Uruguay

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.uy

Internet users

total: 2,225,075 | percent of population: 66.4% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Telephone system

general assessment: fully digitalized | domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity over 185 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) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1,113,566 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 5,116,736 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 153 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Agriculture - products

Cellulose, beef, soybeans, rice, wheat; dairy products; fish; lumber, tobacco, wine

Budget

revenues: $15.35 billion | expenditures: $17.47 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2012) | 8.75% (31 December 2011) | note: Uruguay's central bank uses the benchmark interest rate, rather than the discount rate, to conduct monetary policy; the rates shown here are the benchmark rates | country comparison to the world: 31

Commercial bank prime lending rate

16.17% (31 December 2016 est.) | 15.84% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

Current account balance

$-36 million (2016 est.) | $-1.14 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Debt - external

$27.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $27.32 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Distribution of family income - Gini index

41.6 (2014) | 41.9 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 52

Economy - overview

Uruguay has a free market economy characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, and high levels of social spending. Uruguay has sought to expand trade within the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) and with non-Mercosur members, and President VAZQUEZ has maintained his predecessor’s mix of pro-market policies and a strong social safety net. | Following financial difficulties in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Uruguay's economic growth 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 2.6% in 2009. Nevertheless, the country managed to avoid a recession and keep positive growth rates, mainly through higher public expenditure and investment; GDP growth reached 8.9% in 2010 but slowed markedly in the period 2012-16 as a result of a renewed slowdown in the global economy and in Uruguay's main trade partners and Mercosur counterparts, Argentina and Brazil. Reforms in those countries should give Uruguay an economic boost.

Exchange rates

Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar - | 30.163 (2016 est.) | 30.163 (2015 est.) | 27.52 (2014 est.) | 23.246 (2013 est.) | 20.31 (2012 est.)

Exports

$8.387 billion (2016 est.) | $9.091 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Brazil 16.4%, China 12.2%, US 6.2%, Argentina 5% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$52.42 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$74.46 billion (2016 est.) | $72.47 billion (2015 est.) | $71.43 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 95

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 65.7% | government consumption: 14.5% | investment in fixed capital: 18.9% | investment in inventories: -0.2% | exports of goods and services: 21.4% | imports of goods and services: -20.2% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 6.8% | industry: 27.4% | services: 65.9% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$21,400 (2016 est.) | $21,200 (2015 est.) | $21,200 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 84

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (2016 est.) | 0.4% (2015 est.) | 3.2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Gross national saving

18.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | 17.6% of GDP (2015 est.) | 16.7% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.9% | highest 10%: 30.8% (2014 est.)

Imports

$8.037 billion (2016 est.) | $9.334 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

Imports - commodities

refined oil, crude oil, passenger and other transportation vehicles, vehicle parts, cellular phones

Imports - partners

China 18.8%, Brazil 17.9%, Argentina 13.3%, US 6.9%, Germany 4.7% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.6% (2016 est.) | 8.7% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Labor force

1.736 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$175.4 million (31 December 2012 est.) | $174.6 million (31 December 2011 est.) | $156.9 million (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Population below poverty line

9.7% (2015 est.)

Public debt

62.7% of GDP (2016 est.) | 64.2% of GDP (2015 est.) | note: data cover general government debt, and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions. | country comparison to the world: 65

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$13.47 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $15.63 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69

Stock of broad money

$8.781 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $7.43 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$136.1 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $136.9 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$22.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $21.81 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Stock of domestic credit

$19.61 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $17.8 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Stock of narrow money

$4.582 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.162 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

Taxes and other revenues

28.1% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Unemployment rate

7.9% (2016 est.) | 7.9% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

7.4 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206

Crude oil - imports

37,900 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 207

Electricity - consumption

9.42 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97

Electricity - exports

1.321 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

Electricity - from fossil fuels

34.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

34.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201

Electricity - from other renewable sources

39% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 5

Electricity - imports

2 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114

Electricity - installed generating capacity

4.408 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82

Electricity - production

12.23 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Electricity access

population without electricity: 20,106 | electrification - total population: 99.4% | electrification - urban areas: 99.7% | electrification - rural areas: 93.8% (2012)

Natural gas - consumption

378 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas - imports

40 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 203

Refined petroleum products - consumption

54,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Refined petroleum products - exports

537.5 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

Refined petroleum products - imports

10,870 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Refined petroleum products - production

42,440 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Area

total: 176,215 sq km | land: 175,015 sq km | water: 1,200 sq km | country comparison to the world: 92

Area - comparative

about the size of Virginia and West Virginia combined; slightly smaller than the state of Washington

Climate

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Coastline

660 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 109 m | 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

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

2,380 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 1,591 km | border countries (2): Argentina 541 km, Brazil 1,050 km

Land use

agricultural land: 87.2% | arable land 10.1%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 76.9% | forest: 10.2% | other: 2.6% (2011 est.)

