Uruguay

Uruguay

 
Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

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

Area

Land Boundaries

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

Coastline

660 km

Maritime Claims

International Disputes

Short section of boundary with Argentina is.htmispute; 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

Climate

Warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Terrain

Mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m

Natural Resources

Land Use

Irrigated Land

1,100 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment

PEOPLE

Population

3,238,952 (July 1996 est.)
3,222,716 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

24% (male 405,041; female 386,155) (July 1996 est.)
25% (male 409,580; female 392,262) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

63% (male 1,004,089; female 1,035,336) (July 1996 est.)
63% (male 995,492; female 1,026,314) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

13% (male 170,109; female 238,222) (July 1996 est.)
12% (male 165,691; female 233,377) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.7% (1996 est.)
0.74% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

17.02 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
17.57 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

9.05 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
9.27 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

-0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
-0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

15.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
16.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

2.32 children born/woman (1996 est.)
2.41 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic Divisions

Religions

Languages

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

Literacy

Age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

Labor Force

1.355 million (1991 est.)

By occupation:

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

UY

Type

Republic

Capital

Montevideo

Administrative Divisions

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

Independence

25 August 1828 (from Brazil)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 25 August (1828)

Constitution

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

Legal System

Based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive Branch

Legislative Branch

Bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General)

Chamber of Senators (Camara De Senadores)

Elections last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999); results - Colorado 36%, Blanco 34 %, Encuentro Progresista 27%, New Sector 3%; seats - (30 total) Colorado 11, Blanco 10, Encuentro Progresista 8, New Sector 1

Chamber of Representatives (Camera De Representantes)

Elections last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999); results - Colorado 32%, Blanco 31%, Encuentro Progresista 31%, New Sector 5%; seats - (99 total) Colorado 32, Blanco 31, Encuentro Progresista 31, New Sector 5

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

Political Parties and Leaders

National (Blanco) Party, Alberto VOLONTE Berro; Colorado Party, Jorge BATLLE; Broad Front Coalition, 12 member Executive Secretariat (as of 11 March 1996); New Sector Coalition, Hugo BATALLA; Encuentro Progresista (EP), Tabare VAZQUEZ

Member of

AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

National Anthem

Flag

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

ECONOMY

Overview

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, currently at 35.4%; other priorities include extensive reform of the social security system and increased investment in education. Uruguay went into recession during second quarter 1995 and ended the year with an estimated 2% fall in GDP and a two percentage point rise in unemployment to 11%. This was partly due to Argentina's recession and the slowdown in Brazilian growth in 1995, which contributed to declines in the Uruguayan manufacturing, construction, and service sectors. However, despite its Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market) partners' troubles, Uruguayan trade expanded and potential new markets are being explored through Mercosur negotiations with neighboring countries and the European Union (EU). Uruguay also recently augmented its transport and agricultural sector ties with the US. The economy is expected to come out of recession as regional growth prospects improve.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $24.4 billion (1995 est.); $23 billion (1994 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

-2.4% (1995 est.)
4% (1994 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$7,600 (1995 est.)
$7,200 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

35.4% (1995 est.)
44% (1994 est.)

Unemployment Rate

11% (1995)
9% (1994 est.)

Budget

Exports

$2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
$1.78 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

Commodities:

Partners:

Imports

$3.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
$2.461 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

$4.95 billion (1995)
$4.2 billion (1993)

Industrial Production

Growth rate -19% (1995 est.); 3.9% (1992); accounts for 27.5% of GDP

Electricity

Industries

Agriculture

Accounts for 10.5% of GDP; large areas devoted to livestock grazing; wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; fishing; self-sufficient in most basic foodstuffs

Economic Aid

Currency

1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos

Exchange Rates

Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1 - 7.12 (January 1996), 5.6 (January 1995), 5.0529 (1994), 3.9484 (1993), 3.0270 (1992), 2.0188 (1991), 1.1710 (1990)

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

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

Highways

Inland Waterways

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

Ports

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

Merchant Marine

Airports

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

451,000 telephones; some modern facilities

Radio

Television

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

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

Manpower Availability

Males age 15-49 783,890; males fit for military service 636,454 (1996 est.)

Defense Expenditures

Exchange rate conversion - $256 million, 1.5% of GDP (1994); $216 million, 2.3% of GDP (1991 est.)

History
World Atlas

Last modified: 15 december 1997