2007 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: 22.9% (male 399,409/female 386,136) 15-64 years: 63.9% (male 1,087,180/female 1,104,465) 65 years and over: 13.3% (male 185,251/female 269,491) (2006 est.)

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 become an important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century established widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control previously held by the Colorado and Blanco parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent. Geography Uruguay

Birth rate

13.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in March

geographic coordinates

34 53 S, 56 11 W

name

Montevideo

time difference

UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Death rate

9.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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)

Executive branch

chief of state

President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005) and Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government

President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005) and Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

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

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.)

Independence

25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

Infant mortality rate

female

10.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

12.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.61 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

2,100 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Argentina 580 km, Brazil 1,068 km

total

1,648 km

Land use

arable land

7.77%

other

91.99% (2005)

permanent crops

0.24%

Languages

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

Legal system

based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.65 years (2006 est.)

male

73.12 years

total population

76.33 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 nm or edge of continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

34.2 years (2006 est.)

male

31.3 years

total

32.7 years

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

Nationality

adjective

Uruguayan

noun

Uruguayan(s)

Natural hazards

seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind that 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

-0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

3,431,932 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

0.46% (2006 est.)

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

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 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

Terrain

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Total fertility rate

1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish

Airports

64 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1

total

8

under 914 m

2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

56 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 22

under 914 m

31 (2006)

Budget

expenditures

$5.449 billion; including capital expenditures of $193 million (2006 est.)

revenues

$5.203 billion

Currency (code)

Uruguayan peso (UYU)

Currency code

UYU

Current account balance

$-600 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$10.37 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Frank BAXTER

embassy

Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200

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 Alberto GIANELLI Derois

telephone

[1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316

Disputes - international

in Jan 2007, ICJ provisionally ruled Uruguay may begin construction of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina, while the court examines further whether Argentina has the legal right to stop such construction with potential environmental implications to both countries; 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 8 February, 2007

Distribution of family income - Gini index

44.6 (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Uruguay's well-to-do economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated work force, 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 Argentina made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks, which led to a plunge in the Uruguayan 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 banking crisis. The unemployment rate rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF helped stem the damage. A debt swap with private-sector creditors in 2003 extended the maturity dates on nearly half of Uruguay's then $11.3 billion of public debt and helped restore public confidence. The economy grew about 12% in 2004 as a result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, a competitive peso, growth in the region, and low international interest rates, and it continued to grow nearly 7% annually in 2005 and 2006.

Electricity - consumption

9.939 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

19 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

2.348 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

8.183 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

0.7%

hydro

99.1%

nuclear

0%

other

0.3% (2001)

Exchange rates

Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 23.9911 (2006), 24.479 (2005), 28.704 (2004), 28.209 (2003), 21.257 (2002)

Exports

$3.993 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 23.2%, Brazil 13.5%, Argentina 7.8%, Germany 4.2%, Mexico 4.1% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 331-8142

[598] (2) 418-8611

consulate(s)

San Juan (Puerto Rico)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

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 with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy Economy Uruguay

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

9.3%

industry

33.7%

services

57% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$10,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$36.56 billion (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25.8% (1997)

lowest 10%

3.7%

Imports

$4.532 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude petroleum

Imports - partners

Brazil 21.3%, Argentina 20.3%, Russia 8%, US 6.7%, Venezuela 6.3%, China 6.2%, Nigeria 5.9% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

12.6% (2006 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.5% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.uy

Internet hosts

145,774 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

14 (2001)

Internet users

680,000 (2005) Transportation Uruguay

Investment (gross fixed)

13.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

1.27 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

14%

industry

16%

services

70%

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; vice president has one vote in the Senate) 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)

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

760,341 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

764,408

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

631,046 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

637,445

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

4 (Argentina 3, Greece 1)

registered in other countries

8 (Argentina 1, Bahamas 2, Liberia 3, Spain 2) (2006)

total

13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,259 GRT/19,725 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes naval air arm, Marines, Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$371.2 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.1% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Uruguay

Military service age and obligation

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

Natural gas - consumption

120 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

120 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption

38,100 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

513.5 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 257 km; oil 160 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Broad Front Coalition (Frente Amplio) - formerly known as the Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition or EP-FA [Jorge BROVETTO]; Colorado Party [Julio Maria SANGUINETTI]; Independent Party (Partido Independiente) [Pablo MIERES]; Movement of Popular Participation or MPP [Jose MUJICA]; National Party or Blanco [Jorge LARRANAGA]; New Sector/Space Coalition (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI]; Broad Front Coalition (Frente Amplio) - formerly known as the Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition or EP-FA [Jorge BROVETTO]; Uruguayan Assembly or Asamblea Uruguay [Danilo ASTORI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Architect's Society of Uruguay (professional organization); Catholic Church; Chamber of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer's association); Chemist and Pharmaceutical Association (professional organization); PIT-CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan unions); Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association); students; Uruguayan Construction League

Population below poverty line

22% of households (2004)

Ports and terminals

Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Fray Bentos, Colonia, Juan Lacaze Military Uruguay

Public debt

70.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 93, FM 191, shortwave 7 (2005)

Radios

1.97 million (1997)

Railways

note

461 km have been taken out of service and 460 km are in partial use (2005)

standard gauge

2,073 km 1.435-m gauge

total

2,073 km

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.594 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

7,743 km

total

77,732 km

unpaved

69,989 km (2004)

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

fully digitalized

international

country code - 598; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2002)

Telephones - main lines in use

1 million (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

600,000 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

62 (2005)

Televisions

782,000 (1997)

Unemployment rate

10.5% (2006 est.)

Waterways

1,600 km (2005)