Uruguay

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. 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: 91 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

2,180 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

139 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Nationality

noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective:Uruguayan

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

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)

Population

3,308,535 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

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: 176

Birth rate

13.52 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

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.)

Maternal mortality rate

27 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 115

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: 139

Health expenditures

7.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 68

Physicians density

3.736 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 18

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 79

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)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

9,900 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

6% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 79

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 134

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)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 20%
country comparison to the world: 56 male:16.1%
female:25.4% (2009)

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 the World 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), CD, 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 symbol(s)

Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol)

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: 87 $12,700 (2009 est.)
$12,400 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 9.2%
industry:21.4%
services:69.4% (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.637 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 13%
industry:14%
services:73% (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64 7.3% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

20.9% of households (2009)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%:32.9% (2009)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

42.4 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 50 44.8 (1999)

Investment (gross fixed)

20% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Budget

revenues: $11.8 billion
expenditures:$12.29 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

29.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61

Public debt

56.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42 60.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173 7.1% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

20% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 10 20% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.33% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49 15.28% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.944 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99 $3.151 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$16.97 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87 $14.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$12.74 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90 $10.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$238 million (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 113 $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

9.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

Electricity – production

9.89 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

Electricity – consumption

7.57 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity – exports

711.4 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity – imports

386.8 million kWh (2010 est.)

Oil – production

903 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

Oil – consumption

52,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Oil – exports

4,353 bbl/day (November 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107

Oil – imports

53,110 bbl/day (November 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

Natural gas – consumption

40 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Natural gas – imports

76.6 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200

Current account balance

-$160.4 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81 -$104.7 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$8.069 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98 $6.408 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

$8.32 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97 $6.677 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

$7.657 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76 $8.038 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$13.95 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84 $12.25 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

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: 78 $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)

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: 62 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: 94

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