SPAMfighter information about
Uruguay
| The data on this page is obtained from The World Factbook. |
 Communications information
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| SPAMfighters: | 28,210 |
| Internet users: | 680,000 (2005) |
| Internet hosts: | 145,774 (2006) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 14 (2001) |
| Internet country code: | .uy |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 1 million (2004) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 600,000 (2004) |
| Telephone system: |
general assessment: fully digitalized domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network international: country code - 598; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2002) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 93, FM 191, shortwave 7 (2005) |
| Radios: | 1.97 million (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 62 (2005) |
| Televisions: | 782,000 (1997) |
 Geographical information
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| Location: | Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil |
| Geographic coordinates: | 33 00 S, 56 00 W |
| Map references: | South America |
| Area: |
total: 176,220 sq km land: 173,620 sq km water: 2,600 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than the state of Washington |
| Land boundaries: |
total: 1,564 km border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km |
| Coastline: | 660 km |
| Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
| Climate: | warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown |
| Terrain: | mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m |
| Natural resources: | arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries |
| Land use: |
arable land: 7.77% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 91.99% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 2,100 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | 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 |
| Environment - current issues: | water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal |
| Environment - international agreements: |
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 |
| Geography - note: | 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 |
 People information
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| Population: | 3,431,932 (July 2006 est.) |
| Age structure: |
0-14 years: 22.9% (male 399,409/female 386,136) 15-64 years: 63.9% (male 1,087,180/female 1,104,465) 65 years and over: 13.3% (male 185,251/female 269,491) (2006 est.) |
| Median age: |
total: 32.7 years male: 31.3 years female: 34.2 years (2006 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.46% (2006 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 13.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Death rate: | 9.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: |
total: 11.61 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 76.33 years male: 73.12 years female: 79.65 years (2006 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.3% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 6,000 (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | less than 500 (2003 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan |
| Ethnic groups: | white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent) |
| Religions: | Roman Catholic 66% (less than half of the adult population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, nonprofessing or other 31% |
| Languages: | Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier) |
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 97.6% female: 98.4% (2003 est.) |
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Governmental information
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| Country name: |
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 |
| Government type: | constitutional republic |
| Capital: |
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 |
| 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 1825 (from Brazil) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 25 August (1825) |
| Constitution: | 27 November 1966, effective 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 |
| Legal system: | based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| Executive branch: |
chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005) and 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) and Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government 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 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% |
| Legislative branch: |
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 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly) |
| Political parties and leaders: | Colorado Party [Julio Maria SANGUINETTI]; Independent Party (Partido Independiente) [Pablo MIERES]; Movement of Popular Participation or MPP [Jose MUJICA]; National Party or Blanco [Jorge LARRANAGA]; New Sector/Space Coalition (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI]; Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition (Encuentro Progresista/Frente Amplio) or EP-FA [Tabare VAZQUEZ]; Socialist Party of Uruguay or Socialists [Reinaldo GARGANO]; Uruguayan Assembly or Asamblea Uruguay [Danilo ASTORI] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Architect´s Society of Uruguay (professional organization); Catholic Church; Chamber of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer´s association); Chemist and Pharmaceutical Association (professional organization); PIT-CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan unions); Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher´s association); students; Uruguayan Construction League |
| International organization participation: | CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
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) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission: Charge d´Affaires James D. NEALON embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200 mailing address: APO AA 34035 telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777 FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611 |
| Flag description: | 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 with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy |
 Economical information
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| Economy - overview: | Uruguay´s well-to-do 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. A debt swap with private-sector creditors in 2003 extended the maturity dates on nearly half of Uruguay´s then $11.3 billion of public debt and helped restore public confidence. The economy grew about 10% in 2004 as a result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, a competitive peso, growth in the region, and low international interest rates, but slowed to 6.1% in 2005. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $33.98 billion (2005 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $13.24 billion (2005 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 6.8% (2005 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $9,900 (2005 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 9.3% industry: 31.1% services: 59.6% (2005 est.) |
| Labor force: | 1.52 million (2005 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 14% industry: 16% services: 70% |
| Unemployment rate: | 12.2% (2005 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 22% of households (2004) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 25.8% (1997) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 4.7% (2005 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $4.468 billion expenditures: $4.845 billion; including capital expenditures of $193 million (2005 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish |
| Industries: | food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 8.5% (2005 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 8.611 billion kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 0.7% hydro: 99.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0.3% (2001) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 7.762 billion kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - exports: | 900 million kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - imports: | 654 million kWh (2003) |
| Oil - production: | 435 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 38,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | NA bbl/day |
| Oil - imports: | NA bbl/day |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2003 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 60 million cu m (2003 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $-87.9 million (2005 est.) |
| Exports: | $3.55 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products |
| Exports - partners: | US 18.6%, Brazil 15.6%, Mexico 6.9%, Argentina 6.1%, Spain 4.1%, Germany 4% (2005) |
| Imports: | $3.54 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude petroleum |
| Imports - partners: | Argentina 18.9%, Brazil 18.5%, Paraguay 14%, United States 8.6%, China 6.2% (2005) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $3.079 billion (2005 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $13.24 billion (2005 est.) |
| Currency (code): | Uruguayan peso (UYU) |
| Currency code: | UYU |
| Exchange rates: | Uruguayan pesos per United States dollar - 24.479 (2005), 28.704 (2004), 28.209 (2003), 21.257 (2002), 13.319 (2001) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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Transportations information
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| Airports: | 64 (2006) |
| Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2006) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 56 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 31 (2006) |
| Pipelines: | gas 257 km; oil 160 km (2006) |
| Railways: |
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 (2005) |
| Roadways: |
total: 77,732 km paved: 7,743 km unpaved: 69,989 km (2004) |
| Waterways: | 1,600 km (2005) |
| Merchant marine: |
total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,259 GRT/19,725 DWT by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 4 (Argentina 3, Greece 1) registered in other countries: 8 (Argentina 1, Bahamas 2, Liberia 3, Spain 2) (2006) |
| Ports and terminals: | Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Fray Bentos, Colonia, Juan Lacaze |
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Military information
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| Military branches: | Army, Navy (includes naval air arm, Marines, Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2006) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (2001) |
| Manpower available for military service: |
males age 18-49: 764,408 females age 18-49: 760,341 (2005 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 18-49: 637,445 females age 18-49: 631,046 (2005 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $371.2 million (2005 est.) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 2.1% (2005 est.) |
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Information about transnational issues
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| Disputes - international: | uncontested dispute with Brazil over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina |
