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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 260 (including 10 inactive stations), FM NA (probably more than 1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998 est.)

Radios [time series]

22.3 million (1991 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

12,000 public telephones; extensive modern system but many families do not have telephones; despite extensive use of microwave radio relay, the telephone system frequently grounds out during rainstorms, even in Buenos Aires domestic: microwave radio relay and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

4.6 million (1990)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

42 (in addition, there are 444 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

7.165 million (1991 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $56 billion expenditures: $60 billion, including capital expenditures of $4 billion (1998 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 peso = 100 centavos

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$133 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$2.833 billion (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. However, when President Carlos MENEM took office in 1989, the country had piled up huge external debts, inflation had reached 200% per month, and output was plummeting. To combat the economic crisis, the government embarked on a path of trade liberalization, deregulation, and privatization. In 1991, it implemented radical monetary reforms which pegged the peso to the US dollar and limited the growth in the monetary base by law to the growth in reserves. Inflation fell sharply in subsequent years. The Mexican peso crisis produced capital flight, the loss of banking system deposits, and a severe, but short-lived, recession in 1995; a series of reforms to bolster the domestic banking system followed. Real GDP growth recovered strongly, reaching almost 9% in 1997. In 1998, increasing investor anxiety over Brazil, its largest trading partner, produced the highest domestic interest rates in more than three years and slowed growth to 4.3%. Despite the relatively high level of growth in recent years, double-digit unemployment rates have persisted, largely because of rigidities in Argentina's labor laws.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

67.509 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

330 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

3.17 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

64.669 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 45% hydro: 44.3% nuclear: 10.7% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

peso is pegged to the US dollar at an exchange rate of 1 peso = $1

Exports [time series]

$26 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

cereals, feed, motor vehicles, crude petroleum, steel manufactures

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Brazil 31%, US 8%, Chile 7.0%, China 3%, Uruguay 3% (1997 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$374 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 7% industry: 37% services: 56% (1997 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$10,300 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

4.3% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$32 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, organic chemicals, telecommunications equipment, plastics

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Brazil 23%, US 20%, Italy 6%, Germany 5%, France 5% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2% (1998)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

14 million (1997)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture 12%, industry 31%, services 57% (1985 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

25.5% (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

12% (October 1998)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 2,766,890 sq km land: 2,736,690 sq km water: 30,200 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Salinas Chicas -40 m (located on Peninsula Valdes) highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

erosion results from inadequate flood controls and improper land use practices; irrigated soil degradation; desertification; air pollution in Buenos Aires and other major cities; water pollution in urban areas; rivers becoming polluted due to increased pesticide and fertilizer use

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

34 00 S, 64 00 W

Geography - note (Geography--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)

Irrigated land [time series]

17,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 9,665 km border countries: 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: 1% permanent pastures: 52% forests and woodland: 19% other: 19% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

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

Capital [time series]

Buenos Aires

Constitution [time series]

1 May 1853; revised August 1994

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires mailing address: international mail: use street address; APO address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Diego Ramiro GUELAR chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Carlos Saul MENEM (since 8 July 1989); Vice President Carlos RUCKAUF (since 8 July 1995); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Carlos Saul MENEM (since 8 July 1989); Vice President Carlos RUCKAUF (since 8 July 1995); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 14 May 1995 (next to be held NA October 1999) election results: Carlos Saul MENEM reelected president; percent of vote--NA

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

9 July 1816 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

AfDB, Australia Group, BCIE, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G- 6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MTCR, NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), the nine Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of the Senate

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 or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate (72 seats; formerly, three members appointed by each of the provincial legislatures; presently transitioning to one-third of the members being elected every two years to a six-year term) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; one-half of the members elected every two years to four-year terms) elections: Senate--transition phase will continue through 2001 elections when all seats will be fully contested; winners will randomly draw to determine whether they will serve a two-year, four-year, or full six-year term; Chamber of Deputies--last held 26 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 1999) election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PJ 39, UCR 1, others 32; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PJ 119, UCR 69, Frepaso 36, other 33

National holiday [time series]

Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)

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

Justicialist Party or PJ [Carlos Saul MENEM] (Peronist umbrella political organization); Radical NA]; Front for a Country in Solidarity or Frepaso (a four-party

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

A part of the Spanish empire until independence in 1816, Argentina subsequently experienced periods of internal political conflict between conservatives and liberals and between civilian and military factions. Meantime, thanks to rich natural resources and foreign investment, a modern agriculture and a diversified industry were gradually developed. After World War II, a long period of Peronist dictatorship was followed by rule by a military junta. Democratic elections finally came in 1983, but both the political and economic atmosphere remain susceptible to turmoil.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes Naval Aviation, Marines, and Coast Guard), Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Aeronautical Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$4.6 billion (1998)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

1.4% (1998)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 9,169,681 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 7,435,551 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 343,038 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27% (male 5,124,087; female 4,932,060) 15-64 years: 62% (male 11,457,399; female 11,469,346) 65 years and over: 11% (male 1,553,158; female 2,201,614) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

19.91 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.64 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

18.41 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.76 years male: 71.13 years female: 78.56 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.2% male: 96.2% female: 96.2% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Argentine(s) adjective: Argentine

Net migration rate [time series]

0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

36,737,664 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.29% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.66 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

short section of the southwestern boundary with Chile is indefinite--process to resolve boundary issues is underway; claims UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims UK-administered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica

Illicit drugs [time series]

increasing use as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and the US; increasing money-laundering center

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1,374 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 141 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 58 914 to 1,523 m: 45 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 1,233 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 67 914 to 1,523 m: 621 under 914 m: 541 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 208,350 km paved: 47,550 km (including 567 km of expressways) unpaved: 160,800 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 233,856 GRT/363,335 DWT ships by type: cargo 10, container 1, oil tanker 13, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 37,830 km broad gauge: 23,992 km 1.676-m gauge (167 km electrified) standard gauge: 2,765 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 11,073 km 1.000-m gauge (26 km electrified)

Waterways [time series]

11,000 km navigable