1998 Edition

Area

total: 176,220 sq km land: 173,620 sq km water: 2,600 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly smaller than Washington State

Climate

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Coastline

660 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m

Environment-current issues

substantial pollution from Brazilian industry along border; one-fifth of country affected by acid rain generated by Brazil; water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal

Environment-international agreements

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates

33 00 S, 56 00 W

Irrigated land

7,700 sq km (1997 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,564 km border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km

Land use

arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 77% forests and woodland: 6% other: 10% (1997 est.)

Location

Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 200 nm; overflight and navigation guaranteed beyond 12 nm

Natural hazards

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 in weather fronts

Natural resources

fertile soil, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries

Terrain

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Age structure

0-14 years: 24% (male 405,894; female 386,479) 15-64 years: 63% (male 1,019,682; female 1,048,844) 65 years and over: 13% (male 176,467; female 247,475) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

16.92 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

8.89 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian, practically nonexistent

Infant mortality rate

14.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.53 years male: 72.39 years female: 78.84 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.3% male: 96.9% female: 97.7% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan

Net migration rate

-0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

3,284,841 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

0.71% (1998 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 66% (less than one-half of the adult population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other 30%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.29 children born/woman (1998 est.)

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

Constitution

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

Country name

conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay conventional short form: Uruguay local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay local short form: Uruguay

Data code

UY

Executive branch

chief of state: President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995) and Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government; the vice-president is also the Senate president head of government: President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995) and Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government; the vice-president is also the Senate president 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 27 November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999 with run-off election if necessary on 28 November 1999) election results: Julio Maria SANGUINETTI elected president; percent of vote-23%

FAX

[1] (202) 331-8142 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher A. ASHBY embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo mailing address: APO AA 34035 telephone: [598] (2) 203 60 61, 408 77 77

[598] (2) 408 86 11

Flag description

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

Government type

republic

Independence

25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

International organization participation

AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINUGUA, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alvaro DIEZ DE MEDINA SUAREZ chancery: 2715 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly Political parties and leaders: National (Blanco) Party, Alberto VOLONTE Berro; Herrerista faction of the Blanco Party, Luis LACALLE; Colorado Party, Julio M. SANGUINETTI, Jorge BATLLE; Broad Front Coalition, Tabare VAZQUEZ (until 28 September 1997); New Sector Coalition, Rafael MICHELINI; Progressive Encounter (Encuentro Progresista), Tabare VAZQUEZ note: Hugo BATALLA and host of People's Government Party (PGP) have rejoined the Colorado Party

Legal system

based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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) 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 27 November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999); Chamber of Representatives-last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999) election results: Chamber of Senators-percent of vote by party-Colorado 36%, Blanco 34%, Encuentro Progresista 27%, New Sector 3%; seats by party-Colorado 11, Blanco 10, Encuentro Progresista 8, New Sector 1; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party-Colorado 32%, Blanco 31%, Encuentro Progresista 31%, New Sector 5%; seats by party-Colorado 32, Blanco 31, Encuentro Progresista 31, New Sector 5

National capital

Montevideo

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture-products

wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; livestock; fishing

Budget

revenues: $4 billion expenditures: $4.3 billion, with capital expenditures of $385 million (1997 est.)

Currency

1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos

Debt-external

$4.6 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $63 million (1994)

Economy-overview

Uruguay's small economy benefits from a favorable climate for agriculture and substantial hydropower potential. Economic development has been restrained in recent years by high-though declining-inflation and extensive government regulation. The SANGUINETTI government's conservative monetary and fiscal policies are aimed at continuing to reduce inflation; other priorities include extensive reform of the social security system and increased investment in education. Economic performance remains sensitive to conditions in Argentina and Brazil, largely because more than half of Uruguay's trade is conducted with its partners in Mercosur (the Southern Cone Common Market).

Electricity-capacity

2.055 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

1,852 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

7.6 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1-9.98 (January 1998), 9.4448 (1997), 7.9718 (1996), 6.3491 (1995), 5.0529 (1994), 3.9484 (1993)

Exports

total value: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997) commodities: wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal products, rice, fish and shellfish, chemicals partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Germany, Italy

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$29.1 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 10.8% industry: 27.4% services: 61.8% (1995)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$8,900 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

5.1% (1997)

Imports

total value: $3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997) commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, minerals, plastics, oil partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Italy, Germany

Industrial production growth rate

5.6% (1997)

Industries

meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles, footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, petroleum refining, wine

Inflation rate-consumer price index

15.2% (1997)

Labor force

total: 1.38 million (1997 est.) by occupation: government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 72, FM 0, shortwave 28

Radios

1.89 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

some modern facilities domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

767,333 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

42

Televisions

1,131,065 (1996)

Unemployment rate

10.3% (December 1997)

Airports

64 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: 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 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 33 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 8,420 km paved: 7,578 km unpaved: 842 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 2 oil tanker ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,042 GRT/83,684 DWT (1997 est.)

Railways

total: 2,998 km (918 km closed) (1997) standard gauge: 2,075 km 1.435-m gauge

Waterways

1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft Ports and harbors: Fray Bentos, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Punta del Este, Colonia, Piriapolis

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines), Air Force, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$172 million (1996)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

0.9% (1996)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 799,977 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 648,999 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

two short sections of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute-Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay River