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Uruguay
| page last updated on
June 24, 2010 |
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Background:
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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:
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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: 176,215
sq km
land:
175,015 sq km
water:
1,200 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: 1,648
km
border countries:
Argentina 580 km, Brazil 1,068 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 nm or edge of continental margin
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Climate:
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Current Weather
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, fish
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Land use:
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arable land: 7.77%
permanent crops:
0.24%
other:
91.99% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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2,100 sq km (2003)
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Total
renewable water resources:
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139 cu km (2000)
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Freshwater
withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 3.15
cu km/yr (2%/1%/96%)
per capita:
910 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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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:
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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, 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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3,510,386 (July 2010 est.)
32
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 22.1%
(male 394,454/female 381,920)
15-64 years:
64.5% (male 1,125,912/female 1,137,904)
65 years and over:
13.4% (male 188,719/female 281,477) (2010 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 33.7
years
male:
32.3 years
female:
35.1 years (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.447% (2010 est.)
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Birth rate:
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13.67 births/1,000
population (2010 est.)
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Death rate:
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9.06 deaths/1,000
population (July 2010 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-0.14 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2010 est.)
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 92%
of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.037
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 (2010 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 10.99
deaths/1,000 live births
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male:
12.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
9.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life expectancy
at birth:
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total population: 76.55
years
country comparison to the world: 68
male:
73.3 years
female:
79.92 years (2010 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.89 children born/woman
(2010 est.)
44
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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10,000 (2007 est.)
02
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 500 (2007
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 47.1%,
non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%,
atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1% (2006)
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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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School life expectancy (primary to
tertiary education):
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total: 15
years
male:
14 years
female:
16 years (2006)
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Education expenditures:
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2.9% of GDP (2006)
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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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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 first Sunday in October; ends second
Sunday in March
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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 15 February 1967; suspended 27 June 1973; revised 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
Jose "Pepe" MUJICA Cordano (since 1 March 2010); Vice President Danilo
ASTORI Saragoza (since 1 March 2010); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Jose "Pepe" MUJICA Cordano (since 1
March 2010); Vice President Danilo ASTORI Saragoza (since 1 March 2010)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
with parliamentary approval
(For more information visit the World Leaders website  )
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 on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in
October 2014)
election results:
Jose "Pepe" MUJICA elected president; percent of
vote - Jose "Pepe" MUJICA 54.8%, Luis Alberto LACALLE 45.2%
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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 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
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:
Chamber of Senators - last held on 25 October 2009
(next to be held in October 2014); Chamber of Representatives - last
held on 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014)
election results:
Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - Frente Amplio 16, Blanco 9, Colorado Party 5;
Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Frente Amplio 50, Blanco 30, Colorado Party 17, Independent
Party 2
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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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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, New Space Party
(Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI], Progressive Alliance (Alianza
Progresista) [Rodolfo NIN NOVOA], Socialist Party [Eduardo FERNANDEZ],
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:
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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
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International organization participation:
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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, UNMOGIP,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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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
consulate(s):
San Juan (Puerto Rico)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
David NELSON
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; 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; the stripes represent the nine original departments of
Uruguay; the sun symbol evokes the legend of the sun breaking through
the clouds on 25 May 1810 as independence was first declared from Spain
(Uruguay subsequently won its independence from Brazil)
note:
the banner was inspired by the national colors of
Argentina and by the design of the US flag
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Economy - overview:
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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. In 2001-02,
Argentine citizens made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited in
Uruguayan banks after bank deposits in Argentina were frozen, which led
to a plunge in the Uruguayan peso, a banking crisis, and a sharp
economic contraction. Real GDP fell in four years by nearly 20%, with
2002 the worst year. The unemployment rate rose, inflation surged, and
the burden of external debt doubled. Financial assistance from the IMF
helped stem the damage. Uruguay restructured its external debt in 2003
without asking creditors to accept a reduction on the principal.
Economic growth for Uruguay resumed, and averaged 8% annually during the
period 2004-08. The 2008-09 global financial crisis put a brake on
Uruguay's vigorous growth, which decelerated to 1.7% in 2009.
Nevertheless, the country managed to avoid a recession and keep positive
growth rates, mainly through higher public expenditure and investment.
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GDP
(purchasing power parity):
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$44.52 billion (2009
est.)
$43.77
billion (2008 est.)
$40.2
billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP
(official exchange rate):
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$31.98 billion (2009
est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.7% (2009 est.)
8.9%
(2008 est.)
7.4%
(2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$12,700 (2009 est.)
$12,600
(2008 est.)
$11,600
(2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP -
composition by sector:
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agriculture: 9.3%
industry:
22.7%
services:
68% (2009 est.)
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Labor force:
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1.636 million (2009 est.)
28
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Labor force -
by occupation:
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agriculture: 9%
industry:
15%
services:
76% (2007 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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7.6% (2009 est.)
7.6%
(2008 est.)
