2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

175,015 sq km

total

176,215 sq km

water

1,200 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than the state of Washington

Climate

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Coastline

660 km

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, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

910 cu m/yr (2000)

total

3.15 cu km/yr (2%/1%/96%)

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

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%

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

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, fish

Terrain

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Total renewable water resources

139 cu km (2000)

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.4% (male 397,942/female 385,253) 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 1,115,963/female 1,129,478) 65 years and over: 13.3% (male 187,176/female 278,570) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

13.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

9.06 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

10,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

9.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

12.37 deaths/1,000 live births

total

10.99 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.92 years (2010 est.)

male

73.3 years

total population

76.55 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

98.4% (2003 est.)

male

97.6%

total population

98%

Median age

female

35.1 years (2010 est.)

male

32.3 years

total

33.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Uruguayan

noun

Uruguayan(s)

Net migration rate

-0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

3,510,386 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.447% (2010 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1% (2006)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2007)

male

15 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.037 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.89 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

92% of total population (2008)

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

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins first 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)

Constitution

27 November 1966; effective 15 February 1967; suspended 27 June 1973; revised 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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador David NELSON

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 Alberto GIANELLI Derois

consulate(s)

San Juan (Puerto Rico)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 331-8142

telephone

[1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Jose "Pepe" MUJICA Cordano (since 1 March 2010); Vice President Danilo ASTORI Saragoza (since 1 March 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Jose "Pepe" MUJICA elected president; percent of vote - Jose "Pepe" MUJICA 54.8%, Luis Alberto LACALLE 45.2%

elections

president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in October 2014)

head of government

President Jose "Pepe" MUJICA Cordano (since 1 March 2010); Vice President Danilo ASTORI Saragoza (since 1 March 2010)

Flag description

nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; 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; the stripes represent the nine original departments of Uruguay; the sun symbol evokes the legend of the sun breaking through the clouds on 25 May 1810 as independence was first declared from Spain (Uruguay subsequently won its independence from Brazil) note: the banner was inspired by the national colors of Argentina and by the design of the US flag

Government type

constitutional republic

Independence

25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

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 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 elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Frente Amplio 16, Blanco 9, Colorado Party 5; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Frente Amplio 50, Blanco 30, Colorado Party 17, Independent Party 2

elections

Chamber of Senators - last held on 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Francisco Jose DEBALI note: adopted 1848; the anthem is also known as "Orientales, la Patria o la tumba!" ("Uruguayans, the Fatherland or Death!"); it is the world's longest national anthem in terms of music (105 bars; almost five minutes); generally only the first verse and chorus are sung

name

"Himno Nacional" (National Anthem of Uruguay)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

Political parties and leaders

Broad Front (Frente Amplio) - formerly known as the Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition or EP-FA [Jorge BROVETTO] (a broad governing coalition that includes Movement of the Popular Participation or MPP, New Space Party (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI], Progressive Alliance (Alianza Progresista) [Rodolfo NIN NOVOA], Socialist Party [Eduardo FERNANDEZ and Reinaldo GARGANO], Communist Party [Eduardo LORIER], Uruguayan Assembly (Asamblea Uruguay) [Danilo ASTORI], and Vertiente Artiguista [Mariano ARANA]); Colorado Party (Foro Batllista) [Pedro BORDABERRY and Julio Maria SANGUINETTI]; National Party or Blanco [Luis Alberto LACALLE and Jorge LARRANAGA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Architect's Society of Uruguay (professional organization); Chamber of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer's association); Chemist and Pharmaceutical Association (professional organization); PIT/CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan Unions - umbrella labor organization); Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association); Uruguayan Construction League; Uruguayan Network of Political Women

other

Catholic Church; students

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

rice, wheat, soybeans, barley; livestock, beef; fish; forestry

Central bank discount rate

20% (31 December 2009) 20% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.28% (31 December 2009 est.) 12.45% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$377 million (2010 est.) $258.8 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$13.39 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $13.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

45.2 (2006) 44.8 (1999)

Economy - overview

Uruguay's 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. In 2001-02, Argentine citizens made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks after bank deposits in Argentina were frozen, which led to a plunge in the Uruguayan peso, a banking crisis, and a sharp economic contraction. Real GDP fell in four years by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year. The unemployment rate rose, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Financial assistance from the IMF helped stem the damage. Uruguay restructured its external debt in 2003 without asking creditors to accept a reduction on the principal. Economic growth for Uruguay resumed, and averaged 8% annually during the period 2004-08. The 2008-09 global financial crisis put a brake on Uruguay's vigorous growth, which decelerated to 2.9% in 2009. Nevertheless, the country managed to avoid a recession and keep positive growth rates, mainly through higher public expenditure and investment, and GDP growth exceeded 7% in 2010.

Electricity - consumption

7.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

996 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

789 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

9.265 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar - 20.276 (2010), 22.568 (2009), 20.936 (2008), 23.947 (2007), 24.048 (2006)

Exports

$7.413 billion (2010 est.) $6.389 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Brazil 21.05%, China 9.45%, Argentina 7.36%, Germany 5.16%, Mexico 4.88%, Netherlands 4.13%, US 3.96% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

9.3%

industry

22.8%

services

67.9% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,600 (2010 est.) $12,800 (2009 est.) $12,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

7.1% (2010 est.) 2.9% (2009 est.) 8.5% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$40.71 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$47.8 billion (2010 est.) $44.63 billion (2009 est.) $43.38 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 34.8% (2006)

Imports

$8.519 billion (2010 est.) $6.664 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, paper, plastics

Imports - partners

Argentina 20.77%, Brazil 17.53%, China 10.23%, US 9.82%, Paraguay 6.87% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

16.5% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.8% (2010 est.) 7.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.4% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.637 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

9%

industry

15%

services

76% (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) $159 million (31 December 2007) $125.1 million (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

70 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

70 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

40,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

7,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

52,730 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

997 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

27.4% of households (2006)

Public debt

52.7% of GDP (2010 est.) 60% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$7.407 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $8.038 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$14.22 billion (31 December 2009) $11.78 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$156 million (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA (31 December 2010) $4.19 billion (2007)

Stock of domestic credit

$10.49 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $8.888 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.706 billion (31 December 2010 est) $2.74 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

7.4% (2010 est.) 7.6% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

mixture of privately-owned and state-run broadcast media; more than 100 commercial radio stations and about 20 television channels broadcasting; cable TV is available; large number of community radio and TV stations (2007)

Internet country code

.uy

Internet hosts

765,525 (2010)

Internet users

1.405 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 135 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

fully digitalized

international

country code - 598; the UNISOR submarine cable system provides direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

953,400 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.802 million (2009)

Airports

58 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 26 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

9 (Argentina 2, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Spain 5)

registered in other countries

1 (Liberia 1) (2010)

total

18

Pipelines

gas 226 km; oil 155 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Montevideo

Railways

standard gauge

1,641 km 1.435-m gauge (2010)

total

1,641 km (1,200 km operational)

Roadways

paved

7,743 km

total

77,732 km

unpaved

69,989 km (2010)

Waterways

1,600 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 849,358 females age 16-49: 832,774 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 713,223 females age 16-49: 697,197 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

26,703 (2010 est.)

male

27,631

Military branches

Uruguayan Armed Forces

Uruguayan National Army (Ejercito Nacional Uruguaya, ENU), Uruguayan National Navy (Armada Nacional del Uruguay; includes naval air arm, Naval Rifle Corps (Cuerpo de Fusileros Navales, Fusna), Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Uruguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2010)

Military expenditures

1.6% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; up to 40 years of age for specialists; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies; minimum 6-year education (2009)

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; two uncontested boundary disputes with Brazil over Isla Brasilera at the tripoint with Argentina at the confluence of the Quarai/Cuareim and Uruguay rivers, and, in the 235 square kilometer Invernada River region, over which tributary represents the legitimate source of the Quarai/Cuareim River

Illicit drugs

small-scale transit country for drugs mainly bound for Europe, often through sea-borne containers; law enforcement corruption; money laundering because of strict banking secrecy laws; weak border control along Brazilian frontier; increasing consumption of cocaine base and synthetic drugs page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================