Country Guide

Ethiopia Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Eastern Africa, west of Somalia


Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 38 00 E


Map references:
Africa


Area:
total:1,104,300 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 27
land:1 million sq km
water:104,300 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas


Land boundaries:
total:5,925 km
border countries:Djibouti 342 km, Eritrea 1,033 km, Kenya 867 km, Somalia 1,640 km, South Sudan 1,299 km, Sudan 744 km


Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)


Maritime claims:
lowest point:Danakil Depression -125 m
highest point:Ras Dejen 4,533 m


Natural resources:
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:13.19%
permanent crops:1.01%
other:85.8% (2011)


    Irrigated land:
2,896 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
122 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
122 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts


Environment - current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea


Geography - note:
landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; Ethiopia is, therefore, the most populous landlocked country in the world; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops are believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and castor bean

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Ethiopian(s)
adjective:Ethiopian


Ethnic groups:
Oromo 34.4%, Amhara (Amara) 27%, Somali (Somalie) 6.2%, Tigray (Tigrinya) 6.1%, Sidama 4%, Gurage 2.5%, Welaita 2.3%, Hadiya 1.7%, Afar (Affar) 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Silte 1.3%, Kefficho 1.2%, other 10.5% (2007 est.)


Languages:
Oromo (official working language in the State of Oromiya) 33.8%, Amharic (official national language) 29.3%, Somali (official working language of the State of Sumale) 6.2%, Tigrigna (Tigrinya) (official working language of the State of Tigray) 5.9%, Sidamo 4%, Wolaytta 2.2%, Gurage 2%, Afar (official working language of the State of Afar) 1.7%, Hadiyya 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Opuuo 1.2%, Kafa 1.1%, other 8.1%, English (major foreign language taught in schools), Arabic (2007 est.)


Religions:
Ethiopian Orthodox 43.5%, Muslim 33.9%, Protestant 18.5%, traditional 2.7%, Catholic 0.7%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)


Population:
96,633,458country comparison to the world: 14
note:estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:44.2% (male 21,376,243/female 21,308,454)
15-24 years:19.9% (male 9,557,462/female 9,692,275)
25-54 years:29.2% (male 14,023,218/female 14,176,263)
55-64 years:3.9% (male 1,826,602/female 1,919,212)
65 years and over:2.8% (male 1,242,171/female 1,511,558) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:83.5 %
youth dependency ratio:77.2 %
elderly dependency ratio:6.3 %
potential support ratio:15.8 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:17.6 years
male:17.4 years
female:17.7 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
2.89% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 14


Birth rate:
37.66 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 14


Death rate:
8.52 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 77


Net migration rate:
-0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 populationcountry comparison to the world: 122
note:repatriation of Ethiopian refugees residing in Sudan is expected to continue for several years; some Sudanese, Somali, and Eritrean refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting or famine in their own countries, continue to return to their homes (2014 est.)



Urbanization:
urban population:17% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:3.57% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
ADDIS ABABA (capital) 2.979 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1 male(s)/female
15-24 years:0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.83 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


    Mother's mean age at first birth:
19.6


Maternal mortality rate:
350 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:55.77 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 29
male:63.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female:47.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:60.75 yearscountry comparison to the world: 193
male:58.43 years
female:63.15 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
5.23 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 14


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
28.6% (2010/11)


Health expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.03 physicians/1,000 population (2009)


Hospital bed density:
6.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 96.8% of population
rural: 42.1% of population
total: 51.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.2% of population
rural: 57.9% of population
total: 48.5% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 27.4% of population
rural: 22.8% of population
total: 23.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 72.6% of population
rural: 77.2% of population
total: 76.4% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.3% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 34


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
758,600 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 14


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
47,200 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 8


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
1.1% (2008)country comparison to the world: 191


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
29.2% (2011)country comparison to the world: 17


Education expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 85

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:39%
male:49.1%
female:28.9% (2007 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:7 years
male:8 years
female:6 years (2005)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:24.9%country comparison to the world: 40
male:19.5%
female:29.4% (2006)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form:Ethiopia
local long form:Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
local short form:Ityop'iya
former:Abyssinia, Italian East Africa
abbreviation:FDRE


Government type:
federal republic


Capital:
name:Addis Ababa
geographic coordinates:9 02 N, 38 42 E
time difference:UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
9 ethnically based states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 self-governing administrations* (astedaderoch, singular - astedader); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela Peoples), Hareri Hizb (Harari People), Oromiya (Oromia), Sumale (Somali), Tigray, Ye Debub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples)


Independence:
oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years (may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which coalesced in the first century B.C.)


National holiday:
National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)


Constitution:
several previous; latest drafted June 1994, adopted 8 December 1994, entered into force 21 August 1995 (2013)


Legal system:
civil law system


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President MULATU Teshome Wirtu (since 7 October 2013)
head of government:Prime Minister HAILEMARIAM Desalegn (since 21 September 2012); Deputy Prime Ministers ASTER Mamo, DEBRETSION Gebre-Michael, DEMEKE Mekonnen Hassen; note - prior to his approval as prime minister, HAILEMARIAM had been acting prime minister due to the death of former Prime Minister MELES
cabinet:Council of Ministers - ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives
elections:president elected by both chambers of Parliament for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 October 2013 (next to be held in October 2019); prime minister designated by the party in power following legislative elections
election results:MULATU Teshome Wirtu elected president by acclamation


Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation (or upper chamber responsible for interpreting the constitution and federal-regional issues) (108 seats; members chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's Representatives (or lower chamber responsible for passing legislation) (547 seats; members directly elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 23 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results:percent of vote - NA; seats by party - EPRDF 499, SPDP 24, BGPDP 9, ANDP 8, GPUDM 3, HNL 1, FORUM 1, APDO 1, independent 1


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Federal Supreme Court or Supreme Imperial Court (consists of 11 judges)
note - the Federal Supreme Court has jurisdiction for all constitutional issues
judge selection and term of office:president and vice president of Federal Supreme Court nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; other Supreme Court judges nominated by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; judges serve until retirement at age 60
subordinate courts:federal high courts and federal courts of first instance; state court systems (mirror structure of federal system); sharia courts and customary and traditional courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Afar National Democratic Party or ANDP [Mohammed KEDIR]
All Ethiopian Unity Organization or AEUO [Hailu SHAWEL]
Arena Tigray [GEBRU Asrat]
Argoba People's Democratic Organization or APDO [Abdulkader MOHAMMED]
Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Party or BGPDP [Mulualem BESSE]
Coalition for Unity and Democratic Party or CUDP [AYELE Chamiso]
Ethiopian Democratic Party or EDP [MUSHE Semu]
Ethiopian Federal Democratic Forum or FORUM (a UDJ-led 6-party alliance established for the 2010 parliamentary elections) [Dr. Moga FRISSA]
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF (including the following organizations: Amhara National Democratic Movement or ANDM; Oromo People's Democratic Organization or OPDO; Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement or SEPDM; and Tigray People's Liberation Front or TPLF)
Gambella Peoples Unity Democratic Movement or GPUDM
Gurage Peoples Democratic Front [GIRMA Bogale]
Harari National League or HNL [YASIN Husein]
Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement or OFDM
Oromo People's Congress or OPC [IMERERA Gudina]
Somali Democratic Alliance Forces or SODAF [BUH Hussien]
Somali People's Democratic Party or SPDP [Abdulfetah Sheck ABDULAHI]
South Ethiopian People's Democratic Union or SEPDU [TILAHUN Endeshaw]
United Ethiopian Democratic Forces or UEDF [BEYENE Petros]
Unity for Democracy and Justice or UDJ [Dr. NEGASSO Gidada]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front or EPPF


International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador GIRMA Birru (since 6 January 2011)
chancery:3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 364-1200
FAX:[1] (202) 587-0195
consulate(s) general:Los Angeles
consulate(s):New York


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Patricia Marie HASLACH (since 14 August 2013)
embassy:Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address:P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone:130-6000
FAX:124-2401


Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red, with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; green represents hope and the fertility of the land, yellow symbolizes justice and harmony, while red stands for sacrifice and heroism in the defense of the land; the blue of the disk symbolizes peace and the pentagram represents the unity and equality of the nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia


National symbol(s):
Abyssinian lion


National anthem:
name:'Whedefit Gesgeshi Woud Enat Ethiopia' (March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia)

lyrics/music:DEREJE Melaku Mengesha/SOLOMON Lulu
note:adopted 1992

Economy

Economy - overview:
Ethiopia's economy is based on agriculture but the government is pushing to diversify into manufacturing, textiles, and energy generation.. Coffee is a major export crop. The agricultural sector suffers from poor cultivation practices and frequent drought, but recent joint efforts by the Government of Ethiopia and donors have strengthened Ethiopia's agricultural resilience, contributing to a reduction in the number of Ethiopians threatened with starvation. The banking, insurance, telecommunications, and micro-credit industries are restricted to domestic investors, but Ethiopia has attracted significant foreign investment in textiles, leather, commercial agriculture and manufacturing. Under Ethiopia's constitution, the state owns all land and provides long-term leases to the tenants; land use certificates are now being issued in some areas so that tenants have more recognizable rights to continued occupancy and hence make more concerted efforts to improve their leaseholds. While GDP growth has remained high, per capita income is among the lowest in the world. Ethiopia's economy continues on its state-led Growth and Transformation Plan under the new collective leadership that followed Prime Minister MELES’s death. The five-year economic plan has achieved high single-digit growth rates through government-led infrastructure expansion and commercial agriculture development. Ethiopia in 2014 will continue construction of its Grand Renaissance Dam on the Nile – a controversial five billion dollar effort to develop electricity for domestic consumption and export.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$118.2 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$110.4 billion (2012 est.)
$101.8 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$47.34 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
8.5% (2012 est.)
11.4% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,300 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
$1,300 (2012 est.)
$1,200 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
18.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
18.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
22.9% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:83.1%
government consumption:8.6%
investment in fixed capital:26.1%
investment in inventories:0%
exports of goods and services:11.5%
imports of goods and services:-29.3%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:47%
industry:10.8%
services:42.2% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, cotton, sugarcane, potatoes, khat, cut flowers; hides, cattle, sheep, goats; fish


Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, chemicals, metals processing, cement


Industrial production growth rate:
9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Labor force:
45.65 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:85%
industry:5%
services:10% (2009 est.)


Unemployment rate:
17.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
18% (2011 est.)


Population below poverty line:
39% (2012 est.)


    Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:4.1%
highest 10%:25.6% (2005)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 101
30 (2000)


Budget:
revenues:$6.702 billion
expenditures:$8.042 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
14.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116


Public debt:
50.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
39.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:official data cover central government debt, including debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury and treasury debt owned by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions


Fiscal year:
8 July - 7 July


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
22.9% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
NA%


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
14.5% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$9.006 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$9.107 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$15.43 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$15.45 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$16.07 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$16.09 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
-$2.744 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
-$2.031 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$3.214 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$3.039 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
coffee, khat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds


Exports - partners:
China 13%, Germany 10.8%, US 8%, Belgium 7.7%, Saudi Arabia 7.6% (2012)


Imports:
$10.68 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$10.25 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles


Imports - partners:
China 13.1%, US 11%, Saudi Arabia 8.4%, India 5.4% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.382 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
$3.272 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$11.99 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$10.03 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
birr (ETB) per US dollar -
19.92 (2013 est.)
17.705 (2012 est.)
14.41 (2010 est.)
11.78 (2009)
9.57 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
4.929 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119


Electricity - consumption:
4.451 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
2.061 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
9.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
89.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86


Crude oil - production:
100 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
430,000 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
49,080 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175


Refined petroleum products - imports:
42,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190


Natural gas - proved reserves:
24.92 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
6.703 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
797,500 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 86


Telephones - mobile cellular:
20.524 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 47


Telephone system:
general assessment:inadequate telephone system with the Ethio Telecom maintaining a monopoly over telecommunication services; open-wire, microwave radio relay; radio communication in the HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; 2 domestic satellites provide the national trunk service
domestic:the number of fixed lines and mobile telephones is increasing from a small base; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 15 per 100 persons
international:country code - 251; open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean) (2011)



    Broadcast media:
1 public TV station broadcasting nationally and 1 public radio broadcaster with stations in each of the 13 administrative districts; a few commercial radio stations and roughly a dozen community radio stations (2009)


Internet country code:
.et


Internet hosts:
179 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 203


Internet users:
447,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 119

Transportation

Airports
57 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 84


Airports - with paved runways
total:17
over 3,047 m:3
2,438 to 3,047 m:8
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
under 914 m:2 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:40
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:9
914 to 1,523 m:20
under 914 m:
8 (2013)


    Railways
total:681 km (Ethiopian segment of the 781 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)country comparison to the world: 102
narrow gauge:681 km 1.000-m gauge
note:railway is under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but is largely inoperable (2008)


Roadways
total:44,359 kmcountry comparison to the world: 79
paved:6,064 km
unpaved:38,295 km (2007)


Merchant marine
total:8country comparison to the world: 121
by type:cargo 8 (2010)



Ports and terminals

Military

Military branches
Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF): Ground Forces, Ethiopian Air Force (Ye Ityopya Ayer Hayl, ETAF) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no compulsory military service, but the military can conduct callups when necessary and compliance is compulsory (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:19,067,499
females age 16-49:19,726,816 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:11,868,084
females age 16-49:12,889,260 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:967,411
female:981,714 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
0.91% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 107
1.1% of GDP (2011)
0.91% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; the undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist Courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; 'Somaliland' secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera and trade ties to landlocked Ethiopia; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):244,956 (Somalia); 191,303 (South Sudan); 84,271 (Eritrea); 40,781 (Sudan) (2014)
IDPs:316,000 (border war with Eritrea from 1998-2000; ethnic clashes; and ongoing fighting between the Ethiopian military and separatist rebel groups in the Sumale and Oromiya regions; natural disasters; most IDPs live in Sumale state) (2013)



Illicit drugs
transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe, as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia (legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money laundering center
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

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Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form:Austria
local long form:Republik Oesterreich
local short form:Oesterreich


Government type:
federal republic


Capital:
name:Vienna
geographic coordinates:48 12 N, 16 22 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October


Administrative divisions:
9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Karnten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)


Independence:
12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed)


National holiday:
National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the passage of the law on permanent neutrality


Constitution:
several previous; latest adopted 1 October 1920, revised 1929, replaced May 1934 (authoritarian-corporate constitution), replaced by German Weimar constitution in 1938 following German annexation; latest reinstated 1 May 1945 (1920 constitution with 1929 revisions); amended many times, last in 2008 (2013)


Legal system:
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court


International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) (since 8 July 2004)
head of government:Chancellor Werner FAYMANN (SPOe) (since 2 December 2008); Vice Chancellor Michael SPINDELEGGER (OeVP) (since 21 April 2011)
cabinet:Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
elections:president elected for a six-year term (eligible for a second term) by direct popular vote and formally sworn into office before the Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung; presidential election last held on 25 April 2010 (next to be held on 25 April 2016); chancellor formally chosen by the president but determined by the coalition parties forming a parliamentary majority; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
election results:Heinz FISCHER reelected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER 79.33%, Barbara ROSENKRANZ 15.24%, Rudolf GEHRING 5.43%
note:government coalition - SPOe and OeVP


Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; delegates appointed by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 seats in proportion to its population; members serve five- or six-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by popular vote for a five-year term under a system of proportional representation with partially open party lists)
elections:National Council - last held on 29 September 2013 (next to be held by September 2018)
election results:National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe 27.1%, OeVP 23.8%, FPOe 21.4%, Greens 11.5%, Team Stronach for Austria 5.8%, NEOS - The New Austria 4.8%, other 5.6%; seats by party - SPOe 53, OeVP 46, FPOe 42, Greens 22; Team Stronach for Austria 11, NEOS - The New Austria 9


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court of Justice or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 85 judges organized into 17 senates or panels of five judges each); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof (consists of 20 judges including 6 substitutes; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof - 2 judges plus other members depending on the importance of the case)
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court judges nominated by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; judges serve for life; Constitutional Court judges nominated by several executive branch departments and approved by the president; judges serve for life; Administrative Court judges recommended by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; terms of judges and members determined by the president
subordinate courts:Courts of Appeal (4); Regional Courts (20); district courts (120); county courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Josef BUCHER]
Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Michael SPINDELEGGER]
Communist Party of Austria or KPOe [Mirko MESSNER]
Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]
The Greens [Eva GLAWISCHNIG]
NEOS - The New Austria [Matthias STROLZ]
Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Werner FAYMANN]
'Team Stronach for Austria' [Frank STRONACH]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Austrian Trade Union Federation or OeGB (nominally independent but primarily Social Democratic)


International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Hans Peter MANZ (since 2 December 2011)
chancery:3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
telephone:[1] (202) 895-6700
FAX:[1] (202) 895-6750
consulate(s) general:Chicago, Los Angeles, New York


