Edition 2005 — Uruguay — World Factbook

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: 23.2% (male 403,041/female 389,427) 15-64 years: 63.6% (male 1,076,960/female 1,095,833) 65 years and over: 13.2% (male 183,877/female 266,782) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish

Airports

64 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 50 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 31 (2004 est.) 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

Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to became an important commercial center. Annexed by Brazil as a separate province in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President BATLLE in the early 20th century established widespread political, social, and economic reforms. 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

14.09 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures: $3.787 billion, including capital expenditures of $193 million (2004 est.)
revenues: $3.332 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 (code)

Uruguayan peso (UYU)

Currency code

UYU

Current account balance

$181.8 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

9.06 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$12.8 billion (March 2004)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Martin J. SILVERSTEIN
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611
mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos GIANELLI Derois
consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316

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 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Distribution of family income - Gini index

44.8 (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

NA

Economy - overview

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 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 grew about 10% in 2004 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.

Electricity - consumption

5.878 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

954 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

434.2 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

8.536 billion kWh (2003)

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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 28.704 (2004), 28.209 (2003), 21.257 (2002), 13.319 (2001), 12.1 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval
chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ (since 1 March 2005) and Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVA (since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ 50.5%, Jorge LARRANAGA 35.1%, Guillermo STIRLING 10.3%
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)
head of government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ (since 1 March 2005) and Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVA (since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$2.2 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products

Exports - partners

US 17.3%, Brazil 16%, Germany 6.3%, Argentina 6.2%, Mexico 4.2% (2004)

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 - composition by sector

agriculture: 7.9%
industry: 27.4%
services: 64.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $14,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

10.2% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$49.27 billion (2004 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 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 25.8% (1997)

Imports

$2.071 billion f.o.b. (2003)

Imports - commodities

machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude petroleum

Imports - partners

Argentina 19.5%, Brazil 19%, Paraguay 12.9%, US 9.2%, China 6% (2004)

Independence

25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

Industrial production growth rate

22% (2004 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female: 10.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
male: 13.27 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 11.95 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.6% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

CSN, 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, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Internet country code

.uy

Internet hosts

87,630 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

14 (2001)

Internet users

400,000 (2002) Transportation Uruguay

Investment (gross fixed)

9.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

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

1.56 million (2004 est.)

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: 7.43%
other: 92.34% (2001)
permanent crops: 0.23%

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 - EP-FA 16, Blanco 11, Colorado Party 3; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - EP-FA 52, Blanco 36, Colorado Party 10, Independent Party 1
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)

Life expectancy at birth

female: 79.45 years (2005 est.)
male: 72.92 years
total population: 76.13 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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 764,408 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 637,445 (2005 est.)

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: 33.95 years (2005 est.)
male: 31.02 years
total: 32.46 years

Merchant marine

by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Argentina 3, Greece 1)
registered in other countries: 8 (2005)
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 10,918 GRT/10,342 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Marines, Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$257.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (2004) Transnational Issues Uruguay

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (2001)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

Nationality

adjective: Uruguayan
noun: Uruguayan(s)

Natural gas - consumption

64.5 million cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports

65 million cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 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

-0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

41,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

gas 192 km (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Colorado Party [Jorge BATLLE Ibanez]; National Party or Blanco [Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera]; New Sector/Space Coalition (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI]; Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition (Encuentro Progresista/Frente Amplio) or EP-FA [Tabare VAZQUEZ]; Independent Party (Partido Independiente) [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Agrupacion UTE (powerful state worker's union), Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association), Uruguayan Construction League, Chamber of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer's association), Chemist and Pharmaceutical Association (professional organization), Architect's Society of Uruguay (professional organization), the Catholic Church, students

Population

3,415,920 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

21% of households (2003)

Population growth rate

0.47% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors