8.62 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 28.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.66 years
male: 68.37 years
female: 75.12 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.62 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Argentine(s)
adjective: Argentine

Ethnic divisions: white 85%, mestizo, Indian, or other nonwhite
groups 15%

Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20%
practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6%

Languages: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.2%
female: 96.2%

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Argentine Republic
conventional short form: Argentina
local long form: Republica Argentina
local short form: Argentina

Data code: AR

Type of government: republic

Capital: Buenos Aires

Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia), and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Buenos
Aires; Catamarca; Chaco; Chubut; Cordoba; Corrientes; Distrito
Federal*; Entre Rios; Formosa; Jujuy; La Pampa; La Rioja; Mendoza;
Misiones; Neuquen; Rio Negro; Salta; San Juan; San Luis; Santa Cruz;
Santa Fe; Santiago del Estero; Tierra del Fuego, Antartida e Islas
del Atlantico Sur; Tucuman
note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica or
Argentina's claims to the Falkland Islands

Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain)

National holiday: Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)

Constitution: 1 May 1853; revised August 1994

Legal system: mixture of US and West European legal systems; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Carlos Saul MENEM
(since 8 July 1989) was elected for a four-year term by universal
suffrage; election last held 14 May 1995 (next to be held May 1999);
results - Carlos Saul MENEM was reelected; Vice President Carlos
RUCKAUF
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislativ