Quick answerBuenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, with 3,121,707 people inside the city limits in 2022. The wider metropolitan area had about 16.4 million people in 2022. It is best known for the Tango, the La Boca and the Teatro Colón. Its official language is Spanish, and its currency is the Argentine peso.
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, with about 3.12 million people in the city (3,121,707 in the 2022 census). It stands on the western shore of the Río de la Plata and is the country's political, economic and cultural centre.
Key facts
| Country | Argentina |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 3,121,707 (2022) |
| Population (metro) | 16,366,641 (2022) · Greater Buenos Aires, 2022 census |
| Elevation | 25 m above sea level |
| Time zone | America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires |
| Language | Spanish |
| Currency | Argentine peso (ARS, $) |
| Coordinates | 34.60389° S, 58.38139° W |
Overview
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, the wide estuary between Argentina and Uruguay. The city proper had 3,121,707 residents in the 2022 census, while Greater Buenos Aires held 16,366,641 people, and the city sits 25 metres above sea level. It is an autonomous city, separate from Buenos Aires Province, and the seat of Argentina's government.
Buenos Aires was founded in 1536 and refounded in 1580, and it grew in the late 19th and early 20th centuries into one of the great cities of the Atlantic world, as millions of European immigrants arrived. Its landmarks include the Plaza de Mayo, with the Casa Rosada presidential palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral, the colourful houses of La Boca, the wide Avenida 9 de Julio, the Recoleta Cemetery, and the Teatro Colón, one of the world's great opera houses. The tango was born in the working-class districts of the city in the late 19th century.
Today Buenos Aires is Argentina's economic and cultural heart, home to the stock exchange, the headquarters of most big Argentine companies, and Ezeiza International Airport. It is known for its European-style architecture, its cafés and bookshops, its football clubs - above all Boca Juniors and River Plate - and its theatre, music and food, from steak houses to pizzerias.
What Buenos Aires is known for
- Tango
- La Boca
- Teatro Colón
- Plaza de Mayo
- Recoleta Cemetery
- Football
Landmarks
- Plaza de Mayo
- Casa Rosada
- La Boca (Caminito)
- Teatro Colón
- Recoleta Cemetery
- Avenida 9 de Julio
- Puerto Madero
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Buenos Aires?
About 3.12 million people live in the city of Buenos Aires (3,121,707 in the 2022 census). Greater Buenos Aires had about 16.37 million people, making it one of the largest metropolitan areas in South America.
What is Buenos Aires famous for?
Buenos Aires is famous as the birthplace of the tango, and for La Boca, the Teatro Colón, the Plaza de Mayo and the Recoleta Cemetery. It is also known for its football clubs, Boca Juniors and River Plate, and for its cafés and bookshops.
Where is Buenos Aires located?
Buenos Aires is in eastern Argentina, on the western shore of the Río de la Plata. It is the capital of Argentina and an autonomous city. Its coordinates are 34.60° S, 58.38° W, and its time zone is Argentina Time (UTC-3).
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Keep exploring
- Argentina — the country Buenos Aires is in
- Córdoba — another city in Argentina
- Rosario — another city in Argentina
- Mendoza — another city in Argentina
- All cities in Argentina
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.