FLAG: The flag, approved in 1830, has four azure blue horizontal stripes on a white background; on a white canton is a golden sun, alternately straight and wavy. This “Sun of May” symbolizes Uruguay’s independence.

ANTHEM: Himno Nacional, which begins “Orientales, la patria o la tumba” (“Easterners [Uruguayans], our country or death”).

MONETARY UNIT: The Uruguayan peso (up), of 100 centésimos replaced the new peso in 1993 at the rate of up1 = 1,000 new pesos. There are coins of 10, 20, and 50 centésimos and 1, 2, 5, and 10 new pesos, and notes of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 Uruguayan pesos. up1 = $0.04023 ($1 = up24.86) as of 2005.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is the legal standard, but some traditional measures also are used.

HOLIDAYS: New Year’s Day, 1 January; Epiphany, 6 January; Landing of the 33, 19 April; Labor Day, 1 May; Battle of Las Piedras, 18 May; Birthday of Artigas, 19 June; Constitution Day, 18 July; Independence Day, 25 August; Columbus Day, 12 October; All Souls’ Day, 2 November; Blessing of the Waters, 8 December; Christmas Day, 25 December.

TIME: 9 am = noon GMT.

1 Location and Size

The second-smallest South American country, Uruguay is located in the southeastern part of the continent. It has an area of 176,220 square kilometers (68,039 square miles), slightly smaller than the state of Washington. The country shares borders with Brazil and Argentina, with a total land boundary length of 1,564 kilometers (972 miles) and a coastline (Atlantic Ocean) of 660 kilometers (410 miles). Uruguay’s capital city, Montevideo, is located in the southern part of the country on the Atlantic coast.

2 Topography

Southern Uruguay consists mostly of rolling plains and is an eastward extension of the Argentine pampas. The Atlantic coastline is fringed with tidal lakes and sand dunes. Low,

GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Geographic Features

Area: 176,220 sq km (68,039 sq mi)

Size ranking: 88 of 194

Highest elevation: 514 meters (1,686 feet) at Mount Catedral (Cerro Catedral)

Lowest elevation: Sea level at the Atlantic Ocean

Land Use*

Arable land: 8%

Permanent crops: 0%

Other: 92%

Weather**

Average annual precipitation: 109 centimeters (43 inches)

Average temperature in January: 25°c (77°f)

Average temperature in July: 15°c (59°f)

* Arable Land: Land used for temporary crops, like meadows for mowing or pasture, gardens, and greenhouses.

Permanent crops: Land cultivated with crops that occupy its use for long periods, such as cocoa, coffee, rubber, fruit and nut orchards, and vineyards.

Other: Any land not specified, including built-on areas, roads, and barren land.

** The measurements for precipitation and average temperatures were taken at weather stations closest to the country’s largest city.

Precipitation and average temperature can vary significantly within a country, due to factors such as latitude, altitude, coastal proximity, and wind patterns.

unbroken stretches of level land line the banks of the two border rivers, the Uruguay and the Plata. The Uruguay is the nation’s longest river, with a total length of 1,610 kilometers (1,000 miles).

The northern section is broken by occasional ridges and low ranges (cuchillas), alternating with broad valleys, and is a southern extension of Brazil. The highest point in the country, Catedral, is 514 meters (1,686 feet) above sea level. The lowest point is at sea level (Atlantic Ocean).

The most noteworthy feature of the northwest landscape are the Haedo Hills. The Grande Range runs northeastward from the southern region to the Brazilian border. The Negro River, which rises in Brazil, crosses Uruguayan territory and flows into the Uruguay River, which separates Uruguay from Argentina. The largest lake in the country is the manmade Embalse del Río Negro, created by a dam on the Negro River. With a total area of about 10,360 square kilometers (4,000 square miles), it is the largest artificial lake in South America.

3 Climate

The climate is temperate; the average temperatures are 15°c (59°f) in July and 25°c (77°f) in January. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year; it averages about 109 centimeters (43 inches), varying from 97 centimeters (38 inches) in Montevideo to nearly 127 centimeters (50 inches) farther north. There are between 120 and 180 sunny days a year. Frost is virtually unknown.

4 Plants and Animals

Uruguay is primarily a grass-growing land, and the vegetation is essentially a continuation of the Argentine pampas (grass-covered plain). Forest areas are relatively small. The most useful hardwoods are algarobo, guayabo, quebracho, and urunday; other hardwoods include arazá, coronilla, espinillo, lapacho, lignum vitae, and nandubay. The acacia, alder, aloe, eucalyptus (imported from Australia), ombú, poplar, and willow are common softwoods. Palms are native to the valleys. Rosemary, myrtle, scarlet-flowered ceibo, and mimosa are common. Most of the valleys are covered with aromatic shrubs, and the rolling hills are blanketed with white and scarlet verbena.

Large animals have practically disappeared from the eastern regions. The carpincho (water hog), fox, deer, nutria, otter, and small armadillo roam the northern foothills. On the pampas are the hornero (ovenbird), quail, partridge, and crow. The avestruz (a small ostrich similar to the Argentine rhea), swan, and royal duck are found at lagoons.

Fish include pompano, salmon, and corvina. The principal reptiles are cross vipers and tortoises. Seals are found on Lobos Island, near Maldonado.

5 Environment

Air and water pollution are environmental concerns in Uruguay. Air pollution, which is worse in the larger population centers, is caused primarily by Uruguay’s own industries and by an energy plant in neighboring Brazil. Water pollution from mining and industrial sources threatens the nation’s water supply, especially pollution from the meat packing and tannery industry. Natural hazards to the environment include drought, flooding, and fires. Erosion of the soil affects the nation’s agricultural productivity.

According to a 2006 report, 6 types of mammals, 24 species of birds, 3 types of reptile, 4 species of amphibians, 11 species of fish, 1 species of

invertebrate and 1 species of plant were endangered. Endangered species included the tundra peregrine falcon, two species of turtle (green sea and leatherback), and two species of crocodile (spectacled caiman and broad-nosed caiman). The glaucous macaw has become extinct.

6 Population

According to 2005 estimates, the population of Uruguay was estimated at 3.4 million, and the projection for the year 2025 was 3.8 million. In 2005, an estimated 93% of the population lived in urban areas. The population of the capital city Montevideo in 2005 was estimated at 1.3 million. The estimated population density was 20 persons per square kilometer (50 per square mile).

7 Migration

The basic source countries of immigration to Uruguay were Spain and Italy. English, French, German, Slavic, and Swiss immigrants have also settled in the various departments (provinces). In the 1930s, restrictions were placed on immigration, and the importation of seasonal farm workers was stopped. As of 2000, Uruguay had 89,000 migrants. In 2004, there were 97 refugees and 10 asylum seekers in Uruguay. The estimated net migration rate in 2005 was -0.28 migrants per 1,000 population.

8 Ethnic Groups

The inhabitants of Uruguay are primarily (about 88%) white and of European origin, mostly Spanish and Italian. A small percentage is descended from Portuguese, English, and other Europeans. Mestizos (mixed white and Amerindian lineage) represent 8% of the population, and blacks and mulattoes (mixed black and white) about 4%.

9 Languages

Spanish is the official language. Uruguayan Spanish, like Argentine Spanish, has been somewhat modified by the Italians who migrated in large numbers to both countries. In general, the language of Uruguay is softer than that of Castile and some words are different from those commonly used in Spain. The gauchos have influenced the language, particularly in words dealing with their way of life. Brazilero, a Portuguese-Spanish mix, is spoken on the Brazilian frontier.

10 Religions

Uruguay is the only Latin American nation with significant religious pluralism. About 58% of Uruguayans identify themselves as Roman Catholic. Approximately 9% of the population are Protestants or members of other Christian denominations. About 30,000 people of the Jewish faith reside in Uruguay. As many as 30% are members of other religions or profess no religious faith whatsoever. Primary Protestant denominations include Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, and Baptists. Others include Pentecostals, Mennonites, Eastern Orthodox, Mormons, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. There are small communities of Muslims and Baha’is. In a 1998 poll, 13% of the population claimed to be atheist or agnostic. About 6% claimed to practice animism (spirit worship).

11 Transportation

Four main lines connect the western and northern areas with Montevideo. In 2004, there were 2,073 kilometers (1,287 miles) of railroad track, all of it standard gauge and government-owned.

Highways have surpassed railroads as the principal means of transport for passengers and freight. In 2002, there were an estimated 8,764 kilometers (5,446 miles) of roads, of which 7,800 kilometers (4,847 miles) were paved. In 2003, there were 669,700 motor vehicles, of which 547,800 were passenger cars and 121,900 were commercial vehicles.

Montevideo is the major Uruguayan port. There are some 1,600 kilometers (994 miles) of inland waterways, of which the most important are the Río de la Plata and the Uruguay. In 2005, Uruguay’s merchant marine consisted of 11 vessels of 1,000 gross registered tons (GRT) or more for a total of 10,918 GRT. Carrasco, an airport outside Montevideo, is used by most international carriers. In 2003, scheduled domestic and international airline flights carried about 464,000 passengers.

12 History

In the 16th century, the native Charrúa Indians drove off the few Spanish expeditions that landed on the east bank of the Uruguay River. By 1680, when Portuguese settlers from Brazil founded Colonia do Sacramento as a rival to Buenos Aires, Uruguay became a focal point for Spanish-Portuguese rivalry.

Montevideo was founded in 1726, and Uruguay became part of the viceroyalty of La Plata, which the Spaniards established in Buenos Aires in 1776. During the Napoleonic Wars (1803–15), the British invaded the region of La Plata and captured Buenos Aires and Montevideo (1806–07), but they were forced out in 1807. After Buenos Aires refused to give Uruguay autonomy, the Uruguayan national hero, José Gervasio Artigas, declared Uruguay independent in 1815. A year later, Brazilians attacked Montevideo from the north, and, after four years of fighting, Uruguay was annexed to Brazil in 1821.

On 25 August 1825, Juan Antonio Lavalleja issued a declaration of independence. After a three-year fight, a peace treaty was signed on 28 August 1828 that guaranteed Uruguay’s independence. During the following period of political turmoil and civil war, the two political parties around which Uruguayan history has traditionally revolved, the Colorados (reds) and the Blancos (whites), were founded.

The 19th century was largely a struggle between the two factions. Some measure of national unity was achieved in the 1860s. In 1865, Uruguay formed an alliance with Brazil and Argentina to defeat Paraguay in the Paraguayan War (1865–70), also known as the War of the Triple Alliance. The administrations of José Batlle y Ordóñez (1903–07, 1911–15) marked the nation’s period of greatest progress. Batlle initiated Uruguay’s famed social welfare system, funded primarily using the export earnings of beef and wool.

After World War II (1939–45), the Colorados ruled, except for an eight-year period from 1958 to 1966. During the administration of President Jorge Pacheco Areco (1967–72), Uruguay entered a period of crisis. Economic and political instability stemming from the decline of wool revenues resulted in the emergence of Uruguay’s National Liberation Movement, popularly known as the Tupamaros. A well-organized Marxist (communist) guerrilla movement, the Tupamaros mounted a campaign of kidnapping, assassination, and bank robbery.

Their activities, coupled with the worsening economic situation, aggravated Uruguay’s political uncertainty. Gradually, the military assumed a greater role in government, and by 1973 it had assumed control of the system, crushing the Tupamaros by the end of that year. The military retained control of the country until 1981, suspending the constitution. In 1976 it named a new president, Aparicio Méndez Manfredini. In 1979, Amnesty International estimated the number of political prisoners at 6,000.

In September 1981, a “transitional” president, Georgio Álvarez Armellino, was installed, and the moderate government of Colorado candidate Julio María Sanguinetti Cairolo took office in March 1985.

The new government released all political prisoners, declared amnesty for former military and police leaders, and initiated talks between employers and union leaders to reduce social tension. Despite these efforts, slow progress on the economic front led to the 1989 election of the Blanco candidate, Luis Alberto Lacalle. Lacalle emphasized deficit reduction; reforms in education, labor, and the civil service; and the return of state enterprises to private ownership. His plans were dealt a serious blow in a 1993 election, however, when the public failed to ratify a set of proposals for liberalization. In 1994, Sanguinetti was returned to office in the closest election in Uruguay’s history. His administration began a program of economic reforms, including a long-range plan for cutting back on the government’s generous social security payments.

In the 1999 elections, Jorge Batlle won the runoff in November, calling for a conservative fiscal course. His plan should leave most state-owned companies untouched, despite an 11% unemployment rate in 2000.

The economy suffered a recession in 2001 and grew only slightly in 2002. Although unemployment had remained high over recent years, less than 10% of the population lived in poverty. As of April 2004, Batlle had been unsuccessful in creating sustained economic growth and restoring dynamism to his country’s economy.

In the 2004 election, the leftist former mayor of Montevideo and Broad Front candidate, Tabare Vazquez Rosas, was elected to the presidency. In addition, the Broad Front also won outright majorities in the Senate and in the Chamber of Deputies. The election marked the first time in Uruguay’s history that a political party other than the Colorado or the Blanco would rule the country. Also, the Broad Front’s majorities in both houses of the legislature also allowed for needed reforms to be implemented that would end the years of economic stagnation and recession.

During President Vazquez’ first year in office, the nation’s economy grew by 6%, driven mainly by recoveries in the economies of Brazil and Argentina. However, long-term structural problems, coupled with a lack of opportunities for the private sector continued, although Vazquez adopted a pragmatic approach to governing. Politically, Uruguay remains one of the most stable democracies in the region. Its relatively low level of economic inequality and highly educated workforce holds the potential for real economic growth and reform. Uruguay’s next presidential election were scheduled for October 2009.

13 Government

According to the constitutional revision of 1966, the Congress (or General Assembly) consisted of the 30-member Senate and the 99-member Chamber of Deputies. From June 1973 until March 1985, Uruguay was ruled by executive decree, subject to veto by the military, with legislative functions carried out by the 25-member Council of State, appointed by the executive.

In March 1985, democracy was restored under President Sanguinetti. In July of that year, the government set up a National Constituent Assembly to devise constitutional reforms that would be submitted to the electorate for ratification. However, in the elections of November 1994, the proposed reform of 14 articles of the constitution was rejected by 63% of the voters.

Direct democracy provisions, in the form of referendums and legislative proposals initiated by citizens, are widely practiced in Uruguay.

Uruguay is divided into 19 departments (provinces).

14 Political Parties

Uruguay has Latin America’s oldest two-party system. The Colorados (reds) and Blancos (whites), formed during the conflicts of the 1830s and 1840s, persisted into the 1990s. The Colorados are traditional Latin American liberals, representing urban business interests and favoring limitation on the power of the Catholic Church. The Blancos (officially called the National Party) are conservatives, defenders of large landowners and the Church. However, in the early 1970s, a leftist

BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Name: Tabare Vazquez Rosas

Position: President of a republic

Took Office: 1 March 2005

Birthplace: La Teja, Montevideo, Uruguay

Birthdate: 17 January 1940

Education: Medical degree with a specialization in oncology from the Universidad de la Republica

Spouse: María Auxiliadora Delgado

Children: Three biological children and one adopted child

third party, known as the Broad Front (Frente Amplio) appeared to challenge the Colorado and Blanco parties.

In the presidential election of 2004, the Broad Front candidate won the presidency, as well as clear majorities in both houses of the national legislature.

15 Judicial System

Subordinate to the Supreme Court are appeals courts and lower civil and criminal courts, justices of the peace, electoral and administrative courts, and an accounts court. A parallel military court system operates under its own judicial procedure. When the Supreme Court hears cases involving the military, two military justices join the court. Civilians are tried in the military court only in time of war or insurrection.

16 Armed Forces

The armed forces numbered 24,000 active personnel in 2005. The army numbered 15,200 personnel, while the navy had 5,700 active members, including a naval air arm and a naval infantry force. The air force had 3,100 personnel. The defense budget in 2005 totaled $163 million.

17 Economy

Historically, Uruguay’s economy has been based on the production and processing of agricultural commodities. However, in 2005, the services sector accounted for 60% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Agriculture, especially livestock, is still important in making products for export as well as providing raw material for other sectors of the economy.

Since 1990, the government has emphasized a free-market economy. The government has lowered tariffs, reduced deficit spending, controlled inflation, reduced the size of government, and entered into the Mercosur free-trade zone with some other South American nations. However, the nation’s economy remains a mixture of private and government owned enterprises.

From 1999 to 2003, however, the economy suffered a worse decline than that of the early 1980s. The Brazilian currency devaluation of January 1999 hurt both Uruguay’s exports and its income from tourism. In 2000, the recession eased to 1% of GDP, as the government pursued free-market reforms supported by loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In 2001, however, a local outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease damaged meat exports. This reduction, combined with the Argentine financial crisis, the global economic slowdown, and the after-effects of the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001, shrunk the economy by 2.5%. In 2002, the real decline in GDP reached 10.8%. In August 2002, the U.S. government announced it was providing $1.5 billion in short-term loans to Uruguay.

In 2003, Uruguay’s economy showed signs of reviving with a 2.5% increase in GDP. In 2004, GDP grew by 10% and by 6.2% in 2005.

