Uruguay

Internet country code

.uy

Internet hosts

498,232 (2009) country comparison to the world: 48

Internet users

1.34 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 79

Radio broadcast stations

AM 93, FM 191, shortwave 7 (2005)

Telephone system

general assessment: fully digitalized domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 130 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 598; the UNISOR submarine cable system provides direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2002)

Telephones - main lines in use

959,300 (2008) country comparison to the world: 83

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.508 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 98

Television broadcast stations

62 (2005)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $8.16 billion expenditures: $8.555 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

10% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 39 10% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

12.45% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 118 7.25% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$1.484 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 -$82.7 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$10.73 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 83 $11.07 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

45.2 (2006) country comparison to the world: 43 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.

Electricity - consumption

7.14 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity - exports

996 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

789 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

9.265 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Exchange rates

Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar - 20.936 (2008 est.), 23.947 (2007), 24.048 (2006), 24.479 (2005), 28.704 (2004)

Exports

$7.084 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $5.043 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Brazil 18.7%, China 8.5%, Argentina 7.3%, Germany 6.5%, Mexico 4.9%, Netherlands 4.5%, Russia 4.3% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$32.19 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$43.27 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 $39.73 billion (2007 est.) $36.99 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 9.5% industry: 23.4% services: 67.1% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$12,400 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 $11,500 (2007 est.) $10,700 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

8.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 7.4% (2007 est.) 7% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$8.799 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $5.598 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Argentina 19.9%, Brazil 16.5%, China 11.2%, US 9.9%, Paraguay 6.6%, Nigeria 4.6% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 126 8.1% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Labor force

1.641 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 9% industry: 15% services: 76% (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 108 $159 million (31 December 2007) $125.1 million (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

70 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 95

Natural gas - imports

70 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Oil - consumption

41,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Oil - exports

7,100 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Oil - imports

52,730 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Oil - production

946.1 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl country comparison to the world: 120

Population below poverty line

27.4% of households (2006)

Public debt

59.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 64.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$6.36 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $4.121 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$156 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 78

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$4.19 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 90

Stock of domestic credit

$9.096 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 73 $6.396 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$2.247 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 68 $2.145 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$9.409 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 52 $7.919 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

7.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 9.2% (2007 est.)

Area

total: 176,215 sq km country comparison to the world: 90 land: 175,015 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

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 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)

total: 3.15 cu km/yr (2%/1%/96%) per capita: 910 cu m/yr (2000)

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

total: 1,648 km border countries: Argentina 580 km, Brazil 1,068 km

Land use

arable land: 7.77% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 91.99% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or edge of continental margin

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

Terrain

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Total renewable water resources

139 cu km (2000)

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

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

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 local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay local short form: Uruguay former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robin H. MATTHEWMAN embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200 mailing address: APO AA 34035 telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777 FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alberto GIANELLI Derois 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)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005); 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); Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005) 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 25 October 2009, with a runoff election scheduled for 29 November 2009 (next to be held in October 2014) election results: Jose MUJICA wins first round; percent of vote - Jose MUJICA 48.5%, Luis Alberto LACALLE 29.2%, Pedro BORDABERRY 17%; other 5.3%; note - a runoff election will be held on 29 November 2009

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

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, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, 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 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 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014); Chamber of Representatives - last held 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014) 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

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 [Jose MUJICA], New Space Party (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI], Progressive Alliance (Alianza Progresista) [Rodolfo NIN NOVOA], Socialist Party [Eduardo FERNANDEZ], the Communist Party [Marina ARISMENDI], Uruguayan Assembly (Asamblea Uruguay) [Danilo ASTORI], and Vertiente Artiguista [Mariano ARANA]); Colorado Party (Foro Batllista) [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

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 837,252 females age 16-49: 824,096 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 708,545 females age 16-49: 693,622 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 27,452 female: 26,479 (2009 est.)

Military branches

Uruguayan Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito), National Navy (Armada Nacional; includes naval air arm, Marine Corps (Cuerpo de Fusileros Navales, FUSNA), Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2008)

Military expenditures

1.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 103

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies (2007)

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) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

13.91 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Death rate

9.09 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 148

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

10,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Infant mortality rate

total: 11.32 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 150 male: 12.73 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.35 years country comparison to the world: 68 male: 73.1 years female: 79.72 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 97.6% female: 98.4% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 33.4 years male: 32 years female: 34.8 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan

Net migration rate

-0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Population

3,494,382 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Population growth rate

0.466% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

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)

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 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 (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.92 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Urbanization

urban population: 92% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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

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

Airports

57 (2009) country comparison to the world: 82

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 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 48 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 25 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 17 country comparison to the world: 102 by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 10 (Argentina 3, Greece 1, Spain 6) registered in other countries: 3 (Liberia 3) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 226 km; oil 155 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Montevideo

Railways

total: 1,641 km country comparison to the world: 79 standard gauge: 1,641 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 77,732 km country comparison to the world: 63 paved: 7,743 km unpaved: 69,989 km (2004)

Waterways

1,600 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 52