ABSTRACT
Background Information Argentina, a vast nation located in the south of the American continent, had a population of about 40 million people (51% female) in 2009, with one-third living in the capital city, Buenos Aires, and its surrounding area. It is a developed country ranked 49th among the 182 nations of the world, according to the Human Development Index (HDI). This index is estimated by the United Nations Development Program, taking account of life expectancy at birth (75 years of age in Argentina), educational level (adult literacy is 98%), and average standard of living according to real gross domestic product per capita adjusted by purchase power (USD13,238 per year). Argentina is the second best positioned nation in Latin America on the HDI, surpassed only by Chile.
