# Library

ABOUT REFERENCES APPENDICES FAQs CONTACT

South America :: Uruguay

- ## Introduction :: URUGUAY

- Background:
  Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century launched widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control previously held by the Colorado and Blanco parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.

- ## Geography :: URUGUAY

- 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: 176,215 sq km
  land: 175,015 sq km
  water: 1,200 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than the state of Washington
  Land boundaries:
  total: 1,591 km
  border countries (2): Argentina 541 km, Brazil 1,050 km
  Coastline:
  660 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin
  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, fish
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 87.2%
  arable land 10.1%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 76.9%
  forest: 10.2%
  other: 2.6% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  1,810 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  139 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 3.66 cu km/yr (11%/2%/87%)
  per capita: 1,101 cu m/yr (2000)
  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, 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 and Society :: URUGUAY

- Nationality:
  noun: Uruguayan(s)
  adjective: Uruguayan
  Ethnic groups:
  white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent)
  Languages:
  Spanish (official), Portunol, Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1% (2006)
  Demographic profile:
  Uruguay rates high for most development indicators and is known for its secularism, liberal social laws, and well-developed social security, health, and educational systems. It is one of the few countries in Latin America and the Caribbean where the entire population has access to clean water. Uruguay's provision of free primary through university education has contributed to the country's high levels of literacy and educational attainment. However, the emigration of human capital has diminished the state's return on its investment in education. Remittances from the roughly 18% of Uruguayans abroad amount to less than 1 percent of national GDP. The emigration of young adults and a low birth rate are causing Uruguay's population to age rapidly.
  In the 1960s, Uruguayans for the first time emigrated en masse - primarily to Argentina and Brazil - because of economic decline and the onset of more than a decade of military dictatorship. Economic crises in the early 1980s and 2002 also triggered waves of emigration, but since 2002 more than 70% of Uruguayan emigrants have selected the US and Spain as destinations because of better job prospects. Uruguay had a tiny population upon its independence in 1828 and welcomed thousands of predominantly Italian and Spanish immigrants, but the country has not experienced large influxes of new arrivals since the aftermath of World War II. More recent immigrants include Peruvians and Arabs.
  Population:
  3,341,893 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20.73% (male 352,470/female 340,275)
  15-24 years: 15.89% (male 269,034/female 262,117)
  25-54 years: 39.09% (male 644,816/female 661,635)
  55-64 years: 10.25% (male 161,190/female 181,478)
  65 years and over: 14.03% (male 187,051/female 281,827) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 55.9%
  youth dependency ratio: 33.4%
  elderly dependency ratio: 22.5%
  potential support ratio: 4.4% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 34.5 years
  male: 32.8 years
  female: 36.2 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.27% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Birth rate:
  13.07 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Death rate:
  9.45 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Net migration rate:
  -0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 95.3% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 0.53% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  MONTEVIDEO (capital) 1.707 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 8.74 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 7.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 77 years
  male: 73.86 years
  female: 80.26 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Total fertility rate:
  1.82 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Health expenditures:
  8.8% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Physicians density:
  3.74 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
  Hospital bed density:
  2.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 100% of population
  rural: 93.9% of population
  total: 99.7% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0% of population
  rural: 6.1% of population
  total: 0.3% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 96.6% of population
  rural: 92.6% of population
  total: 96.4% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 3.4% of population
  rural: 7.4% of population
  total: 3.6% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.7% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  14,400 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  600 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  27.6% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  4.5% (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Education expenditures:
  4.4% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98.5%
  male: 98.2%
  female: 98.8% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 16 years
  male: 14 years
  female: 17 years (2010)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 51,879
  percentage: 7% (2006 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 18.5%
  male: 14.7%
  female: 23.6% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61

- ## Government :: URUGUAY

- 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 51 S, 56 10 W
  time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  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:
  several previous; latest approved by plebiscite 27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967; amended several times, last in 2004 (2013)
  Legal system:
  civil law system based on the Spanish civil code
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ (since 1 March 2015); Vice President Raul Fernando SENDIC Rodriguez (since 1 March 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ (since 1 March 2015); Vice President Raul Fernando SENDIC Rodriguez (since 1 March 2015)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the General Assembly
  elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for nonconsecutive terms); election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held on 26 October 2014, and a runoff if needed on 30 November 2014)
  election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ (Socialist Party) 56.5%, Luis Alberto LACALLE Pou (Blanco) 43.4%
  Legislative branch:
  description: bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (31 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; the vice-president serves as the presiding ex-officio member; elected members serve 5-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
  elections: Chamber of Senators - last held on 26 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 26 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019)
  election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Frente Amplio 15, Blanco 10, Colorado Party 4, Independent Party 1; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Frente Amplio 50, Blanco 32, Colorado Party 13, Independent Party 3, Popular Assembly 1
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 5 judges)
  judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the president and appointed in joint conference of the General Assembly; judges appointed for 10-year terms, with reelection after a lapse of 5 years following the previous term
  subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; District Courts (Juzagados Letrados); Peace Courts (Juzagados de Paz); Rural Courts (Juzgados Rurales)
  Political parties and leaders:
  Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or EP-FA [Monica XAVIER] (a broad governing coalition that includes Liber Seregni Front (FLS) [Danilo ASTORI], Socialist Party [Monica XAVIER], Artigas Wing [Mariano ARANA], Christian Democratic Party [Juan Andres ROBALLO], Popular Participation Movement (MPP) [Jose MUJICA], Broad Front Commitment [Raul SENDIC], Action and Thought Current-Freedom (CAP-L) [Eleuterio FERNADEZ HUIDOBRO], Big House [Constanza MOREIRA], Communist Party [Marcos CARAMBULA], The Federal League
  Colorado Party (including Vamos Uruguay [Pedro Bordaberry] and Propuesta Batllista [Jorge AMORIN BATLLE])
  Independent Party [Pablo MIERES]
  National Party or Blanco (including All Forward [Luis LACALLE POU] and National Alliance [Jorge LARRANAGA])
  Popular Assembly [Gonzalo ABELLA]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  B'nai Brith
  Catholic Church
  Chamber of Commerce and Export of Agriproducts
  Chamber of Industries (manufacturer's association)
  Exporters Union of Uruguay
  National Chamber of Commerce and Services
  PIT/CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan Unions - umbrella labor organization)
  Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association)
  Uruguayan Network of Political Women
  other: students
  International organization participation:
  CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Juan Carlos PITA Alvariza (since 3 August 2015)
  chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
  telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313
  FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Brad FREDEN (since 10 December 2014)
  embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
  mailing address: APO AA 34035
  telephone: [598] (2) 1770-2000
  FAX: [598] (2) 1770-2128
  Flag description:
  nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; 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; the stripes represent the nine original departments of Uruguay; the sun symbol evokes the legend of the sun breaking through the clouds on 25 May 1810 as independence was first declared from Spain (Uruguay subsequently won its independence from Brazil); the sun features are said to represent those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun
  note: the banner was inspired by the national colors of Argentina and by the design of the US flag
  National symbol(s):
  Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol); national colors: blue, white, yellow
  National anthem:
  name: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem of Uruguay)
  lyrics/music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Francisco Jose DEBALI
  note: adopted 1848; the anthem is also known as "Orientales, la Patria o la tumba!" ("Uruguayans, the Fatherland or Death!"); it is the world's longest national anthem in terms of music (105 bars; almost five minutes); generally only the first verse and chorus are sung

- ## Economy :: URUGUAY

- Economy - overview:
  Uruguay has a free market economy characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated work force, and high levels of social spending. Following financial difficulties in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Uruguay's economic growth averaged 8% annually during the period 2004-08. The 2008-09 global financial crisis put a brake on Uruguay's vigorous growth, which decelerated to 2.6% in 2009. Nevertheless, the country managed to avoid a recession and keep positive growth rates, mainly through higher public expenditure and investment; GDP growth reached 8.9% in 2010 but slowed in 2012-13 as a result of a renewed slowdown in the global economy and in Uruguay's main trade partners and Common Market of the South (Mercosur) counterparts, Argentina and Brazil. Uruguay has sought to expand trade within Mercosur and with non-Mercosur members, and President VAZQUEZ has said he will maintain his predecessor’s mix of pro-market policies and a strong social safety net.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $69.98 billion (2014 est.)
  $67.73 billion (2013 est.)
  $64.88 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 95
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $55.14 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.3% (2014 est.)
  4.4% (2013 est.)
  3.7% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $20,600 (2014 est.)
  $19,900 (2013 est.)
  $19,100 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Gross national saving:
  17.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  18.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
  18.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 66.1%
  government consumption: 14%
  investment in fixed capital: 22.9%
  investment in inventories: 0.7%
  exports of goods and services: 24.2%
  imports of goods and services: -28%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 7.5%
  industry: 20.4%
  services: 72.1% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  soybeans, rice, wheat; beef, dairy products; fish; lumber, cellulose
  Industries:
  food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
  Industrial production growth rate:
  1.8% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Labor force:
  1.712 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 13%
  industry: 14%
  services: 73% (2010 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  6.5% (2014 est.)
  6.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Population below poverty line:
  18.6% (2010 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 1.9%
  highest 10%: 34.4% (2010 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  45.3 (2010)
  44.8 (1999)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Budget:
  revenues: $16.8 billion
  expenditures: $18.71 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  30.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -3.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Public debt:
  64.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  62.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
  note: data cover general government debt, and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions.
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8.9% (2014 est.)
  8.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Central bank discount rate:
  9% (31 December 2012)
  8.75% (31 December 2011)
  note: Uruguay's central bank uses the benchmark interest rate, rather than the discount rate, to conduct monetary policy; the rates shown here are the benchmark rates
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  15.7% (31 December 2014 est.)
  12.44% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Stock of narrow money:
  $5.201 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $5.455 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Stock of broad money:
  $8.568 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $8.919 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $19.82 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $19.48 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $175.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)
  $174.6 million (31 December 2011)
  $156.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Current account balance:
  -$2.615 billion (2014 est.)
  -$3.144 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Exports:
  $11 billion (2014 est.)
  $10.29 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Exports - commodities:
  beef, soybeans, cellulose, rice, wheat, wood, dairy products; wool
  Exports - partners:
  China 22.4%, Brazil 17.9%, Argentina 6.3%, Venezuela 5% (2014)
  Imports:
  $12.05 billion (2014 est.)
  $11.6 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Imports - commodities:
  refined oil, crude oil, passenger and other transportation vehicles, vehicle parts, cellular phones
  Imports - partners:
  Brazil 20.3%, China 16.9%, Argentina 13.1%, US 10.2%, Venezuela 4.6% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $17.96 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $16.28 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Debt - external:
  $17.54 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $16.27 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $23.41 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $20.59 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $411.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $376.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Exchange rates:
  Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar -
  23.18 (2014 est.)
  20.482 (2013 est.)
  20.31 (2012 est.)
  19.314 (2011 est.)
  20.059 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: URUGUAY

