Uruguay

Oriental Republic of UruguayRepublica Oriental del Uruguay

republicIndependence 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

Uruguay as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 104 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, between Argentina and Brazil
2000

Every edition of Uruguay

Populationas each edition published it
3.33 million July 2000 est. · 3.04m in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.77% 2000 est. · 0.75% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 31.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
75.24 years 2000 est. · 73.74 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.37 children per woman 2000 est. · 2.4 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
15.14 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 22 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$8,500 1999 est. · $3,100 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
-2.5% 1999 est. · 8% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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 has long had one of South America's highest standards of living; its political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.

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 the state of Washington
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

arable land, 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

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

People

15 fields
Population
3,334,074
(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 0.77% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth
17.42Death
9.06Net migration
-0.63

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)75.24
71.9 · 78.75
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 417,288; female 397,125)
15-64 years:
63% (male 1,030,201; female 1,057,968)
65 years and over:
13% (male 178,393; female 253,099) (2000 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:
0.7 male(s)/female
total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

15.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.37 children born/woman (2000 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 Jorge BATLLE (since 1 March 2000) and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); President Jorge BATLLE (since 1 March 2000) and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000)

18 fields

Chamber of Senators, 99 seats, elected 31 October 1999one dot, one seat

Encuentro Progresista 40Colorado Party 33Blanco 22New Sector/Space Coalition 4

Country name

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

Capital

Montevideo

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 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 - 52% in a runoff against Tabare VAZQUEZ

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

  • Batlleist faction of the Colorado Party [Julio M. SANGUINETTI];
  • Broad Front Coalition [Tabare VAZQUEZ];
  • Colorado Party [Jorge BATLLE];
  • Herrerista faction of the National Party [Luis A. LACALLE];
  • Herrero Wilsonista faction of the National Party [Alaberto VOLONTE];
  • National Party or Blanco [Luis A. LACALLE];
  • New Sector/Space Coalition or Nuevo Espacio [Rafael MICHELINI];
  • Progressive Encounter in the Broad Front or Encuentro Progresista [Tabare VAZQUEZ]

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, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, 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:
Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Christopher C. ASHBY
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 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 economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, relatively even income distribution, and high levels of social spending.

31 fields
Real growth rate
-2.5%
(1999 est.)industrial production growth: -4% (1999 est.)
Labor force
1.38million
(1997 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1999)

agriculture 10%industry 28%services 62% (1999)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

45%
Mercosur partners
MERCOSUR partners
43%
20%
EU
20%
7%
US
11%
Exports $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)Imports $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)(1999 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$4.4 billionExpenditures
$4.6 billion (1998 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $500 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 3.91%hydro 95.62%other 0.47% (1998)nuclear 0%
Electricity production
9.474 billion (1998)Electricity consumption
6.526 billion (1998)Electricity exports
2.363 billion (1998)Electricity imports
78 million (1998)

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 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 and ensuing recession, 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 incoming President Jorge BATLLE include expanding Uruguay's trade ties beyond its Mercosur trade partners and bolstering Uruguay's competitiveness by increasing labor market flexibility and reducing the costs of public services. Growth should recover in 2000, to perhaps 3%.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $28 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $8,500 (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Industries

food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages

Agriculture - products

  • wheat, rice, barley, corn, sorghum;
  • livestock;
  • fish

Exports

$2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

meat, rice, leather products, vehicles, dairy products, wool, electricity

Imports

$3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

road vehicles, electrical machinery, metal manufactures, heavy industrial machinery, crude petroleum

Debt - external

$8 billion (1999 est.)

Currency

1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos

Exchange rates

Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1 - 11.3393 (1999), 10.4719 (1998), 9.4418 (1997), 7.9718 (1996), 6.3490 (1995), 5.0439 (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
40,000
(1995)
Fixed lines
622,000
(1995)

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 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)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

1
2,438 to 3,047 m
5
1,524 to 2,437 m
2
8
914 to 1,523 m
15
1
under 914 m
33
Paved 15Unpaved 50

Networkskm

Highways
8,983Railways
2,073Waterways
1,600
Highways: paved: 8,085 km · unpaved: 898 km (1999 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge (1997) · Waterways: ; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft

Railways

total:
2,073 km
standard gauge:
2,073 km 1.435-m gauge (1997)

Highways

total:
8,983 km
paved:
8,085 km
unpaved:
898 km (1999 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:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,807 GRT/2,405 DWT
ships by type:
petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)

Airports

65 (1999 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: 810,490 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 656,492 (2000 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 [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Central Intelligence Agency. “Uruguay.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/uruguay/2000.

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