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Alexa L. WESNER (since 6 September 2013)
embassy:Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna
mailing address:use embassy street address
telephone:[43] (1) 31339-0
FAX:[43] (1) 3100682


Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red; the flag design is certainly one of the oldest - if not the oldest - national banners in the world; according to tradition, in 1191, following a fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of Austria's white tunic became completely blood-spattered; upon removal of his wide belt or sash, a white band was revealed; the red-white-red color combination was subsequently adopted as his banner


National symbol(s):
golden eagle, Alpine gentian, edelweiss


National anthem:
name:'Bundeshymne' (Federal Hymn)

lyrics/music:Paula von PRERADOVIC/Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART or Johann HOLZER (disputed)
note:adopted 1947; the anthem is also known as 'Land der Berge, Land am Strome' (Land of the Mountains, Land on the River); Austria adopted a new national anthem after World War II to replace the former imperial anthem composed by Franz Josef HAYDN, which had been appropriated by Germany in 1922 and was now associated with the Nazi regime

Economy

Economy - overview:
Austria, with its well-developed market economy, skilled labor force, and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. Its economy features a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector. Following several years of solid foreign demand for Austrian exports and record employment growth, the international financial crisis of 2008 and subsequent global economic downturn led to a sharp but brief recession. Austrian GDP contracted 3.8% in 2009 but saw positive growth of about 2% in 2010 and 2.7% in 2011. Growth fell to 0.6% in 2012. Unemployment did not rise as steeply in Austria as elsewhere in Europe, partly because the government subsidized reduced working hour schemes to allow companies to retain employees. The 2012 unemployment rate of 4.3% was the lowest within the EU. Stabilization measures, stimulus spending, and an income tax reform pushed the budget deficit to 4.5% in 2010 and 2.6% in 2011, from only about 0.9% in 2008. The international financial crisis of 2008 caused difficulties for Austria's largest banks whose extensive operations in central, eastern, and southeastern Europe faced large losses. The government provided bank support - including in some instances, nationalization - to support aggregate demand and stabilize the banking system. Austria's fiscal position compares favorably with other euro-zone countries, but it faces external risks, such as Austrian banks' continued exposure to Central and Eastern Europe as well as political and economic uncertainties caused by the European sovereign debt crisis. In 2011 the government attempted to pass a constitutional amendment limiting public debt to 60% of GDP by 2020, but it was unable to obtain sufficient support in parliament and instead passed the measure as a simple law. In March 2012, the Austrian parliament approved an austerity package consisting of a mix of expenditure cuts and new revenues that will bring public finances into balance by 2016. In 2012, the budget deficit rose to 3.1% of GDP.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$361 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$359.6 billion (2012 est.)
$356.5 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$417.9 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
0.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
0.9% (2012 est.)
2.8% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$42,600 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$42,500 (2012 est.)
$42,300 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
23.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
24.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
24.5% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:54.6%
government consumption:19.2%
investment in fixed capital:20.8%
investment in inventories:0.5%
exports of goods and services:56.9%
imports of goods and services:-52%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:1.6%
industry:28.6%
services:69.8% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber


Industries:
construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and wood, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism


Industrial production growth rate:
0.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Labor force:
3.737 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:5.5%
industry:26%
services:68.5% (2012 est.)


Unemployment rate:
4.9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
4.4% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
6.2% (2012)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:4%
highest 10%:22% (2011)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26.3 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 132
31 (1995)


    Budget:
revenues:$200 billion
expenditures:$212.1 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
47.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118


Public debt:
75.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
74.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:this is general government gross debt, defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year; it covers the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises the sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government and social security funds; as a percentage of GDP, the GDP used as a denominator is the gross domestic product in current year prices


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
2.6% (2012 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
2.2% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
2.5% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$204.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$201.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
note:see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders


Stock of broad money:
$419 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$414 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$544.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$543 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$106 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
$10.6 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$7.085 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$165.6 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$160.1 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs


Exports - partners:
Germany 29.31%, Italy 6.25%, Switzerland 5.08%, United States 5%, France 4.27% (2013 est.)


