Argentina

Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict between Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military factions. After World War II, an era of Peronist authoritarian rule and interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned 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 resignation of several interim presidents. The economy has recovered strongly since bottoming out in 2002. The government renegotiated its public debt in 2005 and paid off its remaining obligations to the IMF in early 2006.

Capital City: Buenos Aires (-3 GMT)

Chief of State: President Nestor KIRCHNER

Head of Govt.: President Nestor KIRCHNER

Currency: Argentine peso

Major Languages: Spanish

Calling Code: 54

Voltage: 220V

Stock Exchanges: Buenos Aires Stock Exchange

Primary Religions: Roman Catholic

Main Airports

Ezeiza Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE)

U.S. Embassy

4300 Colombia Avenue in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires
(54)(11) 5777-4533/34

Statistics

GDP: purchasing power parity:

$518.1 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.7% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity:

13,100 (2005 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.6% (2005 est.)

Labor force:

15.34 million (2005 est.)

Exports:

$40 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - partners:

Brazil 15.4%, US 10.9%, Chile 10.5%, China 8.4%, Spain 4% (2005)

Imports:

$28.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - partners:

Brazil 34.7%, US 16.9%, China 5.5%, Germany 5.3% (2005)

Population:

39,921,833 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.96% (2006 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line:

38.5% (June 2005)

Major Industries:

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

Employing Workers: 138*

Registering Property: 74*

Enforcing Contracts: 68*

Closing a Business: 58*

*2006 World Bank rank out of 175 countries