Argentina and Brazil Economies: A Side-by-Side Table Comparison

Argentina and Brazil present a fascinating contrast across various indicators. Brazil’s population is nearly five times larger, and its land area is over three times greater. Yet, Argentina enjoys a higher GDP per capita. In military spending, Brazil significantly outpaces Argentina, while both countries have distinct export profiles, with Argentina focusing on agriculture.

Basic Indicators

Indicator	Argentina	Brazil	Comparison
Population source (2022 data), updated 2024	46.23 million (32nd)	215.31 million (7th)	Brazil’s population is approximately 4.65 times larger than Argentina’s.
Surface area (sq. km) source (2022 data), updated 2024	2.78 million sq. km (8th)	8.52 million sq. km (5th)	Brazil is 3.07 times larger than Argentina in area.
GDP source (2022 data), updated 2024	631.13B USD (22nd)	1,920.10B USD (11th)	Brazil’s total GDP is approximately 3.04 times larger than Argentina’s.
GDP per capita source (2022 data), updated 2024	$13,651 (64th)	8,918 USD (80th)	Argentina’s GDP per capita is roughly 53% higher than Brazil’s, with Argentinians producing about $4,733 more per person annually.

Economic Indexes

Index	Argentina	Brazil	Comparison
HDI (Human Development Index) source (2022 data), updated 2024	0.849 (48th)	0.76 (84th)	Argentina’s HDI is 0.849 (high), while Brazil’s is 0.760 (medium). Argentina’s score is 0.089 higher, indicating significantly better human development overall.
Index of Economic Freedom source (2024 data)	49.9 (132nd)	53.2 (114th)	Argentina’s Index of Economic Freedom is 6.6% lower than Brazil’s, 3.3 points less.
GINI source (2022 data), updated 2024	42 (2021 est.)	52.9 (2021 est.)	With a 25% higher Gini coefficient, Brazil has a higher degree of income inequality than Argentina.

International trade _{source(2023 data), updated 2024}

Indicator	Argentina	Brazil
Total imports	92.57B USD	346.64B
Imports % of GDP	15.35%	19.29%
Main import partners	China 21%, Brazil 20%, US 14%, Germany 3%, Paraguay 2%	China 24%, US 18%, Germany 5%, Argentina 5%, India 4%
Main import items	refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas, fertilizers, cars	refined petroleum, fertilizers, vehicle parts/accessories, crude petroleum, pesticides
Total exports	83.36B USD	389.63B
Exports % of GDP	16.30%	20.05%
Main export Partners	Brazil 15%, China 9%, US 8%, Chile 6%, India 5%	China 26%, US 11%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 3%, Spain 3%
Main export items	soybean meal, corn, soybean oil, wheat, trucks	soybeans, crude petroleum, iron ore, refined petroleum, corn

Argentina’s imports are about a quarter of Brazil’s, and Argentina’s imports make up 20% less of its GDP than Brazil’s. Argentina’s exports are about 21% of Brazil’s, focusing on agri-products, while Brazil’s exports are more diverse and larger overall.

Military Power _{source (2023 data), updated 2024}

Indicator	Argentina	Brazil
Military expenditure	3.1B USD	22.9B USD
Military expenditure (% of GDP)	0.41%	1.05%
Active military	72k	367k
Active military per 1,000 capita	2.3	9.6

Argentina’s military expenditure is significantly lower at $3.12 billion, accounting for only 0.41% of its GDP, while Brazil’s military budget is $22.89 billion, representing a more substantial 1.05% of its GDP, indicating Brazil’s stronger commitment to defense.