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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of Uruguay



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Uruguay Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century established widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control previously held by the Colorado and Blanco parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.
   Geography    Uruguay Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
33 00 S, 56 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
South America
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water: 2,600 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1,648 km
border countries: Argentina 580 km, Brazil 1,068 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
660 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or edge of continental margin
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 7.77%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 91.99% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
2,100 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
139 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 3.15 cu km/yr (2%/1%/96%)
per capita: 910 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
second-smallest South American country (after Suriname); most of the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is grassland, ideal for cattle and sheep raising
   People    Uruguay Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,477,778 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 22.7% (male 401,209/female 388,315)
15-64 years: 64% (male 1,105,891/female 1,120,858)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 185,704/female 275,801) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 33.2 years
male: 31.8 years
female: 34.6 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.486% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14.17 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.12 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-0.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 11.66 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 76.14 years
male: 72.89 years
female: 79.51 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1% (2006)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 16 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.9% of GDP (2006)
   Government    Uruguay Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay
former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
constitutional republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Montevideo
geographic coordinates: 34 53 S, 56 11 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in March
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967; suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980; two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November 1989 and 7 January 1997
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005); Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005); Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2009)
election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ 50.5%, Jorge LARRANAGA 35.1%, Guillermo STIRLING 10.3%; other 4.1%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; vice president has one vote in the Senate) and Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - EP-FA 16, Blanco 11, Colorado Party 3; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - EP-FA 52, Blanco 36, Colorado Party 10, Independent Party 1
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Broad Front (Frente Amplio) - formerly known as the Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition or EP-FA [Jorge BROVETTO] (a broad governing coalition that includes Movement of the Popular Participation or MPP [Jose MUJICA], New Space Party (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI], Progressive Alliance (Alianza Progresista) [Rodolfo NIN NOVOA], Socialist Party [Eduardo FERNANDEZ], the Communist Party [Marina ARISMENDI], Uruguayan Assembly (Asamblea Uruguay) [Danilo ASTORI], and Vertiente Artiguista [Mariano ARANA]); Colorado Party (Foro Batllista) [Julio Maria SANGUINETTI]; National Party or Blanco [Luis Alberto LACALLE and Jorge LARRANAGA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Architect's Society of Uruguay (professional organization); Chamber of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer's association); Chemist and Pharmaceutical Association (professional organization); PIT/CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan Unions - umbrella labor organization); Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association); Uruguayan Construction League; Uruguayan Network of Political Women
other: Catholic Church; students
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
CAN (associate), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alberto GIANELLI Derois
chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington, DC
consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Frank E. BAXTER
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777
FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy
   Economy    Uruguay Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Uruguay's economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated work force, and high levels of social spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during 1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn, stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problems of its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. For instance, in 2001-02 Argentina made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks, which led to a plunge in the Uruguayan peso and a massive rise in unemployment. Total GDP in these four years dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year due to the banking crisis. The unemployment rate rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF helped stem the damage. Uruguay in 2007 improved its debt profile by paying off $1.1 billion in IMF debt, and continues to follow the orthodox economic plan set by the Fund in 2005. The construction of a pulp mill in Fray Bentos, which represents the largest foreign direct investment in Uruguay's history at $1.2 billion, came online in November 2007 and is expected to add 1.6% to GDP and boost already rising exports. The economy has grown strongly since 2004 as a result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, a strong peso, growth in the region, and low international interest rates.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$37.5 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$22.95 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.4% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$10,800 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 10.1%
industry: 32%
services: 57.9% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.631 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 9%
industry: 15%
services: 76% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.2% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 34% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
45.2 (2006)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $6.701 billion
expenditures: $6.807 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
64.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.94% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.145 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$7.919 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$6.396 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
rice, wheat, soybeans, barley; livestock, beef; fish; forestry
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.9% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.2 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.03 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
995.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
788.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
935.7 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
33,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,410 bbl/day (2007)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
43,670 bbl/day (2007)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
102.8 million cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
116.9 million cu m (2007)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$185.6 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$5.063 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Brazil 15.5%, US 9.4%, Argentina 8.4%, Mexico 6.6%, China 6.1%, Germany 4.8% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$5.554 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
crude petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, paper, plastics
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Brazil 19.1%, Argentina 17.9%, US 9.5%, China 9.1%, Paraguay 7.7%, Nigeria 4.7% (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.121 billion (December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$11.42 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.19 billion (2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$156 million (2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$224 million (2007)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Uruguayan peso (UYU)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar - 23.947 (2007), 24.048 (2006), 24.479 (2005), 28.704 (2004), 28.209 (2003)
   Communications    Uruguay Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
965,200 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.004 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: fully digitalized
domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 115 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 598; the UNISOR submarine cable system provides direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 93, FM 191, shortwave 7 (2005)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
62 (2005)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.uy
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
480,593 (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
968,000 (2007)
   Transportation    Uruguay Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
60 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 29 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 257 km; oil 160 km (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2,073 km
standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge
note: 461 km have been taken out of service and 460 km are in partial use (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 77,732 km
paved: 7,743 km
unpaved: 69,989 km (2004)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,600 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 17
by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 10 (Argentina 3, Greece 1, Spain 6)
registered in other countries: 3 (Liberia 3) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Montevideo
   Military    Uruguay Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Uruguayan Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito), Navy (Armada Nacional; includes naval air arm, Marines, Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 837,252
females age 16-49: 824,096 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 703,955
females age 16-49: 690,296 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 27,082
female: 26,075 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.6% of GDP (2006)
   Transnational Issues    Uruguay Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
in Jan 2007, ICJ provisionally ruled Uruguay may begin construction of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina, while the court examines further whether Argentina has the legal right to stop such construction with potential environmental implications to both countries; uncontested dispute with Brazil over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
small-scale transit country for drugs mainly bound for Europe, often through sea-borne containers; law enforcement corruption; money laundering because of strict banking secrecy laws; weak border control along Brazilian frontier; increasing consumption of cocaine base and synthetic drugs

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


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