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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 171, FM 0, shortwave 13 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

2,650,000 telephones; 12,000 public telephones; 78 telephones/1,000 persons; extensive modern system but many families do not have telephones; microwave widely used; however, during rainstorms, the telephone system frequently grounds out, even in Buenos Aires local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay and domestic satellite network with 40 earth stations international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 231 televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic, Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval Prefecture (Coast Guard only), National Aeronautical Police Force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$NA, NA% of GDP ARMENIA

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 8,573,780; males fit for military service 6,954,584; males reach military age (20) annually 301,166 (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 8% of GDP (including fishing); produces abundant food for both domestic consumption and exports; among world's top five exporters of grain and beef; principal crops - wheat, corn, sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets

Budget [time series]

revenues: $48.46 billion expenditures: $46.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.5 billion (1994 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 nuevo peso argentino = 100 centavos

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.4 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $718 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 17,330,000 kW production: 54.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,610 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

pesos per US$1 - 0.99870 (December 1994), 0.99901 (1994), 0.99895 (1993), 0.99064 (1992), 0.95355 (1991), 0.48759 (1990)

Exports [time series]

$15.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, manufactures partners: US 12%, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Netherlands

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$73 billion (April 1994)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

increasing use as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for the US and Europe

Imports [time series]

$21.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and lubricants, agricultural products partners: US 22%, Brazil, Germany, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 12.5% accounts for 31% of GDP (1994 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.9% (1994 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $270.8 billion (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$7,990 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

6% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Argentina, rich in natural resources, benefits also from a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Nevertheless, following decades of mismanagement and statist policies, the economy in the late 1980s was plagued with huge external debts and recurring bouts of hyperinflation. Elected in 1989, in the depths of recession, President MENEM has implemented a comprehensive economic restructuring program that shows signs of putting Argentina on a path of stable, sustainable growth. Argentina's currency has traded at par with the US dollar since April 1991, and inflation has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years. Argentines have responded to the relative price stability by repatriating flight capital and investing in domestic industry. The economy registered an impressive 6% advance in 1994, fueled largely by inflows of foreign capital and strong domestic consumption spending. The government's major short term objective is encouraging exports, e.g., by reducing domestic costs of production. At the start of 1995, the government had to deal with the spillover from international financial movements associated with the devaluation of the Mexican peso. In addition, unemployment had become a serious issue for the government. Despite average annual 7% growth in 1991-94, unemployment surprisingly has doubled - due mostly to layoffs in government bureaus and in privatized industrial firms and utilities and, to a lesser degree, to illegal immigration. Much remains to be done in the 1990s in dismantling the old statist barriers to growth, extending the recent economic gains, and bringing down the rate of unemployment.

Unemployment rate [time series]

12% (1994 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 2,766,890 sq km land area: 2,736,690 sq km comparative area: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

Climate [time series]

mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

Coastline [time series]

4,989 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: erosion results from inadequate flood controls and improper land use practices; irrigated soil degradation; desertification; air pollution in Buenos Aires and other major cites; water pollution in urban areas; rivers becoming polluted due to increased pesticide and fertilizer use natural hazards: Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the Pampas and northeast; heavy flooding international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

short section of the boundary with Uruguay is in dispute; short section of the boundary with Chile is indefinite; claims British-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims British-administered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica

Irrigated land [time series]

17,600 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 9,665 km, Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 9% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 52% forest and woodland: 22% other: 13%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

South America

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage)

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires; Catamarca; Chaco; Chubut; Cordoba; Corrientes; Distrito Federal*; 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; Tucuman note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica or Argentina's claims to the Falkland Islands

Capital [time series]

Buenos Aires

Legislative branch (Chamber of Deputies) [time series]

elections last held 3 October 1993 ( next to be held October 1995); elections are held every two years and half of the total membership is elected each time for four year terms; seats - (257 total) PJ 122, UCR 83, MODIN 7, UCD 5, other 40

Constitution [time series]

1 May 1853; revised August 1994

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Enrique GRANILLO OCAMPO chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6400 through 6403 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: President Carlos Saul MENEM (since 8 July 1989); Vice President (position vacant); election last held 14 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); results - Carlos Saul MENEM was reelected cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[54] (1) 777-0197

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

9 July 1816 (from Spain)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Legal system [time series]

mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

AfDB, AG (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G- 6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MERCOSUR, MINURSO, MTCR, NSG (observer), OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Argentine Republic conventional short form: Argentina local long form: Republica Argentina local short form: Argentina

National holiday [time series]

Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Peronist-dominated labor movement; General Confederation of Labor (CGT; Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association); business organizations; students; the Roman Catholic Church; the Armed Forces

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Justicialist Party (PJ), Carlos Saul MENEM, Peronist umbrella political organization; Radical Civic Union (UCR),Raul ALFONSIN, moderately left-of-center party; Union of the Democratic Center (UCD), Jorge AGUADO, conservative party; Dignity and Independence Political Party (MODIN), Aldo RICO, right-wing party; Grand Front (Frente Grande), Carlos ALVAREZ, center-left coalition; several provincial parties

Legislative branch (Senate) [time series]

elections last held May 1989, but provincial elections in late 1991 set the stage for indirect elections by provincial senators for one-third of 48 seats in the national senate in May 1992; seats (48 total) - PJ 29, UCR 11, others 7, vacant 1

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador James R. CHEEK embassy: 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires mailing address: Unit 4334; APO AA 34034 telephone: [54] (1) 777-4533, 4534

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 28% (female 4,706,793; male 4,903,589) 15-64 years: 62% (female 10,680,074; male 10,689,728) 65 years and over: 10% (female 1,922,552; male 1,390,006) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

19.51 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.62 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

white 85%, mestizo, Indian, or other nonwhite groups 15%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

28.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

10.9 million by occupation: agriculture 12%, industry 31%, services 57% (1985 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.51 years male: 68.22 years female: 74.97 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 95% male: 96% female: 95%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Argentine(s) adjective: Argentine

Net migration rate [time series]

0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

34,292,742 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.11% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6%

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.65 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 1,602 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 55 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 48 with paved runways under 914 m: 703 with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 70 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 693

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 208,350 km paved: 57,000 km unpaved: gravel 39,500 km; improved/unimproved earth 111,850 km

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

11,000 km navigable

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 434,525 GRT/667,501 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 21, chemical tanker 1, container 4, oil tanker 8, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; natural gas 9,918 km

Ports [time series]

Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario, Santa Fe, Ushuaia

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

total: 34,572 km broad gauge: NA km 1.676-m gauge standard gauge: NA km 1.435-m narrow gauge: 400 km 0.750-m gauge; NA km 1.000-m gauge (209 km electrified)