1998 Edition

Area

total: 2,766,890 sq km land: 2,736,690 sq km water: 30,200 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

Climate

mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

Coastline

4,989 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Salinas Chicas -40 m highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m

Environment-current 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

Environment-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 signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates

34 00 S, 64 00 W

Geography-note

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)

Irrigated land

17,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 9,665 km border countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km

Land use

arable land: 9% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 52% forests and woodland: 19% other: 19% (1993 est.)

Location

Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural 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

Natural resources

fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium

Terrain

rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border

Age structure

0-14 years: 27% (male 5,078,061; female 4,888,883) 15-64 years: 62% (male 11,299,155; female 11,315,522) 65 years and over: 11% (male 1,526,682; female 2,157,160) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

19.96 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

7.67 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

white 85%, mestizo, Amerindian, or other nonwhite groups 15%

Infant mortality rate

19.03 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.54 years male: 70.9 years female: 78.34 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.2% male: 96.2% female: 96.2% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Argentine(s) adjective: Argentine

Net migration rate

0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

36,265,463 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

1.3% (1998 est.)

Religions

nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6%

Sex ratio

at 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 (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.68 children born/woman (1998 est.)

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

Constitution

1 May 1853; revised August 1994

Country name

conventional long form: Argentine Republic conventional short form: Argentina local long form: Republica Argentina local short form: Argentina

Data code

AR

Executive branch

chief 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 1999) election results: Carlos Saul MENEM reelected president; percent of vote-NA

FAX

[1] (202) 332-3171 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James R. CHEEK has retired; replacement to be appointed in 1998 embassy: 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires mailing address: International mail: use street address; APO address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034 telephone: [54] (1) 777-4533, 4534

[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

Government type

republic

Independence

9 July 1816 (from Spain)

International organization participation

AfDB, AG (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G6, 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, MINUGUA, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MTCR, NSG (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Diego Ramiro GUELAR chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6400 through 6403

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), the nine Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of the Senate Political parties and leaders: Justicialist Party or PJ [Carlos Saul MENEM] (Peronist umbrella political organization); Radical Civic Union or UCR [Fernando DE LA RUA]; Union of the Democratic Center or UCD (conservative party); Dignity and Independence Political Party or MODIN (right-wing party); Front for a Country in Solidarity or Frepaso (a four party coalition) [leader Carlos ALVAREZ]; Action for the Republic [Domingo CAVALLO]; New Leadership [Gustavo BELIZ]; several provincial parties Political pressure groups and leaders: Peronist-dominated labor movement; General Confederation of Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association); Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); business organizations; students; the Roman Catholic Church; the Armed Forces

Legal system

mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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 three years to a nine-year term) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; one-half of the members elected every two years to four-year terms) elections: Senate-last held NA May 1995 (next to be held NA 1998); Chamber of Deputies-last held 26 October 1997 (next to be held NA 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

National capital

Buenos Aires

National holiday

Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

wheat, corn, sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets; livestock

Budget

revenues: $55 billion expenditures: $59 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Currency

1 nuevo peso argentino = 100 centavos

Debt-external

$115 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid

$NA

Economy-overview

Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Nevertheless, following decades of mismanagement and statist policies, the economy in the late 1980s was plagued with huge external debts and recurring bouts of hyperinflation. Elected in 1989, in the depths of recession, President MENEM has implemented a comprehensive economic restructuring program that has put Argentina on a path of stable, sustainable growth. Argentina's currency has traded at par with the US dollar since April 1991, and inflation has fallen to its lowest level in 50 years. Argentines have responded to price stability by repatriating capital and investing in domestic industry. Growth averaged more than 8% between 1991 and 1994, then fell 4.6% in 1995, largely in reaction to the Mexican peso crisis. The economy has since recovered strongly. However, unemployment remains nearly 14%, and Buenos Aires still depends on foreign capital to meet the bulk of its financing needs. The IMF has urged additional economic reforms to ensure equitable long-term growth.

Electricity-capacity

19.61 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

1,960 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

65.72 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

pesos per US$1-0.99950 (January 1998), 0.99950 (1997), 0.99966 (1996), 0.99975 (1995), 0.99901 (1994), 0.99895 (1993)

Exports

total value: $25.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997) commodities: meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, manufactures, fuels partners: Brazil 26.1%, US 8.5%, Chile 7.0%, Netherlands 5.7%, Italy 3.5% (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$348.2 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 7% industry: 36% services: 57% (1995 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$9,700 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

8.4% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $30.3 billion (c.i.f., 1997) commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, transport equipment, agricultural products partners: Brazil 20.8%, US 20.7%, Italy 6.3%, Germany 6.2%, France 5.2% (1995)

Industrial production growth rate

8.7% (1997 est.)

Industries

food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel

Inflation rate-consumer price index

0.3% (1997)

Labor force

total: 14.5 million (1995 est.) by occupation: agriculture 12%, industry 31%, services 57% (1985 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 260, FM 100, shortwave 6

Radios

22.3 million (1991 est.)

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)

Telephones

4.6 million (1990)

Television broadcast stations

231

Televisions

7.165 million (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate

13.7% (October 1997)

Airports

1,411 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 137 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 55 914 to 1,523 m: 44 under 914 m: 8 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1,274 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 65 914 to 1,523 m: 635 under 914 m: 570 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 218,276 km paved: 63,518 km (including 567 km of expressways) unpaved: 154,758 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 268,492 GRT/388,524 DWT ships by type: cargo 11, container 2, oil tanker 13, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 6, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1997 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; natural gas 9,918 km Ports and harbors: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario, Santa Fe, Ushuaia

Railways

total: 37,910 km broad gauge: 24,124 km 1.676-m gauge (142 km electrified) standard gauge: 2,765 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 11,021 km 1.000-m gauge (26 km electrified)

Waterways

11,000 km navigable

Military branches

Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes Naval Aviation, Marines, and Coast Guard), Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Aeronautical Police Force

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$4.6 billion (1997)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

1.5% (1997)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 9,056,532 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 7,344,910 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

20 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 332,008 (1998 est.)

Current issues

Armenia's leaders remain preoccupied by Armenia's 10-year conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Although a cease-fire has been in effect since May 1994, the sides have not made substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. In January 1998, differences between President TER-PETROSSIAN and members of his cabinet over the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process came to a head. With the prime minister and defense and security ministers arrayed against him, an isolated TER-PETROSSIAN resigned the presidency on 3 February 1998. Robert KOCHARIAN, TER-PETROSSIAN's prime minister, was elected president in March 1998. Concerns about Armenia's economic performance rose in 1997 with a slowdown in growth and an increase in inflation.

Disputes-international

short section of the southwestern boundary with Chile is indefinite; claims UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims UK-administered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica

Illicit drugs

increasing use as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and the US Introduction