Argentina (Spanish: [aɾxenˈtina]), officially the Argentine Republic[A] (Spanish: República Argentina), is a country located mostly in the southern half of South America. Sharing the bulk of the Southern Cone with Chile to the west, the country is also bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil to the northeast, Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Drake Passage to the south. With a mainland area of 2,780,400 km2 (1,073,500 sq mi),[B] Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world, the fourth largest in the Americas, the second largest in South America after Brazil, and the largest Spanish-speaking nation by area. The sovereign state is subdivided into twenty-three provinces (Spanish: provincias, singular provincia) and one autonomous city (ciudad autónoma), Buenos Aires, which is the federal capital of the nation (Spanish: Capital Federal) as decided by Congress.[17] The provinces and the capital have their own constitutions, but exist under a federal system. Argentina claims sovereignty over part of Antarctica, the Falkland Islands (Spanish: Islas Malvinas), and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
Argentine Republic[A]
República Argentina (Spanish)FlagCoat of armsMotto:
("In Unity and Freedom")
Anthem:
("Argentine National Anthem")
Sol de Mayo[2]
(Sun of May)
Argentine territory in dark green; claimed but uncontrolled territory in light green.
Capital
and largest cityBuenos Aires
34°36′S 58°23′WOfficial languagesNoneRecognised regional languages
National languageSpanish[a]Ethnic groups
96.7% European and Mestizo (mostly Italian and Spanish descent)
2.4% Amerindian
Religion (2019)[12]79.6% Christianity
—62.9% Roman Catholic
—15.3% Protestantism
—1.4% Other Christian
18.9% No religion
1.2% Other religions
0.3% UndeclaredDemonym(s)
Argentinian
Argentinean (uncommon)
GovernmentFederal presidential constitutional republic• PresidentAlberto Fernández• Vice PresidentCristina Fernández de Kirchner• Chief of the Cabinet of MinistersSantiago Cafiero• President of the Chamber of DeputiesSergio Massa• President of Supreme CourtCarlos RosenkrantzLegislatureNational Congress• Upper houseSenate• Lower houseChamber of DeputiesIndependence from Spain• May Revolution25 May 1810• Declared9 July 1816• Constitution1 May 1853Area• Total2,780,400 km2 (1,073,500 sq mi)[B] (8th)• Water (%)1.57Population• 2019 estimate44,938,712 (31st)• 2010 census40,117,096[13]• Density14.4/km2 (37.3/sq mi)[13] (214th)GDP (PPP)2019 estimate• Total$903.542 billion[14] (25th)• Per capita$20,055[14] (56th)GDP (nominal)2019 estimate• Total$445.469 billion[14] (30th)• Per capita$9,887[14] (53rd)Gini (2018) 41.4[15]
mediumHDI (2018) 0.830[16]
very high · 48thCurrencyPeso ($) (ARS)Time zoneUTC−3 (ART)Date formatdd.mm.yyyy (CE)Driving sideright[b]Calling code+54ISO 3166 codeARInternet TLD.ar
^ Though not declared official de jure, the Spanish language is the only one used in the wording of laws, decrees, resolutions, official documents and public acts.
^ 10 June 1945, but trains are still driven on left.
The earliest recorded human presence in modern-day Argentina dates back to the Paleolithic period.[18] The Inca Empire expanded to the northwest of the country in Pre-Columbian times. The country has its roots in Spanish colonization of the region during the 16th century.[19] Argentina rose as the successor state of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata,[20] a Spanish overseas viceroyalty founded in 1776. The declaration and fight for independence (1810–1818) was followed by an extended civil war that lasted until 1861, culminating in the country's reorganization as a federation of provinces with Buenos Aires as its capital city. The country thereafter enjoyed relative peace and stability, with several waves of European immigration, mainly Italians and Spaniards, radically reshaping its cultural and demographic outlook; 62.5% of the population has full or partial Italian ancestry,[21][22] and the Argentine culture has significant connections to the Italian culture.[23]
The almost-unparalleled increase in prosperity led to Argentina becoming the seventh wealthiest nation in the world by the early 20th century.[24][25][26] According to the Maddison Historical Statistics Project, Argentina had the world's highest real GDP per capita in 1895 and 1896, and was consistently in the top ten before at least 1920.[27][28] Currently, it is ranked 61st in the world.[29] Following the Great Depression in the 1930s, Argentina descended into political instability and economic decline that pushed it back into underdevelopment,[30] although it remained among the fifteen richest countries for several decades.[24] Following the death of President Juan Perón in 1974, his widow, Isabel Martínez de Perón, ascended to the presidency. She was overthrown in 1976 by a U.S.-backed coup which installed a right-wing military dictatorship. The military government persecuted and murdered numerous political critics, activists, and leftists in the Dirty War, a period of state terrorism that lasted until the election of Raúl Alfonsín as president in 1983. Several of the junta's leaders were later convicted of their crimes and sentenced to imprisonment.
Argentina is a developing country and ranks 48th on the Human Development Index, the second highest in Latin America after Chile.[16] It is a regional power in Latin America and retains its historic status as a middle power in international affairs.[31][32][33] Argentina maintains the second largest economy in South America, the third-largest in Latin America, and is a member of G-15 and G20. It is also a founding member of the United Nations, World Bank, World Trade Organization, Mercosur, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the Organization of Ibero-American States.
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