Buenos Aires (with 3 million residents and revered for its European lifestyle) is the capital. Cordoba and Rosario are its other large cities. The official language is Spanish and the currency is the Argentine peso. Population 37.1 million, with approximately 32 people per square mile.

Argentina benefits from its highly literate population, as well as its rich agricultural base and enormous energy resources. As a major exporter of beef and wheat, Argentina wine is growing in popularity worldwide. The resort area of Mar del Plata is a favored tourist destination, while skiers from around the globe have tested the slopes of the Andes.

On the losing side of a military dispute with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands (1982-1985), the country is still actively pursuing a diplomatic solution.