Uruguay

Broadcast media

mixture of privately-owned and state-run broadcast media; more than 100 commercial radio stations and about 20 television channels broadcasting; cable TV is available; large number of community radio and TV stations; adopted the hybrid Japanese/Brazilian HDTV standard (ISDB-T) in December 2010 (2010)

Internet country code

.uy

Internet hosts

765,525 (2010) country comparison to the world: 47

Internet users

1.405 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 86

Telephone system

general assessment: fully digitalized domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 150 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 598; the UNISOR submarine cable system provides direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

962,200 (2010) country comparison to the world: 80

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.437 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 107

Agriculture - products

beef, soybeans, cellulose, rice, wheat, lumber, dairy products; fish

Budget

revenues: $11.8 billion expenditures: $12.29 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Central bank discount rate

20% (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 10 20% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.33% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 15.28% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$160.4 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 -$104.7 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$13.95 billion (30 June 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $12.25 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

42.4 (2009) country comparison to the world: 50 44.8 (1999)

Economy - overview

Uruguay's economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated work force, and high levels of social spending. Following financial difficulties in the late 1990s and early 2000s, economic growth for Uruguay averaged 8% annually during the period 2004-08. The 2008-09 global financial crisis put a brake on Uruguay's vigorous growth, which decelerated to 2.9% in 2009. Nevertheless, the country managed to avoid a recession and keep positive growth rates, mainly through higher public expenditure and investment, and GDP growth exceeded 8% in 2010.

Electricity - consumption

7.57 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity - exports

711.4 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

386.8 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

9.89 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Exchange rates

Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar - 20.051 (2010) 22.568 (2009) 20.936 (2008) 23.947 (2007) 24.048 (2006)

Exports

$8.069 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $6.408 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

beef, soybeans, cellulose, rice, wheat, wood, dairy products; wool

Exports - partners

Brazil 21%, Nueva Palmira Free Zone 10.2%, Argentina 7.5%, Chile 5.5%, Russia 5.3% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$40.27 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$47.99 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 $44.24 billion (2009 est.) $43.13 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 9.2% industry: 21.4% services: 69.4% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,700 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $12,700 (2009 est.) $12,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

8.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 2.6% (2009 est.) 8.6% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 32.9% (2009)

Imports

$8.32 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $6.677 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil (13.4%), refined oil (4.9%), passenger vehicles (3.5%), transportation vehicles (2.7%), vehicles parts (2.2%), cellular phones (2.1%), insecticides (1.7%)

Imports - partners

Brazil 18.6%, Argentina 16.7%, China 13.5%, Venezuela 9.1%, US 8.3%, Russia 4.2% (2010 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

9.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 7.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Labor force

1.637 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 13% industry: 14% services: 73% (2010 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$238 million (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 113 $219 million (31 December 2009) $NA (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

40 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Natural gas - imports

76.6 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Oil - consumption

52,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Oil - exports

4,353 bbl/day (November 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Oil - imports

53,110 bbl/day (November 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Oil - production

903 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Population below poverty line

20.9% of households (2009)

Public debt

56.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 60.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$7.657 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $8.038 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$16.97 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $14.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$300 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $156 million (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$9.1 billion (30 September 2010) country comparison to the world: 81 $7.7 billion (31 December 2009)

Stock of domestic credit

$12.74 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $10.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.944 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $3.151 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

29.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Unemployment rate

6.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 7.3% (2009 est.)

Area

total: 176,215 sq km country comparison to the world: 91 land: 175,015 sq km water: 1,200 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than the state of Washington

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

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, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 3.15 cu km/yr (2%/1%/96%) per capita: 910 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

33 00 S, 56 00 W

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

Irrigated land

2,180 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

total: 1,648 km border countries: Argentina 580 km, Brazil 1,068 km

Land use

arable land: 7.77% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 91.99% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or edge of continental margin

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

Natural resources

arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish

Terrain

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Total renewable water resources

139 cu km (2000)

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

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 first Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in March

Constitution

27 November 1966; effective 15 February 1967; suspended 27 June 1973; revised 26 November 1989 and 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 former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador David NELSON embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200 mailing address: APO AA 34035 telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777 FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611

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)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Jose "Pepe" MUJICA Cordano (since 1 March 2010); Vice President Danilo ASTORI Saragoza (since 1 March 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jose "Pepe" MUJICA Cordano (since 1 March 2010); Vice President Danilo ASTORI Saragoza (since 1 March 2010) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) 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 on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in October 2014) election results: Jose "Pepe" MUJICA elected president; percent of vote - Jose "Pepe" MUJICA 54.8%, Luis Alberto LACALLE 45.2%

Flag description

nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; 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; the stripes represent the nine original departments of Uruguay; the sun symbol evokes the legend of the sun breaking through the clouds on 25 May 1810 as independence was first declared from Spain (Uruguay subsequently won its independence from Brazil) note: the banner was inspired by the national colors of Argentina and by the design of the US flag

Government type

constitutional republic

Independence

25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

CAN (associate), CD, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

civil law system based on the Spanish civil code

Legislative branch

bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members 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 elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Senators - last held on 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Frente Amplio 16, Blanco 9, Colorado Party 5; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Frente Amplio 50, Blanco 30, Colorado Party 17, Independent Party 2

National anthem

name: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem of Uruguay) lyrics/music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Francisco Jose DEBALI note: adopted 1848; the anthem is also known as "Orientales, la Patria o la tumba!" ("Uruguayans, the Fatherland or Death!"); it is the world's longest national anthem in terms of music (105 bars; almost five minutes); generally only the first verse and chorus are sung

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

National symbol(s)

Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol)

Political parties and leaders

Broad Front (Frente Amplio) - formerly known as the Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition or EP-FA [Jorge BROVETTO] (a broad governing coalition that includes Movement of the Popular Participation or MPP, New Space Party (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI], Progressive Alliance (Alianza Progresista) [Rodolfo NIN NOVOA], Socialist Party [Eduardo FERNANDEZ and Reinaldo GARGANO], Communist Party [Eduardo LORIER], Uruguayan Assembly (Asamblea Uruguay) [Danilo ASTORI], and Vertiente Artiguista [Mariano ARANA]); Colorado Party (Foro Batllista) [Pedro BORDABERRY and Julio Maria SANGUINETTI]; National Party or Blanco [Luis Alberto LACALLE and Jorge LARRANAGA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Architect's Society of Uruguay (professional organization); Chamber of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer's association); Chemist and Pharmaceutical Association (professional organization); PIT/CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan Unions - umbrella labor organization); Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association); Uruguayan Construction League; Uruguayan Network of Political Women other: Catholic Church; students

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Background

Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century established widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control previously held by the Colorado and Blanco parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 771,159 females age 16-49: 780,932 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 649,025 females age 16-49: 654,903 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 27,564 female: 26,811 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Uruguayan Armed Forces: Uruguayan National Army (Ejercito Nacional Uruguaya, ENU), Uruguayan National Navy (Armada Nacional del Uruguay; includes naval air arm, Naval Rifle Corps (Cuerpo de Fusileros Navales, Fusna), Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Uruguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2010)

Military expenditures

1.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 94

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; up to 40 years of age for specialists; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies; minimum 6-year education (2009)

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.2% (male 373,613/female 361,160) 15-64 years: 64.1% (male 1,042,163/female 1,078,357) 65 years and over: 13.7% (male 180,729/female 272,513) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

13.52 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

6% (2004) country comparison to the world: 79

Death rate

9.58 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 134

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,900 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Health expenditures

7.4% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 68

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2007) country comparison to the world: 79

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.69 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 150 male: 10.73 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.21 years country comparison to the world: 73 male: 73.07 years female: 79.46 years (2011 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 97.6% female: 98.4% (2003 est.)

Major cities - population

MONTEVIDEO (capital) 1.633 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

27 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 115

Median age

total: 33.6 years male: 32 years female: 35.2 years (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan

Net migration rate

-1.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Physicians density

3.736 physicians/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 18

Population

3,308,535 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Population growth rate

0.231% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Religions

Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1% (2006)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 99% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 1% of population total: 0% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years male: 14 years female: 17 years (2008)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.037 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.89 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 20% country comparison to the world: 56 male: 16.1% female: 25.4% (2009)

Urbanization

urban population: 92% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

in 2010, the ICJ ruled in favor of Uruguay's operation of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina; the two countries formed a joint pollution monitoring regime; uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border

Illicit drugs

small-scale transit country for drugs mainly bound for Europe, often through sea-borne containers; law enforcement corruption; money laundering because of strict banking secrecy laws; weak border control along Brazilian frontier; increasing consumption of cocaine base and synthetic drugs

Airports

58 (2010) country comparison to the world: 81

Airports - with paved runways

total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 26 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 18 country comparison to the world: 101 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 9 (Argentina 2, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Spain 5) registered in other countries: 1 (Liberia 1) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 226 km; oil 155 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Montevideo

Railways

total: 1,641 km country comparison to the world: 77 standard gauge: 1,641 km 1.435-m gauge (1,200 km operational) (2010)

Roadways

total: 77,732 km country comparison to the world: 62 paved: 7,743 km unpaved: 69,989 km (2010)

Waterways

1,600 km (2010) country comparison to the world: 50