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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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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: 7.21%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 92.52% (1998 est.) |
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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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3,399,237 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
23.5% (male 406,500; female 392,497)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 1,066,464; female 1,087,100)
65 years and over: 13.1% (male 182,654; female 264,022)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
32.2 years
male: 30.7 years
female: 33.7 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.51% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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14.44
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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9.07 deaths/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-0.32 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 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 (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
12.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 13.67 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 75.92 years
male: 72.71 years
female: 79.24 years (2004 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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6,300 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 500
(2001 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 short form: Uruguay
former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay |
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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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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (since 1 March 2000)
and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Jorge BATLLE Ibanez
(since 1 March 2000) and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1
March 2000); 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 1999, with runoff election on 28 November 1999
(next to be held October 2004)
election results: Jorge BATLLE Ibanez elected
president; percent of vote - Jorge BATLLE Ibanez 52% in a
runoff against Tabare VAZQUEZ 44% |
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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
1999 (next to be held October 2004); Chamber of
Representatives - last held 31 October 1999 (next to be held
October 2004)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote
by party - NA%; seats by party - Encuentro Progresista 12,
Colorado Party 10, Blanco 7, New Sector/Space Coalition 1;
Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - Encuentro Progresista 40, Colorado Party 33,
Blanco 22, New Sector/Space Coalition 4 |
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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 or Nuevo Espacio
[Rafael MICHELINI]; Progressive Encounter/Broad Front
Coalition or Encuentro Progresista/Frente Amplio [Tabare
VAZQUEZ] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Hugo FERNANDEZ-FAINGOLD
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and
New York
FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 |
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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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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 and the US has 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 is expected to resume growth in 2004
(perhaps 4% or more) 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. On the negative side, in
December 2003 the electorate voted to repeal the law
permitting a cautious liberalization of the energy industry. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $42.94 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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0.3% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $12,600 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
9%
industry: 24%
services: 67% (2001) |
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Population below poverty line:
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23.7% (2002) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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10.2% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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1.3 million
(2002) |
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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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16.1% (November
2003) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$2.74 billion
expenditures: $3.4 billion, including capital
expenditures of $193 million (2002) |
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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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-2.5% (Jan-Sep
2003 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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7.963 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
0.7%
hydro: 99.1%
other: 0.3% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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6.152 billion kWh
(2001) |
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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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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2001
est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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40 million cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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rice, wheat,
corn, barley; livestock; fish |
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Exports:
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$2.164 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 22.1%, US
8.4%, Germany 5.4%, Argentina 5.1%, Mexico 4.2%, Italy 4.1%,
Paraguay 4.1%, Spain 4% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$1.989 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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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 23.1%,
Brazil 17.5%, US 8.9%, Mexico 4.7%, China 4% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$10.2 billion
(June 2003) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$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 - 28.21 (2003), 21.26 (2002), 13.32 (2001), 12.1
(2000), 11.34 (1999) |
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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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Television broadcast stations:
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23 (2002) |
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Internet country code:
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.uy |
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Internet hosts:
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78,660 (2002) |
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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 (2002) |
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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 (used by
coastal and shallow-draft river craft) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 192 km (2003) |
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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: 4
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 10,918 GRT/10,342 DWT
registered in other countries: 6 (2003 est.)
foreign-owned: Argentina 4, Greece 1
by type: chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum
tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 |
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Airports:
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64 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 49
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 31 (2003 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 - availability:
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males age
15-49: 838,195 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 677,315 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$217.9 million
(2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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2% (2003) |
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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 |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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