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URUGUAY

Geography

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 area: 176,220 sq km

land area: 173,620 sq km

comparative area: slightly smaller than Washington State

Land boundaries:

total: 1,564 km

border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km

Coastline: 660 km

Maritime claims:

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea: 200 nm; overflight and navigation guaranteed beyond 12 nm

International disputes: short section of boundary with Argentina is in dispute; 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: fertile soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals

Land use:

arable land: 8%

permanent crops: 0%

meadows and pastures: 78%

forest and woodland: 4%

other: 10%

Irrigated land: 1,100 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:

current issues: substantial pollution from Brazilian industry along border; one-fifth of country affected by acid rain generated by Brazil; water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal

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 in weather fronts

international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

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People

Population: 3,238,952 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24% (male 405,041; female 386,155)

15-64 years: 63% (male 1,004,089; female 1,035,336)

65 years and over: 13% (male 170,109; female 238,222) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.7% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 17.02 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 9.05 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 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.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.94 years

male: 71.8 years

female: 78.25 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.32 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Uruguayan(s)

adjective: Uruguayan

Ethnic divisions: white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%

Religions: Roman Catholic 66% (less than one-half of the adult population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other 30%

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

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

total population: 97.3%

male: 96.9%

female: 97.7%

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Government

Name of country:

conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay

conventional short form: Uruguay

local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay

local short form: Uruguay

Data code: UY

Type of government: 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:

chief of state and head of government: President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995) and Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995) were elected for five-year terms by popular vote; election last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999)

cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

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 (Camara 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, judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly

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

International organization participation: 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

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Alvaro DIEZ DE MEDINA SUAREZ

chancery: 1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20006

telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316

consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York

US diplomatic representation:

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD

embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo

mailing address: APO AA 34035

telephone: [598] (2) 23 60 61, 48 77 77

FAX: [598] (2) 48 86 11

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

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Economy

Economic 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.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $24.4 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: -2.4% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $7,600 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:

agriculture: 10.5%

industry: 27.5%

services: 62% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35.4% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 1.355 million (1991 est.)

by occupation: government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: 11% (1995)

Budget:

revenues: $3.03 billion

expenditures: $3.37 billion with capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)

Industries: meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles, footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, petroleum refining, wine

Industrial production growth rate: -19% (1995 est.)

Electricity:

capacity: 2,070,000 kW

production: 9 billion kWh

consumption per capita: 1,575 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; livestock; fishing

Exports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)

commodities: wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal products, leather, rice

partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, China, Italy

Imports: $3.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)

commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, minerals, plastics

partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Nigeria

External debt: $4.95 billion (1995)

Economic aid:

recipient: ODA, $91 million (1993)

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)

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

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Transportation

Railways:

total: 2,070 km (461 km closed; additional 460 km only partially operational)

standard gauge: 2,070 km 1.435-m gauge

Highways:

total: 49,600 km

paved: 6,656 km

unpaved: 42,944 km (1988 est.)

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

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

Merchant marine:

total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,405 GRT/110,939 DWT

ships by type: cargo 1, container 1, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:

total: 66

with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8

with paved runways under 914 m: 36

with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14 (1995 est.)

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Communications

Telephones: 451,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: some modern facilities

domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network

international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 99, FM 0, shortwave 9

Radios: 1.89 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 26

Televisions: 725,000 (1992 est.)

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Defense

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)

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