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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

mixture of privately-owned and state-run broadcast media; more than 100 commercial radio stations and about 20 television channels broadcasting; cable TV is available; large number of community radio and TV stations (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.uy

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

765,525 (2010) country comparison to the world: 47

Internet users [time series]

1.405 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 86

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 135 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) (2009)

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

953,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 81

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

3.802 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 106

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Central bank discount rate [time series]

20% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 11 20% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

15.28% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 12.45% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$377 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 $258.8 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$13.39 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 $13.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

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

45.2 (2006) country comparison to the world: 41 44.8 (1999)

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. In 2001-02, Argentine citizens made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks after bank deposits in Argentina were frozen, which led to a plunge in the Uruguayan peso, a banking crisis, and a sharp economic contraction. Real GDP fell in four years by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year. The unemployment rate rose, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Financial assistance from the IMF helped stem the damage. Uruguay restructured its external debt in 2003 without asking creditors to accept a reduction on the principal. Economic growth for Uruguay resumed, and 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 2.9% in 2009. Nevertheless, the country managed to avoid a recession and keep positive growth rates, mainly through higher public expenditure and investment, and GDP growth exceeded 7% in 2010.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

7.14 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Electricity - exports [time series]

996 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

789 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

9.265 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Exchange rates [time series]

Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar - 20.276 (2010), 22.568 (2009), 20.936 (2008), 23.947 (2007), 24.048 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$7.413 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $6.389 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Brazil 21.05%, China 9.45%, Argentina 7.36%, Germany 5.16%, Mexico 4.88%, Netherlands 4.13%, US 3.96% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$40.71 billion (2010 est.)

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

$47.8 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 $44.63 billion (2009 est.) $43.38 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 9.3% industry: 22.8% services: 67.9% (2010 est.)

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

$13,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $12,800 (2009 est.) $12,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

7.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 2.9% (2009 est.) 8.5% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 34.8% (2006)

Imports [time series]

$8.519 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $6.664 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Argentina 20.77%, Brazil 17.53%, China 10.23%, US 9.82%, Paraguay 6.87% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

16.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 7.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

19.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Labor force [time series]

1.637 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 111 $159 million (31 December 2007) $125.1 million (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

70 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Natural gas - imports [time series]

70 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Oil - consumption [time series]

40,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Oil - exports [time series]

7,100 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Oil - imports [time series]

52,730 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Oil - production [time series]

997 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Population below poverty line [time series]

27.4% of households (2006)

Public debt [time series]

52.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 60% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$7.407 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $8.038 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$14.22 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 91 $11.78 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$156 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

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

$NA (31 December 2010) $4.19 billion (2007)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$10.49 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 $8.888 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$3.706 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 103 $2.74 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 7.6% (2009 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 176,215 sq km country comparison to the world: 90 land: 175,015 sq km water: 1,200 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, 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, fish

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 first Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in March

Constitution [time series]

27 November 1966; effective 15 February 1967; suspended 27 June 1973; revised 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 David NELSON 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 consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Jose "Pepe" MUJICA Cordano (since 1 March 2010); Vice President Danilo ASTORI Saragoza (since 1 March 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jose "Pepe" MUJICA Cordano (since 1 March 2010); Vice President Danilo ASTORI Saragoza (since 1 March 2010) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) 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 on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in October 2014) election results: Jose "Pepe" MUJICA elected president; percent of vote - Jose "Pepe" MUJICA 54.8%, Luis Alberto LACALLE 45.2%

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; 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) note: the banner was inspired by the national colors of Argentina and by the design of the US flag

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, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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 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 elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Senators - last held on 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Frente Amplio 16, Blanco 9, Colorado Party 5; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Frente Amplio 50, Blanco 30, Colorado Party 17, Independent Party 2

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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 [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, New Space Party (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI], Progressive Alliance (Alianza Progresista) [Rodolfo NIN NOVOA], Socialist Party [Eduardo FERNANDEZ and Reinaldo GARGANO], Communist Party [Eduardo LORIER], Uruguayan Assembly (Asamblea Uruguay) [Danilo ASTORI], and Vertiente Artiguista [Mariano ARANA]); Colorado Party (Foro Batllista) [Pedro BORDABERRY and 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: 849,358 females age 16-49: 832,774 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 713,223 females age 16-49: 697,197 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 27,631 female: 26,703 (2010 est.)

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

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) (2010)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 95

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-30 years of age for 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 (2009)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 22.4% (male 397,942/female 385,253) 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 1,115,963/female 1,129,478) 65 years and over: 13.3% (male 187,176/female 278,570) (2010 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

13.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Death rate [time series]

9.06 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

2.9% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 154

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.6% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

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

10,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 10.99 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 149 male: 12.37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.55 years country comparison to the world: 69 male: 73.3 years female: 79.92 years (2010 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: 33.7 years male: 32.3 years female: 35.1 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Population [time series]

3,510,386 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Population growth rate [time series]

0.447% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

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: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2007)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.037 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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.89 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 92% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 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; two uncontested boundary disputes with Brazil over Isla Brasilera at the tripoint with Argentina at the confluence of the Quarai/Cuareim and Uruguay rivers, and, in the 235 square kilometer Invernada River region, over which tributary represents the legitimate source of the Quarai/Cuareim River

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]

58 (2010) country comparison to the world: 82

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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 26 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 18 country comparison to the world: 101 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 9 (Argentina 2, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Spain 5) registered in other countries: 1 (Liberia 1) (2010)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 226 km; oil 155 km (2009)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Montevideo

Railways [time series]

total: 1,641 km (1,200 km operational) country comparison to the world: 79 standard gauge: 1,641 km 1.435-m gauge (2010)

Roadways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

1,600 km (2010) country comparison to the world: 52