Photo: Marina Balasini & Juan Montiel from Argentina, Argentina · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Argentina: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Argentina is placed 88th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 77.39 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 9.514 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
88th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 77.39Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 9.514Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 8.683Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- 11Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Argentina on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
77.39
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Argentina: 77.39. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in South America
- 81.17 Chile
- Land neighbours
- Bolivia 68.58 · Brazil 75.85 · Chile 81.17 · Paraguay 73.84 · Uruguay 78.14
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
9.514
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Argentina: 9.514. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in South America
- 6.753 Chile
- Land neighbours
- Bolivia 15.7 · Brazil 14.22 · Chile 6.753 · Paraguay 16.31 · Uruguay 7.447
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Argentina’s is from 2018 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
8.683
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
Argentina: 8.683. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in South America
- 1.8 Chile
- Land neighbours
- Bolivia 16.09 · Brazil 7.989 · Chile 1.8 · Paraguay 5.598 · Uruguay 6.93
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
11
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
Argentina: 11. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in South America
- 0.6 Brazil
- Land neighbours
- Bolivia 5 · Brazil 0.6 · Chile 3.3 · Paraguay 7 · Uruguay 2.4
02Over time
Which way Argentina is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
ArgentinaWorld median
Argentina rose from 73.91 in 2000 to 77.39 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Argentina World median 2023 77.395 74.630 2022 75.806 74.313 2021 73.949 72.433 2020 75.878 73.063 2019 76.848 74.196 2018 76.770 74.081 2017 76.543 74.029 2016 76.105 74.013 2015 76.600 73.783 2014 76.268 73.330 2013 75.829 73.386 2012 75.802 73.210 2011 76.100 73.003 2010 75.680 72.827 2009 75.577 72.426 2008 75.428 72.264 2007 74.783 72.113 2006 75.279 72.027 2005 75.231 71.876 2004 74.871 71.477 2003 74.307 71.409 2002 74.312 71.173 2001 74.154 70.926 2000 73.910 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
ArgentinaWorld median
Argentina fell from 19.36 in 2000 to 9.514 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Argentina World median 2024 9.5 14.5 2023 9.7 15.2 2022 9.9 14.7 2021 10.1 15.1 2020 10.3 15.3 2019 10.5 15.7 2018 10.7 16.3 2017 11.0 16.8 2016 11.4 17.5 2015 11.7 17.9 2014 12.2 18.3 2013 12.7 18.7 2012 13.3 18.8 2011 13.9 19.0 2010 14.4 19.2 2009 15.0 20.8 2008 15.4 20.7 2007 15.8 21.8 2006 16.2 22.8 2005 16.7 24.0 2004 17.3 25.9 2003 17.8 26.9 2002 18.3 28.0 2001 18.8 29.1 2000 19.4 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
ArgentinaWorld median
Argentina rose from 5.8 in 2015 to 11 in 2024; the world median went from 3.4 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Argentina World median 2024 11.0 4.9 2023 12.3 4.7 2022 13.1 5.4 2021 13.1 5.7 2020 13.0 5.6 2019 12.6 5.0 2018 12.9 4.2 2017 11.2 4.0 2016 8.6 3.4 2015 5.8 3.4
03In context
Argentina beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Argentina and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chile | 46th | 81.17 | 6.753 | 1.8 | 3.3 |
 Uruguay | 54th | 78.14 | 7.447 | 6.93 | 2.4 |
 Brazilcompare | 63rd | 75.85 | 14.22 | 7.989 | 0.6 |
| Argentina | 88th | 77.39 | 9.514 | 8.683 | 11 |
 Paraguay | 94th | 73.84 | 16.31 | 5.598 | 7 |
 Bolivia | 124th | 68.58 | 15.7 | 16.09 | 5 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across South America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Argentina in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Argentina is ahead of the world, and behind
50 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median25
Statistics on which Argentina does better than the middle country measured.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.794.267.7No earlier reading
Argentina: 94.2 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 3rd of 127 · derived.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.0010.039No real change since 2022
Argentina: 0.001 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 103rd of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two DaysUNICEF · 2025 · world median 82.998.282.9No earlier reading
Argentina: 98.2 · world median 82.9 · Newborns with a health check within 2 days of birth (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.3 to 99.9; higher is better.
Position 16th of 109 · derived.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2582.571.25No real change since 2013
Argentina: 82.5 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 36th of 196 · derived.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.999.596.9No earlier reading
Argentina: 99.5 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6587.6877.65No earlier reading
Argentina: 87.68 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 30th of 144 · derived.
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.859.475.8No earlier reading
Argentina: 59.4 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 71st of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5461.7263.546No earlier reading
Argentina: 1.726 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 127th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.8650.762▼ Worsened since 2013
Argentina: 0.865 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 47th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9823,3952,982▲ Improved since 2014
Argentina: 3,395 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 39th of 155 · derived.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8190.481No earlier reading
Argentina: 90.4 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 42nd of 153 · derived.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.217.36210.21No real change since 2010
Argentina: 7.362 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 115th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 413441▼ Worsened since 2012
Argentina: 34 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3918.1116.39No real change since 2013
Argentina: 18.11 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 71st of 222 · derived.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1635.098.163▼ Worsened since 2013
Argentina: 5.09 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 132nd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1345.0718.134No real change since 2014
Argentina: 5.071 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 129th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.268.02312.26No real change since 2014
Argentina: 8.023 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 128th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7103.28133.7▲ Improved since 2013
Argentina: 103.28 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 139th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.6020.564▲ Improved since 2010
Argentina: 0.602 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 69th of 172 · derived.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8582.1282.858▼ Worsened since 2014
Argentina: 2.128 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 120th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.2640.351▲ Improved since 2013
Argentina: 0.264 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 70th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9557.7452.95No earlier reading
Argentina: 57.74 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 56th of 136 · derived.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.23.45.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Argentina: 3.4 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 98th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.6533.2346.65▲ Improved since 2013
Argentina: 33.23 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 114th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4626.4127.46▲ Improved since 2013
Argentina: 26.41 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 114th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median14
Statistics on which Argentina does worse than the middle country measured.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.56165.5▼ Worsened since 2018
Argentina: 61 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4515.714.45▼ Worsened since 2013
Argentina: 15.7 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 99th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.6976.61102.69▼ Worsened since 2013
Argentina: 76.61 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8374.1184.83▼ Worsened since 2013
Argentina: 74.11 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.931.720.9▼ Worsened since 2015
Argentina: 31.7 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 49th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.280.25▼ Worsened since 2014
Argentina: 0.28 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7431.9540.74No earlier reading
Argentina: 31.95 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 94th of 136 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 908290▼ Worsened since 2015
Argentina: 82 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.4825.133.48▼ Worsened since 2015
Argentina: 25.13 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Fatal Occupational InjuriesILO · 2023 · world median 2.0053.262.005No real change since 2014
Argentina: 3.26 · world median 2.005 · Fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.12 to 8.409; lower is better.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.35442.2272.35No earlier reading
Argentina: 442.2 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 917591▼ Worsened since 2015
Argentina: 75 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.514.285.5▼ Worsened since 2014
Argentina: 14.28 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 9th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.515.441.5No earlier reading
Argentina: 15.4 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 124th of 127 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Births Attended by Skilled Health StaffUNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 2023 · world median 99.399.399.3▲ Improved since 2013
Argentina: 99.3 · world median 99.3 · Births attended by skilled health staff (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 60.9 to 100; higher is better.
Position 41st of 84 · derived.
No better end10
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.83114.9557.83No real change since 2013
Argentina: 114.95 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6546.820.65No earlier reading
Argentina: 46.8 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0535.3220.05No earlier reading
Argentina: 35.32 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.45635.4Moved since 2013
Argentina: 56 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.8816.96.88No earlier reading
Argentina: 16.9 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2557.941.25Moved since 2013
Argentina: 57.9 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.735.361.73No real change since 2014
Argentina: 5.36 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 49th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Children with Functional DifficultiesUNICEF · 2024 · world median 1313.713No earlier reading
Argentina: 13.7 · world median 13 · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.9 to 35.2.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.177.1116.17Moved since 2013
Argentina: 7.11 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8934.9138.89Moved since 2015
Argentina: 34.91 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 136th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Argentina
Cost of a Healthy Diet, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum) (last 2007), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax) (last 2009), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum) (last 2007), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months and Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Argentina’s 15 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Argentina’s 9th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Securityjoint 30th of 1774/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge47th of 1984/4 keys
- Digital & Technology53rd of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital61st of 1963/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties76th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions75th of 1944/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation71st of 1764/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture76th of 1844/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing88th of 2004/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 91st of 1864/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 92nd of 1824/4 keys
- Gender & Equality101st of 1834/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality100th of 1592/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience123rd of 1934/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade116th of 1774/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Argentina can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Americas
United States=30th4/4 keysHighest in South America
Chile46th4/4 keysThis page
Argentina88th4/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Argentina and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Argentina on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Argentina rank on health & wellbeing?
Argentina is placed 88th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Argentina?
77.39 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Argentina?
9.514 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Argentina compare with Brazil on health & wellbeing?
Brazil is placed 63rd of 200, and Argentina 88th. Life Expectancy at Birth: Brazil 75.85, Argentina 77.39; Under-Five Mortality Rate: Brazil 14.22, Argentina 9.514; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: Brazil 7.989, Argentina 8.683; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity: Brazil 0.6, Argentina 11.
How have Argentina’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 73.91 in 2000 to 77.39 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 19.36 in 2000 to 9.514 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity rose from 5.8 in 2015 to 11 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Argentina?
No current reading is published for Argentina on Cost of a Healthy Diet, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months and Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 50 statistics on this page come from 17 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Argentina’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Argentina (banner) — Marina Balasini & Juan Montiel from Argentina, Argentina, CC BY 2.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Argentina: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/argentina/health