Argentina

Presidential RepublicPop45.4MGDP (PPP)$1.2TCI55Beta CP0.0→Beta

Argentina

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Overview

Background: In 1816, the United Provinces of the Río 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 PERÓN -- 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 PERÓN 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 Néstor KIRCHNER (2003-07) and his spouse Cristina FERNÁNDEZ 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 reintegration under Mauricio MACRI (2015-19), but a recession in 2018-19 and frustration with MACRI’s economic policies ushered in a new Peronist government in 2019 led by President Alberto FERNÁNDEZ and Vice President Cristina FERNÁNDEZ DE KIRCHNER. Argentina's high public debts, its pandemic-related inflationary pressures, and systemic monetary woes served as the catalyst for the 2023 elections, culminating with President Javier MILEI's electoral success. Argentina has since eliminated half of its government agencies and is seeking shock therapy to amend taxation and monetary policies.

Geography

Area

Land: 2,736,690 sq km
Water: 43,710 sq km
Total: 2,780,400 sq km

Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border

Land Use

Other: 40.4% (2023 est.)
Forest: 17.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.3% (2023 est.)

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Coastline: 4,989 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Laguna del Carbón (located between Puerto San Julián and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz) -105 m
Highest point: Cerro Aconcagua (located in the northwestern corner of the province of Mendoza; highest point in South America) 6,962 m
Mean elevation: 595 m

Irrigated land: 13,910 sq km (2018)
Major aquifers: Guaraní Aquifer System
Map references: South America

Land Boundaries

Total: 11,968 km
Border countries: Bolivia 942 km; Brazil 1,263 km; Chile 6,691 km; Paraguay 2,531 km; Uruguay 541 km

Maritime Claims

Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards: San Miguel de Tucumán 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, Planchón-Peteroa, San José, Tromen, Tupungatito, and Viedma
Geography note: 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 Carbón is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere; shares Iguazú Falls, the world's largest waterfalls system, with Brazil
Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium, arable land
Area comparative: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Geographic coordinates: 34 00 S, 64 00 W
Population distribution: 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

Major Lakes (Area Sq Km)

Salt water lake(s): Laguna Mar Chiquita - 1,850 sq km;
Fresh water lake(s): Lago Buenos Aires (shared with Chile) - 2,240 sq km; Lago Argentino - 1,410 sq km; Lago Viedma - 1,090 sq km; Lago San Martín (shared with Chile) - 1,010 sq km; Lago Colhué Huapi - 800 sq km; Lago Fagnano (shared with Chile) - 590 sq km; Lago Nahuel Huapi - 550 sq km

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

Atlantic ocean drainage: Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)

Major rivers (BY length in km): Río de la Plata/Paraná river mouth (shared with Brazil [s], Paraguay, and Uruguay) - 4,880 km; Paraguay (shared with Brazil [s], and Paraguay [m]) - 2,549 km; Uruguay (shared with Brazil [s] and Uruguay [m]) - 1,610 km

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 99.1% (2020 est.)
Female: 99.2% (2020 est.)
Total population: 99.1% (2020 est.)

Languages

Languages: Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Quechua, Guarani, Mapudungun)
Major language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (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.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 10.47 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.94 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 32.1 years
Total: 34.6 years (2025 est.)
Female: 34.6 years

Population

Male: 22,535,980
Total: 45,418,098 (2025 est.)
Female: 22,882,118

Nationality

Noun: Argentine(s)
Adjective: Argentine

Tobacco Use

Male: 26.9% (2025 est.)
Total: 21.9% (2025 est.)
Female: 17.1% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 92.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 23.3% (male 5,632,983/female 5,301,778)
15 64 years: 63.9% (male 15,071,215/female 14,956,069)
65 years and over: 12.8% (2024 est.) (male 2,570,596/female 3,461,743)

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.)

Child Marriage

Women married BY age 15: 2.4% (2020)
Women married BY age 18: 15.5% (2020)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 49.9 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 30.3 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 5.1 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 19.6 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 5.11 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 3.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.43 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: urban: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: (2020 est.) NA
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 14% national budget (2023 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 0.26% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.69 (2025 est.)
Population distribution: 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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 75.8 years
Female: 82 years
Total population: 78.8 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 33 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 3.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 7.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 15.490 million BUENOS AIRES (capital), 1.612 million Córdoba, 1.594 million Rosario, 1.226 million Mendoza, 1.027 million San Miguel de Tucumán, 914,000 La Plata (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 28.3% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 49.7% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2% (2018 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 17 years (2022 est.)
Total: 19 years (2022 est.)
Female: 21 years (2022 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of sky blue (top), white, and sky blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face that is known as the Sun of May

meaning: the colors represent the clear skies and snow of the Andes Mountains; the sun commemorates the first mass demonstration in favor of independence on 25 May 1810, when the sun broke through the clouds; the sun is designed to look like Inti, the Incan god of the sun

Capital

Name: Buenos Aires
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
Time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 34 36 S, 58 22 W

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

Citizenship

Citizenship BY birth: yes
Citizenship BY descent only: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years

Constitution

History: several previous; latest effective 11 May 1853
Amendment process: a declaration of proposed amendments requires two-thirds majority vote by both houses of the National Congress followed by approval by an ad hoc, multi-member constitutional convention

Country Name

Etymology: the name is derived from one of the Spanish words for "silver," but the origin is unclear; it may have described the land next to the Rio de la Plata ("Silver River"), a major river that forms the boundary between Argentina and Uruguay; another possible source is the Spanish explorers in the 16th century mistakenly believing that the silver ornaments they bought from inhabitants came from a local source of silver
Local long form: República Argentina
Local short form: Argentina
Conventional long form: Argentine Republic
Conventional short form: Argentina

Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain)
Legal system: civil law system based on Western European legal systems
Government type: presidential republic

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (consists of the court president, vice president, 2 judges, 1 vacancy)
Subordinate courts: federal-level appellate, district, and territorial courts; provincial-level supreme, appellate, and first-instance courts
Judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the president and approved by the Senate; ministers can serve until mandatory retirement at age 75; extensions beyond 75 require renomination by the president and approval by the Senate

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Chief of state: President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023)
Election results: 2023: Javier Gerardo MILEI elected president in second round; percent vote in first round - Sergio Tomás 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 Tomás MASSA 44.3%

2019: Alberto Ángel FERNÁNDEZ elected president; percent of vote - Alberto Angel FERNÁNDEZ (TODOS) 48.1%, Mauricio MACRI (PRO) 40.4%, Roberto LAVAGNA (independent) 6.2%, other 5.3%
Head of government: President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023)
Most recent election date: 22 October 2023, with a runoff held 19 November 2023
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)
Expected date of next election: October 2027

National holiday: Revolution Day (May Revolution Day), 25 May (1810)
National color(s): sky blue, white

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites: 12 (7 cultural, 5 natural)
Selected world heritage site locales: Los Glaciares National Park (n); Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis (c); Iguazú National Park (n); Cueva de las Manos (c); Valdés Península (n); Ischigualasto/Talampaya National Parks (n); Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba (c); Quebrada de Humahuaca (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

Political parties: Avanza Libertad or AL
Civic Coalition ARI or CC-ARI
Consenso Federal (Federal Consensus) or CF
Frente Cívico por Santiago (Civic Front for Santiago)
Frente de Izquierda y de los Trabajadores – Unidad (Workers' Left Front) or FIT-U (coalition of leftist parties in lower house; includes PTS, PO, and MST)
Frente de la Concordia Misionero (Front for the Renewal of Social Concord) or FRCS
Frente Renovador (Renewal Front) or FR
Generación por un Encuentro Nacional (Generation for a National Encounter) or GEN
Hacemos por Córdoba (We do for Cordoba) or HC
Hacemos por Nuestro Pais (We Do For Our Country) or NHP
Juntos por el Cambio (Together for Change) or JxC (includes CC-ARI, PRO, and UCR); note - primary opposition coalition since 2019
Juntos Somos Río Negro (Together We Are Rio Negro) or JSRN
Partido Justicialista (Justicialist Party) or PJ
La Cámpora
La Libertad Avanza (The Liberty Advances) or LLA
Movimiento Popular Neuquino (Neuquén People's Movement) or MPN
Movimiento Socialista de los Trabajadores (Workers' Socialist Movement) or MST
Partido de los Trabajadores Socialistas (Socialist Workers' Party) or PTS
Partido Demócrata (Democratic Party) or PDN
Partido Libertario (Libertarian Party) or PL; note - party is also a founding member of the coalition La Libertad Avanza
Partido Obrero (Workers' Party) or PO
Partido Socialista or PS
Propuesta Republicana (Republican Proposal) or PRO
Unidad Federal (coalition of provencial parties in the lower house; includes FRCS and JSRN)
Unión Cívica Radical (Radical Civic Union) or UCR
Unión por la Patria (Union for the Homeland) or UP (formerly Frente de Todos (Everyone's Front) or FdT) (includes FR, La Cámpora, and PJ); note - ruling coalition since 2019; includes several national and provincial Peronist political parties
Vamos con Vos (Let's Go with You) or VcV

Legislative Branch

Legislature name: National Congress (Congreso de la nación)
Legislative structure: bicameral

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Himno Nacional Argentino" (Argentine National Anthem)
History: adopted 1813; Vicente LOPEZ was inspired to write the anthem after watching a play about the 1810 May Revolution against Spain; a 1900 presidential decree declared that only the first and last verses would be considered official, rather than the original nine verses
Lyrics/music: Vicente LOPEZ y PLANES/Jose Blas PARERA

National symbol(s): Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol)
Administrative divisions: 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 Atlántico Sur (Tierra del Fuego - Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands), Tucuman

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 257 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: partial renewal
Most recent election date: 10/22/2023
Expected date of next election: October 2025
Percentage of women in chamber: 42.4%
Parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Homeland (UP) (48); Freedom Advances (LLA) (28); Together for Change (JxC/Juntos) (27); Other (25)

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Chamber name: Senate (Senado)
Term in office: 6 years
Number of seats: 72 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: partial renewal
Most recent election date: 10/22/2023
Expected date of next election: October 2025
Percentage of women in chamber: 45.8%
Parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Homeland (UP) (9); Freedom Advances (LLA) (6); Together for Change (JxC/Juntos) (2); Front for the Renewal of Social Concord – Federal Innovation (2); Federal Renewal (2); For Santa Cruz (2); Other (1)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 332-3171
Chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400
Chief of mission: Ambassador Alejandro (Alec) Carlos Francisco OXENFORD (since 11 June 2025)
Consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Email address and website: eeeuu@mrecic.gov.ar

https://eeeuu.cancilleria.gob.ar/en

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [54] (11) 5777-4240
Embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, (C1425GMN) Buenos Aires
Telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533
Mailing address: 3130 Buenos Aires Place, Washington DC  20521-3130
Chief of mission: Ambassador Peter LAMELAS (since 4 November 2025)
Email address and website: Buenosairespublicaffairs@state.gov

https://ar.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (associate), CD, CABEI, 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, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNOOSA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

ARGENTINA · LOWER HOUSE

Cámara de Diputados

257 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

257

Majority line

130

Largest party

Freedom Advances (LLA)

Parties

All political parties7 parties · 257 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Upper house

ARGENTINA · UPPER HOUSE

Senado de la Nación

72 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

Freedom Advances (LLA)

Parties

All political parties3 parties · 72 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Next election

Last: 2023

Leaders

Current

JM
Javier Milei
- Head of StateSince 2023
- Head of GovernmentSince 2023

Economy

Budget

Note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $115.69 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $139.037 billion (2023 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $97.3B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022: $102.928 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $82.947 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $96.899 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $80.9B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2022: $97.399 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $92.3 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $79.999 billion (2024 est.)

Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Labor force: 22.286 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 55% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2016: 55% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 70.539 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 94.991 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 130.617 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 296.258 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 914.695 (2024 est.)

Debt External

Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Debt external 2023: $74.362 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview: large diversified economy; financial risks from debt obligations, rapid inflation, and reduced investor appetites; resource-rich, export-led growth model; increasing trade relations with China; G20 and OAS leader; tendency to nationalize businesses and under-report inflation

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 7.1%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 6.9% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 6.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 7.9% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: Brazil 18%, USA 9%, Chile 8%, China 8%, India 4% (2023)
Imports partners: Brazil 23%, China 20%, USA 12%, Paraguay 5%, Germany 4% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $30,431

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $27,600 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $27,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $26,500 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): -1.3%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: -1.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: -1.7% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: maize, soybeans, sugarcane, wheat, milk, sunflower seeds, barley, beef, potatoes, chicken (2023)
Exports commodities: soybean meal, corn, trucks, soybean oil, crude petroleum (2023)
Imports commodities: soybeans, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, natural gas, cars (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): $5.7B

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2022: -$4.055 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$20.956 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: $6.285 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 10% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $633.267 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 68.1% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 15% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.1% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 15.8% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 15.3% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -12.8% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line: 41.7% (2023 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

On food: 23.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 219.9%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 40.5% (2020 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 47.1% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 73.1% (2022 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: -7.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $1.213 trillion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.255 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.234 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.213 trillion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 19.8% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 21.2% (2024 est.)
Female: 23% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $44.795 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $23.081 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $29.56 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 24% (2024 est.)
Services: 53.4% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 6% (2024 est.)

Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Highest 10%: 31% (2023 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2023: 42.4 (2023 est.)

Energy

Coal

Exports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.936 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Production: 869,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 2.534 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Total petroleum production: 807,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 2.483 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 749,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Exports: 31 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 11.393 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Consumption: 114.667 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 47.631 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 27.027 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Exports: 2.344 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 5.225 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Production: 43.69 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 46.028 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 396.464 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Nuclear Energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 3 (2025)
Percent of total electricity production: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.64GW (2025 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 78.496 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Wind: 11% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Solar: 2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 61.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 16.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Biomass and waste: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)

Broadcast media: one of South America's biggest media markets; dozens of TV networks, hundreds of radio stations, and more than 150 daily newspapers (2023)
Internet country code: .ar

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 6.42 million (2024 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2024 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 64.1 million (2024 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2024 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 11.5 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 1
Small: 10
Medium: 2
Key ports: Buenos Aires, Campana, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Puerto Belgrano, Puerto Ingeniero White, Puerto Madryn, Rosario, San Sebastian Bay, Santa Fe, Ushuaia, Zarate
Very small: 24
Total ports: 37 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 19

Airports: 764 (2025)

Railways

Total: 17,866 km (2018)

Heliports: 148 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 201 (2023)
BY type: container ship 1, bulk carrier 1 general cargo 8, oil tanker 33, other 158

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: LV

Environment

Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

Land Use

Other: 40.4% (2023 est.)
Forest: 17.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.3% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 92.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Methane Emissions

Other: 89.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste: 631 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy: 1,553.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Agriculture: 3,035.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 17.911 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.6% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: deforestation; soil degradation (erosion, salinization); desertification; air pollution; water pollution

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 5.85 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 27.93 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 198.141 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 90.122 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 5.022 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 102.998 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 12 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 876.24 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International Environmental Agreements

Party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Military & Security

Military note: the Argentine military’s primary responsibilities are territorial defense and protecting the country’s sovereignty; duties also include border security, countering narcotics trafficking, and other internal missions, such as disaster response and infrastructure development; it conducts support operations and has bases in Antarctica to promote an active presence in areas of national territory that are sparsely populated; the military also participates in both bilateral and multinational training exercises and supports UN peacekeeping operations

Argentina participates in the Tripartite Command, an interagency security mechanism created by Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay to exchange information and combat transnational threats, such as crime and terrorism, in the Tri-Border Area; in addition, Argentina and Chile have a joint peacekeeping force known as the Combined Southern Cross Peacekeeping Force, designed to be made available to the UN; Argentina has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation

the Army and Navy were both created in 1810 during the Argentine War of Independence, while the Air Force was established in 1945; the military conducted coups d'état in 1930, 1943, 1955, 1962, 1966, and 1976; the 1976 coup, aka the "National Reorganization Process," marked the beginning of the so-called "Dirty War," a period of state-sponsored terrorism that saw the deaths or disappearances of thousands of Argentinians; the defeat in the 1982 Falklands War led to the downfall of the military junta (2025)
Military deployments: 230 Cyprus (UNFICYP) (2025)

Military Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 0.6%

Military expenditures 2020: 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures 2021: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures 2023: 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic (Fuerzas Armadas de la República 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: Gendarmería Nacional Argentina (National Gendarmerie), Coast Guard (Prefectura Naval) (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription suspended in 1995; citizens can still be drafted in times of crisis, national emergency, or war, or if the Defense Ministry is unable to fill all vacancies to keep the military functional (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of Argentina's armed forces is a mix of domestically produced and imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; in recent years, France and the US have been the leading suppliers of equipment; Argentina has an indigenous defense industry that produces air, land, and naval systems (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 75,000 active-duty Armed Forces (45,000 Army; 15,000 Navy, including about 3,500 marines; 15,000 Air Force) (2025)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s): Hizballah

Space

Space launch site(s): Manuel Belgrano Space Center (Buenos Aires province); Punta Indio Space Center (Buenos Aires province); Teofilo Tabanera Space Center (CETT; Cordoba Province; testing/mission control) (2025)
Space agency/agencies: Argentina National Space Activities Commission (Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, CONAE; formed in 1991) (2025)
Space program overview: has a national space program and a history in the development of space-related capabilities, including rockets and satellites; develops, builds, and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites, often in partnership with other countries; developing additional satellites with more advanced payloads; contracts with commercial and other government space agencies for launches, but has a domestic rocket program and is developing space launch vehicle (SLV) capabilities; cooperates with a broad range of space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, China, the European Space Agency and its member states (particularly France, Italy), and the US; also has a commercial space industry (2025)
Key space program milestones: 1961-1967 - launched first rocket (Alfa Centauro) and was first country in Latin America to send an animal into space

1997 - first domestically built communications satellite (Nahuel-1A) launched on European satellite launch vehicle (SLV)

2007 - launch of first sub-orbital test rocket for domestic SLV (Tronador) project

2018 - first domestically built, synthetic-aperture-radar remote sensing satellite (SAOCOM 1A) launched by US

2020-2021 - worked with Mexico to create the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE)

2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration

2025 - continued development of two-stage Tronador SLV

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps: 74 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 9,175 (2024 est.)
Stateless persons: 34 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index55.0 / 100as of 2024-Q476 / 190−4.02024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.55as of 2024-Q452 / 170−0.052024-Q4

Freedom House StatusPartly Free (83/100)as of 2024-Q4—−2.02024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Free press (70/100)as of 2024—2024

Human Development Index0.849as of 2022—2022

Corruption Perceptions Index37 / 100as of 202398 / 1802023

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Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Argentina — vintage 2026-Q1: Argentina factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/argentina

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), OECD.Stat, UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Argentina

Area

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Cámara de Diputados

Senado de la Nación

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Javier Milei

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Coal

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Electricity

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Energy Consumption Per Capita

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Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

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