Page last updated on February 11, 2013
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 an unprecedented 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 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 in 2010 rebounded strongly from the 2009 recession, but has slowed since late 2011 even as the government continued to rely on expansionary fiscal and monetary policies, which have kept inflation in the double digits.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$746.9 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$728.1 billion (2011 est.)
$668.8 billion (2010 est.)
note:
data are in 2012 US dollars
[see also:
GDP country ranks ]
GDP (official exchange rate):
$474.8 billion (2012 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]
GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
8.9% (2011 est.)
9.2% (2010 est.)
[see also:
GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]
GDP - per capita:
$18,200 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$17,900 (2011 est.)
$16,700 (2010 est.)
note:
data are in 2012 US dollars
[see also:
GDP - per capita country ranks ]
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.3%
[see also: GDP - composition by sector - agriculture country ranks ]
industry:
30.6%
services:
59.1% (2012 est.)
Labor force:
17.07 million
country comparison to the world: 36
note:
urban areas only (2012 est.)
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 5%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry:
23%
services:
72% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
7.2% (2011 est.)
[see also:
Unemployment rate country ranks ]
Population below poverty line:
30%
note:
data are based on private estimates (2010)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.5%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%:
32.3% (2010 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45.8 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 35
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]
Investment (gross fixed):
19.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
[see also: Investment (gross fixed) country ranks ]
Budget:
revenues: $117.5 billion
[see also: Budget revenues country ranks ]
expenditures:
$132.8 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
24.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]
Public debt:
41.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
41.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
[see also:
Public debt country ranks ]
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
25% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
21% (2011 est.)
note:
data are derived from private estimates
[see also:
Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.4% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
14.09% (31 December 2011 est.)
[see also:
Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]
Stock of narrow money:
$60.66 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$50.25 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
[see also:
Stock of narrow money country ranks ]
Stock of broad money:
$148.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$123.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
[see also:
Stock of broad money country ranks ]
Stock of domestic credit:
$158.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$132.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
[see also:
Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$43.58 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 50
$63.91 billion (31 December 2010)
$48.93 billion (31 December 2009)
[see also:
Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]
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:
6.5%
country comparison to the world: 49
note:
based on private estimates (2011 est.)
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]
Current account balance:
$1.433 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40