Factbook dossier
Background
In 1816, the United Provinces of the R o 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. After World War II, former President Juan Domingo PER N -- 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 PER N 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 N stor KIRCHNER (2003-07) and his spouse Cristina FERN NDEZ 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 …
Location
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Area
total : 2,780,400 sq km land: 2,736,690 sq km water: 43,710 sq km
Natural resources
fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium, arable land
Natural hazards
San Miguel de Tucum n 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 volcanism: 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, Planch n-Peteroa, San Jos , Tromen, Tupungatito, and Viedma
Population
total: 45,418,098 (2025 est.) male: 22,535,980 female: 22,882,118
Ethnic groups
European (mostly Spanish and Italian descent) and Mestizo (mixed European and Indigenous ancestry) 97.2%, Indigenous 2.4%, African descent 0.4% (2010 est.)
Languages
Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Quechua, Guarani, Mapudungun) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de informaci n b sica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
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.)
Environmental issues
deforestation; soil degradation (erosion, salinization); desertification; air pollution; water pollution
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Buenos Aires geographic coordinates: 34 36 S, 58 22 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) 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
Executive branch
chief of state: President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023) head of government: President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president 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) most recent election date: 22 October 2023, with a runoff held 19 November 2023 election results: 2023: Javier Gerardo MILEI elected president in second round; percent vote in first round - Sergio Tom s MASSA (FR) 36.7%, Javier Gerardo MILEI (PL) 30%, Patricia BULLRICH 23.8% (JxC/PRO), Juan SCHIARETTI (PJ) 6.8%, Myriam BREGMAN (PTS) 2.7%; percent of vote in second round - Javier Gerardo MILEI 55.7%, Sergio Tom s MASSA 44.3% 2019: Alberto ngel FERN NDEZ elected president; percent of vote - Alberto Angel FERN NDEZ (TODOS) 48.1%, Mauricio MACRI (PRO) 40.4%, Roberto LAVAGNA (independent) 6.2%, other 5.3% expected date of next election: October 2027
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Congress (Congreso de la nación) legislative structure: bicameral
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.213 trillion (2024 est.) $1.234 trillion (2023 est.) $1.255 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$26,500 (2024 est.) $27,100 (2023 est.) $27,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
73.1% (2022 est.) 47.1% (2021 est.) 40.5% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
Brazil 18%, USA 9%, Chile 8%, China 8%, India 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
Brazil 23%, China 20%, USA 12%, Paraguay 5%, Germany 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic (Fuerzas Armadas de la Rep blica 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) Ministry of Security: Gendarmer a Nacional Argentina (National Gendarmerie), Coast Guard (Prefectura Naval) (2025) note: all federal police forces are under the Ministry of Security
Military expenditures
0.6% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)