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 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.

Map reference: South America

Area
Total area total: 176,220 km²
Land: 173,620 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Washington State

Land boundaries: total 1,564 km, 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

Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Natural resources: 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 km² (1989 est.)

Population: 3,222,716 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 0.74% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Uruguayan(s)
Adjective: Uruguayan

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

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

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 25% (female 392,262; male 409,580)
15-64 years: 63% (female 1,026,314; male 995,492)
65 years and over: 12% (female 233,377; male 165,691) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.74% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 17.57 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 9.27 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.93 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 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
Current issues 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
Current issues 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

Infant mortality rate: 16.3 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.46 years
Male: 71.24 years
Female: 77.83 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.41 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Total population: 96%
Male: 97%
Female: 96%

Country name
Conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Conventional short form: Uruguay
Local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
Local short form: 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

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); Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995); election last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; 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 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

International organization participation: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MERCOSUR, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo MACGILLYCUDDY
In the us chancery: 1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20,006
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
In the us consulates general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
In the us consulates: New Orleans
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD
From the us embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
From the us mailing address: APO AA 34,035
From the us telephone: [598] (2) 23 60 61, 48 77 77
From the us FAX: [598] (2) 48 86 11

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

Economy overview: Uruguay's economy is a small one with favorable climate, good soils, and substantial hydropower potential. Economic development has been restrained in recent years by excessive government regulation of economic detail and 40% to 130% inflation. Although the GDP growth rate slowed in 1993 to 1.7%, following a healthy expansion to 7.5% in 1992, it rebounded in 1994 to an estimated 4%, spurred mostly by increasing agricultural and other exports and a surprise reversal of the downward trend in industrial production. In a major step toward regional economic cooperation, Uruguay confirmed its commitment to the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR) customs union by implementing MERCOSUR's common external tariff on most tradables on 1 January 1995. Inflation in 1994 declined for the third consecutive year, yet, at 44%, it remains the highest in the region; analysts predict that the expanding fiscal deficit and wage indexation will force the inflation rate back toward the 50% mark in 1995.

Real gdp growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $7,200 (1994 est.)

Agriculture products: accounts for 12% of GDP; large areas devoted to livestock grazing; wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; fishing; self-sufficient in most basic foodstuffs

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

Industrial production growth rate: 3.9% (1992; accounts for 28% of GDP

Labor force: 1.355 million (1991 est.)
By occupation government: 25%
By occupation manufacturing: 19%
By occupation agriculture: 11%
By occupation commerce: 12%
By occupation utilities construction transport and communications: 12%
By occupation other services: 21% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: 9% (1994 est.)

Budget
Revenues: $2.9 billion
Expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $388 million (1991 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $1.78 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
Commodoties: wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal products, leather, rice
Partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, China, Italy

Imports: $2.461 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
Commodoties: machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, minerals, plastics
Partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Nigeria

Debt external: $4.2 billion (1993)

Exchange rates: Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1 - 5.6 (January 1995), 4.4710 (January 1994), 3.9484 (1993), 3.0270 (1992), 2.0188 (1991), 1.1710 (1990)
Note: on 1 March 1993 the former New Peso (N$Ur) was replaced as Uruguay's unit of currency by the Peso which is equal to 1,000 of the New Pesos

Electricity
Capacity: 2,070,000 kW
Production: 9 billion kWh
Production consumption per capita: 1,575 kWh (1993)

Telephone system: 337,000 telephones; telephone density 10/100 persons; some modern facilities
Local: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo
Intercity: new nationwide microwave network
International: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $216 million, 2.3% of GDP (1991 est.)

Airports: 85
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 8
With paved runways under 914 m: 54
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2438 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 14

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

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

Disputes 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 (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