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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.uy

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

480,593 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

968,000 (2007)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 93, FM 191, shortwave 7 (2005)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: fully digitalized domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 115 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) (2002)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

965,200 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

3.004 million (2007)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

62 (2005)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

rice, wheat, soybeans, barley; livestock, beef; fish; forestry

Budget [time series]

revenues: $6.701 billion expenditures: $6.807 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

10% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

8.94% (31 December 2007)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Uruguayan peso (UYU)

Current account balance [time series]

-$185.6 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$11.42 billion (31 December 2007)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

45.2 (2006)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Uruguay's economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated work force, and high levels of social spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during 1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn, stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problems of its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. For instance, in 2001-02 Argentina made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks, which led to a plunge in the Uruguayan peso and a massive rise in unemployment. Total GDP in these four years dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year due to the banking crisis. The unemployment rate rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF helped stem the damage. Uruguay in 2007 improved its debt profile by paying off $1.1 billion in IMF debt, and continues to follow the orthodox economic plan set by the Fund in 2005. The construction of a pulp mill in Fray Bentos, which represents the largest foreign direct investment in Uruguay's history at $1.2 billion, came online in November 2007 and is expected to add 1.6% to GDP and boost already rising exports. The economy has grown strongly since 2004 as a result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, a strong peso, growth in the region, and low international interest rates.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

7.03 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - exports [time series]

995.4 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

788.4 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

9.2 billion kWh (2007)

Exchange rates [time series]

Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar - 23.947 (2007), 24.048 (2006), 24.479 (2005), 28.704 (2004), 28.209 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$5.063 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products

Exports - partners [time series]

Brazil 15.5%, US 9.4%, Argentina 8.4%, Mexico 6.6%, China 6.1%, Germany 4.8% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$22.95 billion (2007 est.)

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

$37.5 billion (2007 est.)

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

agriculture: 10.1% industry: 32% services: 57.9% (2007 est.)

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

$10,800 (2007 est.)

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

7.4% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 34% (2003)

Imports [time series]

$5.554 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

crude petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, paper, plastics

Imports - partners [time series]

Brazil 19.1%, Argentina 17.9%, US 9.5%, China 9.1%, Paraguay 7.7%, Nigeria 4.7% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.9% (2007 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

8.1% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

13.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.631 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 9% industry: 15% services: 76% (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$224 million (2007)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

102.8 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

116.9 million cu m (2007)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

33,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

4,410 bbl/day (2007)

Oil - imports [time series]

43,670 bbl/day (2007)

Oil - production [time series]

935.7 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

Public debt [time series]

64.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$4.121 billion (December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$156 million (2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$4.19 billion (2007)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$6.396 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$2.145 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$7.919 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

9.2% (2007 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 the state of Washington

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]

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-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, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

33 00 S, 56 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

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 [time series]

2,100 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

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]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

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 [time series]

arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries

Terrain [time series]

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Total renewable water resources [time series]

139 cu km (2000)

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]

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 second Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in March

Constitution [time series]

27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967; suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980; two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November 1989 and 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 former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Frank E. BAXTER 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 [time series]

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, Washington, DC consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005); Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005); Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval 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 31 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2009) election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ 50.5%, Jorge LARRANAGA 35.1%, Guillermo STIRLING 10.3%; other 4.1%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

constitutional republic

Independence [time series]

25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

International organization participation [time series]

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

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; vice president has one vote in the Senate) 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 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - EP-FA 16, Blanco 11, Colorado Party 3; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - EP-FA 52, Blanco 36, Colorado Party 10, Independent Party 1

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

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

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 [Jose MUJICA], New Space Party (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI], Progressive Alliance (Alianza Progresista) [Rodolfo NIN NOVOA], Socialist Party [Eduardo FERNANDEZ], the Communist Party [Marina ARISMENDI], Uruguayan Assembly (Asamblea Uruguay) [Danilo ASTORI], and Vertiente Artiguista [Mariano ARANA]); Colorado Party (Foro Batllista) [Julio Maria SANGUINETTI]; National Party or Blanco [Luis Alberto LACALLE and Jorge LARRANAGA]

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

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 [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 837,252 females age 16-49: 824,096 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 703,955 females age 16-49: 690,296 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 27,082 female: 26,075 (2008 est.)

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

Uruguayan Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito), Navy (Armada Nacional; includes naval air arm, Marines, Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.6% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies (2007)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 22.7% (male 401,209/female 388,315) 15-64 years: 64% (male 1,105,891/female 1,120,858) 65 years and over: 13.3% (male 185,704/female 275,801) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.17 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.12 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

2.9% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

6,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 11.66 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.14 years male: 72.89 years female: 79.51 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 33.2 years male: 31.8 years female: 34.6 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

3,477,778 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.486% (2008 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2006)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.04 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 (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

in Jan 2007, ICJ provisionally ruled Uruguay may begin construction of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina, while the court examines further whether Argentina has the legal right to stop such construction with potential environmental implications to both countries; uncontested dispute with Brazil over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

60 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 51 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 29 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 17 by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 10 (Argentina 3, Greece 1, Spain 6) registered in other countries: 3 (Liberia 3) (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 257 km; oil 160 km (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Montevideo

Railways [time series]

total: 2,073 km standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge note: 461 km have been taken out of service and 460 km are in partial use (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 77,732 km paved: 7,743 km unpaved: 69,989 km (2004)

Waterways [time series]

1,600 km (2005)