Argentina
| Capital: | Buenos Aires |
| Area size (Land only): | 2736690 sq. km Slightly larger than western Europe |
| Time zone: | GMT -3 |
| Currency: | Peso |
| Area code: | (+) 54 |
| Driving: | Right |
| Climate description: | Mostly temperate; arid in southeast and subantarctic in southwest |
People
Standard of living
Economy & aid
Health
Disasters, conflict & migration
Language
Spanish. Indigenous languages such as Quechua and Guarani are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
Future population estimates
50.9 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)
Ethnic groups
Most Argentines are descendants of southern European migrants. Unofficial figures put the indigenous population at over 440,000 with 15 indigenous groups, the largest of which are the Mapuche, Kolla and Toba. There are also three mestizo (mixed descent) groups.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Catholicism (92 percent) is the official religion. There are Protestant, Evangelical, Jewish and Muslim minorities.
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
Year women granted right to vote
1947
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2007)
Percentage of population under 15
Spanish. Indigenous languages such as Quechua and Guarani are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
| 2009 | 40.3 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009) |
| 2007 | 39.4 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006) |
| 2006 | 39.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2005 | 38.7 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2004 | 38.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2003 | 38.0 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2002 | 37.6 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2001 | 37.3 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2000 | 36.9 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
Future population estimates
50.9 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)
Ethnic groups
Most Argentines are descendants of southern European migrants. Unofficial figures put the indigenous population at over 440,000 with 15 indigenous groups, the largest of which are the Mapuche, Kolla and Toba. There are also three mestizo (mixed descent) groups.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Catholicism (92 percent) is the official religion. There are Protestant, Evangelical, Jewish and Muslim minorities.
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
| 2007 | 90.4 percent | U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005 |
| 2006 | 90.3 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2005 | 90.1 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2004 | 89.9 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2003 | 89.7 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2002 | 89.6 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2001 | 89.4 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2000 | 89.2 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
Year women granted right to vote
1947
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2007)
Percentage of population under 15
| 2005 | 26.4 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 26.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 27.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 27.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 27.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 27.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Average life expectancy
Life expectancy - male
Life expectancy - female
Infant mortality
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
Births attended by skilled personnel
Maternal mortality
Human development index (HDI rank)
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
Percentage of undernourished population
Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
Population with access to improved sanitation
Literacy - average
Literacy - male
Literacy - female
Landlines telephones
Cellular telephone subscribers
Internet users
Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
| 2005 | 74.8 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 74.6 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 74.3 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 74.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 73.9 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 73.4 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Life expectancy - male
| 2005 | 71.1 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 70.9 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 70.7 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 70.5 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 70.3 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 70.1 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Life expectancy - female
| 2005 | 78.6 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 78.4 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 78.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 77.6 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 77.4 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 77.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Infant mortality
| 2007 | 15 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009 |
| 2006 | 14 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 15 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 16 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | 17 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 16 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 16 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 18 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
| 2007 | 16 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009 |
| 2006 | 16 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 18 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 18 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | 20 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 19 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 19 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 21 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Births attended by skilled personnel
| 1997-2005 | 99 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 1996-2004 | 99 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | 99 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1995-2002 | 98 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1995-2001 | 98 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 1995-2000 | 98 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Maternal mortality
| 2005 | 77 per 100,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2000 | 82 per 100,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
Human development index (HDI rank)
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
| 2000-2007 | 4 percent | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009 |
| 2000-2006 | 4 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 1996-2005 | 4 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 1996-2004 | 5 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | 5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1995-2002 | 5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1995-2001 | 5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 1995-2000 | No data available percent |
Percentage of undernourished population
| 2003-2005 | <5 percent | U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008 |
| 2002-2004average | 3 percent | U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006 |
| 2001-2003average | <2.5 percent | FAO 2006 |
Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
| 2006 | 96 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 96 percent | UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006 |
| 2002 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Population with access to improved sanitation
| 2006 | 91 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 91 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2006 |
| 2002 | No data available percent |
Literacy - average
| 2004 | 97.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 97.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 97 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 96.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 96.8 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Literacy - male
| 2004 | 97.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 97.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 97 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 96.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 96.8 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Literacy - female
| 2004 | 97.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 97.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 97 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 96.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 96.8 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Landlines telephones
| 2008 | 242 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2007 | 241 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2006 | 242 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2005 | 244 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2004 | 228 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2003 | 226 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2002 | 205 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2001 | 218 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2000 | 214 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
Cellular telephone subscribers
| 2008 | 1166 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2007 | 1023 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2006 | 806 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2005 | 572 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2004 | 352 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2003 | 206 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2002 | 174 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2001 | 181 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2000 | 176 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
Internet users
| 2008 | 281 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2007 | 259 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2006 | 209 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2005 | 177 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2004 | 160 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2003 | 119 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2002 | 109 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2001 | 98 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2000 | 71 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)
| 2008 | 109 (joint) | Transparency International 2008 |
| 2007 | 105 (joint) | Transparency International 2007 |
| 2006 | 93 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2005 | 97 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2004 | 108 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2003 | 92 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2002 | 70 | Transparency International |
| 2001 | 57 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2000 | 52 (joint) | Transparency International |
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
International humanitarian aid flows
Access the Financial Tracking Service, a global real-time database which records all reported humanitarian aid - including that for NGOs, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, bilateral aid, in-kind aid and private donations - searchable by country.
Source: Financial Tracking Service, ReliefWeb
Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
GNI per capita, Atlas method
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
Annual GDP growth
Annual inflation
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
0.9 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
38.2 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
| 1990-2005 | 6.6 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 1990-2004 | 7.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1990-2003 | 3.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1990-2002 | 3.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1990-2001 | No data available percent |
GNI per capita, Atlas method
| 2007 | 6040 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2006 | 5150 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2005 | 4460 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2004 | 3580 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2003 | 3670 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2002 | 4050 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2001 | 7000 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2000 | 7470 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
| 2007 | 262.5 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2006 | 214.2 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2005 | 183.2 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2004 | 153.1 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2003 | 129.6 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2002 | 102.0 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2001 | 268.7 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2000 | 284.2 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
Annual GDP growth
| 2006 | 8.5 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 9.2 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 9.0 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 8.8 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | -10.9 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | -4.4 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2000 | -0.8 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
Annual inflation
| 2007 | 14.2 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2006 | 13.5 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2005 | 8.8 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2004 | 9.2 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2003 | 10.5 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2002 | 30.6 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2001 | -1.1 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2000 | 1.0 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
0.9 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
38.2 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
Physicians
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
Malaria
Low risk from P.vivax, confined to rural areas along the borders with Bolivia (lowlands of Jujuy and Salta provinces) and with Paraguay (lowlands of Corrientes and Misiones provinces).
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2000-2004 | No data available per 100,000 people | |
| 1990-2004 | 301 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1990-2003 | 304 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1990-2002 | 294 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
| 2007 | 0.5 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
| 2006 | 0.5 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
| 2005 | 0.5 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
| 2004 | 0.5 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
| 2003 | 0.5 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
Malaria
Low risk from P.vivax, confined to rural areas along the borders with Bolivia (lowlands of Jujuy and Salta provinces) and with Paraguay (lowlands of Corrientes and Misiones provinces).
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2007 | 31 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2006 | 32 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2005 | 33 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2004 | 35 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2003 | 36 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2002 | 37 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2001 | 39 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2000 | 40 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
Chronology of natural disasters
Access EM-DAT, a database of natural disasters from 1900 to the present - death tolls and numbers of affected people - searchable by country.
Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium
Number of refugees originating here
Number of refugees residing here
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
Landmine casualties per year
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
Percentage of GDP spent on education
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2008 | 1047 | UNHCR |
| 2007 | 1171 | UNHCR |
| 2006 | 894 | Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) |
| 2005 | 856 | UNHCR |
| 2004 | 796 | UNHCR |
| 2003 | 784 | UNHCR |
| 2002 | 771 | UNHCR |
| 2001 | 659 | UNHCR |
| 2000 | 609 | UNHCR |
Number of refugees residing here
| 2008 | 2845 | UNHCR |
| 2007 | 3263 | UNHCR |
| 2006 | 3158 | UNHCR |
| 2005 | 3074 | UNHCR |
| 2004 | 2916 | UNHCR |
| 2003 | 2642 | UNHCR |
| 2002 | 2439 | UNHCR |
| 2001 | 2396 | UNHCR |
| 2000 | 2396 | UNHCR |
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
| No data available | |||
Landmine casualties per year
| 2004 | 0 | Landmine Monitor Report 2005 |
| 2003 | 0 | Landmine Monitor Report 2004 |
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
| 2005 | 1.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 1.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 1.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
Percentage of GDP spent on education
| 2002-2005 | 3.8 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2002-2004 | 3.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2000-2002 | 4.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1999-2001 | 4.6 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1998-2000 | 4.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2004 | 4.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2003-2004 | 4.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2002 | 4.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2001 | 5.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2000 | 4.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
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