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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 99, FM 0, shortwave 9

Radios [time series]

1.89 million (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

451,000 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

725,000 (1992 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; livestock; fishing

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos

Debt - external [time series]

$5 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $91 million (1993)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 [time series]

2.142 million kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

1,568 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

6.308 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

calendar year

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

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

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

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

4.9% (1996)

Imports [time series]

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 [time series]

3.2% (1996)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

24.4% (December 1996)

Labor force [time series]

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 [time series]

12% (1996 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Washington State

Climate [time series]

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Coastline [time series]

660 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

33 00 S, 56 00 W

Irrigated land [time series]

1,400 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

South America

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

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 [time series]

fertile 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

Constitution [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

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

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

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

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

[598] (2) 48 86 11

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

25 August 1828 (from Brazil)

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

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

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Montevideo

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 25 August (1828)

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

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 [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$256 million (1994)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.5% (1994)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

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

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 643,137 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

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

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Population [time series]

3,270,707 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.7% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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 [time series]

2.3 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

60 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

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