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Background:
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A violent
Marxist urban guerrilla movement, the Tupamaros,
launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to
agree to military control of his administration in 1973.
By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the
military continued to expand its hold throughout the
government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985.
Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the
freest on the continent.
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Location:
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Southern
South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Argentina and Brazil |
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Geographic coordinates:
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33 00 S, 56
00 W |
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Map references:
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South
America |
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Area:
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total:
176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water: 2,600 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than the state of Washington |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
1,564 km
border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km |
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Coastline:
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660 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial
sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation |
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Climate:
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warm
temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown |
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Terrain:
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mostly
rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m |
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Natural resources:
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arable
land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 7.43%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 92.34% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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1,800 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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seasonally
high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional
violent wind which 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 |
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Environment - current issues:
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water
pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate
solid/hazardous waste disposal |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population:
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3,415,920
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 23.2% (male 403,041/female 389,427)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 1,076,960/female
1,095,833)
65 years and over: 13.2% (male 183,877/female
266,782) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
32.46 years
male: 31.02 years
female: 33.95 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.47% (2005
est.) |
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Birth rate:
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14.09
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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9.06
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-0.28
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
11.95 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 76.13 years
male: 72.92 years
female: 79.45 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.91
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.3% (2001
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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6,000 (2001
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than
500 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan |
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Ethnic groups:
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white 88%,
mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically
nonexistent) |
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Religions:
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Roman
Catholic 66% (less than half of the adult population
attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%,
nonprofessing or other 31% |
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Languages:
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Spanish,
Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the
Brazilian frontier) |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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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 |
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Government type:
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constitutional
republic |
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Capital:
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Montevideo |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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25 August
1825 (from Brazil) |
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National holiday:
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Independence
Day, 25 August (1825) |
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Constitution:
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27 November
1966, effective 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 |
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Legal system:
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based on
Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of
age; universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ (since 1 March 2005)
and Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVA (since 1 March
2005); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ
(since 1 March 2005) and Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVA
(since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
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;
election last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held
October 2009)
election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected
president; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ 50.5%, Jorge
LARRANAGA 35.1%, Guillermo STIRLING 10.3% |
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Legislative branch:
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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)
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 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court (judges are nominated by the president and elected
for 10-year terms by the General Assembly) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Colorado
Party [Jorge BATLLE Ibanez]; National Party or Blanco
[Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera]; New Sector/Space
Coalition (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI];
Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition (Encuentro
Progresista/Frente Amplio) or EP-FA [Tabare VAZQUEZ];
Independent Party (Partido Independiente) [leader NA] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Agrupacion
UTE (powerful state worker's union), Rural Association
of Uruguay (rancher's association), Uruguayan
Construction League, Chamber of Uruguayan Industries
(manufacturer's association), Chemist and Pharmaceutical
Association (professional organization), Architect's
Society of Uruguay (professional organization), the
Catholic Church, students |
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International organization participation:
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CSN, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC,
NAM (observer), OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMOGIP,
UNMOT, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Carlos 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, and New York
consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Martin J. SILVERSTEIN
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777
FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611 |
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Flag description:
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nine equal
horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating
with blue; there is a white square in the upper
hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face
known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately
triangular and wavy
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Economy - overview:
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Uruguay's
well-to-do economy is characterized by an
export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated
workforce, 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 massive withdrawals by
Argentina of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks led to
a plunge in the Uruguyan 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 serious
banking crisis. Unemployment rose to nearly 20% in 2002,
inflation surged, and the burden of external debt
doubled. Cooperation with the IMF limited the damage.
The debt swap with private creditors carried out in
2003, which extended the maturity dates on nearly half
of Uruguay's $11.3 billion in public debt, substantially
alleviated the country's amortization burden in the
coming years and restored public confidence. The economy
grew about 10% in 2004 as a result of high commodity
prices for Uruguayan exports, the weakness of the dollar
against the euro, growth in the region, low
international interest rates, and greater export
competitiveness. |
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GDP:
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purchasing
power parity - $49.27 billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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10.2% (2004
est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing
power parity - $14,500 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
7.9%
industry: 27.4%
services: 64.8% (2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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9.6% of GDP
(2004 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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21% of
households (2003) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 25.8% (1997) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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44.8 (1999) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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7.6% (2004
est.) |
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Labor force:
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1.56
million (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture
14%, industry 16%, services 70% |
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Unemployment rate:
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13% (2004
est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$3.332 billion
expenditures: $3.787 billion, including capital
expenditures of $193 million (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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rice,
wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish |
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Industries:
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food
processing, electrical machinery, transportation
equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals,
beverages |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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22% (2004
est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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8.536
billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 0.7%
hydro: 99.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.3% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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5.878
billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - exports:
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954 million
kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - imports:
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434.2
million kWh (2003) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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41,500
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m
(2003 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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64.5
million cu m (2003 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m
(2003 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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65 million
cu m (2003 est.) |
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Current account balance:
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$181.8
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$2.2
billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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meat, rice,
leather products, wool, fish, dairy products |
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Exports - partners:
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Brazil
19.4%, US 18%, Germany 6.6%, Argentina 6.4% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$2.071
billion f.o.b. (2003) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery,
chemicals, road vehicles, crude petroleum |
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Imports - partners:
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Argentina
21.3%, Brazil 17.1%, US 12.3%, China 6.9%, Russia 5.1%
(2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
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$2.362
billion (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$12.8
billion (March 2004) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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NA |
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Currency:
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Uruguayan
peso (UYU) |
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Currency code:
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UYU |
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Exchange rates:
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Uruguayan
pesos per US dollar - 28.704 (2004), 28.209 (2003),
21.257 (2002), 13.319 (2001), 12.1 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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946,500
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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652,000
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: fully digitalized
domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in
Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 598; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2002) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 91, FM
149, shortwave 7 (2001) |
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Radios:
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1.97
million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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23 (2002) |
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Televisions:
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782,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.uy |
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Internet hosts:
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87,630
(2003) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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14 (2001) |
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Internet users:
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400,000
(2002)
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Railways:
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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 (2003) |
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Highways:
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total:
8,983 km
paved: 8,081 km
unpaved: 902 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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1,600 km
(2002) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 192 km
(2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Colonia,
Fray Bentos, Juan La Caze, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva
Palmira, Paysandu, Punta del Este, Piriapolis |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 10,918 GRT/10,342 DWT
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1,
passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off
1
foreign-owned: 4 (Argentina 3, Greece 1)
registered in other countries: 8 (2005) |
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Airports:
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64 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
50
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 31 (2004 est.)
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Military branches:
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Army, Navy
(includes Naval Air Arm, Marines, Maritime Prefecture in
wartime), Air Force |
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Military manpower - military age and obligation:
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18 years of
age for voluntary and compulsory military service (2001) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males
age 18-49: 764,408 (2005 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 637,445 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$257.5
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
2% (2004)
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| Transnational
Issues |
Uruguay |
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Disputes - international:
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uncontested
dispute with Brazil over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim
and Invernada streams and the resulting tripoint with
Argentina
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