Imports:
$167.9 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$163.2 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs


Imports - partners:
Germany 40.39%, Italy 6.13%, Switzerland 5.36% (2013 est.)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$27.21 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$25imes, last in 1994 (2013)


Legal system:
civil law system based on West European legal systems; note - as of January 2013, Congress was deliberating a government-backed reform to the civil code


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18-70 years of age; universal and compulsory; 16-17 years of age - optional


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since 10 December 2007); Vice President Amado BOUDOU (since 10 December 2011); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since 10 December 2007); Vice President Amado BOUDOU (since 10 December 2011)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held on 23 October 2011 (next election to be held in October 2015)
election results:Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER reelected president; percent of vote - Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER 54%, Hermes BINNER 16.9%, Ricardo ALFONSIN 11.1%, Alberto Rodriguez SAA 8%, Eduardo DUHALDE 5.9%, other 4.1%


Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate (72 seats; members are elected by direct vote; presently one-third of the members elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members are elected by direct vote; one-half of the members elected every two years to serve four-year terms)
elections:Senate - last held on 27 October 2013 (next to be held October 2015); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 27 October 2013 (next to be held October 2015)
election results:Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or party - FpV 32, UCR 17, dissident Peronists 7, FAP and UNEN 7, FpV allies 6, PRO and allies 3, other 6; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or party - FpV 18, FpV allies 14, UCR 10, dissident Peronists 34, FAP and UNEN 21, PRO 16, CC 3, other 14


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (consists of the court president, vice-president, and 5 judges)
note - Argentina has a system of federal and provincial courts
judge selection and term of office:judges nominated by the president and approved by the Senate; judges serve for life
subordinate courts:federal level appellate, district, and territorial courts; provincial level supreme, appellate, and first instance courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Broad Progressive Front or FAP [Hermes BINNER]
Civic Coalition or CC (a broad coalition loosely affiliated with Elisa CARRIO)
Dissident Peronists (PJ Disidente) or Federal Peronism (a sector of the Justicialist Party opposed to the Kirchners)
Front for Victory or FpV (a broad coalition, including elements of the PJ, UCR, and numerous provincial parties) [Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER]
Peronist (or Justicialist) Party or PJ [vacant]
Radical Civic Union or UCR [Mario BARLETTA]
Republican Proposal or PRO [Mauricio MACRI]
Socialist Party or PS [Ruben GIUSTINIANI]
numerous provincial parties


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA)


International organization participation:
AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Maria Cecilia NAHON (since 19 February 2013)
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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Kevin K. SULLIVAN (since June 2013)
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 symbol(s):
Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol)


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

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 - at the time the largest ever - 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. The government expanded state intervention in the economy throughout 2012. In May 2012 the Congress approved the nationalization of the oil company YPF from Spain's Repsol. The government expanded formal and informal measures to restrict imports during the year, including a requirement for pre-registration and pre-approval of all imports. In July 2012 the government also further tightened currency controls in an effort to bolster foreign reserves and stem capital flight. During 2013, the government continued with a mix expansionary fiscal and monetary policies and foreign exchange and imports controls to limit the drain in Central Bank foreign reserves, which nevertheless dropped US $12 billion during the year. GDP grew 3% and inflation remained steady at 25%, according to private estimates. In October 2013, the government settled long-standing international arbitral disputes (including with three US firms) dating back to before and following the 2002 Argentine financial crisis. In early 2014, the government embraced a series of more orthodox economic policies. It devalued the peso 20%, substantially tightened monetary and fiscal policies, and took measures to mend ties with the international financial community, including: engaging with the IMF to improve its economic data reporting, reaching a compensation agreement with Repsol for the expropriation of YPF, and presenting a proposal to pay its arrears to the Paris Club.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$771 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$745.2 billion (2012 est.)
$731.3 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$484.6 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
1.9% (2012 est.)
8.9% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$18,600 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$18,200 (2012 est.)
$18,000 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
24.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
24% of GDP (2012 est.)
25.6% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:55.5%
government consumption:18%
investment in fixed capital:22%
investment in inventories:3.1%
exports of goods and services:20.3%
imports of goods and services:-18.9%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:9.3%
industry:29.7%
services:61% (2013 est.)


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:
2.7%
country comparison to the world: 112
note:based on private sector estimates (2013 est.)


Labor force:
17.32 million
country comparison to the world: 36
note:urban areas only (2013 est.)



    Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:5%
industry:23%
services:72% (2009 est.)