Yearly Growth Rate

This economic indicator tells by what percent the economy has increased or decreased when compared with the previous year.

18 Income

In 2005, the Uruguay’s gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at $32.9 billion, or about $10,000 per person. The annual growth rate of GDP that year was estimated at 6.2%. The average inflation rate in 2002 was 4.9%.

19 Industry

Although foreign trade depends mainly on agricultural production, the production of industrial goods for domestic consumption is increasing, primarily in textiles, tires, shoes, leather apparel, petroleum refining, cement, and wine. World War II (1939–45) spurred the industrial growth of Uruguay, and now local manufacturers supplies most of the consumer products used. Most industry is concentrated in and around Montevideo. Manufacturing output fell by an average of 0.1% per year during 1988–98.

Components of the Economy

This pie chart shows how much of the country’s economy is devoted to agriculture (including forestry, hunting, and fishing), industry, or services.

Growth in the late 1990s was led by oil refining, car production, and food production.

A recession that began in 1999 and continued into 2003 hindered industrial growth. Sectors showing production decreases included textiles, vehicles, machinery, chemicals, paper, processed meat, and sugar. The construction sector registered a considerable decline in 2001. Industry as a whole accounted for 31% of GDP in 2004.

20 Labor

The labor force was estimated at 1.52 million in 2005. In 2003, services accounted for 73.9% of the workforce, industry 21.5%, and agriculture at 4%. The remainder were in undefined occupations. The unemployment rate in 2005 was estimated at 12%.

In 2002 more than 80% of the public sector workforce was unionized, with the number of union members in private industry at around 5%. The 8-hour day and 48-hour workweek were instituted in 1915. Unemployment and dismissal compensation, old-age and liability

pensions, workers’ accident compensation, and family allowances are provided by law. The minimum wage was $80 per month in 2002, but most workers earn more than this minimum. The minimum working age is 15 years, and it is generally enforced, although the number of children working informally is increasing.

21 Agriculture

Agriculture and animal husbandry accounted for 9% of Uruguay’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2005. About 8% of the land area is devoted to the cultivation of crops, which are grown mainly on small farms. The principal crops in 2004 (with annual harvest totals) were rice (1.2 million tons), wheat (532,000 tons), barley (406,000 tons), corn (223,000 tons), sorghum (70,000 tons), sunflower seeds (177,000 tons), oats (26,000 tons), apples (72,000 tons), and peaches (14,000 tons).

22 Domesticated Animals

Livestock is the basis of the economy. The production costs of stock raising are low and the quality of the product is generally high. Hereford, Shorthorn, and Aberdeen Angus breeds account for 90% of all beef cattle, with Hereford the most numerous. Corriedale represents about 70% of the sheep stock, followed by Ideal (11%;). Uruguay is especially suited to the raising of sheep and cattle.

In 2005, Uruguay had about 9.7 million sheep, second in South America after Brazil. There were also 11.7 million head of cattle, 380,000 horses, 240,000 pigs, 16,000 goats, and 13.3 million chickens. Milk production reached 1.5 million tons in 2005. The main dairy products exported are cheese, whole and nonfat dry milk, and butter. Meat production in 2005 included 496,000 tons of beef and 26,500 tons of mutton. Beef consumption in Uruguay was about 60 kilograms (132 pounds) per person in 1998, one of the highest rates in the world. Leading exports of animals and animal products in 2004 were meat products, earning $670.9 million; dairy and eggs, $174.9 million; and wool, $17.5 million.

23 Fishing

In 2003, the total catch was 116,935 tons. Fish exports that same year amounted to $108 million. There are three fishing zones on the southern coast: the low zone, from Colonia to Piriápolis; the middle zone, from Piriápolis to Punta del Este, which is considered one of the finest fishing areas in the world; and the high zone, from Punta del Este to the Brazilian border. Principal commercial species include Argentine hake, whitemouth croaker, and striped weakfish. Other important sea fish are corvina negra (a kind of bass), mullet, sole, anchovy, mackerel, whiting, and shark. The finest freshwater fish is the dorado, a type of salmon.

24 Forestry

Uruguay has about 1.29 million hectares (3.19 million acres) of forestland. About 50,000 hectares (124,000 acres) were reforested annually from 1990 to 2000. The principal species cultivated are eucalyptus and pine. Domestic woods are used primarily for windbreaks, fence posts, and firewood. Lumber suitable for building and construction is imported. Roundwood removals in 2004 totaled 6.39 million cubic meters (225.9 million cubic feet), with 67% used as fuel wood.

25 Mining

The mining sector traditionally has been based on the use of nonmetallic minerals for the construction, glass, and ceramics industries. The most important commodities are clay, benton-ite, dolomite, feldspar, granite, gravel, gypsum, limestone, pebbles, quartz, sand, and talc. There

Yearly Balance of Trade

The balance of trade is the difference between what a country sells to other countries (its exports) and what it buys (its imports). If a country imports more than it exports, it has a negative balance of trade (a trade deficit). If exports exceed imports there is a positive balance of trade (a trade surplus).

is also minor production of semiprecious stones and ornamental rocks. Production in 2003 (in tons except where noted) included 2.7 million tons of common sand, 1.3 million tons of limestone, 24,900 metric tons of clays, 1.130 million tons of gypsum, 420 metric tons of agate, and 170 metric tons of amethyst. Also produced in 2003 were gold, granite, gravel, iron ore, lime, marble, and onyx.

26 Foreign Trade

Uruguay traditionally relies on foreign sales of wool, hides, meat, and meat products for its export revenues, which increased steadily until 1998, and then dropped off slightly. Recent reforms favoring a free-market economy have stimulated growth in exports and imports. In 2000, exports increased by 2.6%, and imports rose 3.3%. In 2004, Uruguay’s exports totaled $2.9 billion, and were chiefly meat, wool and wool products, hides, leather, fish, rice, and furs. Its top five export markets in 2003 were Brazil, the United States, Argentina, Germany and China. Uruguay’s imports were mainly machinery, transportation equipment, fuels, and chemicals.

Major suppliers to Uruguay in 2003 were Argentina, Brazil, the United States, and China. Imports for that year totaled $2.19 billion.

27 Energy and Power

Uruguay’s power is provided by hydroelectric and diesel-generating plants. Uruguay’s total electrical power output was 9.508 billion kilowatt-hours in 2002, of which 99.3% came from hydroelectric sources. Uruguay has one of Latin America’s highest rates of electrification (95% as of 2002).

According to the terms of a bilateral agreement signed with the United States, Uruguay is entitled to lease nuclear fuels and purchase related equipment. As of 1 January 2004, the state-owned La Teja oil refinery had an estimated refining capacity of 50,000 barrels per day. Oil consumption in 2004 was estimated at 31,000 barrels per day, all of it imported. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Uruguay was planning to shift much of its energy dependence from hydroelectric power to natural gas.

28 Social Development

Uruguay has frequently been called South America’s first welfare state. The social reform movement began under the leadership of José Batlle y Ordóñez in the early 1900s. Social legislation

Selected Social Indicators

The statistics below are the most recent estimates available as of 2006. For comparison purposes, data for the United States and averages for low-income countries and high-income countries are also given. About 15% of the world’s 6.5 billion people live in high-income countries, while 37% live in low-income countries.

Indicator	Uruguay	Low-income countries	High-income countries	United States
sources: World Bank. World Development Indicators. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank, 2006; Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 2006; World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C.
Per capita gross national income (GNI)*	$9,030	$2,258	$31,009	$39,820
Population growth rate	0.7%	2%	0.8%	1.2%
People per square kilometer of land	20	80	30	32
Life expectancy in years: male	72	58	76	75
female	79	60	82	80
Number of physicians per 1,000 people	3.7	0.4	3.7	2.3
Number of pupils per teacher (primary school)	21	43	16	15
Literacy rate (15 years and older)	98%	65%	>95%	99%
Television sets per 1,000 people	259	84	735	938
Internet users per 1,000 people	210	28	538	630
Energy consumed per capita (kg of oil equivalent)	738	501	5,410	7,843
CO² emissions per capita (metric tons)	1.4	0.85	12.97	19.92
* The GNI is the total of all goods and services produced by the residents of a country in a year. The per capita GNI is calculated by dividing a country’s GNI by its population and adjusting for relative purchasing power.
n.a.: data not available >: greater than <: less than

now provides for a day of rest in every week (plus Saturday afternoon), holidays with pay, minimum wages, annual cash and vacation bonuses, family allowances, compensation for unemployment or dismissal, workers’ accident compensation, retirement pensions for rural and domestic workers, old-age and disability pensions, and special consideration for working women and minors. The state also provides care for children and mothers, as well as for the blind, deaf, and mute. Free medical attention is available to the poor, as are low-cost living quarters for workers.

Women make up about one-half of the work force, but they tend to be concentrated in lower-paying jobs. Nevertheless, many women attend the national university and pursue professional careers.

29 Health

For the region, life expectancy is high (75.5 years in 2005); infant mortality is low (11.95 per 1,000 live births in 2005); and the ratios of doctors and hospital beds to the number of people are exceptionally good. As of 2004, Uruguay had an estimated 370 physicians, 86 professional nurses, and 116 dentists per 100,000 people.

The major causes of death are heart diseases, cancer, and digestive disorders. Degenerative diseases rank higher as a cause of death in Uruguay than in most other Latin American countries.

As of 2004, the number of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) was estimated at 6,000. Deaths from AIDS in 2003 were estimated at 500.

30 Housing

The housing situation is more favorable in Uruguay than in most Latin American countries. The National Institute of Low-Cost Housing builds affordable dwellings for low-income workers and pensioners. Nearly all dwellings are built using durable materials, including stone, wood, zinc, or concrete. Of all housing units, more than 90% have private toilet facilities and about 75% have indoor plumbing.

31 Education

Education in elementary, secondary, and technical schools and at the University of the Republic in Montevideo is free. Elementary education, which lasts six years, is compulsory. Secondary education is in two stages of three years each.

Student-to-teacher ratios average 21 to 1. Approximately 90% of primary-school-aged children enroll in school, while 73% of those eligible attend secondary school in 2003.

There are five major universities, the University of the Republic (state-run), the Catholic University (private), the University of ORT Uruguay, Universidad de la Empresa, and the University of Montevideo. In 2003, an estimated 37% of age eligible students were enrolled in the institutions of higher learning.

As of 2004, the adult literacy rate was estimated at around 98%.

32 Media

The state owns the telegraph and telephone services. In 2003 there were an estimated 280 mainline telephones, and about 193 mobile phones per 1,000 people.

As of 2001, Uruguay had 91 AM and 149 FM radio stations, and 20 television stations. Color television broadcasting was introduced in 1981. In 2005 there were 603 radios, around 259 television sets, and 110.1 computers for every 1,000 people. In that same year, 210 out of every 1,000 people had access to the Internet. In 2004, there were 79 secure Internet servers in the country.

There were at least four major daily newspapers in Montevideo in 2004. The leading papers, with their circulations were as follows: El Diario, 170,000; El País, 110,000; El Diario Espanol 20,000; and Últimas Noticias, 25,000.

The first newspaper in the Banda Oriental was the Southern Star, published by the British in 1807 during their brief occupation of Montevideo. Freedom of the press has been in effect since 1985.

33 Tourism and Recreation

Tourism, one of Uruguay’s major enterprises, enjoys government support. The state owns many hotels along the coast, including some of the more sophisticated resorts in South America. Montevideo has been promoted as the “city of roses” because of its many parks and gardens. In 2003, a total of 1,508,055 tourists visited Uruguay. Tourism receipts that same year totaled $406 million. The most popular sport in Uruguay is soccer; there is an intense rivalry between supporters of the two major teams, the Peñarol and the Nacional. Other popular sports include basketball, cycling, tennis, pelota (handball), golf, and water sports.

34 Famous Uruguayans

The national hero of Uruguay is José Gervasio Artigas (1764–1850), who led the fight for independence against Brazil and Portugal. Juan Antonio Lavalleja (1786?–1853) directed the uprising that established Uruguay’s independence in 1828. One of Uruguay’s greatest citizens was José Batlle y Ordóñez (1856–1929), who served twice as president of the country, and was great-uncle to the current president. Eduardo Acevedo Díaz (1851–1924) won fame as the writer of a gaucho (South American cowboy) novel, Soledad (1894). Horacio Quiroga (1878–1937) is regarded as one of Latin America’s foremost short-story writers. The poets Julio Herrera y Reissig (1875–1910) and Juana de Ibarbourou (1895–1979) have attained a devoted audience beyond the borders of Uruguay. The painter Juan Manuel Blanes (1830–1901) is best known for his Episode of the Yellow Fever. Joaquín Torres García (1874–1949) founded his painting style on the principles of universalism and constructivism. Eduardo Fabini (1883–1951) is Uruguay’s best-known composer. Francisco Curt Lange (b. Germany, 1903–1997), Latin America’s foremost musicologist, founded various inter-American institutions and publications for the promotion of music of the Americas.