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South America
Independence from Spain: July 9, 1816.
A military dictatorship began ruling in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983.
Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.
Estimated per capita GDP:
2008 $14,200 (ranks 2nd among Latin American nations, below Chile and above Mexico)
2007 $13,100
2006 $12,500
GDP annual growth rate:
2008: 7.1%
2007: 8.7%
2006: 8.5%
Unemployment rate estimated for September 2008: 7.8%
In 2001 Argentina's economy collapsed. In 2003 recovery was underway. According to the Factbook, growth "was led by a revival in domestic demand, solid exports, and favorable external conditions."
Argentina produces about twice as much oil as it consumes. It exports other fuels, feed, edible oils, cars, cereals.
Military expenditures as a percentage of GDP: 1.3 (2005 estimate).
Deaths: 7.54. Births: 16.32, down from 17.47 in 2005.
Estimated for July 2008: 40.677 million. Growth rate: 0.917 percent per year. Persons per square kilometers estimated in 2005: 14.3, compared to 187 for Switzerland.
More arriving than leaving, a net gain of 0.39 persons per 1,000 population.
Infant mortality estimated for 2008: 13.87 deaths before the age of one year, per 1,000 live births.
Average life expectancy at birth estimated for 2008: 76.52, up from 76.32 in 2007.
97 percent white. 92 percent nominally Roman Catholic, less than 20 percent practicing Roman Catholic. Protestants 2 percent. Jewish 2 percent.
SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook
Copyright © 2008 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.