Unemployment rate:
7.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
7.2% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
30%


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:1.5%
highest 10%:32.3% (2010 est.)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45.8 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 36

Budget:
revenues:$129.6 billion
expenditures:$145.3 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
26.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127


Public debt:
45.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
44.8% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
20.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
25.3% (2012 est.)
note:data are derived from private estimates


Central bank discount rate:
NA%


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
16.4% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
14.06% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$70.25 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$65.63 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$145 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$145.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$157.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
NA% (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$34.24 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$2.371 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
$106.9 million (2012 est.)


Exports:
$85.08 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$80.91 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
soybeans and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, wheat


Exports - partners:
Brazil 20.4%, China 7.4%, Chile 6%, US 5.2% (2012)


Imports:
$71.3 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$65.55 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery, motor vehicles, petroleum and natural gas, organic chemicals, plastics


Imports - partners:
Brazil 27.2%, US 15.6%, China 11.9%, Germany 4.5% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$33.65 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$43.25 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$111.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$113.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$115.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$107.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$34.21 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$32.91 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar -
5.447 (2013 est.)
4.5369 (2012 est.)
3.8963 (2010 est.)
3.7101 (2009)
3.1636 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
119.3 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30


Electricity - consumption:
111.1 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31


Electricity - exports:
1.701 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44


Electricity - imports:
10.3 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
32.87 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
66.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
3.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
27.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93


Crude oil - production:
723,200 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27


Crude oil - exports:
90,920 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
2.805 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32


Refined petroleum products - production:
622,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
678,100 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27


Refined petroleum products - exports:
94,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44


Refined petroleum products - imports:
76,550 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58


Natural gas - production:
38.77 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24


Natural gas - consumption:
43.29 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22


Natural gas - exports:
200 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49


Natural gas - imports:
7.57 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33


Natural gas - proved reserves:
332.5 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
190.6 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
10 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 22


Telephones - mobile cellular:
58.6 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 23


Telephone system:
general assessment:in 1998 Argentina opened its 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 (2011)



    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:
11.232 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 13


Internet users:
13.694 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 28

Transportation

Airports
1,138 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 6


Airports - with paved runways
total:161
over 3,047 m:4
2,438 to 3,047 m:29
1,524 to 2,437 m:65
914 to 1,523 m:53
under 914 m:10 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:977
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:43
914 to 1,523 m:484
under 914 m:
448 (2013)


Heliports
2 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 29,930 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 6,248 km; refined products 3,631 km (2013)


Railways
total:36,966 kmcountry comparison to the world: 8
broad gauge:26,475 km 1.676-m gauge (94 km electrified)
standard gauge:2,780 km 1.435-m gauge (42 km electrified)
narrow gauge:7,711 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)


    Roadways
total:231,374 kmcountry comparison to the world: 21
paved:69,412 km (includes 734 km of expressways)
unpaved:161,962 km (2004)


Waterways
11,000 km (2012)
country comparison to the world: 11


Merchant marine
total:36country comparison to the world: 80
by type:bulk carrier 1, cargo 5, chemical tanker 6, container 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 4
foreign-owned:14 (Brazil 1, Chile 6, Spain 3, Taiwan 2, UK 2)
registered in other countries:15 (Liberia 1, Panama 5, Paraguay 5, Uruguay 1, unknown 3) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, La Plata, Punta Colorada, Ushuaia
river port(s):Arroyo Seco, Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin (Parana)
container port(s) (TEUs):Buenos Aires (1,851,701)
LNG terminal(s) (import):Bahia Blanca

Military

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) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18-24 years of age for voluntary military service (18-21 requires parental consent); no conscription; if the number of volunteers fails to meet the quota of recruits for a particular year, Congress can authorize the conscription of citizens turning 18 that year for a period not exceeding one year (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:10,038,967
females age 16-49:9,959,134 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:8,458,362
females age 16-49:8,414,460 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:339,503
female:323,170 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
0.91% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 108
0.9% of GDP (2011)
0.91% of GDP (2010)


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

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 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks; territorial claim in Antarctica partially overlaps UK and Chilean claims; uncontested dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; in 2010, the ICJ ruled in favor of Uruguay's operation of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina; the two countries formed a joint pollution monitoring regime; 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); contraband smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotic trafficking are problems in the porous areas of the border with Bolivia


    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)
Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook