Country name conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay
former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay Background A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement, the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay"s president to agree to military control of his administration in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold throughout the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. Uruguay"s political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.Location Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil 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 Coastline 660 km 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 hazards 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 from weather fronts Environment - current issues water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal 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 Population 3,413,329 (July 2003 est.) Age structure 0-14 years: 24.3% (male 425,642; female 404,987)
15-64 years: 62.6% (male 1,057,187; female 1,079,549)
65 years and over: 13.1% (male 182,696; female 263,268) (2003 est.) Median age total: 31.8 years
male: 30.2 years
female: 33.4 years (2002) Sex ratio 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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (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) Internet country code .uy Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2003 est.) Government type constitutional republic National holiday Independence Day, 25 August (1825) Legal system based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction International organization participation ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Economy - overview Uruguay"s economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, 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 lower demand in Argentina and Brazil, which together account for nearly half of Uruguay"s exports. Total GDP in these four years dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year. Unemployment rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF and the US has limited the damage, which is still extensive. Moves to reschedule debt and promote economic recovery may help limit a further decline in output in 2003. Exports - partners Brazil 21%, Argentina 15%, US 8.1%, Germany 5.1%, Italy 4% (2002) Currency Uruguayan peso (UYU) Currency code UYU Exchange rates Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 21.26 (2002), 13.32 (2001), 12.1 (2000), 11.34 (1999), 10.47 (1998) Airports 64 (2002) Airports - with paved runways total: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 2 (2002) Airports - with unpaved runways total: 49
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 31 (2002) Disputes - international uncontested dispute with Brazil over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina |
