Argentina

Buenos Aires, the capital, is one of Latin America's great cosmopolitan cities — a metropolis of 15 million shaped by waves of European immigration that began in the 19th century. Argentinians are predominantly of Italian and Spanish descent, and the culture reflects that heritage in its cuisine, architecture, and intellectual life. The tango, born in the working-class neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires in the late 19th century, became one of the defining cultural exports of the 20th century.

Argentina's economy is anchored by agriculture: the country is one of the world's top exporters of soybeans, corn, beef, and wheat. The Pampas — the vast fertile plains surrounding Buenos Aires — constitute one of the most productive agricultural regions on Earth. Despite extraordinary natural wealth, Argentina has experienced repeated cycles of economic crisis, hyperinflation, and sovereign debt default, making the management of its economy one of the defining political challenges of the modern era. The country has also produced an outsized global cultural footprint, including Pope Francis, Jorge Luis Borges, and Lionel Messi.