Country Profile: Argentina

Argentina, located in southern South America, is bordered by the South Atlantic Ocean and shares land borders with Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. With a population of approximately 45 million, the country has a rich cultural heritage influenced by European immigration. Argentina's economy is diverse, primarily relying on agriculture, industry, and services. The country is a presidential republic, with a commitment to democracy despite a history of political unrest and military rule.

Geography

Argentina is the second-largest country in South America, with a total area of 2,780,400 sq km, which is roughly 30% smaller than the United States. It features diverse geography, from the fertile plains of the Pampas in the north to the rugged Andes mountains along the western border. The climate varies across the country, ranging from temperate in most areas to arid in the southeast.

Highest Point: Cerro Aconcagua at 6,962 m.
Lowest Point: Laguna del Carbón at -105 m.
Land Boundaries: Totaling 11,968 km with Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Coastline Length: 4,989 km.
Major Rivers: Includes the Río de la Plata/Paraná river with a mouth length of 4,880 km.

People and Society

Argentina has a population of approximately 45.4 million as of 2025, with a demographic predominantly of European descent, particularly Spanish and Italian. The official language is Spanish, while the predominant religion is Roman Catholicism. Urbanization is significant, with about 92.5% of the population residing in urban areas, notably Buenos Aires, which is home to around 15.5 million people.

Life Expectancy: 78.8 years (2024 est.).
Literacy Rate: 99.1% (2020 est.).
Median Age: Approximately 34.6 years (2025 est.).
Birth Rate: 10.47 births/1,000 population (2025 est.).
Urban Population Growth Rate: 0.97% annually (2020-25 est.).

Economy

Argentina boasts a large and diversified economy, primarily driven by agriculture, industry, and services. Despite being resource-rich, the country faces financial risks such as high public debt and rapid inflation. The GDP (PPP) for 2024 is estimated at $1.213 trillion, with a per capita GDP of approximately $26,500.

Unemployment Rate: 7.9% (2024 est.).
Inflation Rate: Recorded at 73.1% (2022 est.).
Public Debt: Estimated at 55% of GDP (2016).
Exports: Anticipated to reach $96.899 billion (2024 est.).
Poverty Rate: Approximately 41.7% of the population (2023 est.) lives below the national poverty line.

Government

The Argentine Republic operates as a presidential republic with a bicameral National Congress consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Javier Milei was elected president in 2023 and has since focused on economic reforms. The country has a history of political instability with intermittent military rule, yet democracy has been reinstated since 1983.

Capital: Buenos Aires.
Last Election: Held on October 22, 2023.
Suffrage Age: Citizens aged 18-70 have compulsory voting; 16-17 year-olds may vote optionally.

Military and Security

Argentina's military consists of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with an active-duty personnel strength of about 75,000. The military budget accounts for 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.), focusing on territorial defense and various internal security missions.

Military Service Age: Citizens aged 18-24 can volunteer for service.
Current Military Deployments: Approximately 230 personnel in Cyprus (UNFICYP) as of 2025.
Military Equipment: A mix of domestically produced and imported military assets.

Energy

Argentina's energy sector is increasingly focused on diversifying sources, with 100% of the population having access to electricity as of 2022. The installed generating capacity stands at 47.631 million kW with a significant reliance on fossil fuels.

Electricity Generation from Fossil Fuels: 61.5% of total capacity.
Petroleum Production: Approximately 807,000 bbl/day (2023 est.).
Natural Gas Consumption: 46.028 billion cubic meters (2023 est.).

Environment

The country faces environmental challenges including deforestation, soil degradation, and water pollution. Argentina participates in various international environmental agreements to address these issues.

Total Water Withdrawal: 27.93 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) for agriculture.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Approximately 198.141 million metric tonnes (2023 est.).
Recycling Rate: About 9.6% of municipal solid waste was recycled as of 2022.

Transportation

Argentina has a well-developed transportation network, including roads, railways, and air travel, with 764 airports as of 2025.

Rail Length: 17,866 km.
Merchant Marine: A fleet of 201 vessels as of 2023.
Key Ports: Includes Buenos Aires, Rosario, and Mar del Plata.

Communications

The communications sector in Argentina is robust, with 89% of the population using the Internet as of 2023. The country has a high number of mobile cellular subscriptions per capita.

Mobile Subscriptions: 64.1 million (2024 est.), equating to 140 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.
Fixed-line Subscriptions: 6.42 million (2024 est.).
Broadband Fixed Subscriptions: 11.5 million (2023 est.).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	45,418,098	(2025 est.)
Area	2,780,400 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$1.213 trillion	(2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	7.9%	(2024 est.)
Inflation Rate	73.1%	(2022 est.)
Electricity Access	100%	(2022 est.)
Life Expectancy	78.8 years	(2024 est.)
Poverty Rate	41.7%	(2023 est.)
Urban Population	92.5%	(2023)
Major Urban Area Population	15.490 million (Buenos Aires)	(2023)