Quick answerArgentina is a country in South America, with a population of 46,735,004 (2025). Its capital is Buenos Aires, its official language is Spanish, and its currency is the Argentine peso (ARS). It covers 2,780,085 square kilometres (1,073,396 square miles), and its time zone is America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires.
Argentina is a country in southern South America, home to about 47 million people. Its capital and largest city is Buenos Aires, and its national language is Spanish.
Key facts
| Capital | Buenos Aires |
|---|---|
| Population | 46,735,004 (2025) · 46.7 million |
| Population density | 17.1 people per km² (land area) |
| Area | 2,780,085 km² (1,073,396 sq mi) total · 2,736,690 km² (1,056,641 sq mi) land |
| Official language | Spanish (official) |
| Currency | Argentine peso (ARS, $) |
| Time zone | America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires |
| Government | Federal presidential republic |
| Coastline | 4,989 km |
| Highest point | Aconcagua, 6,961 m |
| Life expectancy | 77.5 years (2024) |
| Calling code | +54 |
| Driving side | Right |
| Internet domain | .ar |
Overview
Argentina sits in southern South America, stretching from the subtropical north to sub-Antarctic Patagonia in the south. It covers 2,780,085 square kilometres, making it the eighth-largest country in the world, with 4,989 kilometres of Atlantic coastline. The Andes run along its western border with Chile, rising to Aconcagua at 6,961 metres, the highest mountain in the Americas, while the fertile pampas grasslands spread across the centre and the dry Patagonian steppe covers the south. The Río de la Plata, the wide estuary between Argentina and Uruguay, opens onto the Atlantic at Buenos Aires.
About 46.7 million people lived in Argentina in the 2025 estimate from INDEC, the national statistics office, up from 46,044,703 in the 2022 census. Around 92 per cent live in towns and cities - one of the highest urban shares in the world - and about a third of the population lives in Greater Buenos Aires, with 16.4 million people. Spanish is the national language, and life expectancy at birth was 77.5 years in 2024. Most Argentines descend from European immigrants, above all from Spain and Italy, who arrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Argentina's history begins with Indigenous peoples across the pampas and Patagonia, and the Spanish founded Buenos Aires in 1536, refounding it in 1580. The country declared independence in 1816, and the 19th century brought waves of European immigration that made Buenos Aires one of the great cities of the Atlantic world. The 20th century was marked by political instability, including the Perón era and a military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983, before democracy returned.
Today Argentina is a federal presidential republic of 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Its economy rests on farming - beef, soybeans, wheat and wine from Mendoza - and on industry and services in Buenos Aires. Its culture is known around the world for the tango, born in the working-class districts of Buenos Aires; for football, with Buenos Aires clubs and the national team; and for writers such as Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortázar. Argentina also claims the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and part of Antarctica, which it does not control.
Notable facts
- Argentina had an estimated population of 46,735,004 in 2025, with about a third of Argentines living in Greater Buenos Aires.
- Aconcagua, at 6,961 metres, is the highest mountain in the Americas and the highest outside Asia.
- Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world, covering 2,780,085 square kilometres.
- The tango was born in the working-class districts of Buenos Aires in the late 19th century and is on UNESCO's cultural heritage list.
- Argentina is one of the world's largest producers of beef and soybeans, and its pampas grasslands are among the most fertile farming regions on Earth.
How Argentina compares
Comparison table — Argentina next to 3 similar countries (neighbours first, then the same subregion).
| Country | Population | Area | Density | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina ★ | 46,735,004 (2025) | 2,780,085 km² | 17.1 people per km² | Buenos Aires |
| Brazil | 213,421,037 (2025) | 8,515,767 km² | 25.2 people per km² | Brasília |
| Colombia | 52,695,952 (2024) | 1,141,748 km² | 50.7 people per km² | Bogotá |
| Afghanistan | 41,454,761 (2023) | 652,864 km² | 63.6 people per km² | Kabul |
Cities in Argentina
See all 4 cities in Argentina →
- Buenos Aires Known for Tango
- Córdoba Known for Jesuit Block (UNESCO)
- Rosario Known for National Flag Memorial
- Mendoza Known for Malbec wine
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Argentina?
The capital of Argentina is Buenos Aires. About 3.12 million people live in the city itself (3,121,707 in the 2022 census), and about 16.37 million in Greater Buenos Aires. The city was founded in 1536 and refounded in 1580, and it stands on the western shore of the Río de la Plata. It is an autonomous city, separate from Buenos Aires Province.
What is the population of Argentina?
Argentina had an estimated population of 46,735,004 in 2025, according to INDEC, the national statistics office. That is up from 46,044,703 in the 2022 census. About 92 per cent of Argentines live in towns and cities, one of the highest urban shares in the world, and about a third live in Greater Buenos Aires.
What language is spoken in Argentina?
Spanish is the national language of Argentina, spoken across the country. It is the de facto national language rather than a constitutionally official one. Several Indigenous languages - Guaraní, Quechua, Qom, Mocoví and Wichí - and Welsh are recognised regionally. Argentine Spanish is known for its distinctive pronunciation and its use of 'vos' instead of 'tú'.
What currency is used in Argentina?
Argentina uses the Argentine peso (ARS, symbol $). One peso is divided into 100 centavos. Cash is still common in markets and small shops, but cards and mobile payments are widely accepted in the cities.
Where is Argentina?
Argentina is in southern South America, stretching from the subtropical north to sub-Antarctic Patagonia in the south. It borders Chile to the west, Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, and Brazil and Uruguay to the east, with the Atlantic Ocean along its eastern coast. The Andes run along its western border, and the fertile pampas grasslands spread across the centre.
What time zone is Argentina in?
Argentina uses a single time zone, Argentina Time (UTC-3), across the whole country. The IANA time zone name is America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires. There is no daylight saving time, so the clocks stay the same all year.
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Buenos Aires — capital of Argentina
- Córdoba — city in Argentina
- Rosario — city in Argentina
- Mendoza — city in Argentina
- Bolivia — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Brazil — neighbouring country
- Chile — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Paraguay — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Uruguay — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Colombia — another country in South America
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Wikipedia — Argentina
- INDEC (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos), population estimate 2025 (via Wikipedia — Argentina)
- Wikipedia — List of countries and dependencies by length of coastline (CIA World Factbook figures)
- Wikipedia — List of countries by median age (CIA World Factbook 2024 estimates)
- World Bank, World Development Indicators (life expectancy SP.DYN.LE00.IN; urban population % SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS)
- mledoze/countries (skeleton: borders, capital, languages, tld, coordinates, subregion)
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.