- Electricity - production:
  10.16 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Electricity - consumption:
  9.333 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Electricity - exports:
  194 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 77
  Electricity - imports:
  742 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  2.707 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  41.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  56.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  1.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Crude oil - production:
  400 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Crude oil - imports:
  38,680 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 202
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  43,440 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  49,140 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  4,656 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  16,420 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 203
  Natural gas - consumption:
  60 million cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Natural gas - imports:
  60 million cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 203
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  7.591 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113

- ## Communications :: URUGUAY

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 1.08 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 5.5 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 165 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: fully digitalized
  domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity has reached 170 telephones per 100 persons
  international: country code - 598; the UNISOR submarine cable system provides direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  mixture of privately owned and state-run broadcast media; more than 100 commercial radio stations and about 20 TV channels; cable TV is available; many community radio and TV stations; adopted the hybrid Japanese/Brazilian HDTV standard (ISDB-T) in December 2010 (2010)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 93, FM 191, shortwave 7 (2005)
  Television broadcast stations:
  62 (2005)
  Internet country code:
  .uy
  Internet users:
  total: 2 million
  percent of population: 59.0% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99

- ## Transportation :: URUGUAY

- Airports:
  133 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 11
  over 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
  914 to 1,523 m: 4
  under 914 m: 2 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 122
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 40
  under 914 m:
  79 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 257 km; oil 160 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 1,641 km
  standard gauge: 1,641 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 77
  Roadways:
  total: 77,732 km
  paved: 7,743 km
  unpaved: 69,989 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Waterways:
  1,600 km (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Merchant marine:
  total: 16
  by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1
  foreign-owned: 8 (Argentina 1, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Spain 5)
  registered in other countries: 1 (Liberia 1) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Montevideo

- ## Military :: URUGUAY

- Military branches:
  Uruguayan Armed Forces: Uruguayan National Army (Ejercito Nacional Uruguaya, ENU), Uruguayan National Navy (Armada Nacional del Uruguay; includes naval air arm, Naval Rifle Corps (Cuerpo de Fusileros Navales, Fusna), Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Uruguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2012)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18-30 years of age (18-22 years of age for navy) for male or female voluntary military service; up to 40 years of age for specialists; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies; minimum 6-year education (2013)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 771,159
  females age 16-49: 780,932 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 649,025
  females age 16-49: 654,903 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 27,564
  female: 26,811 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.95% of GDP (2012)
  1.94% of GDP (2011)
  1.95% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 42

- ## Transnational Issues :: URUGUAY

- Disputes - international:
  in 2010, the ICJ ruled in favor of Uruguay's operation of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina; the two countries formed a joint pollution monitoring regime; uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border
  Trafficking in persons:
  current situation: Uruguay is a source country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking and, to a lesser extent, a transit and destination country for men, women, and children exploited in forced labor and sex trafficking; most victims are women and girls exploited in sex trafficking domestically; some Uruguayan women lured by fraudulent job employment offers in Spain, Italy, and Argentina are forced into prostitution; foreign workers in domestic service, agriculture, and lumber processing are vulnerable to forced labor in Uruguay; some human trafficking cases are reportedly linked to international crime rings
  tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Uruguay does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; authorities investigated and prosecuted several trafficking cases in 2013 but reported no convictions; limited anti-trafficking data makes it difficult to assess law enforcement efforts; the government provides limited services to human trafficking victims outside the capital and to forced labor victims; two public awareness campaigns were launched with foreign funding in 2013 (2014)
  Illicit drugs:
  small-scale transit country for drugs mainly bound for Europe, often through sea-borne containers; law enforcement corruption; money laundering because of strict banking secrecy laws; weak border control along Brazilian frontier; increasing consumption of cocaine base and synthetic drugs

GO TOP