Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil Population: 3,415,920 (July 2005 est.)
Total Area: 176,220 sq km - slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Natural resources: arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
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, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands. Signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August
Economy - brief overview: Uruguay's well-to-do economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, and high levels of social spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during 1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn, stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problems of its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. For instance, in 2001-02 massive withdrawals by Argentina of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks led to a plunge in the Uruguyan peso and a massive rise in unemployment. Total GDP in these four years dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year due to the serious banking crisis. Unemployment rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF limited the damage. The debt swap with private creditors carried out in 2003, which extended the maturity dates on nearly half of Uruguay's $14 billion in public debt, substantially alleviated the country's amortization burden in the coming years and restored public confidence. The economy grew about 10% in 2004 as a result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, the weakness of the dollar against the euro, growth in the region, low international interest rates, and greater export competitiveness, but slowed to a 6.2% pace in 2005.Budget: revenues: $4.468 billion; expenditures: $4.845 billion, including capital expenditures of $193 million (2005 est.)
Labor force: 1.52 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 14%, industry 16%, services 70%)
Unemployment rate: 12% (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products: rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish
Industries: food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Oil - production: 435 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - imports: NA
Oil - exports: NA
Oil - proved reserves: NA
Exports: $3.55 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - partners: US 17.4%, Brazil 16.1%, Germany 6.3%, Argentina 6.2%, Mexico 4.2% (2004)
Imports: $3.54 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - partners: Argentina 19.5%, Brazil 19%, Paraguay 12.9%, US 9.2%, China 6% (2004)
Government departments:
Gobierno [Government]
Cámara de Representantes [Chamber of Representatives]
Dirección Nacional de Minería y Geología (DINAMIGA) [National Directorate of Mining and Geology]
Media:
El Diario
Inside Uruguay
Uruguay Total
El Observador
Diario Oficial
La Republica
Travel Information:
Uruguay Travel Information Lonely Planet Destination Guide
Other useful links:
Uruguay Maps, Pictures, History and More
Uruguay - Amnesty International
About Uruguay
News headlines
Uruguay confirms early IMF payment of $630 mln Irish Sun
Uruguay Prez Announces Growth Irish Sun
Econ Min: Uruguay Saves $24 Million From Early Debt Payments
Uruguay : Letter of Intent, Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies, and Technical Memorandum... International Monetary Fund
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