Argentina Travel Podcast with Camila Duarte

Location

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

Terrain

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

Climate

Mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

Elevation

Highest point

Cerro Aconcagua (located in the northwestern corner of the province of Mendoza; highest point in South America) 6,962 m

Lowest point

Laguna del Carbón (located between Puerto San Julián and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz) -105 m

Mean elevation

595 m

Area

Total

2,780,400 sq km

Land

2,736,690 sq km

Water

43,710 sq km

Size comparison

Slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

Coastline

4,989 km

Land borders

Total

11,968 km

Border countries

Bolivia 942 km; Brazil 1,263 km; Chile 6,691 km; Paraguay 2,531 km; Uruguay 541 km

Natural resources

Fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium, arable land

Land use

Agricultural land

42.4% (2023 est.)

Arable land

14.8% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops

0.4% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture

27.3% (2023 est.)

Forest

17.2% (2023 est.)

Other

40.4% (2023 est.)

Natural hazards

San Miguel de Tucumán and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding in some areas

Volcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains along the Chilean border; Copahue (2,997 m) last erupted in 2000; other historically active volcanoes include Llullaillaco, Maipo, Planchón-Peteroa, San José, Tromen, Tupungatito, and Viedma

Note

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); diverse geophysical landscapes range from tropical climates in the north to tundra in the far south; Cerro Aconcagua is the Western Hemisphere's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carbón is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere; shares Iguazú Falls, the world's largest waterfalls system, with Brazil

Population

Total

45,418,098 (2025 est.)

Male

22,535,980

Female

22,882,118

Nationality

Noun

Argentine(s)

Adjective

Argentine

Ethnic groups

European (mostly Spanish and Italian descent) and Mestizo (mixed European and Indigenous ancestry) 97.2%, Indigenous 2.4%, African descent 0.4% (2010 est.)

Languages

Languages

Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Quechua, Guarani, Mapudungun)

Major-language sample(s)

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

Religions

Roman Catholic 62.9%, Evangelical 15.3% (Pentecostal 13%, other Evangelical 2.3%), Jehovah's Witness and Church of Jesus Christ 1.4%, other 1.2% (includes Muslim, Jewish), none 18.9% (includes agnostic and atheist), unspecified 0.3% (2019 est.)

Median age

Total

34.6 years (2025 est.)

Male

32.1 years

Female

34.6 years

Life expectancy

Total population

78.8 years (2024 est.)

Male

75.8 years

Female

82 years

Urbanisation

Urban population

92.5% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization

0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Where people live

One third of the population lives in Buenos Aires; pockets of agglomeration occur throughout the northern and central parts of the country; Patagonia to the south remains sparsely populated

Largest cities

15.490 million BUENOS AIRES (capital), 1.612 million Córdoba, 1.594 million Rosario, 1.226 million Mendoza, 1.027 million San Miguel de Tucumán, 914,000 La Plata (2023)

Background

In 1816, the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. European immigrants heavily shaped the country's population and culture, with Italy and Spain providing the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political unrest and conflict between civilian and military factions.

After World War II, former President Juan Domingo PERÓN -- the founder of the Peronist political movement -- introduced an era of populism, serving three non-consecutive terms in office until his death in 1974. Direct and indirect military interference in government throughout the PERÓN years led to a military junta taking power in 1976. In 1982, the junta failed in its bid to seize the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) by force from the United Kingdom. Democracy was reinstated in 1983 and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the successive resignations of several presidents. The years 2003-15 saw Peronist rule by Néstor KIRCHNER (2003-07) and his spouse Cristina FERNÁNDEZ DE KIRCHNER (2007-15), who oversaw several years of strong economic growth (2003-11) followed by a gradual deterioration in the government’s fiscal situation and eventual economic stagnation and isolation. Argentina underwent a brief period of economic reform and international reintegration under Mauricio MACRI (2015-19), but a recession in 2018-19 and frustration with MACRI’s economic policies ushered in a new Peronist government in 2019 led by President Alberto FERNÁNDEZ and Vice President Cristina FERNÁNDEZ DE KIRCHNER. Argentina's high public debts, its pandemic-related inflationary pressures, and systemic monetary woes served as the catalyst for the 2023 elections, culminating with President Javier MILEI's electoral success. Argentina has since eliminated half of its government agencies and is seeking shock therapy to amend taxation and monetary policies.

Government

Presidential republic

Capital

Buenos Aires

Time zone

UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Local name

República Argentina

Independence

9 July 1816 (from Spain)

National day

Revolution Day (May Revolution Day), 25 May (1810)

Overview

Large diversified economy; financial risks from debt obligations, rapid inflation, and reduced investor appetites; resource-rich, export-led growth model; increasing trade relations with China; G20 and OAS leader; tendency to nationalize businesses and under-report inflation

GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

$26,500 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$27,100 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$27,600 (2022 est.)

Inflation

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

73.1% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

47.1% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

40.5% (2020 est.)

Unemployment

Unemployment rate 2024

7.9% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

6.9% (2022 est.)

Exchange rate

Currency

Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

914.695 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

296.258 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

130.617 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

94.991 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

70.539 (2020 est.)

Main industries

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

Agriculture

Maize, soybeans, sugarcane, wheat, milk, sunflower seeds, barley, beef, potatoes, chicken (2023)

Airports

764 (2025)

Railways

Total 17,866 km (2018)

Ports

Total ports

37 (2024)

Large

1

Medium

2

Small

10

Very small

24

Ports with oil terminals

19

Key ports

Buenos Aires, Campana, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Puerto Belgrano, Puerto Ingeniero White, Puerto Madryn, Rosario, San Sebastian Bay, Santa Fe, Ushuaia, Zarate

Internet domain

.ar

Internet users

Percent of population 89% (2023 est.)

Mobile subscriptions

Total subscriptions

64.1 million (2024 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

140 (2024 est.)

Environmental issues

Deforestation; soil degradation (erosion, salinization); desertification; air pollution; water pollution

Fresh water

876.24 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)