| Background: |
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 the end of the
year 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. |
| Location: |
Southern South
America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Argentina and Brazil |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
33 00 S, 56 00 W |
| Map
references: |
South America |
| Area: |
total:
176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water: 2,600 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly smaller
than the state of Washington |
| Land
boundaries: |
total:
1,564 km
border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985
km |
| 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 |
| Climate: |
warm temperate;
freezing temperatures almost unknown |
| Terrain: |
mostly rolling
plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m |
| Natural
resources: |
arable land,
hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 77%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 10% (1997 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
7,700 sq km (1997
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 in weather fronts |
| 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, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban |
| Population: |
3,360,105 (July
2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
24.39% (male 419,932; female 399,605)
15-64 years: 62.61% (male 1,038,785; female
1,064,891)
65 years and over: 13% (male 180,130; female
256,762) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
0.78% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
17.36
births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
9.03 deaths/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-0.51 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2001
est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
14.7 deaths/1,000
live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 75.44 years
male: 72.11 years
female: 78.96 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
2.36 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.33% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
6,000 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
150 (1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan |
| Ethnic
groups: |
white 88%,
mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian, practically nonexistent |
| Religions: |
Roman Catholic
66% (less than one-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: 97.3%
male: 96.9%
female: 97.7% (1995 est.) |
| 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
type: |
constitutional
republic |
| 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 |
| Independence: |
25 August 1825
(from Brazil) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day,
25 August (1825) |
| 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
branch: |
chief of
state: President Jorge BATLLE (since 1 March 2000)
and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Jorge BATLLE
(since 1 March 2000) and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1
March 2000); 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;
election last held 31 October 1999 with run-off election on
28 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Jorge BATLLE elected
president; percent of vote - Jorge BATLLE 52% in a runoff
against Tabare VAZQUEZ 44% |
| 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)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31
October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); Chamber of
Representatives - last held 31 October 1999 (next to be held
NA 2004)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent
of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Encuentro
Progresista 12, Colorado Party 10, Blanco 7, New
Sector/Space Coalition 1; Chamber of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Encuentro
Progresista 40, Colorado Party 33, Blanco 22, New
Sector/Space Coalition 4 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court
(judges are nominated by the president and elected for
10-year terms by the General Assembly) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Colorado Party
[Jorge BATLLE]; National Party or Blanco [Alberto VOLONTE];
New Sector/Space Coalition or Nuevo Espacio [Rafael
MICHELINI]; Progressive Encounter in the Broad Front or
Encuentro Progresista [Tabare VAZQUEZ] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International
organization participation: |
CCC, ECLAC, FAO,
G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM
(observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Hugo FERNANDEZ Faingold
chancery: 2715 M Street, NW, Washington, DC
20007
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles,
Miami, and New York |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Christopher C. ASHBY
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11100
mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: [598] (2) 408-777, 203-6061
FAX: [598] (2) 48 86 11 |
| 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
- overview: |
Uruguay's economy
is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector,
a well-educated workforce, relatively even income
distribution, and high levels of social spending. After
averaging growth of 5% annually in 1996-98, in 1999-2000 the
economy suffered from lower demand in Argentina and Brazil,
which together account for about half of Uruguay's exports.
Despite the severity of the trade shocks, Uruguay's
financial indicators remained more stable than those of its
neighbors, a reflection of its solid reputation among
investors and its investment-grade sovereign bond rating -
one of only two in Latin America. Challenges for the
government of President Jorge BATLLE include expanding
Uruguay's trade ties beyond its MERCOSUR trade partners and
reducing the costs of public services. GDP fell by 1.1% in
2000 and will grow by perhaps 1.5% in 2001. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $31 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
-1.1% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $9,300 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
10%
industry: 28%
services: 62% (1999) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
4.8% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
1.5 million (1999
est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture NA%,
industry NA%, services NA% |
| Unemployment
rate: |
14% (2000 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$4 billion
expenditures: $4.6 billion, including capital
expenditures of $500 million (2000 est.) |
| Industries: |
food processing,
electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum
products, textiles, chemicals, beverages |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
-2.1% (2000 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
5.704 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
3.86%
hydro: 95.44%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.7% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
5.89 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
215 million kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
800 million kWh
(1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
wheat, rice,
barley, corn, sorghum; livestock; fish |
| Exports: |
$2.6 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
meat, rice,
leather products, vehicles, dairy products, wool,
electricity |
| Exports
- partners: |
MERCOSUR partners
45%, EU 20%, US 7% (1999 est.) |
| Imports: |
$3.4 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
road vehicles,
electrical machinery, metal manufactures, heavy industrial
machinery, crude petroleum |
| Imports
- partners: |
MERCOSUR partners
43%, EU 20%, US 11% (1999 est.) |
| Debt
- external: |
$8 billion (2000
est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$NA |
| Currency: |
Uruguayan peso (UYU) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Uruguayan pesos
per US dollar - 12.5610 (January 2001), 12.0996 (2000),
11.3393 (1999), 10.4719 (1998), 9.4418 (1997), 7.9718 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
850,000 (2000) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
300,000 (2000) |
| Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: some modern facilities
domestic: most modern facilities concentrated
in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 94, FM 115,
shortwave 14 (seven are inactive) (1998) |
| Radios: |
1.97 million
(1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
26 (plus ten
low-power repeaters for the Montevideo station) (1997) |
| Televisions: |
782,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.uy |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
7 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
300,000 (2000) |
| Railways: |
total:
2,073 km
standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge (2000) |
| Highways: |
total:
8,983 km
paved: 8,085 km
unpaved: 898 km (1999) |
| Waterways: |
1,600 km ( used
by coastal and shallow-draft river craft) |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Fray Bentos,
Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Punta del Este, Colonia,
Piriapolis |
| Merchant
marine: |
total:
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,752 GRT/5,228 DWT
ships by type: petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll
off 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
49
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 31 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Navy
(includes Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines), Air Force,
Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard) |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 817,535 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 661,777 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$172 million
(FY98) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
0.9% (FY98) |
| Disputes
- international: |
none |
|
