"We are the people of the new Argentina!"


Geography:
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Discant and Rochaland
Area: About 450,000 sq km
Area-Comparative: Slightly greater than the size of Paraguay
Land Boundaries: Border Countries: Discant, Rochaland, other
Climate: Mostly temperate
Terrain: Rich plains of the Pampas
Natural Resources: Fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium
Geography Note: Strategic location relative to sea lanes of the South Atlantic Ocean
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People:
Population: About 50,000,000 people
Median Age: 30.5 years
Population Growth Rate: 1.8%
Birthrate: 15.7 births/1000 people
Deathrate: 5.2 deaths/ 1000 people
Infant Mortality Rate: 9.3 deaths/ 1000 live births
Life Expectancy at Birth: 79.74 years
Total Fertility Rate: 2.14 children born/ woman
People Living with AIDS: 0.4% of population
HIV/AIDS Deaths: <200
Nationality: Noun: Argentine(s)
Adjective: Argentine
Ethnic Groups: Spanish and Italian 95%, European 3%, Indigenous Peoples 2%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Jewish 10%
Languages: Spanish (Official), English (Official), Italian, German
Literacy: Definition: Age 15 and older can read and write: 100%, education is compulsory
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Government:
Country Name: Conventional Long Form: The Free Land of the Argentine Republic
Conventional Short Form: Argentina
Local Short Form: Argentina
Local Long Form: La tierra libre de la república de Argentina
Government Type: Republic
World: Third World, Newly Industrializing
Capital: Buenos Aires
Administrative Divisions: 3 Provincias and 1 Distrito Federal*: Buenos Aires Capital Federal*, Greater Buenos Aires, Lesser Argentina, Lesser Uruguay
Independence: 23 July 2004 (Self-proclaimed founding)
National Holiday: Founder´s Day, 23 July (2004)
Constitution: Signed 24 July 2004
Legal System: Mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Chief of State: President Eva Duarte Peron (since 23 July 2004); Note: the Chief of State is also the Head of Government
Head of Government: President Eva Duarte Peron (since 23 July 2004); Note: the Head of Government is also the Chief of State
Legislative Branch: Bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate (80 seats; members are elected by direct vote) and the Chamber of Deputies (300 seats; members are elected by direct vote)
Judicial Branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the nine Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval by the Senate)
Political Parties: Action for the Republic, Alternative for a Republic of Equals, Argentine Communist Party, Frepaso, Interbloque Federal, Socialist Party
Flag Description: Three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face known as the Sun of May
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Economy:
Economy Overview: Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Government efforts to achieve a "zero deficit," to stabilize the banking system, and to restore economic growth proved inadequate in the face of the mounting economic problems. Strong demand for the peso compelled the Central Bank to intervene in foreign exchange markets to curb its appreciation in 2004. Led by record exports, the economy began to recover with output up 8% in 2004, unemployment falling, and inflation reduced to under 4% at year-end.
GDP: $193,799,926,552.88
GDP Real Growth Rate: 8%
GDP Per Capita: $4,845.00
Population Below Poverty Line: 20%
Unemployment Rate: 10%
Budget: Revenues: $69,324,580,800.00
Expenditures: $66,551,597,568.00
Industries: Beef-Based Agriculture, Chemicals, Automobiles, Steel
Agriculture Products: Livestock; sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat
Exports: $22,662,165,784.88
Imports: $25,316,236,800.00
Trade Deficit: $2,654,071,015.12
Currency: Argentine Peso
Exchange Rate: Argentine Pesos per U.S. Dollar: 4.0837 Argentine Pesos = $1 U.S.D.
Fiscal Year: Calendar Year
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Military:
Military Branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes Naval Aviation and Marines), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, FAA)
Military Manpower: 18 years of age
Military Expenditures: $14,641,351,464.96
Percent of Budget: 22%