Uruguay

Oriental Republic of UruguayRepublica Oriental del Uruguay

republicIndependence 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

Uruguay as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 94 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
Position33 00 S, 56 00 W
Area176,220 sq km
LocationSouthern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
1998

Every edition of Uruguay

Populationas each edition published it
3.28 million July 1998 est. · 3.04m in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.71% 1998 est. · 0.75% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 31.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
75.53 years 1998 est. · 73.74 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.29 children per woman 1998 est. · 2.4 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
14.11 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 22 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$8,900 1997 est. · $3,100 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
5.1% 1997 · 8% in 1993

Geography

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

17 fields

Land useshare of 176,220 sq km

arable land 7%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 77%forests and woodland 6%other 10% (1997 est.)irrigated 7,700 sq km (1997 est.)
Area
176,220sq km
land: 173,620 sq kmwater: 2,600 sq kmslightly 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
Highest point
514m
Cerro Catedrallowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Land boundaries
1,564km
border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km

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

Climate

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Terrain

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Natural resources

fertile soil, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries

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

  • 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

Environment-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
3,284,841
(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 0.71% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth
16.92Death
8.89Net migration
-0.91

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)75.53
72.39 · 78.84
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)97.3%
96.9% · 97.7%
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

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

Age structure

0-14 years:
24% (male 405,894; female 386,479)
15-64 years:
63% (male 1,019,682; female 1,048,844)
65 years and over:
13% (male 176,467; female 247,475) (July 1998 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.71 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate

14.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.29 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Uruguayan(s)
adjective:
Uruguayan

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

Government

Republic; President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995) and Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995); President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995) and Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995)

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

36%
Colorado 36%Blanco 34%Encuentro Progresista 27%New Sector 3%Chamber of Senators-last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999); Chamber of Representatives-last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999)

Legislature, 99 seatsone dot, one seat

Colorado 32Blanco 31Encuentro Progresista 31New Sector 5

Country name

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995) and Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995);
  • note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government;
  • the vice-president is also the Senate president
head of government:
  • President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995) and Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995);
  • note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government;
  • the vice-president is also the Senate president
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 27 November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999 with run-off election if necessary on 28 November 1999)
election results:
Julio Maria SANGUINETTI elected president; percent of vote-23%

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 27 November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999);
  • Chamber of Representatives-last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999)
election results:
  • Chamber of Senators-percent of vote by party-Colorado 36%, Blanco 34%, Encuentro Progresista 27%, New Sector 3%;
  • seats by party-Colorado 11, Blanco 10, Encuentro Progresista 8, New Sector 1;
  • Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party-Colorado 32%, Blanco 31%, Encuentro Progresista 31%, New Sector 5%;
  • seats by party-Colorado 32, Blanco 31, Encuentro Progresista 31, New Sector 5

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly

Political parties and leaders

  • National (Blanco) Party, Alberto VOLONTE Berro;
  • Herrerista faction of the Blanco Party, Luis LACALLE;
  • Colorado Party, Julio M. SANGUINETTI, Jorge BATLLE;
  • Broad Front Coalition, Tabare VAZQUEZ (until 28 September 1997);
  • New Sector Coalition, Rafael MICHELINI;
  • Progressive Encounter (Encuentro Progresista), Tabare VAZQUEZ

note: Hugo BATALLA and host of People's Government Party (PGP) have rejoined the Colorado Party

International organization participation

AG (observer), 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, MINUGUA, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Alvaro DIEZ DE MEDINA SUAREZ
chancery:
2715 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
[1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316

FAX

[1] (202) 331-8142; consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Christopher A. ASHBY
embassy:
Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
mailing address:
APO AA 34035
telephone:
[598] (2) 203 60 61, 408 77 77

FAX

[598] (2) 408 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

Uruguay's small economy benefits from a favorable | climate for agriculture and substantial hydropower potential.

28 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
-$29.1billion
purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
-$8,900
purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)
Real growth rate
5.1%
(1997)industrial production growth: 5.6% (1997)

GDP-composition by sector(1995)

agriculture 10.8%industry 27.4%services 61.8% (1995)

Budget

Revenues
$4 billionExpenditures
$4.3 billion (1997 est.)
expenditures with capital expenditures of $385 million
Fixed lines
767,333
(1997)

Economy-overview

Uruguay's small economy benefits from a favorable climate for agriculture and substantial hydropower potential. Economic development has been restrained in recent years by high-though declining-inflation and extensive government regulation. The SANGUINETTI government's conservative monetary and fiscal policies are aimed at continuing to reduce inflation;

other priorities include extensive reform of the social security system and increased investment in education. Economic performance remains sensitive to conditions in Argentina and Brazil, largely because more than half of Uruguay's trade is conducted with its partners in Mercosur (the Southern Cone Common Market).

Labor force

total:
1.38 million (1997 est.)
by occupation:
government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate

10.3% (December 1997)

Industries

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

Electricity-capacity

2.055 million kW (1995)

Electricity-production

7.6 billion kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products

  • wheat, rice, corn, sorghum;
  • livestock;
  • fishing

Exports

total value:
$2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
commodities:
wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal products, rice, fish and shellfish, chemicals
partners:
Brazil, Argentina, US, Germany, Italy

Imports

total value:
$3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, minerals, plastics, oil
partners:
Brazil, Argentina, US, Italy, Germany

Debt-external

$4.6 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $63 million (1994)

Currency

1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos

Exchange rates

Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1-9.98 (January 1998), 9.4448 (1997), 7.9718 (1996), 6.3491 (1995), 5.0529 (1994), 3.9484 (1993)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

Telephone system

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 72, FM 0, shortwave 28

Radios

1.89 million (1992 est.)

Televisions

1,131,065 (1996)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m
1
total: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m
33
total: 49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 14

Networkskm

Highways
8,420Railways
2,998 (1997)Waterways
1,600
Highways: paved: 7,578 km · unpaved: 842 km (1996 est.) · Railways: (918 km closed) · standard gauge: 2,075 km 1.435-m gauge · Waterways: ; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft

Railways

total:
2,998 km (918 km closed) (1997)
standard gauge:
2,075 km 1.435-m gauge

Highways

total:
8,420 km
paved:
7,578 km
unpaved:
842 km (1996 est.)

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 oil tanker ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,042 GRT/83,684 DWT (1997 est.)

Airports

64 (1997 est.)

Military

Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, | Marines), Air Force, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)

5 fields

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: 799,977 (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes-international

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 UZBEKISTAN

Central Intelligence Agency. “Uruguay.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/uruguay/1998.

How to cite ← 1997 edition 1999 edition →