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Background: |
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. |
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Location: |
Southern South America,
bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil |
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Geographic coordinates: |
33 00 S, 56 00 W |
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Map references: |
South America |
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Area: |
total: 176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water: 2,600 sq km |
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Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than the state
of Washington |
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Land boundaries: |
total: 1,648 km
border countries: Argentina 580 km, Brazil 1,068 km |
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Coastline: |
660 km |
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Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200
nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or edge of continental margin
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Climate: |
warm temperate; freezing
temperatures almost unknown |
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Terrain: |
mostly rolling plains and low
hills; fertile coastal lowland |
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Atlantic
Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m |
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Natural resources: |
arable land, hydropower, minor
minerals, fisheries |
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Land use: |
arable land: 7.77%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 91.99% (2005) |
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Irrigated land: |
2,100 sq km (2003) |
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Total renewable water resources: |
139 cu km (2000) |
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Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural): |
total: 3.15 cu km/yr
(2%/1%/96%)
per capita: 910 cu m/yr (2000) |
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Natural hazards: |
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 |
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Environment - current issues: |
water pollution from meat
packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal |
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Environment - international agreements: |
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: |
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: |
3,477,778 (July 2008 est.)
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Age structure: |
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.) |
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Median age: |
total: 33.2 years
male: 31.8 years
female: 34.6 years (2008 est.)
|
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Population growth rate: |
0.486% (2008 est.) |
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Birth rate: |
14.17 births/1,000 population
(2008 est.) |
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Death rate: |
9.12 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
-0.18 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2008 est.) |
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Sex ratio: |
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.) |
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Infant mortality rate: |
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.) |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 76.14
years
male: 72.89 years
female: 79.51 years (2008
est.) |
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Total fertility rate: |
1.94 children born/woman (2008
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.3% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
6,000 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
less than 500 (2003 est.)
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Nationality: |
noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan |
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Ethnic groups: |
white 88%, mestizo 8%, black
4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent) |
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Religions: |
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: |
Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero
(Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier) |
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Literacy: |
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: |
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: |
constitutional republic |
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Capital: |
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 |
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Administrative divisions: |
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: |
25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
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National holiday: |
Independence Day, 25 August
(1825) |
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Constitution: |
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 |
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Legal system: |
based on Spanish civil law
system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal and
compulsory |
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Executive branch: |
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% |
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Legislative branch: |
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 |
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Judicial branch: |
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: |
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] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
Architect's Society of Uruguay
(professional organization); Catholic Church; Chamber of Uruguayan
Industries (manufacturer's association); Chemist and Pharmaceutical
Association (professional organization); Rural Association of Uruguay
(rancher's association); students; umbrella labor organization PIT/CNT
(powerful federation of Uruguayan Unions); Uruguayan Construction League;
the Uruguayan Network of Political Women |
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International organization participation: |
CAN (associate), CSN, 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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMEE,
UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US: |
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) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
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 |
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Flag description: |
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
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Economy - overview: |
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. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$37.05 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate): |
$21.17 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate: |
7.2% (2007 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$10,700 (2007 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 9.2%
industry: 33%
services: 57.8% (2007 est.) |
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Labor force: |
1.5 million (2007 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 9%
industry: 15%
services: 76% (2007 est.) |
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Unemployment rate: |
9.2% (2007 est.) |
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Population below poverty line: |
27.4% of households (2006)
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 34% (2003) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index: |
45.2 (2006) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
8.5% (2007) |
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Investment (gross fixed): |
16% of GDP (2007 est.) |
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Budget: |
revenues: $6.6 billion
expenditures: $6.3 billion (2007 est.) |
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Public debt: |
67% of GDP (2007) |
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Agriculture - products: |
rice, wheat, soybeans, barley;
livestock, beef; fish; forestry |
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Industries: |
food processing, electrical
machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles,
chemicals, beverages |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
6% (2007 est.) |
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Electricity - production: |
9.2 billion kWh (2007) |
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Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 0.7%
hydro: 99.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.3%
(2001) |
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Electricity - consumption: |
7.03 billion kWh (2007) |
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Electricity - exports: |
1 billion kWh (2007) |
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Electricity - imports: |
780 million kWh (2007) |
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Oil - production: |
27,830 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - consumption: |
33,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - exports: |
4,410 bbl/day (2007) |
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Oil - imports: |
43,670 bbl/day (2007) |
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Oil - proved reserves: |
NA |
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Natural gas - production: |
0 cu m (2007) |
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Natural gas - consumption: |
102.8 million cu m (2007 est.)
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Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2007 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports: |
116.9 million cu m (2007)
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Natural gas - proved reserves: |
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
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Current account balance: |
-$400 million (2007 est.)
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Exports: |
$4.5 billion f.o.b. (2007)
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Exports - commodities: |
meat, rice, leather products,
wool, fish, dairy products |
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Exports - partners: |
Brazil 15.1%, US 12.1%,
Argentina 6.8%, Mexico 6.4%, China 6%, Germany 5%, Russia 4.9% (2006)
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Imports: |
$5.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Imports - commodities: |
crude petroleum and petroleum
products, machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, paper, plastics |
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Imports - partners: |
Argentina 20.4%, Brazil 17.1%,
US 8.2%, Paraguay 7.2%, China 6.9%, Venezuela 4.8%, Nigeria 4.4% (2006)
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Economic aid - recipient: |
$14.62 million (2005) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$4.1 billion (December 2007
est.) |
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Debt - external: |
$12 billion (30 September 2007)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
$4.19 billion (2007) |
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
$156 million (2007) |
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Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$224 million (2007) |
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Currency (code): |
Uruguayan peso (UYU) |
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Currency code: |
UYU |
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Exchange rates: |
Uruguayan pesos per US dollar -
23.947 (2007), 24.048 (2006), 24.479 (2005), 28.704 (2004), 28.209 (2003)
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Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use: |
987,000 (2006) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular: |
2.333 million (2006) |
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Telephone system: |
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 approaching 100 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)
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Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 93, FM 191, shortwave 7
(2005) |
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Radios: |
1.97 million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations: |
62 (2005) |
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Televisions: |
782,000 (1997) |
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Internet country code: |
.uy |
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Internet hosts: |
279,114 (2007) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
14 (2001) |
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Internet users: |
756,000 (2006) |
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Airports: |
60 (2007) |
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Airports - with paved runways: |
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) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 51
1,524
to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 29
(2007) |
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Pipelines: |
gas 257 km; oil 160 km (2007)
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Railways: |
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) |
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Roadways: |
total: 77,732 km
paved: 7,743 km
unpaved: 69,989 km (2004) |
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Waterways: |
1,600 km (2005) |
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Merchant marine: |
total: 14 ships (1000
GRT or over) 36,041 GRT/22,274 DWT
by type: cargo 2, chemical
tanker 2, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Argentina 3, Greece 1)
registered in
other countries: 7 (Argentina 1, Bahamas 1, Liberia 3, Spain 2) (2007)
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Ports and terminals: |
Montevideo |
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Military branches: |
Uruguayan Armed Forces: Army,
Navy (includes naval air arm, Marines, Maritime Prefecture in wartime),
Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2008) |
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Military service age and obligation: |
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) |
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Manpower available for military service: |
males age 16-49: 837,252
females age 16-49: 824,096 (2008 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 16-49: 703,955
females age 16-49: 690,296 (2008 est.) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.6% (2006) |
| Transnational Issues |
Uruguay |
|
Disputes - international: |
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
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