|
Länder
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Background:
|
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. |
|
Location:
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Southern South America,
bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay |
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Geographic coordinates:
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34 00 S, 64 00 W |
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Map references:
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South America |
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Area:
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total: 2,766,890
sq km
land: 2,736,690 sq km
water: 30,200 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than
three-tenths the size of the US |
|
Land boundaries:
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total: 9,665 km
border countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150
km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km |
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Coastline:
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4,989 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea:
12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental
margin
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Climate:
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mostly temperate; arid in
southeast; subantarctic in southwest |
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Terrain:
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rich plains of the Pampas
in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged
Andes along western border |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Laguna del Carbon -105 m (located between Puerto San Julian and
Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz)
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m (located in the
northwestern corner of the province of Mendoza)
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Natural resources:
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fertile plains of the
pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium
|
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Land use:
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arable land:
12.31%
permanent crops: 0.48%
other: 87.21% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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15,610 sq km (1998 est.)
|
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Natural hazards:
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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
|
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation |
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Geography - note:
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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 Laguna del Carbon is the lowest point
in the Western Hemisphere
|
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Population:
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39,537,943 (July 2005
est.)
|
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 25.6%
(male 5,170,721/female 4,938,171)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 12,626,711/female 12,627,026)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 1,712,117/female 2,463,197) (2005
est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 29.42 years
male: 28.52 years
female: 30.4 years (2005 est.)
|
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Population growth rate:
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0.98% (2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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16.9 births/1,000
population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.56 deaths/1,000
population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0.4 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 15.18
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population:
75.91 years
male: 72.17 years
female: 79.85 years (2005 est.)
|
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Total fertility rate:
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2.19 children born/woman
(2005 est.)
|
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.7% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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130,000 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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1,500 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Argentine(s)
adjective: Argentine |
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Ethnic groups:
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white (mostly Spanish and
Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian,
or other non-white groups 3% |
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Religions:
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nominally Roman Catholic
92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4% |
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Languages:
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Spanish (official),
English, Italian, German, French |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15
and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.1% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long
form: Argentine Republic
conventional short form: Argentina
local long form: Republica Argentina
local short form: Argentina
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Buenos Aires |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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9 July 1816 (from Spain)
|
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National holiday:
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Revolution Day, 25 May
(1810)
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Constitution:
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1 May 1853; revised
August 1994
|
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Legal system:
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mixture of US and West
European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age;
universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state:
President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003); Vice President Daniel
SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
head of government: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May
2003); Vice President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); 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 27 April
2003 (next election to be held NA 2007)
election results: results of the presidential election of 27
April 2003: Carlos Saul MENEM 24.3%, Nestor KIRCHNER 22%, Ricardo Lopez
MURPHY 16.4%, Adolfo Rodriguez SAA 14.4%, Elisa CARRIO 14.2%, other
8.7%; the subsequent runoff election slated for 25 May 2003 was awarded
to KIRCHNER by default after MENEM withdrew his candidacy on the eve of
the election |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral National
Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate (72 seats; members
are elected by direct vote; presently one-third of the members elected
every two years to a six-year term) and the Chamber of Deputies (257
seats; members are elected by direct vote; one-half of the members
elected every two years to a four-year term)
elections: Senate - last held intermittently by province during
the 2nd half of 2003 (next to be held NA 2005); Chamber of Deputies -
last held intermittently by province during the 2nd half of 2003 (next
to be held NA 2005)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party -
NA%; seats by bloc or party - PJ 41, UCR 16, provincial parties 15;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA%; seats by
bloc or party - PJ 133, UCR 46, IF 23, ARI 11, Socialist 6,
other/provincial parties 38 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Corte
Suprema (the nine Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president
with approval by the Senate) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Action for the Republic
or AR [Domingo CAVALLO]; Alternative for a Republic of Equals or ARI
[Elisa CARRIO]; Federal Recreate Movement or RECREAR [Ricardo LOPEZ
MURPHY]; Front for a Country in Solidarity or Frepaso (a four-party
coalition) [Dario Pedro ALESSANDRO]; Interbloque Federal or IF (a broad
coalition of approximately 12 parties including RECREAR) [leader NA];
Justicialist Party or PJ (Peronist umbrella political organization)
[leader NA]; Radical Civic Union or UCR [Angel ROZAS]; Socialist Party
or PS [Ruben GIUSTINIANI]; Union For All [Patricia BULLRICH]; several
provincial parties |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Argentine Association of
Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers'
association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association);
business organizations; Central of Argentine Workers or CTA (a radical
union for employed and unemployed workers); General Confederation of
Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization);
Peronist-dominated labor movement; Roman Catholic Church; students |
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International organization participation:
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AfDB, Australia Group,
BCIE, BIS, CSN, FAO, G-6, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NSG,
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Jose Octavio BORDON
chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
Miami, New York |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Lino GUTIERREZ
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 |
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Flag description:
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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
|
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Economy - overview:
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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 problems of inflation,
external debt, capital flight, and budget deficits. Growth in 2000 was a
negative 0.8%, 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 real GDP fell by 10.9% in 2002,
but by mid-year the economy had stabilized, albeit at a lower level. GDP
expanded by more than 8% in 2003 and again in 2004, with unemployment
falling and inflation remaining in single digits. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity -
$483.5 billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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8.3% (2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity -
$12,400 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 10.6%
industry: 35.9%
services: 53.5% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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15.04 million (2004 est.)
|
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture NA%, industry
NA%, services NA% |
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Unemployment rate:
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14.8% (2004 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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44.3% (June 2004) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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6.1% (2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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18.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
|
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Budget:
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revenues: $29.15
billion
expenditures: $26.84 billion, including capital expenditures of
NA (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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118% of GDP (June 2004
est.)
|
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Agriculture - products:
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sunflower seeds, lemons,
soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock |
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Industries:
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food processing, motor
vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals,
printing, metallurgy, steel |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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12% (2004 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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81.39 billion kWh (2002)
|
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 52.2%
hydro: 40.8%
nuclear: 6.7%
other: 0.2% (2001)
|
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Electricity - consumption:
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81.65 billion kWh (2002)
|
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Electricity - exports:
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2.818 billion kWh (2002)
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Electricity - imports:
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8.775 billion kWh (2002)
|
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Oil - production:
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755,000 bbl/day (2004
est.)
|
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Oil - consumption:
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486,000 bbl/day (2001
est.)
|
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Oil - proved reserves:
|
2.9 billion bbl (2004
est.)
|
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Natural gas - production:
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37.15 billion cu m (2001
est.)
|
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Natural gas - consumption:
|
31.1 billion cu m (2001
est.)
|
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Natural gas - exports:
|
6.05 billion cu m (2001
est.)
|
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Natural gas - imports:
|
0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
|
768 billion cu m (2004)
|
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Current account balance:
|
$5.473 billion (2004
est.) |
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Exports:
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$33.78 billion f.o.b.
(2004 est.)
|
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Exports - commodities:
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edible oils, fuels and
energy, cereals, feed, motor vehicles |
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Exports - partners:
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Brazil 16.5%, Chile
10.9%, US 10.2%, China 8.5%, Spain 4.5% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$22.06 billion f.o.b.
(2004 est.)
|
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment,
motor vehicles, chemicals, metal manufactures, plastics |
|
Imports - partners:
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Brazil 27%, US 20%,
Germany 6.6%, China 4.6%, France 4.2%, Italy 4.1% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
$19.47 billion (2004
est.) |
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Debt - external:
|
$157.7 billion (2004
est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
|
$10 billion (2001 est.)
|
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Currency (code):
|
Argentine peso (ARS)
|
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Currency code:
|
ARS |
|
Exchange rates:
|
Argentine pesos per US
dollar - 2.9233 (2004), 2.9006 (2003), 3.0633 (2002), 0.9995 (2001),
0.9995 (2000)
|
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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8,009,400 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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6.5 million (2002) |
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Telephone system:
|
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 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: country code - 54; satellite earth stations - 8
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Atlantis II and Unisur submarine cables; two
international gateways near Buenos Aires (1999) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM 260 (including 10
inactive stations), FM NA (probably more than 1,000, mostly unlicensed),
shortwave 6 (1998) |
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Radios:
|
24.3 million (1997) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
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42 (plus 444 repeaters)
(1997)
|
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Televisions:
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7.95 million (1997) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.ar |
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Internet hosts:
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742,358 (2003) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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33 (2000) |
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Internet users:
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4.1 million (2002)
|
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Railways:
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total: 34,091 km
(167 km electrified)
broad gauge: 20,594 km 1.676-m gauge (141 km electrified)
standard gauge: 2,885 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 10,375 km 1.000-m gauge; 237 km 0.750-m gauge
(2004) |
|
Highways:
|
total: 215,471 km
paved: 63,348 km (including 734 km of expressways)
unpaved: 152,123 km (1999) |
|
Waterways:
|
11,000 km (2004) |
|
Pipelines:
|
gas 27,166 km; liquid
petroleum gas 41 km; oil 3,668 km; refined products 2,945 km; unknown
(oil/water) 13 km (2004)
|
|
Ports and harbors:
|
Bahia Blanca, Buenos
Aires, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Punta Colorada, Rosario, San
Lorenzo-San Martin, San Nicolas |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total: 26 ships
(1,000 GRT or over) 149,007 GRT/212,620 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 2, roll
on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Chile 1, Uruguay 1)
registered in other countries: 23 (2005) |
|
Airports:
|
1,334 (2004 est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total: 144
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: 8 (2004 est.) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total: 1,190
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 50
914 to 1,523 m: 569
under 914 m: 567 (2004 est.)
|
|
Military branches:
|
Argentine Army, Navy of
the Argentine Republic (includes Naval Aviation and Marines), Argentine
Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, FAA) |
|
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
|
18 years of age for
voluntary military service; no conscription (2001) |
|
Military manpower - availability:
|
males age 18-49:
8,981,886 (2005 est.) |
|
Military manpower - fit for military service:
|
males age 18-49:
7,316,038 (2005 est.) |
|
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
|
males: 344,575
(2005 est.)
|
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$4.3 billion (FY99) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
1.3% (FY00) |
|
Military - note:
|
the Argentine military is
a well-organized force constrained by the country's prolonged economic
hardship; the country has recently experienced a strong recovery, and
the military is now implementing "Plan 2000," aimed at making the ground
forces lighter and more responsive (2005) |
|
Transnational Issues |
Argentina |
|
Disputes - international:
|
Argentina claims the
UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and
the South Sandwich Islands in its constitution; it briefly occupied the
Falklands in 1982, but in 1995 agreed no longer to seek settlement by
force; territorial claim in Antarctica partially overlaps UK and Chilean
claims (see Antarctic disputes); unruly region at convergence of
Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering,
smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for
extremist organizations; uncontested dispute between Brazil and Uruguay
over Braziliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint
with Argentina in question |
|
Illicit drugs:
|
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 |
|
 |
Information |
 |
|
Här hittar du information om alla världens länder. Listan fylls på efter hand
som jag har tid. Tyvärr så är informationen på engelska. |
|
-SM3VVZ |
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