Statistical information Uruguay 1989

Uruguay in the World
top of pageBackground: 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 the end of the year the rebels had been crushed but the military continued to expand its hold throughout the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. Uruguay has long had one of South America's highest standards of living; its political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries:
1,564 km total
Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
Coastline: 660 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Territorial sea: 200 nm (overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nm)
Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
ElevationNatural resources: soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals
Land use: 8% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 78% meadows and pastures; 4% forest and woodland; 10% other; includes 1% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 2,988,813 (July 1989), growth rate 0.4% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Uruguayan(s; adjective - Uruguayan
Ethnic groups: 88% white, 8% mestizo, 4% black
Languages: Spanish
Religions: 66% Roman Catholic (less than half adult population attends church regularly), 2% Protestant, 2% Jewish, 30% nonprofessing or other
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 17 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 10 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: - 2 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subject to seasonally high winds, droughts, floods
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 34 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 75 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 94%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Government 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
Dependent areasIndependence: 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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal over age 18
Executive branchLegislative branch: Army, Navy, Air Force
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: CCC, FAO, G-77, GATT, Group of Eight, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDB - Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IRC, ITU, LAIA, OAS, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Hector LUISI; Chancery at 1918 F Street NW, Washington DC 20,006; telephone (202) 331-1313 through 1316; there are Uruguayan Consulates General in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York, and a Consulate in New Orleans; US - Ambassador Malcolm R. WILKEY; Embassy at Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo (mailing address is APO Miami 34,035; telephone Õ598å (2) 40-90-51
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 and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy is slowly recovering from the deep recession of 1981-84. In 1986 real GDP grew by 6.6% and by 4.9% in 1987. The recovery was led by growth in the agriculture and fishing sectors, agriculture alone contributing 20% to GDP, employing about 20% of the labor force, and generating a large proportion of export earnings. Raising livestock, particularly cattle and sheep, is the major agricultural activity. In 1988, despite healthy exports and an improved current account, domestic growth slowed because of government concentration on the external sector, adverse weather conditions, and prolonged strikes. High inflation rates of nearly 70%, a large domestic debt, and frequent strikes remain major economic problems for the government.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: large areas devoted to extensive livestock grazing; wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; self-sufficient in most basic foodstuffs
Industries: meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles, footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, fishing, petroleum refining, wine
Industrial production growth rate: 1.5% (1988 est.)
Labor force: 1,300,000; 25% government, 19% manufacturing, 11% agriculture, 12% commerce, 12% utilities, construction, transport, and communications, 21% other services (1988 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.0% (1988 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $93.3 million (1987)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
Commodities: hides and leather goods 17%, beef 10%, wool 9%, fish 7%, rice 4%
Partners: Brazil 17%, US 15%, FRG 10%, Argentina 10% (1987)
Imports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
Commodities: fuels and lubricants 15%, metals, machinery, transportation equipment, industrial chemicals
Partners: Brazil 24%, Argentina 14%, US 8%, FRG 8% (1987)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $6 billion (1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: new Uruguayan pesos (N$Ur) per US$1 - 460.68 (January 1989), 359.39 (1988), 226.67 (1987), 151.99 (1986), 101.43 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 1,889,000 kW capacity; 4,204 million kWh produced, 1,410 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: NA
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 95 total, 92 usable; 16 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft
Merchant marine: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 70,499 GRT/123,229 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 3 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 container; note - in addition, 2 naval tankers are sometimes used commercially
Ports and terminalsUruguay - Transnational issues 1989
top of pageDisputes international: short section of boundary with Argentina is in dispute; two short sections of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute (Arroyo de la Invernada area of the Rio Quarai and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Quarai and the Uruguay)
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs