1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 176,220 km2 land area: 173,620 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than Washington State
Climate
warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Coastline
660 km
Environment
subject to seasonally high winds, droughts, floods
International disputes
short section of boundary with Argentina is in dispute; two short sections of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute - Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area of the Rio Quarai and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay
Irrigated land
1,100 km2 (1989 est.)
Land boundaries
total 1,564 km, Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
Land use
arable land: 8% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 78% forest and woodland: 4% other: 10%
Location
Eastern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Argentina and Brazil
Map references
South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation territorial sea: 200 nm; overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nm
Natural resources
soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals
Terrain
mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
People and Society
Birth rate
17.82 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
9.52 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%
Infant mortality rate
18 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
1.355 million (1991 est.) by occupation: government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)
Languages
Spanish
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 73.74 years male: 70.52 years female: 77.11 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 96% male: 97% female: 96%
Nationality
noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan
Net migration rate
-0.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
3,175,050 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
0.75% (1993 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 66% (less than half adult population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other 30%
Total fertility rate
2.46 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Government
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
Capital
Montevideo
Chamber of Representatives
last held NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - Blanco 39%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 22%, New Space 8%, other 1%; seats - (99 total) number of seats by party NA
Chamber of Senators
last held 26 November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - Blanco 40%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 23% New Space 7%; seats - (30 total) Blanco 12, Colorado 9, Broad Front 7, New Space 2
Chief of State and Head of Government
President Luis Alberto LACALLE (since 1 March 1990); Vice President Gonzalo AGUIRRE Ramirez (since 1 March 1990)
Constitution
27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980
Digraph
UY
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo MACGILLYCUDDY chancery: 1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: telephone (202) 331-1313 through 1316 consulates general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York, consulate: New Orleans
Executive branch
president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
FAX
[598] (2) 48-86-11
Flag
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
Independence
25 August 1828 (from Brazil)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Legal system
based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General) consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Representatives (Camera de Representantes)
Member of
AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MERCOSUR, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMOZ, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Names
conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay conventional short form: Uruguay local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay local short form: Uruguay
National holiday
Independence Day, 25 August (1828)
Political parties and leaders
National (Blanco) Party, Carlos CAT; Colorado Party, Secretary General (vacant); Broad Front Coalition, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera - includes PSU, PCU, MLN, MRO, PVP; Uruguayan Socialist Party (PSU), Jose Pedro CARDOSO, and; Communist Party (PCU), Marina ARISMENDI; National Liberation Movement (MLN) or Tupamaros, Eleuterio FERNANDEZ Huidobro; Oriental Rvolutionary Movement (MRO), Walter ARTOLA; Party for the Victory of the Poor (PVP), Hugo CORES; New Space Coalition consists of PGP, PDC, and Civic Union, Hugo BATALLA; People's Government Party (PGP), Hugo BATALLA, secretary general; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Carlos VASSALLO, secretary general; Civic Union, Humberto CIGANDA
President
last held 26 November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera (Blanco) 37%, Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (Colorado) 29%, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera (Broad Front) 20%
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Type
republic
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard C. BROWN embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo mailing address: APO AA 34035 telephone: [598] (2) 23-60-61 or 48-77-77
Economy
Agriculture
large areas devoted to livestock grazing; wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; self-sufficient in most basic foodstuffs
Budget
revenues $2.9 billion; expenditures $3.0 billion, including capital expenditures of $388 million (1991)
Currency
1 new Uruguayan peso (N$Ur) = 100 centesimos
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $105 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $420 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $69 million
Electricity
2,168,000 kW capacity; 5,960 million kWh produced, 1,900 kWh per capita (1992)
Exchange rates
new Uruguayan pesos (N$Ur) per US$1 - 3,457.5 (December 1992), 3,026.9 (1992), 2,489 (1991), 1,594 (1990), 805 (1989), 451 (1988), 281 (1987)
Exports
$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: hides and leather goods 17%, beef 10%, wool 9%, fish 7%, rice 4% partners: Argentina, Brazil, US, Germany
External debt
$4.1 billion (1991)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Imports
$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: crude oil, fuels, and lubricants, metals, machinery, transportation equipment, industrial chemicals partners: Brazil 23%, Argentina 17%, US 10%, EC 27.1% (1990)
Industrial production
growth rate -1.4% (1990), accounts for almost 25% of GDP
Industries
meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles, footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, fishing, petroleum refining, wine
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
58% (1992 est.)
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $9.8 billion (1992 est.)
National product per capita
$3,100 (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate
8% (1992 est.)
Overview
Uruguay is a small economy with favorable climate, good soils, and solid hydropower potential. Economic development has been held back by excessive government regulation of economic detail and 50% to 130% inflation. After several years of sluggish growth, real GDP jumped by about 8% in 1992. The rise is attributable mainly to an increase in Argentine demand for Uruguayan exports, particularly agricultural products and electricity. In a major step toward greater regional economic cooperation, Uruguay in 1991 had joined Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay in forming the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur). A referendum in December 1992 overturned key portions of landmark privatization legislation, dealing a serious blow to President LACALLE's broad economic reform plan.
Unemployment rate
9% (1992 est.)
Communications
Airports
total: 88 usable: 81 with permanent-surface runways: 16 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 14
Highways
49,900 km total; 6,700 km paved, 3,000 km gravel, 40,200 km earth
Inland waterways
1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft
Merchant marine
4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 84,797 GRT/132,296 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 2 container, 1 oil tanker
Ports
Montevideo, Punta del Este, Colonia
Railroads
3,000 km, all 1.435-meter (standard) gauge and government owned
Telecommunications
most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave network; 337,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 99 AM, no FM, 26 TV, 9 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
Military and Security
Branches
Army, Navy (including Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines), Air Force, Grenadier Guards, Police
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $216 million, 2.3% of GDP (1991 est.)
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 755,667; fit for military service 613,585 (1993 est.); no conscription