Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
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.
- Capital
- Buenos Aires
- Government
- presidential republic
- Population
- 45,418,098
- Area
- 2,780,400 sq km
- Location
- Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
- Climate
- mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
- Natural resources
- fertile plains of the pampas; lead; zinc; tin; copper; iron ore…
- Languages
- Spanish (official); Italian; English; German…
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 62.9%; Evangelical 15.3% (Pentecostal 13%; other Evangelical 2.3%); Jehovah's Witness and Church of Jesus Christ 1.4%…
- Independence
- 9 July 1816 (from Spain)
- Administrative divisions
- 23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 autonomous city*;
- Currency
- Argentine pesos (ARS)
- Export partners
- Brazil 18%; USA 9%; Chile 8%; China 8%…
- Import partners
- Brazil 23%; China 20%; USA 12%; Paraguay 5%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain