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. 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

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: 176,215 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`
Land boundaries: |  |
`total: 1,648 km border countries: Argentina 580 km, Brazil 1,068 km`
Coastline: |  |
`660 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or edge of continental margin`
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, fish`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 7.77% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 91.99% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`2,100 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`139 cu km (2000)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 3.15 cu km/yr (2%/1%/96%) per capita: 910 cu m/yr (2000)`
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`
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`
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

Population: |  |
`3,308,535 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 132`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 22.2% (male 373,613/female 361,160) 15-64 years: 64.1% (male 1,042,163/female 1,078,357) 65 years and over: 13.7% (male 180,729/female 272,513) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 33.6 years male: 32 years female: 35.2 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.231% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 177`
Birth rate: |  |
`13.52 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 151`
Death rate: |  |
`9.58 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 62`
Net migration rate: |  |
`-1.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 159`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 92% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`MONTEVIDEO (capital) 1.633 million (2009)`
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 (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 9.69 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 150 male: 10.73 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 76.21 years country comparison to the world: 73 male: 73.07 years female: 79.46 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.89 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 140`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`0.5% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 66`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`9,900 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 99% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 1% of population total: 0% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent)`
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)`
Languages: |  |
`Spanish (official), Portunol, 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.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 16 years male: 14 years female: 17 years (2008)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`2.9% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 135`

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 type: |  |
`constitutional republic`
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 first Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in March`
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 15 February 1967; suspended 27 June 1973; revised 26 November 1989 and 7 January 1997`
Legal system: |  |
`civil law system based on the Spanish civil code`
International law organization participation: |  |
`accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal and compulsory`
Executive branch: |  |

`
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
head of government: President Jose "Pepe" MUJICA Cordano (since 1 March 2010); Vice President Danilo ASTORI Saragoza (since 1 March 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
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)
election results: Jose "Pepe" MUJICA elected president; percent of vote - Jose "Pepe" MUJICA 54.8%, Luis Alberto LACALLE 45.2%
`

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)
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)
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
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly)`
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
`

International organization participation: |  |
`CAN (associate), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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`
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)`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador David NELSON embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200 mailing address: APO AA 34035 telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777 FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611`
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
`

National anthem: |  |
`name: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem of Uruguay) 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`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
Uruguay's economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated work force, and high levels of social spending. Following financial difficulties in the late 1990s and early 2000s, economic growth for Uruguay 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 8% in 2010.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$47.99 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 $44.24 billion (2009 est.) $43.13 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$40.27 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`8.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 2.6% (2009 est.) 8.6% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$13,700 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $12,700 (2009 est.) $12,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 9.3% industry: 22.8% services: 67.9% (2010 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`1.637 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 13% industry: 14% services: 73% (2010 est.)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`6.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 7.3% (2009 est.)`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`20.9% of households (2009)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 35.5% (2007)`
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |  |
`47.1 (2007) country comparison to the world: 33 44.8 (1999)`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`19.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $17.5 billion expenditures: $17.9 billion (2010)`
Public debt: |  |
`56% of GDP (September 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 60% of GDP (2009 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`6.9% (2010) country comparison to the world: 171 5.9% (2009)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`20% (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 10 20% (31 December 2009)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`10.6% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 15.28% (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$3.98 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 $3.14 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$14.22 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 90 $11.78 billion (31 December 2008)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$9.55 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 96 $8.43 billion (31 December 2009)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$238 million (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 112 $219 million (31 December 2009) $NA (31 December 2008)`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`beef, soybeans, cellulose, rice, wheat, lumber, dairy products; fish`
Industries: |  |
`food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`16.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6`
Electricity - production: |  |
`9.89 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`7.57 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`711.4 million kWh (2010 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`386.8 million kWh (2010 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`40,110 bbl/day (November 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`34,670 bbl/day (November 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109`
Oil - exports: |  |
`4,353 bbl/day (November 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106`
Oil - imports: |  |
`53,110 bbl/day (November 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 199`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 196`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`70 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 194`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`76.6 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 198`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-377 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 $178 million (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$6.7 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 $5.5 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`beef, soybeans, cellulose, rice, wheat, wood, dairy products; wool`
Exports - partners: |  |
`Brazil 21%, Nueva Palmira Free Zone 10.2%, Argentina 7.5%, Chile 5.5%, Russia 5.3% (2010 est.)`
Imports: |  |
`$8.3 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $6.7 billion (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`crude oil (13.4%), refined oil (4.9%), passenger vehicles (3.5%), transportation vehicles (2.7%), vehicles parts (2.2%), cellular phones (2.1%), insecticides (1.7%)`
Imports - partners: |  |
`Brazil 18.6%, Argentina 16.7%, China 13.5%, Venezuela 9.1%, US 8.3%, Russia 4.2% (2010 est.)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$7.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $8.038 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$13.39 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 $14.1 billion (31 December 2009)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |  |
`$9.1 billion (30 September 2010) country comparison to the world: 81 $7.7 billion (31 December 2009)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |  |
`$300 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $156 million (2007 est.)`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar - 20.051 (2010) 22.568 (2009) 20.936 (2008) 23.947 (2007) 24.048 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`953,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 82`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`4.112 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 103`
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 approaching 150 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) (2009)
`

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; adopted the hybrid Japanese/Brazilian HDTV standard (ISDB-T) in December 2010 (2010)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.uy`
Internet hosts: |  |
`765,525 (2010) country comparison to the world: 47`
Internet users: |  |
`1.405 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 86`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`58 (2010) country comparison to the world: 81`
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)`
Pipelines: |  |
`gas 226 km; oil 155 km (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 1,641 km country comparison to the world: 77 standard gauge: 1,641 km 1.435-m gauge (1,200 km operational) (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 77,732 km country comparison to the world: 63 paved: 7,743 km unpaved: 69,989 km (2010)`
Waterways: |  |
`1,600 km (2010) country comparison to the world: 50`
Merchant marine: |  |
`total: 18 country comparison to the world: 101 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)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Montevideo`

Military

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 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)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 771,159 females age 16-49: 780,932 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 649,025 females age 16-49: 654,903 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 27,564 female: 26,811 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`1.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 92`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |

`
in 2010, the ICJ ruled in favor of Uruguay's operation of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina; the two countries formed a joint pollution monitoring regime; uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border
`

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 MAY 26, 2011