreds of privately owned radio stations; high rate of cable TV subscription usage (2007)

.ar

LV (2016)

1,138 (2013)

2 (2013)

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

11,000 km (2012)

Argentine Army (Ejercito Argentino), Navy of the Argentine Republic (Armada Republica; includes naval aviation and naval infantry), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, FAA) (2013)

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)

0.91% of GDP (2012)

0.9% of GDP (2011)

0.91% of GDP (2010)

the Argentine military is a well-organized force constrained by the country's prolonged economic hardship; the country has recently experienced a strong recovery, and the military is implementing a modernization plan aimed at making the ground forces lighter and more responsive (2008)

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

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 (2008)