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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 87 usable: 80 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]

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

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, cargo 1, container 2, oil tanker 1

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 15-49 765,490; fit for military service 621,629

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 12% of GDP; 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 billion, including capital expenditures of $388 million (1991 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: 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]

capacity: 2,168,000 kW production: 5.96 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,900 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1 - 4.4710 (January 1994), 3.9484 (1993); new Uruguayan pesos (N$Ur) per US$1 - 3,457.5 (December 1992), 3,026.9 (1992), 2,489 (1991), 1,594 (1990), 805 (1989) note: on 1 March 1993 the former New Peso (N$Ur) was replaced as Uruguay's unit of currency by the Peso which is equal to 1,000 of the New Pesos; consequently there is a major change in the peso/dollar exchange rate

Exports [time series]

$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal products, leather, rice partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, China, Italy

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$4.2 billion (1993)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Imports [time series]

$2 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, minerals, plastics partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Nigeria

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

growth rate 4.2% (1992 est.), 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]

50% (1993 est.)

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

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $19 billion (1993 est.)

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

$6,000 (1993 est.)

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

2% (1993 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 7.5% 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. Hampered by a slowdown in the agricultural sector, the economy grew at only 2% in 1993 compared with 7.5% in 1992. Although inflation declined for the second consecutive year, a surge in the money supply, rising food prices, a record trade deficit, and an increase in the government deficit toward the end of the year foreshadowed troubles ahead in 1994.

Unemployment rate [time series]

8.8% (1993 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 176,220 sq km land area: 173,620 sq km 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]

current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to seasonally high winds, droughts, floods international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

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 River

Irrigated land [time series]

1,100 sq km (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]

Southern 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

Legislative branch (Chamber of Representatives (Camera de Representantes)) [time series]

elections 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

Legislative branch (Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores)) [time series]

elections 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

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 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York consulate(s): New Orleans

Executive branch [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); election 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% cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

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

[598] (2) 48-86-11

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

Legal system [time series]

based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General)

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, 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; Colorado Party, Jorge BATLLE; Broad Front Coalition, Gen. Liber SEREGNI Mosquera; New Space Coalition, Hugo BATALLA

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 Thomas DODD embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo mailing address: APO AA 34035 telephone: [598] (2) 23-60-61 or 48-77-77

People

Birth rate [time series]

17.7 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.39 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

17.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 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, Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.09 years male: 70.88 years female: 77.47 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

3,198,910 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.75% (1994 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]

2.44 children born/woman (1994 est.)