Uruguay

Oriental Republic of UruguayRepublica Oriental del Uruguay

republicIndependence 25 August 1828 (from Brazil)

Uruguay as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 79 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalMontevideo

Area176,220 sq km

LocationSouthern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,

Populationas each edition published it

3.22 million July 1995 est. · 3.04m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.74% 1995 est. · 0.75% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 31.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

74.46 years 1995 est. · 73.74 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.41 children per woman 1995 est. · 2.4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

16.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 22 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$7,200 1994 est. · $3,100 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4% 1994 est. · 8% in 1993

Geography

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

13 fields

Land useshare of 176,220 sq km

arable land 8%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 78%forest and woodland 4%other 10%irrigated 1,100 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

176,220sq km

land area: 173,620 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Washington State

Coastline

660km

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationterritorial sea: 200 nm; overflight and navigation guaranteed beyond 12 nm

Land boundaries

1,564km

total · Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km

Location

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

International disputes

short section of boundary with Argentina is in dispute;
two short sections of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute - Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay River

Climate

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Terrain

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Natural resources

soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals

Environment

current issues:: substantial pollution from Brazilian industry along border;
one-fifth of country affected by acid rain generated by Brazil;
water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry;
inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
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
international agreements:: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

People

15 fields

Population

3,222,716

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 0.74% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

17.57Death

9.27Net migration

-0.93

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years74.46

71.24 · 77.83

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy96%

97% · 96%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Ethnic divisions

white 88%mestizo 8%black 4%

Religions

Roman Catholic 66% (less than half adult population attends church regularly)Protestant 2%Jewish 2%nonprofessing or other 30%

Labor force

1.355million

(1991 est.)by occupation: government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 25% (female 392,262; male 409,580)
15-64 years:: 63% (female 1,026,314; male 995,492)
65 years and over:: 12% (female 233,377; male 165,691) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

16.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Uruguayan(s)
adjective:: Uruguayan

Languages

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

Government

Republic

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

32%

Colorado 32%Blanco 31%Encuentro Progresista 31%New Sector 5%

Legislature, 30 seatsone dot, one seat

Colorado 11Blanco 10Encuentro Progresista 8New Sector 1

Legislature, 99 seatsone dot, one seat

Colorado 32Blanco 31Encuentro Progresista 31New Sector 5

Names

conventional long form:: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form:: Uruguay
local long form:: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
local short form:: Uruguay

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

Constitution

27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980

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 and head of government:: President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995);
Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995);
election last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch

bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General)

Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores)

elections last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999);
results - Colorado 36%, Blanco 34 %, Encuentro Progresista 27%, New Sector 3%;
seats - (30 total) Colorado 11, Blanco 10, Encuentro Progresista 8, New Sector 1

Chamber of Representatives (Camera de Representantes)

elections last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999);
results - Colorado 32%, Blanco 31%, Encuentro Progresista 31%, New Sector 5%;
seats - (99 total) Colorado 32, Blanco 31, Encuentro Progresista 31, New Sector 5

Political parties and leaders

National (Blanco) Party; Colorado Party, Jorge BATLLE; Broad Front Coalition, Gen. Liber SEREGNI Mosquera; New Sector Coalition, Hugo BATALLA; Encuentro Progresista

AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MERCOSUR, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Eduardo MACGILLYCUDDY
chancery:: 1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone:: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
consulate(s) general:: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
consulate(s):: New Orleans

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD
embassy:: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
mailing address:: APO AA 34035
telephone:: [598] (2) 23 60 61, 48 77 77

FAX

[598] (2) 48 86 11

Flag

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

Uruguay's economy is a small one with favorable climate, | good soils, and substantial hydropower potential.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$7,200

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 3.9% (1992); accounts for 28% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

44%

(1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1994 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$2.9 billionExpenditures

$3 billion (1991 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $388 million

Installed generating capacity, 2,070,000 kW

Electricity production

9 billionElectricity consumption per capita

1,575 (1993)

Overview

Uruguay's economy is a small one with favorable climate, good soils, and substantial hydropower potential. Economic development has been restrained in recent years by excessive government regulation of economic detail and 40% to 130% inflation. Although the GDP growth rate slowed in 1993 to 1.7%, following a healthy expansion to 7.5% in 1992, it rebounded in 1994 to an estimated 4%, spurred mostly by increasing agricultural and other exports and a surprise reversal of the downward trend in industrial production.

In a major step toward regional economic cooperation, Uruguay confirmed its commitment to the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR) customs union by implementing MERCOSUR's common external tariff on most tradables on 1 January 1995. Inflation in 1994 declined for the third consecutive year, yet, at 44%, it remains the highest in the region; analysts predict that the expanding fiscal deficit and wage indexation will force the inflation rate back toward the 50% mark in 1995.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $23 billion (1994 est.)

Exports

$1.78 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities:: wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal products, leather, rice
partners:: Brazil, Argentina, US, China, Italy

Imports

$2.461 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)

commodities:: machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, minerals, plastics
partners:: Brazil, Argentina, US, Nigeria

External debt

$4.2 billion (1993)

Industries

meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles, footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, petroleum refining, wine

Agriculture

accounts for 12% of GDP;
large areas devoted to livestock grazing;
wheat, rice, corn, sorghum;
fishing;
self-sufficient in most basic foodstuffs

Economic aid

recipient:: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $105 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $420 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $69 million

Currency

1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos

Exchange rates

Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1 - 5.6 (January 1995), 4.4710 (January 1994), 3.9484 (1993), 3.0270 (1992), 2.0188 (1991), 1.1710 (1990) note: on 1 March 1993 the former New Peso (N$Ur) was replaced as Uruguay's unit of currency by the Peso which is equal to 1,000 of the New Pesos

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 85 in all

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

49,900Railroads

3,000Inland waterways

1,600

Highways: paved: 6,700 km · unpaved: gravel 3,000 km; earth 40,200 km · Railroads: standard gauge: 3,000 km 1.435-m gauge · Inland waterways: ; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft