2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.3% (male 425,642; female 404,987) 15-64 years: 62.6% (male 1,057,187; female 1,079,549) 65 years and over: 13.1% (male 182,696; female 263,268) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish

Airports

64 (2002)

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: 7

under 914 m

2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 16

under 914 m

31 (2002) Military Uruguay

Area

land

173,620 sq km

total

176,220 sq km

water

2,600 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than the state of Washington

Background

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. Geography Uruguay

Birth rate

17.19 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$4.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $500 million (2000)

revenues

$3.7 billion

Capital

Montevideo

Climate

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Coastline

660 km

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

former

Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province

local long form

Republica Oriental del Uruguay

local short form

Uruguay

Currency

Uruguayan peso (UYU)

Currency code

UYU

Death rate

8.97 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$11.8 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Martin J. SILVERSTEIN

embassy

Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200

mailing address

APO AA 34035

telephone

[598] (2) 418-7777

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Hugo FERNANDEZ-FAINGOLD

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York

Disputes - international

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 18 December, 2003

Distribution of family income - Gini index

42.3 (1989)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Uruguay's 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 lower demand in Argentina and Brazil, which together account for nearly half of Uruguay's exports. Total GDP in these four years dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year. 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, which is still extensive. Moves to reschedule debt and promote economic recovery may help limit a further decline in output in 2003.

Electricity - consumption

6.152 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

1.377 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

123 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

7.963 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

0.7%

hydro

99.1%

nuclear

0%

other

0.3% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Cerro Catedral 514 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal

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, Nuclear Test Ban

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 21.26 (2002), 13.32 (2001), 12.1 (2000), 11.34 (1999), 10.47 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval

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

election results

Jorge BATLLE Ibanez elected president; percent of vote - Jorge BATLLE Ibanez 52% in a runoff against Tabare VAZQUEZ 44%

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 NA 2004)

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

Exports

$2.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

meat, rice, leather products, wool, vehicles, dairy products

Exports - partners

Brazil 21%, Argentina 15%, US 8.1%, Germany 5.1%, Italy 4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 331-8142

[598] (2) 418-8611

chancery

1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006

telephone

[1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Uruguay

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 Economy Uruguay

GDP

purchasing power parity - $26.82 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

6%

industry

27%

services

67% (2001)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $7,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-10.8% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

33 00 S, 56 00 W

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 People Uruguay

Government type

constitutional republic

Highways

paved

8,081 km

total

8,983 km

unpaved

902 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,300 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25.8% (1997)

lowest 10%

3.7%

Imports

$1.87 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude petroleum

Imports - partners

Argentina 25.6%, Brazil 22.7%, US 7.7%, Venezuela 6.2% (2002)

Independence

25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

Industrial production growth rate

-12% (2002 est.)

Industries

food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages

Infant mortality rate

female

11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

15.61 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

14.1% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.uy

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

14 (2001)

Internet users

400,000 (2002) Transportation Uruguay

Irrigated land

1,800 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly)

Labor force

1.2 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 14%, industry 16%, services 70%

Land boundaries

border countries

Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km

total

1,564 km

Land use

arable land

7.21%

other

92.52% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.27%

Languages

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

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)

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

elections

Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.38 years (2003 est.)

male

72.54 years

total population

75.87 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98.4% (2003 est.) Government Uruguay

male

97.6%

total population

98%

Location

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

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 NM

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

33.4 years (2002)

male

30.2 years

total

31.8 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Argentina 4, Greece 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1

total

4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 10,918 GRT/9,775 DWT

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$250 million (1999)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.1% (2000) Transnational Issues Uruguay

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

831,297 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

672,030 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

Nationality

adjective

Uruguayan

noun

Uruguayan(s)

Natural gas - consumption

40 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

40 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

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 from weather fronts

Natural resources

arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries

Net migration rate

-0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

41,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

gas 192 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

3,413,329 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

6% (1997)

Population growth rate

0.79% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Colonia, Fray Bentos, Juan La Caze, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Punta del Este, Piriapolis

Radio broadcast stations

AM 91, FM 149, shortwave 7 (2001)

Radios

1.97 million (1997)

Railways

note

461 km have been taken out of service and 460 km are in partial use (2002)

standard gauge

2,073 km 1.435-m gauge

total

2,073 km

Religions

Roman Catholic 66% (less than half of the adult population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, nonprofessing or other 31%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Telephone system

domestic

most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network

general assessment

fully digitalized

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2002)

Telephones - main lines in use

929,141 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

350,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

20 (2001)

Televisions

782,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Total fertility rate

2.35 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

19.4% (2002)

Waterways

1,600 km (used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft)