Statistical information Argentina 1999

Argentina in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Geographic coordinates: 34 00 S, 64 00 W
Map reference:
South AmericaAreaTotal: 2,766,890 km²
Land: 2,736,690 km²
Water: 30,200 km²
Comparative: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Land boundariesTotal: 9,665 km
Border countries: (5) Bolivia 832 km;
, Brazil 1,224 km;
, Chile 5,150 km;
, Paraguay 1,880 km;
, Uruguay 579 kmCoastline: 4,989 km
Maritime claimsContiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Salinas Chicas -40 m (located on Peninsula Valdes)
Extremes highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium
Land useArable land: 9%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 52%
Forests and woodland: 19%
Other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 17,000 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: 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
GeographyNote: 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)
top of pagePopulation: 36,737,664 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 1.29% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: 25.5% (1991 est.)
NationalityNoun: Argentine(s)
Adjective: Argentine
Ethnic groups: white 85%, mestizo, Amerindian, or other nonwhite groups 15%
Languages: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 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.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.29% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 19.91 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.64 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.65 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: 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 agreements 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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt 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.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 18.41 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 74.76 years
Male: 71.13 years
Female: 78.56 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.66 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 96.2%
Male: 96.2%
Female: 96.2% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Argentine Republic
Conventional short form: Argentina
Local long form: Republica Argentina
Local short form: Argentina
Government type: republic
Capital: Buenos Aires
Administrative divisions: 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
Dependent areasIndependence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain)
National holiday: Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)
Constitution: 1 May 1853; revised August 1994
Legal system: mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief 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
Legislative branch: 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
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), the nine Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of the Senate
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: 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
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Diego Ramiro GUELAR
In the us chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 939-6,400
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 238-6,471
In the us consulates general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
From the us embassy: 4,300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires
From the us mailing address: international mail:use street address; APO address:Unit 4,334, APO AA 34,034
From the us telephone: [54] (1) 777-4,533, 4,534
From the us FAX: [54] (1) 777-0197
Flag description
: 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 4.3% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $10,300 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 7%
Industry: 37%
Services: 56% (1997 est.)
Agriculture products: sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock
Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1998)
Labor force: 14 million (1997)
By occupation agriculture: 12%
By occupation industry: 31%
By occupation services: 57% (1985est.)
Unemployment rate: 12% (October 1998)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 25.5% (1991 est.)
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $56 billion
Expenditures: $60 billion, including capital expenditures of $4 billion (1998 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $26 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: cereals, feed, motor vehicles, crude petroleum, steel manufactures
Partners: Brazil 31%, US 8%, Chile 7.0%, China 3%, Uruguay 3% (1997 est.)
Imports: $32 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Commodities: motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, organic chemicals, telecommunications equipment, plastics
Partners: Brazil 23%, US 20%, Italy 6%, Germany 5%, France 5% (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $133 billion (1998 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: peso is pegged to the US dollar at an exchange rate of 1 peso = $1
top of pageElectricityProduction: 64.669 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 45%
Production by source hydro: 44.3%
Production by source nuclear: 10.7%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 67.509 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 330 million kWh (1996)
Imports: 3.17 billion kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 4.6 million (1990)
Telephone system: 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)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $4.6 billion (1998)
Percent of gdp: 1.4% (1998)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1,374 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 141
With paved runways over 3047 m: 5
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 26
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 58
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 45
With paved runways under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 1,233
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 67
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 621
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 541 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; natural gas 9,918 km
RailwaysTotal: 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)
RoadwaysWaterways: 11,000 km navigable
Merchant marineTotal: 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.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: 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
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: increasing use as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and the US; increasing money-laundering center