In 1816 the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia Paraguay and Uruguay went their separate ways the area that remained became Argentina. The country's population and culture were heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe with Italy and Spain providing the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict between Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military factions.
After World War II an era of Peronist populism and direct and indirect military interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983 after a failed bid to seize the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) by force 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 Nestor and Cristina FERNANDEZ de KIRCHNER whose policies isolated Argentina and caused economic stagnation. With the election of Mauricio MACRI in November 2015 Argentina began a period of reform and international reintegration.

arable land: 13.9%
permanent crops: 0.4%
permanent pasture: 39.6%

Argentina's population continues to grow but at a slower rate because of its steadily declining birth rate. Argentina's fertility decline began earlier than in the rest of Latin America occurring most rapidly between the early 20th century and the 1950s and then becoming more gradual. Life expectancy has been improving most notably among the young and the poor. While the population under age 15 is shrinking the youth cohort - ages 15-24 - is the largest in Argentina's history and will continue to bolster the working-age population. If this large working-age population is well-educated and gainfully employed Argentina is likely to experience an economic boost and possibly higher per capita savings and investment. Although literacy and primary school enrollment are nearly universal grade repetition is problematic and secondary school completion is low. Both of these issues vary widely by region and socioeconomic group.
Argentina has been primarily a country of immigration for most of its history welcoming European immigrants (often providing needed low-skilled labor) after its independence in the 19th century and attracting especially large numbers from Spain and Italy. More than 7 million European immigrants are estimated to have arrived in Argentina between 1880 and 1930 when it adopted a more restrictive immigration policy. European immigration also began to wane in the 1930s because of the global depression. The inflow rebounded temporarily following WWII and resumed its decline in the 1950s when Argentina’s military dictators tightened immigration rules and European economies rebounded. Regional migration increased however supplying low-skilled workers escaping economic and political instability in their home countries. As of 2015 immigrants made up almost 5% of Argentina’s population the largest share in South America. Migration from neighboring countries accounted for approximately 80% of Argentina’s immigrant population in 2015.
The first waves of highly skilled Argentine emigrant workers headed mainly to the United States and Spain in the 1960s and 1970s driven by economic decline and repressive military dictatorships. The 2008 European economic crisis drove the return migration of some Argentinean and other Latin American nationals as well as the immigration of Europeans to South America where Argentina was a key recipient. In 2015 Argentina received the highest number of legal migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean. The majority of its migrant inflow came from Paraguay and Bolivia.

urban: 99% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 99.1% of population
urban: 1% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0.9% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 96.2% of population
rural: 98.3% of population
total: 96.4% of population
urban: 3.8% of population
rural: 1.7% of population
total: 3.6% of population (2015 est.)

Progresistas [Margarita STOLBIZER]
Radical Civic Union or UCR [Lilia PUIG DE STUBRIN]
Renewal Front (Frente Renovador) or FR [Sergio MASSA]
Republican Proposal or PRO [Mauricio MACRI]
Socialist Party or PS [Antonio BONFATTI]
United for a New Alternative or UNA (includes FR)
numerous provincial parties

Argentina benefits from rich natural resources a highly literate population an export-oriented agricultural sector and a diversified industrial base. Although one of the world's wealthiest countries 100 years ago Argentina suffered during most of the 20th century from recurring economic crises persistent fiscal and current account deficits high inflation mounting external debt and capital flight. In 2016 the World Bank downgraded Argentina from a high-income to upper-middle-income economy on par with Columbia.
A severe depression growing public and external indebtedness and an unprecedented bank run culminated in 2001 in the most serious economic social and political crisis in the country's turbulent history. Interim President Adolfo RODRIGUEZ SAA declared a default - at the time the largest ever - on the government's foreign debt in December of that year and abruptly resigned only a few days after taking office. His successor Eduardo DUHALDE announced an end to the peso's decade-long 1-to-1 peg to the US dollar in early 2002. The economy bottomed out that year with real GDP 18% smaller than in 1998 and almost 60% of Argentines below the poverty line. Real GDP rebounded to grow by an average 8.5% annually over the subsequent six years taking advantage of previously idled industrial capacity and labor and expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. Inflation also increased however during the administration of President Nestor KIRCHNER which responded with price restraints on businesses as well as export taxes and restraints and beginning in 2007 with understating inflation data.
Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER succeeded her husband as president in late 2007 and the rapid economic growth of previous years began to slow sharply the following year as government policies held back exports and the world economy fell into recession. The economy in 2010 rebounded strongly from the 2009 recession but slowed in late 2011 even as the government continued to rely on expansionary fiscal and monetary policies which kept inflation in the double digits.
In order to deal with these problems the government expanded state intervention in the economy: it nationalized the oil company YPF from Spain's Repsol expanded measures to restrict imports and further tightened currency controls in an effort to bolster foreign reserves and stem capital flight. Between 2011 and 2013 Central Bank foreign reserves dropped $21.3 billion from a high of $52.7 billion. In July 2014 Argentina and China agreed on an $11 billion currency swap; the Argentine Central Bank has received the equivalent of $3.2 billion in Chinese yuan which it counts as international reserves.
With the election of President Mauricio MACRI in November 2015 Argentina began a historic political and economic transformation as his administration took steps to liberalize the Argentine economy lifting capital controls floating the peso removing export controls on some commodities cutting some energy subsidies and reforming the country’s official statistics. Argentina negotiated debt payments with holdout bond creditors and returned to international capital markets in April 2016. In September 2016 Argentina completed its first IMF Article IV Consultation since 2006.
After years of international isolation Argentina took on several international leadership roles in 2017 including hosting the World Economic Forum on Latin America and the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference and is set to assume the presidency of the G-20 in 2018.

$911.5 billion (2017 est.)
$889.5 billion (2016 est.)
$910 billion (2015 est.)

2.5% (2017 est.)
-2.2% (2016 est.)
2.6% (2015 est.)

$20,700 (2017 est.)
$20,400 (2016 est.)
$21,100 (2015 est.)

12.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
13.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
14.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

8.1% (2017 est.)
8.5% (2016 est.)

42.7 (2014)
45.8 (2009)

53.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
54.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

26.9% (2017 est.)
26.5% (2015 est.)

24.5% (31 December 2017 est.)
31.23% (31 December 2016 est.)

$62.95 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$59 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$166.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$146.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$216.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$194 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$56.13 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$60.14 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$53.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

-$22.13 billion (2017 est.)
-$14.9 billion (2016 est.)

$59.69 billion (2017 est.)
$57.78 billion (2016 est.)

$60.78 billion (2017 est.)
$53.24 billion (2016 est.)

$52.97 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$38.43 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$208.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$190.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$84.14 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$72.11 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$40.94 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$39.74 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar -
16.92 (2017 est.)
14.7582 (2016 est.)
14.7582 (2015 est.)
9.2332 (2014 est.)
8.0753 (2013 est.)

0.95% of GDP (2016)
0.86% of GDP (2015)
0.88% of GDP (2014)
0.84% of GDP (2013)
0.78% of GDP (2012)

aim(s): disrupt Israel's security in Argentina and ultimately destroy the state of Israel
area(s) of operation: maintains a limited presence; on 18 July 1994 an operative drove a bomb-laden car into the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association building in Buenos Aires killing 85 civilians and injuring 300 more; on 17 March 1992 operatives detonated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in front of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires killing 29 people and injuring at least 270 others; Hizballah's leadership stated that the bombing was in retaliation for Israel killing its secretary general Abbas al-MUSAWI on 16 February 1992