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 the 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

Population - distribution

most of the country's population resides in the southern half of the country; approximately 80% of the populace is urban, living in towns or cities; nearly half of the population lives in and around the capital of Montevideo

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

Capital

name: Montevideo | geographic coordinates: 34 51 S, 56 10 W | time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent: yes | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 3-5 years

Constitution

several previous; latest approved by plebiscite 27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967; amended several times, last in 2004 (2016)

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 | etymology: name derives from the Spanish pronunciation of the Guarani Indian designation of the Uruguay River, which makes up the western border of the country and whose name later came to be applied to the entire country

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Kelly Ann KEIDERLING-FRANZ (since 23 June 2016) | embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200 | mailing address: APO AA 34035 | telephone: [598] (2) 1770-2000 | FAX: [598] (2) 1770-2128

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alberto GIANELLI Derois (since 3 August 2015) | chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 | telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 | FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142 | consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ (since 1 March 2015); Vice President Lucia TOPOLANSKY (since 13 September 2017); note - note - Vice President Raul Fernando SENDIC Rodriguez (since 1 March 2015) stepped down on 9 September amid accusations of misuse of public funds; the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ (since 1 March 2015); Vice President Lucia TOPOLANSKY (since 13 September 2017); note - Vice President Raul Fernando SENDIC Rodriguez (since 1 March 2015) stepped down on 9 September amid accusations of misuse of public funds | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the General Assembly | elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for nonconsecutive terms); election last held on 26 October 2014, with a runoff election on 30 November 2014 (next to be held on 27 October 2019, and a runoff if needed on 24 November 2019) | election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ (Socialist Party) 56.5%, Luis Alberto LACALLE Pou (Blanco) 43.4%

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 (delineated in black) 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); the sun features are said to represent those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun | note: the banner was inspired by the national colors of Argentina and by the design of the US flag

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 5 judges) | judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the president and appointed in joint conference of the General Assembly; judges appointed for 10-year terms, with reelection after a lapse of 5 years following the previous term | subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; District Courts (Juzgados Letrados); Peace Courts (Juzgados de Paz); Rural Courts (Juzgados Rurales)

Legal system

civil law system based on the Spanish civil code

Legislative branch

description: bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (31 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; the vice-president serves as the presiding ex-officio member; elected members serve 5-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) | elections: Chamber of Senators - last held on 26 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 26 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019) | election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by coalition/party - Frente Amplio 49.5%, National Party 31.9%, Colorado Party 13.3%, Independent Party 3.2%, other 2.1%; seats by coalition/party - Frente Amplio 15, National Party 10, Colorado Party 4, Independent Party 1 | Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by coalition/party - Frente Amplio 49.5%, National Party 31.9%, Colorado Party 13.3%, Independent Party 3.2%, AP 1.2%, other 0.9%; seats by coalition/party - Frente Amplio 50, National Party 32, Colorado Party 13, Independent Party 3, AP 1

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); national colors: blue, white, yellow

Political parties and leaders

Broad Front or FA (Frente Amplio) - (a broad governing coalition that includes Uruguay Assembly [Danilo ASTORI], Progressive Alliance [Rodolfo NIN NOVOA], New Space [Rafael MICHELINI], Socialist Party [Monica XAVIER], Vertiente Artiguista [Enrique RUBIO], Christian Democratic Party [Juan Andres ROBALLO], For the People’s Victory [Luis PUIG], Popular Participation Movement (MPP) [Jose MUJICA], Broad Front Commitment [Raul SENDIC], Big House [Constanza MOREIRA], Communist Party [Marcos CARAMBULA], The Federal League [Dario PEREZ] | Colorado Party (including Vamos Uruguay (or Let's Go Uruguay) [Pedro BORDABERRY], Open Space [Tabare VIERA], and Open Batllism [Ope PASQUET]) | Independent Party [Pablo MIERES] | National Party or Blanco (including All Forward [Luis LACALLE POU] and National Alliance [Jorge LARRANAGA]) | Popular Assembly [Gonzalo ABELLA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

B'nai B'rith | Catholic Church | Chamber of Commerce and Export of Agriproducts | Chamber of Industries (manufacturers' association) | Exporters Union of Uruguay | National Chamber of Commerce and Services | PIT/CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan Unions - umbrella labor organization) | Rural Association of Uruguay (ranchers' association) | Uruguayan Network of Political Women | other: 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 launched 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 restored in 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 National (Blanco) parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.

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) (2012)

Military expenditures

1.85% of GDP (2016) | 1.82% of GDP (2015) | 1.81% of GDP (2014) | 1.82% of GDP (2013) | 1.8% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 42

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age (18-22 years of age for navy) for male or female 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 (2013)

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.17% (male 344,810/female 332,791) | 15-24 years: 15.69% (male 267,000/female 260,135) | 25-54 years: 39.34% (male 654,036/female 667,780) | 55-64 years: 10.56% (male 167,002/female 187,865) | 65 years and over: 14.25% (male 191,597/female 287,132) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

13 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4% (2011) | country comparison to the world: 94

Death rate

9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

Demographic profile

Uruguay rates high for most development indicators and is known for its secularism, liberal social laws, and well-developed social security, health, and educational systems. It is one of the few countries in Latin America and the Caribbean where the entire population has access to clean water. Uruguay's provision of free primary through university education has contributed to the country's high levels of literacy and educational attainment. However, the emigration of human capital has diminished the state's return on its investment in education. Remittances from the roughly 18% of Uruguayans abroad amount to less than 1 percent of national GDP. The emigration of young adults and a low birth rate are causing Uruguay's population to age rapidly. | In the 1960s, Uruguayans for the first time emigrated en masse - primarily to Argentina and Brazil - because of economic decline and the onset of more than a decade of military dictatorship. Economic crises in the early 1980s and 2002 also triggered waves of emigration, but since 2002 more than 70% of Uruguayan emigrants have selected the US and Spain as destinations because of better job prospects. Uruguay had a tiny population upon its independence in 1828 and welcomed thousands of predominantly Italian and Spanish immigrants, but the country has not experienced large influxes of new arrivals since the aftermath of World War II. More recent immigrants include Peruvians and Arabs.

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 55.9 | youth dependency ratio: 33.4 | elderly dependency ratio: 22.5 | potential support ratio: 4.4 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population | rural: 93.9% of population | total: 99.7% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 6.1% of population | total: 0.3% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.4% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 92

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<500 (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

12,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Health expenditures

8.6% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 47

Hospital bed density

2.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

total: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.4 years | male: 74.2 years | female: 80.6 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 98.5% | male: 98.1% | female: 98.9% (2015 est.)

Major urban areas - population

MONTEVIDEO (capital) 1.707 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

15 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Median age

total: 35 years | male: 33.1 years | female: 36.7 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Nationality

noun: Uruguayan(s) | adjective: Uruguayan

Net migration rate

-0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27.9% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 34

Physicians density

3.94 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

3,360,148 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Population distribution

most of the country's population resides in the southern half of the country; approximately 80% of the populace is urban, living in towns or cities; nearly half of the population lives in and around the capital of Montevideo

Population growth rate

0.27% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

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 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 96.6% of population | rural: 92.6% of population | total: 96.4% of population | urban: 3.4% of population | rural: 7.4% of population | total: 3.6% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years | male: 14 years | female: 17 years (2010)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female | total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 22.5% | male: 19.9% | female: 26.2% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61

Urbanization

urban population: 95.6% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 0.44% annual rate of change (2015-20 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

133 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 42

Airports - with paved runways

total: 11 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 | 914 to 1,523 m: 4 | under 914 m: 2 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 122 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 | 914 to 1,523 m: 40 | under 914 m: 79 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

CX (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 16 | by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1 | foreign-owned: 8 (Argentina 1, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Spain 5) | registered in other countries: 1 (Liberia 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 100

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 2 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 (2015)

Pipelines

gas 257 km; oil 160 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Montevideo

Railways

total: 1,673 km (operational; government claims overall length is 2,961 km) | standard gauge: 1,673 km 1.435-m gauge (2016) | country comparison to the world: 78

Roadways

total: 77,732 km | paved: 7,743 km | unpaved: 69,989 km (2010) | country comparison to the world: 63

Waterways

1,600 km (2011) | country comparison to the world: 48