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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 88 usable: 81 with permanent-surface runways: 16 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 14

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

49,900 km total; 6,700 km paved, 3,000 km gravel, 40,200 km earth

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 84,797 GRT/132,296 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 2 container, 1 oil tanker

Ports [time series]

Montevideo, Punta del Este, Colonia

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

3,000 km, all 1.435-meter (standard) gauge and government owned

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave network; 337,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 99 AM, no FM, 26 TV, 9 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $216 million, 2.3% of GDP (1991 est.)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 755,667; fit for military service 613,585 (1993 est.); no conscription

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

large areas devoted to livestock grazing; wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; self-sufficient in most basic foodstuffs

Budget [time series]

revenues $2.9 billion; expenditures $3.0 billion, including capital expenditures of $388 million (1991)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 new Uruguayan peso (N$Ur) = 100 centesimos

Economic aid [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $105 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $420 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $69 million

Electricity [time series]

2,168,000 kW capacity; 5,960 million kWh produced, 1,900 kWh per capita (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

new Uruguayan pesos (N$Ur) per US$1 - 3,457.5 (December 1992), 3,026.9 (1992), 2,489 (1991), 1,594 (1990), 805 (1989), 451 (1988), 281 (1987)

Exports [time series]

$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: hides and leather goods 17%, beef 10%, wool 9%, fish 7%, rice 4% partners: Argentina, Brazil, US, Germany

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$4.1 billion (1991)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Imports [time series]

$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: crude oil, fuels, and lubricants, metals, machinery, transportation equipment, industrial chemicals partners: Brazil 23%, Argentina 17%, US 10%, EC 27.1% (1990)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate -1.4% (1990), accounts for almost 25% of GDP

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

58% (1992 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $9.8 billion (1992 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$3,100 (1992 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

8% (1992 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Uruguay is a small economy with favorable climate, good soils, and solid hydropower potential. Economic development has been held back by excessive government regulation of economic detail and 50% to 130% inflation. After several years of sluggish growth, real GDP jumped by about 8% in 1992. The rise is attributable mainly to an increase in Argentine demand for Uruguayan exports, particularly agricultural products and electricity. In a major step toward greater regional economic cooperation, Uruguay in 1991 had joined Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay in forming the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur). A referendum in December 1992 overturned key portions of landmark privatization legislation, dealing a serious blow to President LACALLE's broad economic reform plan.

Unemployment rate [time series]

9% (1992 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 176,220 km2 land area: 173,620 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than Washington State

Climate [time series]

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Coastline [time series]

660 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

subject to seasonally high winds, droughts, floods

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

short section of boundary with Argentina is in dispute; two short sections of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute - Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area of the Rio Quarai and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay

Irrigated land [time series]

1,100 km2 (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 1,564 km, Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 8% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 78% forest and woodland: 4% other: 10%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

South America, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals

Terrain [time series]

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

Montevideo

Constitution [time series]

27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo MACGILLYCUDDY chancery: 1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: telephone (202) 331-1313 through 1316 consulates general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York, consulate: New Orleans

Executive branch (Elections) [time series]

President: last held 26 November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera (Blanco) 37%, Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (Colorado) 29%, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera (Broad Front) 20% Chamber of Senators: last held 26 November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - Blanco 40%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 23% New Space 7%; seats - (30 total) Blanco 12, Colorado 9, Broad Front 7, New Space 2 Chamber of Representatives: last held NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - Blanco 39%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 22%, New Space 8%, other 1%; seats - (99 total) number of seats by party NA

Executive branch [time series]

president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

25 August 1828 (from Brazil)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Executive branch (Leaders) [time series]

Chief of State and Head of Government: President Luis Alberto LACALLE (since 1 March 1990); Vice President Gonzalo AGUIRRE Ramirez (since 1 March 1990)

Legal system [time series]

based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General) consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Representatives (Camera de Representantes)

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MERCOSUR, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMOZ, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 25 August (1828)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

National (Blanco) Party, Carlos CAT; Colorado Party, Secretary General (vacant); Broad Front Coalition, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera - includes PSU, PCU, MLN, MRO, PVP; Uruguayan Socialist Party (PSU), Jose Pedro CARDOSO, and; Communist Party (PCU), Marina ARISMENDI; National Liberation Movement (MLN) or Tupamaros, Eleuterio FERNANDEZ Huidobro; Oriental Rvolutionary Movement (MRO), Walter ARTOLA; Party for the Victory of the Poor (PVP), Hugo CORES; New Space Coalition consists of PGP, PDC, and Civic Union, Hugo BATALLA; People's Government Party (PGP), Hugo BATALLA, secretary general; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Carlos VASSALLO, secretary general; Civic Union, Humberto CIGANDA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard C. BROWN embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo mailing address: APO AA 34035 telephone: [598] (2) 23-60-61 or 48-77-77 FAX: [598] (2) 48-86-11

People

Birth rate [time series]

17.82 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.52 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

18 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.355 million (1991 est.) by occupation: government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.74 years male: 70.52 years female: 77.11 years (1993 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 96% male: 97% female: 96%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population [time series]

3,175,050 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.75% (1993 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.46 children born/woman (1993 est.)