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Population
below poverty line:
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27.4% of households
(2006)
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Household income or consumption by
percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%:
34.8% (2006)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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45.2 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 41
44.8
(1999)
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Investment
(gross fixed):
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17.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
23
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Budget:
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revenues: $8.74
billion
expenditures:
$9.376 billion (2009 est.)
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Public debt:
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56.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
59.8%
of GDP (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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7.1% (2009 est.)
0
7.9%
(2008 est.)
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Central bank
discount rate:
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10% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 45
10%
(31 December 2007)
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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12.45% (31 December 2008)
24
7.25%
(31 December 2007)
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Stock of money:
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$2.247 billion (31
December 2008)
$2.145
billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money:
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$9.409 billion (31
December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 66
$7.919
billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of
domestic credit:
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$9.096 billion (31
December 2008)
$6.396
billion (31 December 2007)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$NA (31 December 2008)
12
$159
million (31 December 2007)
$125.1
million (31 December 2006)
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Agriculture - products:
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rice, wheat, soybeans,
barley; livestock, beef; fish; forestry
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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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1.8% (2009 est.)
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Electricity -
production:
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9.265 billion kWh (2007
est.)
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Electricity -
consumption:
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7.14 billion kWh (2007
est.)
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Electricity - exports:
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996 million kWh (2007
est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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789 million kWh (2007
est.)
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Oil - production:
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946 bbl/day (2008 est.)
07
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Oil - consumption:
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41,000 bbl/day (2008
est.)
02
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Oil - exports:
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7,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
00
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Oil - imports:
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52,730 bbl/day (2007
est.)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl
09
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Natural gas -
production:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
15
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Natural gas -
consumption:
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70 million cu m (2008
est.)
06
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
03
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Natural gas - imports:
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70 million cu m (2008
est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
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Natural
gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2009
est.)
22
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Current account balance:
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$184 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
-$1.51
billion (2008 est.)
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Exports:
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$6.395 billion (2009
est.)
$7.084
billion (2008 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 18.7%, China 8.5%,
Argentina 7.3%, Germany 6.5%, Mexico 4.9%, Netherlands 4.5%, Russia
4.4% (2008)
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Imports:
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$6.606 billion (2009
est.)
03
$8.811
billion (2008 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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crude petroleum and
petroleum products, machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, paper, plastics
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Imports - partners:
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Argentina 19.6%, Brazil
17.9%, China 11%, US 9.7%, Paraguay 6.5%, Nigeria 4.5% (2008)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$8.038 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
$6.36
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$12.61 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
$10.73
billion (31 December 2008)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$NA (31 December 2009)
$4.19
billion (2007)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$156 million (2007)
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Exchange rates:
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Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per
US dollar - 23.017 (2009), 20.936 (2008), 23.947 (2007), 24.048 (2006),
24.479 (2005)
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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959,300 (2008)
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Telephones -
mobile cellular:
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3.508 million (2008)
00
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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; overall fixed-line and
mobile-cellular teledensity is 130 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:
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AM 93, FM 191, shortwave 7
(2005)
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Television
broadcast stations:
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62 (2005)
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Internet country code:
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.uy
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Internet hosts:
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498,232 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 48
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Internet users:
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1.34 million (2008)
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Airports:
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57 (2009)
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Airports -
with paved runways:
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total: 9
over 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
4
914 to 1,523 m:
2
under 914 m:
2 (2009)
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Airports
- with unpaved runways:
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total: 48
1,524 to 2,437 m:
3
914 to 1,523 m:
20
under 914 m:
25 (2009)
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Pipelines:
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gas 226 km; oil 155 km
(2009)
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Railways:
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total: 1,641
km (1,200 km operational)
standard gauge:
1,641 km 1.435-m gauge (2010)
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Roadways:
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total: 77,732
km
paved:
7,743 km
unpaved:
69,989 km (2010)
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Waterways:
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1,600 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 52
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Merchant marine:
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total: 17
02
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)
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Ports and terminals:
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Montevideo
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Military branches:
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Uruguayan Armed Forces: Uruguayan
National Army (Ejercito Nacional Uruguaya, ENU), National Navy (Armada
Nacional; includes naval air arm, Naval Rifle Corps (Cuerpo de Fusileros
Navales, Fusna), Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Air Force (Fuerza
Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2009)
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Military service age and obligation:
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18-30 years of age for
voluntary military service; up to 40 years of age for specialists;
enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the
authority to conscript in emergencies; minimum 6-year education (2009)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 16-49: 849,358
females age 16-49:
832,774 (2010 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49: 713,223
females age 16-49:
697,197 (2010 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age
annually:
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male: 27,631
female:
26,703 (2010 est.)
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Military expenditures:
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1.6% of GDP (2006)
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| Transnational Issues
::Uruguay |
Disputes -
international:
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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; two
uncontested boundary disputes with Brazil over Isla Brasilera at the
tripoint with Argentina at the confluence of the Quarai/Cuareim and
Uruguay rivers, and, in the 235 square kilometer Invernada River region,
over which tributary represents the legitimate source of the
Quarai/Cuareim River
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Illicit drugs:
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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
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