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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

33 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.ar

Internet users [time series]

3.88 million (2001)

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)

Radios [time series]

24.3 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: by opening the telecommunications market to competition and foreign investment with the "Telecommunications Liberalization Plan of 1998", Argentina encouraged the growth of modern telecommunication technology; fiber-optic cable trunk lines are being installed between all major cities; the major networks are entirely digital and the availability of telephone service is being improved; however, telephone density is presently minimal, and making telephone service universally available will take some time domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network; more than 110,000 pay telephones are installed and mobile telephone use is rapidly expanding international: satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Atlantis II and Unisur submarine cables; two international gateways near Buenos Aires (1999)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

7.5 million (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

3 million (December 1999)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

7.95 million (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $44 billion expenditures: $48 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Argentine peso (ARS)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

ARS

Debt - external [time series]

$155 billion (2001 est.)

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

$10 billion (2001 est.)

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. Over the past decade, however, the country has suffered recurring economic problems of inflation, hugh external debt, capital flight, and budget deficits. Growth in 2000 was a negative 0.5%, as both domestic and foreign investors remained skeptical of the government's ability to pay debts and maintain the peso's fixed exchange rate with the US dollar. The economic situation worsened in 2001 with the widening of spreads on Argentine bonds, massive withdrawals from the banks, and a further decline in consumer and investor confidence. Government efforts to achieve a "zero deficit", to stabilize the banking system, and to restore economic growth proved inadequate in the face of the mounting economic problems. The peso's peg to the dollar was abandoned in January 2002, and the peso was floated in February; the exchange rate plunged and inflation picked up rapidly, but by mid-2002 the economy had stabilized, albeit at a lower level. Output was 14.7% below the previous year's figure, and unemployment remained high, at 21.5%. In order to reverse the crisis some economists recently have advocated that Argentina adopt the US dollar as the national currency, however, others argue tieing the economy closely to the dollar was precisely what led to Argentina's current problems.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

80.806 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

3.7 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

7.5 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

82.802 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 52% hydro: 41% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 7%

Exchange rates [time series]

Argentine pesos per US dollar - 1.33325 (January 2002), 1.000 (1997-2001); note - fixed rate pegged to the US dollar was abandoned in January 2002; peso now floats

Exports [time series]

$26.7 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities [time series]

edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor vehicles

Exports - partners [time series]

Brazil 26.5%, US 11.8%, Chile 10.6%, Spain 3.5% (2000)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $391 billion (2002 est.)

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

agriculture: 5% industry: 28% services: 66% (2000 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $10,200 (2002 est.)

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

-14.7% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$20.3 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal manufactures, plastics

Imports - partners [time series]

Brazil 25.1%, US 18.7%, Germany 5%, China 4.6% (2000)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1% (2000 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4% (2001 est.)

Labor force [time series]

15 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Population below poverty line [time series]

37% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

25% (yearend 2001)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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 6,960 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution note: Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse gas targets

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

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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: Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

34 00 S, 64 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

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); Cerro Aconcagua is South America's tallest mountain, while the Valdes Peninsula is the lowest point on the continent

Irrigated land [time series]

15,610 sq km (1998 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: 9.14% permanent crops: 0.8% other: 90.06% (1998 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 territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

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 autonomous city* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Capital Federal*, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, 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, 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 short form: Argentina local long form: Republica Argentina

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador James D. WALSH embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Aires mailing address: international mail: use street address; APO address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034 telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533 FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo AMADEO chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171 telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Eduardo Alberto DUHALDE (since 2 January 2002); note - selected by National Congress in aftermath of resignation of former President DE LA RUA on 20 December 2001 and resignations of others who briefly held the office following DE LA RUA's departure; Vice President Carlos "Chacho" ALVAREZ resigned 6 October 2000 and the post remains vacant; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Eduardo Alberto DUHALDE (since 2 January 2002); note - selected by National Congress in aftermath of resignation of former President DE LA RUA on 20 December 2001 and resignations of others who briefly held the office following DE LA RUA's departure; Vice President Carlos "Chacho" ALVAREZ resigned 6 October 2000 and the post remains vacant; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president election results: Fernando DE LA RUA elected president; percent of vote - 48.5% ; Vice President Carlos "Chacho" ALVAREZ resigned 6 October 2000 and a replacement was not named; DE LA RUA resigned 20 December 2001; following a series of interim presidents, Eduardo Alberto DUHALDE was selected president by the National Congress on 1 January 2002 elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2003)

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the nine Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval by 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 six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; one-half of the members elected every two years to four-year terms) election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA%; seats by bloc or party - Justicialist (Peronist) 40, UCR 24, provincial parties 6, Frepaso 1, ARI 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA%; seats by bloc or party - Justicialist (Peronist) 113, UCR 74, provincial parties 27, Frepaso 17, ARI 17, AR 9 elections: Senate - last held 14 October 2001 (next to be held NA October 2003); Chamber of Deputies - last held 14 October 2001 (next to be held NA October 2003)

National holiday [time series]

Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)

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

Action for the Republic or AR [Domingo CAVALLO]; Alternative for a Republic of Equals or ARI [Elisa CARRIO]; Front for a Country in Solidarity or Frepaso (a four-party coalition) [Dario Pedro ALESSANDRO]; Justicialist Party or PJ [Carlos Saul MENEM] (Peronist umbrella political organization); Radical Civic Union or UCR [Angel ROZAS]; several provincial parties

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and mandatory

Introduction

Background [time series]

Following independence from Spain in 1816, Argentina experienced periods of internal political conflict between conservatives and liberals and between civilian and military factions. After World War II, a long period of Peronist authoritarian rule and interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983, and numerous elections since then have underscored Argentina's progress in democratic consolidation.

Military

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

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$4.3 billion (FY99)

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

1.3% (FY00)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 9,521,633 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 7,721,219 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

20 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 335,085 (2002 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 26.3% (male 5,090,046; female 4,854,761) 15-64 years: 63.2% (male 11,968,135; female 11,937,709) 65 years and over: 10.5% (male 1,636,332; female 2,325,834) (2002 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.23 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.57 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo, Amerindian, or other nonwhite groups 3%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.69% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

1,800 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

130,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

17.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.48 years female: 79.03 years (2002 est.) male: 72.1 years

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]

0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

37,812,817 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.13% (2002 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.41 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

claims UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims UK-administered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica partially overlaps British and Chilean claims

Illicit drugs [time series]

used as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and the US; some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers is increasing

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1,369 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 145 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 62 914 to 1,523 m: 44 under 914 m: 9 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1,197 1,225 over 3,047 m: 2 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 50 53 914 to 1,523 m: 572 598 under 914 m: 571 570 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 215,434 km paved: 63,553 km (including 734 km of expressways) unpaved: 151,881 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 147,505 GRT/222,500 DWT ships by type: cargo 9, petroleum tanker 10, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: United Arab Emirates 1, Uruguay 1 (2002 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: 33,744 km (167 km electrified) broad gauge: 20,594 km 1.676-m gauge (141 km electrified) standard gauge: 2,739 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified) narrow gauge: 10,154 km 1.000-m gauge; 257 km 0.750-m gauge (2000 est.)

Waterways [time series]

10,950 km