Language
Spanish
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	3.4 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	3.3 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	3.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	3.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	3.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	3.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	3.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	3.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	3.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
3.6 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Most descend from Spanish, Italian and other European immigrants, and many also have Native American ancestry. There is an 8 percent minority of African descent.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Catholic 66 percent. There are also Protestant and Jewish minorities, as well as followers of Afro-Brazilian cults.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	92.2 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	92.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	92.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	91.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	91.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	91.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	91.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	91.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1932
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
97 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	23.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	24.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	24.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	24.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	24.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	24.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
GMT -3

Climate description
Temperate. Moderate rainfall throughout the year. Summers warm, winters mild, snowfall rare.

Currency
Peso

Telephone dialling code
(+) 598

Driving (left/right)
Right

Average life expectancy

2005	75.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	75.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	75.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	75.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	75.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	74.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	72.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	71.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	No data available years
2002	71.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	71.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	71.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	79.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	79.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	No data available years
2002	78.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	78.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	78.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	12 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	11 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	14 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	15 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	12 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	14 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	14 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	14 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	14 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	12 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	15 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	17 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	99 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	99 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	20 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	27 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	46	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	43	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	46	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	46	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	40	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	40	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	5 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	5 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	5 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	No data available percent
1995-2003	5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2000	5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	<5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	<2.5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	3 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	100 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	98 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	98 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	94 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Literacy - average

2004	No data available percent
2003	97.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	97.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	97.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	97.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	No data available percent
2003	97.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	97.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	97.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	97.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	No data available percent
2003	98.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	98.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	98.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	98.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	286 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	289 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	296 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	303 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	300 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	282 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	284 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	286 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	280 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	1047 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	900 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	700 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	347 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	180 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	150 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	154 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	156 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	124 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	400 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	290 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	244 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	193 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	165 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	155 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	112 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	110 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	105 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	23 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	25 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	28 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	32 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	28	Transparency International
2003	33 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	32	Transparency International
2001	35	Transparency International
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	<2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	<2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	<2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	6390 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	5310 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	4570 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	4040 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	3860 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	4480 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	5760 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	6220 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	23.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	19.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	16.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	13.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	11.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	12.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	18.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	20.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	7.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	6.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	11.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	2.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	-11.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	-3.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	-1.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	8.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	6.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	0.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	7.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	18.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	18.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	5.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	4.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
1.9 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
34.0 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	365 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	365 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	387 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	375 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	0.6 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.5 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.5 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.5 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
No risk
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	22 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	23 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	23 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	23 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	23 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	24 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	24 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	24 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	199	UNHCR
2007	197	UNHCR
2006	163	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	111	UNHCR
2004	81	UNHCR
2003	57	UNHCR
2002	61	UNHCR
2001	46	UNHCR
2000	51	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	145	UNHCR
2007	140	UNHCR
2006	125	UNHCR
2005	121	UNHCR
2004	97	UNHCR
2003	91	UNHCR
2002	99	UNHCR
2001	90	UNHCR
2000	79	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	1.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	1.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	1.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	2.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	2.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	3.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	2.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	2.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	5.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	5.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003