Argentina Background

Background of Argentina

Demographics ^[1]

·        Total Population: 40,301,927 (as of 2006)

Ø      0-14 years: 24.9% (male 5,134,958/female 4,905,181)

Ø      15-64 years: - 64.4% (male 12,979,588/female 12,967,507)

Ø      65 years and over: - 10.7% (male 1,769,593/female 2,545,100)

·        Average life expectancy of the total population:  76.32 years

Spanish is the primary language spoken and English is the most common secondary foreign language taught in schools. ^[2] 

Provinces

Argentina has 23 provinces and the capital city is Buenos Aires ^[2].  Roughly one-third of the citizens reside in Buenos Aires, which is the 10^th most populated city in the world. ^[3]

Government

Argentina was in political turmoil throughout the 20^th century.  After World War II up until 1983, Argentina was ruled by an Authoritarian government.  After 1983 Argentina was under democratic leadership. ^[1] The actual head if government in Argentina is the President, whom is elected by the citizens using the runoff system method ^[4].

Geography

Overview

Argentina has 1,078,000 square miles of area ^[2] and is located in southern part of South America and borders five South American countries. ^[5]  There are only three countries in the Americas bigger than Argentina (Canada, United States, and Brazil).  Argentina’s climate and terrain varies; it is arctic in the south, mountainous in the west, tropical in the north.  The east is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. ^[5]

Economy

Overview

Prior to the 20^th Century, Argentina was considered one of the world’s more prosperous nations.  However, during the 20^th Century and even in the new millennium Argentina has suffered through economic hardships.  The economy was performing so poorly that in 2001 the Argentine President declared that they were defaulting on their foreign debt.  After 2002, Argentina started to strengthen their economy and in 2003 they started to experience Real GDP growth of approximately 9% and inflation has steadily remained under 10%. ^[1]

General Economic Information (as of 2006) ^[1]

·        Currency: Argentine Peso

·        Exchange Rate: 3.05 Pesos/1 USD

·        Exports: USD $46.6 billion

·        Imports: USD $31.7 billion  

·        Inflation: 9.8%  

·        GDP Purchasing Power Parity: USD $608.8 billion

·        Real Growth Rate: 8.5%

·        Labor Force: 15.35 million

·        Unemployment Rate: 8.7%

·        Population below the property line: 26.9%

·        Gross National Income (per capita): USD $5,150 ^[6]