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| Map |  |
| 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: 176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water: 2,600 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly smaller than the state of Washington |
| Land boundaries | total: 1,564 km
border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km |
| Coastline | 660 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
| 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, fisheries |
| Land use | arable land: 7.77%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 91.99% (2005) |
| Irrigated land | 2,100 sq km (2003) |
| 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, Tropical Timber 94, 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 |
| Population | 3,431,932 (July 2006 est.) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 22.9% (male 399,409/female 386,136)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 1,087,180/female 1,104,465)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 185,251/female 269,491) (2006 est.) |
| Median age | total: 32.7 years
male: 31.3 years
female: 34.2 years (2006 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 0.46% (2006 est.) |
| Birth rate | 13.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Death rate | 9.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Net migration rate | -0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 11.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 76.33 years
male: 73.12 years
female: 79.65 years (2006 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.3% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 6,000 (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | less than 500 (2003 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan |
| Ethnic groups | white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent) |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 66% (less than half of the adult population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, nonprofessing or other 31% |
| Languages | Spanish, Portunol, or 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.) |
| 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 second 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 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 |
| 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: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005) and Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005) and Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005); 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 (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)
election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ 50.5%, Jorge LARRANAGA 35.1%, Guillermo STIRLING 10.3%; other 4.1% |
| 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; vice president has one vote in the Senate) 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 2004 (next to be held October 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - EP-FA 16, Blanco 11, Colorado Party 3; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - EP-FA 52, Blanco 36, Colorado Party 10, Independent Party 1 |
| Judicial branch | Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly) |
| Political parties and leaders | Colorado Party [Julio Maria SANGUINETTI]; Independent Party (Partido Independiente) [Pablo MIERES]; Movement of Popular Participation or MPP [Jose MUJICA]; National Party or Blanco [Jorge LARRANAGA]; New Sector/Space Coalition (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI]; Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition (Encuentro Progresista/Frente Amplio) or EP-FA [Tabare VAZQUEZ]; Socialist Party of Uruguay or Socialists [Reinaldo GARGANO]; Uruguayan Assembly or Asamblea Uruguay [Danilo ASTORI] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders | Architect's Society of Uruguay (professional organization); Catholic Church; Chamber of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer's association); Chemist and Pharmaceutical Association (professional organization); PIT-CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan unions); Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association); students; Uruguayan Construction League |
| International organization participation | CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, 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: Charge d'Affaires James D. NEALON
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; 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 with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy |
| Economy - overview | Uruguay's well-to-do economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated work force, and high levels of social spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during 1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn, stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problems of its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. For instance, in 2001-02 Argentina made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks, which led to a plunge in the Uruguayan peso and a massive rise in unemployment. Total GDP in these four years dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year due to the banking crisis. The unemployment rate rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF helped stem the damage. A debt swap with private-sector creditors in 2003 extended the maturity dates on nearly half of Uruguay's then $11.3 billion of public debt and helped restore public confidence. The economy grew about 10% in 2004 as a result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, a competitive peso, growth in the region, and low international interest rates, but slowed to 6.1% in 2005. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $32.96 billion (2005 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $13.24 billion (2005 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate | 6.5% (2005 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $9,600 (2005 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 9.3%
industry: 31.1%
services: 59.6% (2005 est.) |
| Labor force | 1.52 million (2005 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 14%
industry: 16%
services: 70% |
| Unemployment rate | 12.2% (2005 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 22% of households (2004) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 25.8% (1997) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 44.6 (2000) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 4.7% (2005 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed) | 12.9% of GDP (2005 est.) |
| Budget | revenues: $4.468 billion
expenditures: $4.845 billion; including capital expenditures of $193 million (2005 est.) |
| Public debt | 81.9% of GDP (2005 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish |
| Industries | food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages |
| Industrial production growth rate | 8.5% (2005 est.) |
| Electricity - production | 8.611 billion kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - consumption | 7.762 billion kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - exports | 900 million kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - imports | 654 million kWh (2003) |
| Oil - production | 435 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
| Oil - consumption | 38,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
| Oil - exports | NA bbl/day |
| Oil - imports | NA bbl/day |
| Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2003 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 60 million cu m (2003 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2003 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 65 million cu m (2003 est.) |
| Current account balance | -$87.9 million (2005 est.) |
| Exports | $3.55 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products |
| Exports - partners | US 19.4%, Brazil 16.3%, Argentina 6.3%, Spain 4.3%, Mexico 4.2%, Germany 4.2% (2005) |
| Imports | $3.54 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude petroleum |
| Imports - partners | Argentina 19%, Brazil 18.6%, Paraguay 14.1%, US 8.7%, China 6.2% (2005) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $3.079 billion (2005 est.) |
| Debt - external | $13.24 billion (2005 est.) |
| Economic aid - recipient | $NA |
| Currency (code) | Uruguayan peso (UYU) |
| Exchange rates | Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 24.479 (2005), 28.704 (2004), 28.209 (2003), 21.257 (2002), 13.319 (2001) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year |
| Telephones - main lines in use | 1 million (2004) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | 652,000 (2002) |
| Telephone system | general assessment: fully digitalized
domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 598; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2002) |
| Radio broadcast stations | AM 93, FM 191, shortwave 7 (2005) |
| Television broadcast stations | 62 (2005) |
| Internet country code | .uy |
| Internet hosts | 112,968 (2005) |
| Internet users | 680,000 (2005) |
| Airports | 64 (2006) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 56
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 31 (2006) |
| Pipelines | gas 192 km (2004) |
| Railways | total: 2,073 km
standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge
note: 461 km have been taken out of service and 460 km are in partial use (2005) |
| Roadways | total: 77,732 km
paved: 7,743 km
unpaved: 69,989 km (2004) |
| Waterways | 1,600 km (2005) |
| Merchant marine | total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 37,683 GRT/19,725 DWT
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Argentina 3, Greece 1)
registered in other countries: 7 (Argentina 1, The Bahamas 2, Liberia 3, Spain 1) (2005) |
| Ports and terminals | Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Fray Bentos, Colonia, Juan Lacaze |
| Military branches | Army, Navy (includes naval air arm, Marines, Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2006) |
| Military service age and obligation | 18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (2001) |
| Manpower available for military service | males age 18-49: 764,408
females age 18-49: 760,341 (2005 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service | males age 18-49: 637,445
females age 18-49: 631,046 (2005 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure | $371.2 million (2005 est.) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 2.1% (2005 est.) |
| Disputes - international | uncontested dispute with Brazil over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina |