Geography
Area: 2.8 million sq. km. (1.1 million sq. mi.); about the size of
the U.S. east of the Mississippi River; second-largest country in
South America.
Climate: Varied--predominantly temperate with extremes ranging from
subtropical in the north to arid/sub- Antarctic in far south.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Argentine(s).
Population (2005 est.): 38.6 million.
Annual population growth rate (2001): 1.05%.
Ethnic groups: European 97%, mostly of Spanish and Italian descent;
Mestizo, Amerindian or other nonwhite groups 3%.
Religions: Roman Catholic 92%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%.
Language: Spanish.
Education: Years compulsory--10. Adult literacy
(2001)--97%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--16.16/1,000. Life
expectancy (2000 est.)--75.48 yrs.
Work force: Industry and commerce--36%; agriculture--19%;
transport and communications--6%.
Government
Type: Republic.
Constitution: 1853; revised 1994.
Independence: 1816.
Branches: Executive--president, vice president, cabinet.
Legislative--bicameral Congress (72-member Senate, 257-member
Chamber of Deputies). Judicial--Supreme Court, federal and
provincial trial courts.
Administrative subdivisions: 23 provinces and one autonomous
district (Federal Capital).
Political parties: Justicialist (Peronist), Radical Civic Union (UCR),
numerous smaller national and provincial parties.
Suffrage: Universal adult.
Economy (2004)
GDP: $152.0 billion.
Annual real growth rate: +9%.
Per capital GDP: $4,000.
Natural resources: Fertile plains (pampas); minerals--lead,
zinc, tin, copper, iron, manganese, oil, and uranium.
Agriculture (9% of GDP, about 50% of exports by value, including
agribusiness): Products--grains, oilseeds and by-products,
livestock products.
Industry (22.3% of GDP): Types--food processing, oil
refining, machinery and equipment, textiles, chemicals and
petrochemicals.
Trade: Exports ($34.5 billion)--grains, meats, oilseeds,
fuels, manufactured products. Major markets-- MERCOSUR
19.7%; EU 17.7%; NAFTA 14.6%. |
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