Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Argentina: Buenos Aires — Facts & 5-Question Quiz

The capital of Argentina is Buenos Aires. Argentina sits in South America, has a population of 46,234,830, and uses the ARS. Official languages include Spanish.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Buenos Aires
  • Continent: South America
  • Population: ~46,234,830
  • Area: 2,780,400 km²
  • Population density: 16.6 people per km²
  • Official language: Spanish
  • Currency: ARS
  • ISO code: AR

How big is Argentina?

By population, Argentina ranks 33rd in the world, holding roughly 0.58% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 8th.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Argentina has 16.6 people per square kilometre, which is about 3.6 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.

Within South America, Argentina is the 3rd most populous country of 12.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Argentina in population are Sudan (46,874,204) and Uganda (47,249,585).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Kazakhstan (2,724,900 km²) and Algeria (2,381,741 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Spanish is spoken officially in 20 countries in this dataset, including Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Cuba, and 14 others.

Argentina uses the ARS, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

How to remember Argentina

Buenos Aires is named after the 'fair winds' (buen ayre) that Spanish sailors prayed for. It lies on the southwest shore of the Río de la Plata. For the flag, picture a smiling sun peeking out between two strips of blue sky.

The flag of Argentina: sky blue, white and yellow

🇦🇷 The flag is three horizontal stripes of sky blue, white and sky blue, with a yellow sun with a face, the Sun of May, in the centre. The colours are said to stand for the clear skies and snow of the Andes. The Sun of May remembers 25 May 1810, when the sun broke through the clouds at the first big gathering for independence.

Region and neighbours

Argentina is a large country in southern South America, between the Andes in the west and the Atlantic Ocean in the east, stretching south to Tierra del Fuego. It shares land borders with 5 countries: Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay.

Three facts about Argentina

  1. Aconcagua is the highest mountain outside of Asia and the highest point in the Southern Hemisphere.
  2. Argentina is the second-largest country in South America, after Brazil, and the eighth-largest in the world.
  3. Buenos Aires was first founded as the City of Our Lady Saint Mary of the Fair Winds.

Sources: Wikipedia: Argentina, Wikipedia: Flag of Argentina, Wikipedia: Buenos Aires, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Argentina

Argentina capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Argentina 🇦🇷?

    • Buenos Aires
    • Sucre
    • Brasília
    • Quito
    Show answer

    Buenos Aires

  2. What is the capital of Colombia 🇨🇴?

    • Bogotá
    • Brasília
    • Caracas
    • Santiago
    Show answer

    Bogotá

  3. What is the capital of Peru 🇵🇪?

    • Lima
    • Montevideo
    • Georgetown
    • Brasília
    Show answer

    Lima

  4. What is the capital of Venezuela 🇻🇪?

    • Caracas
    • Buenos Aires
    • Quito
    • Brasília
    Show answer

    Caracas

  5. What is the capital of Chile 🇨🇱?

    • Quito
    • Lima
    • Buenos Aires
    • Santiago
    Show answer

    Santiago

Argentina in South America

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — South America is the block Argentina belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Argentina.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Argentina?

The capital of Argentina is Buenos Aires.

What is the population of Argentina?

About 46,234,830, making it the 33rd most populous country in the world.

How big is Argentina?

2,780,400 square kilometres, ranking 8th by land area, at a density of 16.6 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Argentina use?

The ARS, which no other country uses.

What are the colours of the Argentina flag?

The flag of Argentina is three horizontal stripes of sky blue, white and sky blue, with a yellow sun with a face, the Sun of May, in the centre. The colours are said to stand for the clear skies and snow of the Andes. The Sun of May remembers 25 May 1810, when the sun broke through the clouds at the first big gathering for independence.

Which countries border Argentina?

Argentina shares land borders with Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay.

How can I remember the capital of Argentina?

Buenos Aires is named after the 'fair winds' (buen ayre) that Spanish sailors prayed for. It lies on the southwest shore of the Río de la Plata. For the flag, picture a smiling sun peeking out between two strips of blue sky.

More capitals to learn

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