Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural
Confederation or CRA (small to medium landowners' association);
Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association); Central of
Argentine Workers or CTA (a radical union for employed and
unemployed workers); General Confederation of Labor or CGT
(Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); White and Blue CGT
(dissident CGT labor confederation); Roman Catholic Church
other: business organizations; Peronist-dominated labor movement;
Piquetero groups (popular protest organizations that can be either
pro or anti-government); students
International organization participation:
AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN
(associate), FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, RG, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer),
UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Vilma MARTINEZ
embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Aires
mailing address: international mail: use embassy street address; APO
address: US Embassy Buenos Aires, Unit 4334, APO AA 34034
telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533
FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240
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; the colors represent the clear
skies and snow of the Andes; the sun symbol commemorates the
appearance of the sun through cloudy skies on 25 May 1810 during the
first mass demonstration in favor of independence; the sun features
are those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional Argentino" (Argentine National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Vicente LOPEZ y PLANES/Jose Blas PARERA
note: adopted 1813; Vicente LOPEZ was inspired to write the anthem
after watching a play about the 1810 May Revolution against Spain
Economy ::Argentina
Economy - overview:
Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate
population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a
diversified industrial base. Although one of the world's wealthiest
countries 100 years ago, Argentina suffered during most of the 20th
century from recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal and
current account deficits, high inflation, mounting external debt,
and capital flight. A severe depression, growing public and external
indebtedness, and a bank run culminated in 2001 in the most serious
economic, social, and political crisis in the country's turbulent
history. Interim President Adolfo RODRIGUEZ SAA declared a default -
the largest in history - on the government's foreign debt in
December of that year, and abruptly resigned only a few days after
taking office. His successor, Eduardo DUHALDE, announced an end to
the peso's decade-long 1-to-1 peg to the US dollar in early 2002.
The economy bottomed out that year, with real GDP 18% smaller than
in 1998 and almost 60% of Argentines under the poverty line. Real
GDP rebounded to grow by an average 8.5% annually over the
subsequent six years, taking advantage of previously idled
industrial capacity and labor, an audacious debt restructuring and
reduced debt burden, excellent international financial conditions,
and expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. Inflation also
increased, however, during the administration of President Nestor
KIRCHNER, which responded with price restraints on businesses, as
well as export taxes and restraints, and beginning in early 2007,
with understating inflation data. Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER
succeeded her husband as President in late 2007, and the rapid
economic growth of previous years began to slow sharply the
following year as government policies held back exports and the
world economy fell into recession. The economy has rebounded from
the 2009 recession, but the government's continued reliance on
expansionary fiscal and monetary policies risks exacerbating already
high inflation, which remains under-reported by official statistics.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$596 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$554.5 billion (2009 est.)
$571.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$351 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
-3% (2009 est.)
5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$13,700 (2009 est.)
$14,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 31.6%
services: 59.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
16.62 million
country comparison to the world: 36
note: urban areas only (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 23%
services: 72% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
8.7% (2009 est.)
note: based on official data, which may understate unemployment
Population below poverty line:
30% (January-June 2010)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 32.6% (2009)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45.7 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 38
Investment (gross fixed):
22% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Public debt:
50.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
48.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
22% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
16% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.66% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
19.47% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$41.66 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 46
$35.33 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$112.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$85.18 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$113.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$84.92 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$48.93 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 48
$52.31 billion (31 December 2008)
$86.68 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts,
tea, wheat; livestock
Industries:
food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles,
chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Industrial production growth rate:
6.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Electricity - production:
109.5 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Electricity - consumption:
99.21 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Electricity - exports:
2.628 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
10.28 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
796,300 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Oil - consumption:
622,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Oil - exports:
314,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Oil - imports:
52,290 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Oil - proved reserves:
2.386 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Natural gas - production:
41.36 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - consumption:
43.14 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Natural gas - exports:
890 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Natural gas - imports:
2.66 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - proved reserves:
398.4 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Current account balance:
$6.976 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$11.29 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$68.01 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$55.67 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
soybeans and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, wheat
Exports - partners:
Brazil 18.78%, China 9.26%, Chile 7.11%, US 6.38% (2009)
Imports:
$52.61 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$37.14 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, motor vehicles, petroleum and natural gas, organic
chemicals, plastics
Imports - partners:
Brazil 31.12%, US 13.69%, China 10.26%, Germany 4.69% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$53.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$48.03 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$128.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$118.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$86.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$80.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$30.16 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$29.46 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar - 3.8983 (2010), 3.7101 (2009),
3.1636 (2008), 3.1105 (2007), 3.0543 (2006)
Communications ::Argentina
Telephones - main lines in use:
9.764 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 22
Telephones - mobile cellular:
51.891 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 22
Telephone system:
general assessment: the "Telecommunications Liberalization Plan of
1998" opened the telecommunications market to competition and
foreign investment encouraging the growth of modern
telecommunications technology; fiber-optic cable trunk lines are
being installed between all major cities; major networks are
entirely digital and the availability of telephone service is
improving
domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic
satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network;
fixed-line teledensity is increasing gradually and mobile-cellular
subscribership is increasing rapidly; broadband Internet services
are gaining ground
international: country code - 54; landing point for the Atlantis-2,
UNISUR, South America-1, and South American Crossing/Latin American
Nautilus submarine cable systems that provide links to Europe,
Africa, South and Central America, and US; satellite earth stations
- 112; 2 international gateways near Buenos Aires (2009)
Broadcast media:
government owns a TV station and a radio network; more than 2 dozen
TV stations and hundreds of privately-owned radio stations; high
rate of cable TV subscription usage (2007)
Internet country code:
.ar
Internet hosts:
6.025 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 16
Internet users:
13.694 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 28
Transportation ::Argentina
Airports:
1,141 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 6
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 156
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 65
914 to 1,523 m: 51
under 914 m: 9 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 985
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 43
914 to 1,523 m: 530
under 914 m: 410 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 28,248 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 5,977 km; refined
products 3,636 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 31,409 km
country comparison to the world: 8
broad gauge: 27,301 km 1.676-m gauge (94 km electrified)
standard gauge: 2,780 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,328 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 231,374 km
country comparison to the world: 22
paved: 69,412 km (includes 734 km of expressways)
unpaved: 161,962 km (2004)
Waterways:
11,000 km (2007)
country comparison to the world: 11
Merchant marine:
total: 43
country comparison to the world: 74
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 7, chemical tanker 4, container 1,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 12 (Brazil 1, Chile 6, Spain 3, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 17 (Liberia 3, Panama 7, Paraguay 5,
Uruguay 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Arroyo Seco, Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, La Plata, Punta Colorada,
Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin
Military ::Argentina
Military branches:
Argentine Army (Ejercito Argentino), Navy of the Argentine Republic
(Armada Republica; includes naval aviation and naval infantry),
Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, FAA) (2011)
Military service age and obligation:
18-24 years of age for voluntary military service (18-21 requires
parental permission); no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,934,765
females age 16-49: 9,868,008 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,366,206
females age 16-49: 8,344,321 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 340,570
female: 323,953 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 146
Military - note:
the Argentine military is a well-organized force constrained by the
country's prolonged economic hardship; the country has recently
experienced a strong recovery, and the military is implementing a
modernization plan aimed at making the ground forces lighter and
more responsive (2008)
Transnational Issues ::Argentina
Disputes - international:
Argentina continues to assert its claims to the UK-administered
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia, and the South
Sandwich Islands in its constitution, forcibly occupying the
Falklands in 1982, but in 1995 agreed no longer to seek settlement
by force; territorial claim in Antarctica partially overlaps UK and
Chilean claims; unruly region at convergence of
Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering,
smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising
for extremist organizations; uncontested dispute between Brazil and
Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim
River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; in 2006,
Argentina went to the ICJ to protest, on environmental grounds, the
construction of two pulp mills in Uruguay on the Uruguay River,
which forms the boundary; both parties presented their pleadings in
2007 with Argentina's reply in January and Uruguay's rejoinder in
July 2008; the joint boundary commission, established by Chile and
Argentina in 2001 has yet to map and demarcate the delimited
boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de
Hielo Sur)
Illicit drugs:
a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe, heroin headed
for the US, and ephedrine and pseudoephedrine headed for Mexico;
some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area;
law enforcement corruption; a source for precursor chemicals;
increasing domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers,
especially cocaine base and synthetic drugs (2008)
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Armenia (Middle East)
Introduction ::Armenia
Background:
Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt
Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over
the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires
including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. During
World War I in the western portion of Armenia, Ottoman Turkey
instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh
practices that resulted in an estimated 1 million Armenian deaths.
The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in
1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was
conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenian leaders remain
preoccupied by the long conflict with Azerbaijan over
Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to
Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan
began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after
both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, ethnic Armenian forces
held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of
Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by
their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful
resolution. Turkey closed the common border with Armenia in 1994
because of the Armenian separatists' control of Nagorno-Karabakh and
surrounding areas, further hampering Armenian economic growth. In
2009, senior Armenian leaders began pursuing rapprochement with
Turkey, aiming to secure an opening of the border; this process is
currently dormant.
Geography ::Armenia
Location:
Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 29,743 sq km
country comparison to the world: 142
land: 28,203 sq km
water: 1,540 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 1,254 km
border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan
exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain:
Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing
rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
Natural resources:
small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 16.78%
permanent crops: 2.01%
other: 81.21% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,860 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
10.5 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.95 cu km/yr (30%/4%/66%)
per capita: 977 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
Environment - current issues:
soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis
of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for
firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the
draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a
source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of
Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a
seismically active zone
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake
Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range
People ::Armenia
Population:
2,966,802 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.2% (male 289,119/female 252,150)
15-64 years: 71.1% (male 986,764/female 1,123,708)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 122,996/female 192,267) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.9 years
male: 29.1 years
female: 34.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.016% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Birth rate:
12.74 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Death rate:
8.42 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Net migration rate:
-4.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Urbanization:
urban population: 64% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.133 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 102
male: 24.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.96 years
country comparison to the world: 118
male: 69.33 years
female: 77.07 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.36 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,400 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Nationality:
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian
Ethnic groups:
Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001
census)
Religions:
Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist
with elements of nature worship) 1.3%
Languages:
Armenian (official) 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001
census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
3% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 147
Government ::Armenia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Armenia
conventional short form: Armenia
local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
local short form: Hayastan
former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, Armenian Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Yerevan
geographic coordinates: 40 10 N, 44 30 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir,
Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots'
Dzor, Yerevan
Independence:
21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
Constitution:
adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995; amendments adopted
through a nationwide referendum 27 November 2005
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Serzh SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Tigran SARGSIAN (since 9 April
2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 February 2008
(next to be held in February 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president based on majority or plurality support in parliament; the
prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National
Assembly refuses to accept their program
election results: Serzh SARGSIAN elected president; percent of vote
- Serzh SARGSIAN 52.9%, Levon TER-PETROSSIAN 21.5%, Artur
BAGHDASARIAN 16.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131
seats; members elected by popular vote, 90 members elected by party
list and 41 by direct vote; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 12 May 2007 (next to be held in the spring
of 2012)