Uruguay

Radio broadcast stations

AM 99, FM 0, shortwave 9

Radios

1.89 million (1992 est.)

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)

Telephones

451,000 (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations

26

Televisions

725,000 (1992 est.)

Agriculture - products

wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; livestock; fishing

Budget

revenues: $3.03 billion expenditures : $3.37 billion with capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)

Currency

1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos

Debt - external

$5 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $91 million (1993)

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, at 24.3% at yearend 1996; other priorities include extensive reform of the social security system and increased investment in education. Uruguay recovered from recession in 1996 - partly due to the recovery in Argentina - and ended the year with a nearly 5% rise in GDP. Uruguayan trade continued to expand and the potential for new markets continued to open through the negotiations of Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market) with neighboring countries and the European Union (EU). The economy is expected to continue growing at a healthy rate in 1997 along with other regional economies.

Electricity - capacity

2.142 million kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita

1,568 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production

6.308 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1 - 8.6550 (January 1997), 7.9718 (1996), 6.3491 (1995), 5.0529 (1994), 3.9484 (1993), 3.0270 (1992) note: on 1 March 1993 the former new peso (N$Ur) was replaced as Uruguay's unit of currency by the peso which is equal to 1,000 of the new pesos

Exports

total value : $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal products, leather, rice partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, China, Italy

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $26 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $8,000 (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.9% (1996)

Imports

total value: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, minerals, plastics, oil partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Nigeria

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (1996)

Industries

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

Inflation rate - consumer price index

24.4% (December 1996)

Labor force

total: 1.436 million (1996 est.) by occupation: government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate

12% (1996 est.)

Area

total: 176,220 sq km land: 173,620 sq km water: 2,600 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Washington State

Climate

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Coastline

660 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m

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

Geographic coordinates

33 00 S, 56 00 W

Irrigated land

1,400 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,564 km border countries : Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km

Land use

arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 77% forests and woodland: 5% other : 11% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

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

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

Natural resources

fertile soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals

Terrain

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

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; constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 7 January 1997

Country name

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

Data code

UY

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

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

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 as well as 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 as well as the Senate president cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president 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 NA November 1999) election results: Julio Maria SANGUINETTI elected president; percent of vote - NA

FAX

[1] (202) 331-8147 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York

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

Government type

republic

Independence

25 August 1828 (from Brazil)

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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 NA November 1999); Chamber of Representatives - last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 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

National capital

Montevideo

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 August (1828)

Political parties and leaders

National (Blanco) Party, Alberto VOLONTE Berro; Herrerista faction of the Blanco Party, Luis LACALLE; Colorado Party, Jorge BATLLE; Broad Front Coalition, Tabare VAZQUEZ (as of 22 December 1996); New Sector Coalition, Rafael MICHELINI; Party for the Government by the People (PGP), Hugo BATALLA; Progressive Encounter (Encuentro Progresista), Tabare VAZQUEZ

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$256 million (1994)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.5% (1994)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49 : 792,365 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males: 643,137 (1997 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 24% (male 405,016; female 385,863) 15-64 years: 63% (male 1,021,166; female 1,042,401) 65 years and over: 13% (male 173,345; female 242,916) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

16.98 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

8.97 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian, specifically, the Charrua, which are practically nonexistent and make up probably less than 1%

Infant mortality rate

14.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population : 75.23 years male: 72.09 years female : 78.55 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.3% male: 96.9% female: 97.7% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan

Net migration rate

-0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

3,270,707 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

0.7% (1997 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.3 children born/woman (1997 est.)

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

Airports

60 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 45 2,438 to 3,047 m : 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 31 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total : 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 13 (1996 est.)

Highways

total: 50,900 km paved: 6,973 km unpaved: 43,927 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 2 oil tanker ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,042 GRT/83,684 DWT (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors

Fray Bentos, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Punta del Este

Railways

total: 2,070 km (461 km closed; additional 460 km only partially operational) standard gauge: 2,070 km 1.435-m gauge

Waterways

1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft