from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Uruguay
Introduction
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.
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 Jose BATLLE
in the early 20th century established widespread
political, social, and economic reforms. A violent
Marxist urban guerrilla movement named 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.
In 2004, the left-of-center EP-FA 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
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic
Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
Geographic 33 00 S, 56 00 W
coordinates:
Map South America
references:
Area: total: 176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water: 2,600 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than the state of Washington
comparative:
Land total: 1,564 km
boundaries: border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
Coastline: 660 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation
Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal
lowland
Elevation lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
Natural arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
resources:
Land use: arable land: 7.77%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 91.99% (2005)
Irrigated 2,100 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and
hazards: 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
Environment - water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry;
current inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
issues:
Environment - party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
international Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,
agreements: 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
Geography - second-smallest South American country (after
note: Suriname); most of the low-lying landscape
(three-quarters of the country) is grassland, ideal for
cattle and sheep raising
People
Population: 3,431,932 (July 2006 est.)
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.)
Median age: total: 32.7 years
male: 31.3 years
female: 34.2 years (2006 est.)
Population 0.46% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 13.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 9.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
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
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 11.61 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 12.9 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 10.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 76.33 years
expectancy at male: 73.12 years
birth: female: 79.65 years (2006 est.)
Total 1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 0.3% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 6,000 (2001 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 500 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan
Ethnic groups: white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian
(practically nonexistent)
Religions: Roman Catholic 66% (less than half of the adult
population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%,
Jewish 1%, nonprofessing or other 31%
Languages: Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix
on the Brazilian frontier)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay
former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province
Government constitutional republic
type:
Capital: name: Montevideo
geographic coordinates: 34 53 S, 56 11 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in
October; ends second Sunday in March
Administrative 19 departments (departamentos, singular -
divisions: 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
Independence: 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
National Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
holiday:
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
Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1
branch: 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 government
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 (may
not serve consecutive terms); election last held 31
October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)
election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president;
percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ 50.5%, Jorge LARRANAGA
35.1%, Guillermo STIRLING 10.3%; other 4.1%
Legislative bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists
branch: 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)
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)
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
Judicial Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president
branch: and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly)
Political Colorado Party [Julio Maria SANGUINETTI]; Independent
parties and Party (Partido Independiente) [Pablo MIERES]; Movement
leaders: of Popular Participation or MPP [Jose MUJICA]; National
Party or Blanco [Jorge LARRANAGA]; New Sector/Space
Coalition (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI];
Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition (Encuentro
Progresista/Frente Amplio) or EP-FA [Tabare VAZQUEZ];
Socialist Party of Uruguay or Socialists [Reinaldo
GARGANO]; Uruguayan Assembly or Asamblea Uruguay
[Danilo ASTORI]
Political Architect's Society of Uruguay (professional
pressure organization); Catholic Church; Chamber of Uruguayan
groups and Industries (manufacturer's association); Chemist and
leaders: Pharmaceutical Association (professional organization);
PIT-CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan unions);
Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association);
students; Uruguayan Construction League
International CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
organization ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
participation: 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,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alberto GIANELLI
representation Derois
in the US: chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York
consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires James D. NEALON
representation embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
from the US: mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777
FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611
Flag nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom)
description: 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
Economy - Uruguay's well-to-do economy is characterized by an
overview: 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 10% in 2004 as a result of high commodity prices
for Uruguayan exports, a competitive peso, growth in
the region, and low international interest rates, but
slowed to 6.1% in 2005.
GDP $33.98 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $13.24 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 6.8% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $9,900 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 9.3%
composition by industry: 31.1%
sector: services: 59.6% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 1.52 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 14%
by occupation: industry: 16%
services: 70%
Unemployment 12.2% (2005 est.)
rate:
Population 22% of households (2004)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 3.7%
income or highest 10%: 25.8% (1997)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 44.6 (2000)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 4.7% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 12.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $4.468 billion
expenditures: $4.845 billion; including capital
expenditures of $193 million (2005 est.)
Public debt: 81.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish
products:
Industries: food processing, electrical machinery, transportation
equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals,
beverages
Industrial 8.5% (2005 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 8.611 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 0.7%
production by hydro: 99.1%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0.3% (2001)
Electricity - 7.762 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 900 million kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 654 million kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 435 bbl/day (2003 est.)
production:
Oil - 38,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 60 million cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 65 million cu m (2003 est.)
imports:
Current $-87.9 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $3.55 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy
commodities: products
Exports - US 18.6%, Brazil 15.6%, Mexico 6.9%, Argentina 6.1%,
partners: Spain 4.1%, Germany 4% (2005)
Imports: $3.54 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude petroleum
commodities:
Imports - Argentina 18.9%, Brazil 18.5%, Paraguay 14%, US 8.6%,
partners: China 6.2% (2005)
Reserves of $3.079 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $13.24 billion (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $NA
recipient:
Currency Uruguayan peso (UYU)
(code):
Currency code: UYU
Exchange Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 24.479 (2005), 28.704
rates: (2004), 28.209 (2003), 21.257 (2002), 13.319 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 1 million (2004)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 600,000 (2004)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: fully digitalized
system: domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in
Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay
network
international: country code - 598; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2002)
Radio AM 93, FM 191, shortwave 7 (2005)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 1.97 million (1997)
Television 62 (2005)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 782,000 (1997)
Internet .uy
country code:
Internet 145,774 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 14 (2001)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 680,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 64 (2006)
Airports - total: 8
with paved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - total: 56
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 31 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 257 km; oil 160 km (2006)
Railways: total: 2,073 km
standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge
note: 461 km have been taken out of service and 460 km
are in partial use (2005)
Roadways: total: 77,732 km
paved: 7,743 km
unpaved: 69,989 km (2004)
Waterways: 1,600 km (2005)
Merchant total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,259 GRT/19,725
marine: DWT
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)
Ports and Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Fray Bentos, Colonia, Juan
terminals: Lacaze
Military
Military Army, Navy (includes naval air arm, Marines, Maritime
branches: Prefecture in wartime), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Uruguaya, FAU) (2006)
Military 18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military
service age service (2001)
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 764,408
available for females age 18-49: 760,341 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 637,445
for military females age 18-49: 631,046 (2005 est.)
service:
Military $371.2 million (2005 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 2.1% (2005 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - uncontested dispute with Brazil over certain islands in
international: the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada streams and the
resulting tripoint with Argentina