Uruguay :: South America
Introduction
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 restored in 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 National (Blanco) parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.
Geography
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:
about the size of Virginia and West Virginia combined; slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Land boundaries:
total:
1,591 km
border countries (2):
Argentina 541 km, Brazil 1050 km
Coastline:
660 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12
nm
exclusive economic zone:
200
nm
contiguous zone:
24
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:
mean elevation:
109 m
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%
(2011 est.)
arable land:
10.1%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent crops:
0.2%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent pasture:
76.9%
(2011 est.)
forest:
10.2%
(2011 est.)
other:
2.6%
(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
2,380 sq km
(2012)
Population distribution:
most of the country's population resides in the southern half of the country; approximately 80% of the populace is urban, living in towns or cities; nearly half of the population lives in and around the capital of Montevideo
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; heavy metal pollution; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal; deforestation
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
Population:
3,387,605
(July 2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Nationality:
noun:
Uruguayan(s)
adjective:
Uruguayan
Ethnic groups:
White 87.7%, Black 4.6%, indigenous 2.4%, other 0.3%, none or unspecified 5%
(2011 est.)
note: data represent primary ethnic identity
Languages:
Spanish (official)
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 est.)
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.
Age structure:
0-14 years:
19.51%
(male 336,336/female 324,563)
15-24 years:
15.14%
(male 259,904/female 252,945)
25-54 years:
39.86%
(male 670,295/female 679,850)
55-64 years:
10.79%
(male 172,313/female 193,045)
65 years and over:
14.71%
(male 200,516/female 297,838)
(2020 est.)
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:
54.9
youth dependency ratio:
31.5
elderly dependency ratio:
23.4
potential support ratio:
4.3
(2020 est.)
Median age:
total:
35.5 years
male:
33.8 years
female:
37.3 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Population growth rate:
0.27%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Birth rate:
12.9 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Death rate:
9.3 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Net migration rate:
-0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Population distribution:
most of the country's population resides in the southern half of the country; approximately 80% of the populace is urban, living in towns or cities; nearly half of the population lives in and around the capital of Montevideo
Urbanization:
urban population:
95.5% of total population
(2020)
rate of urbanization:
0.46% annual rate of change
(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
1.752 million MONTEVIDEO (capital)
(2020)
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:
0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.67 male(s)/female
total population:
0.94 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
17 deaths/100,000 live births
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Infant mortality rate:
total:
7.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
8.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
6.9 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
77.9 years
male:
74.8 years
female:
81.2 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Total fertility rate:
1.77 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
79.6%
(2015)
note: percent of women aged 15-44
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban:
100% of population
rural:
93.9% of population
total:
99.7% of population
unimproved:
urban:
100% of population
rural:
95% of population
total:
100% of population
(2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure:
9.3%
(2017)
Physicians density:
5.08 physicians/1,000 population
(2017)
Hospital bed density:
2.4 beds/1,000 population
(2017)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban:
99% of population
rural:
98.3% of population
total:
98.9% of population
unimproved:
urban:
1% of population
rural:
1.7% of population
total:
2.1% of population
(2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6%
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
14,000
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
<200
(2018 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
27.9%
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 34
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
4%
(2011)
country comparison to the world: 90
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP
(2018)
country comparison to the world: 62
Literacy:
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.7%
male:
98.4%
female:
99%
(2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:
17 years
male:
NA
female:
NA
(2017)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:
25.9%
male:
22.4%
female:
30.7%
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Government
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
etymology:
name derives from the Spanish pronunciation of the Guarani Indian designation of the Uruguay River, which makes up the western border of the country and whose name later came to be applied to the entire country
Government type:
presidential 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)
etymology: the name "Montevidi" was originally applied to the hill that overlooked the bay upon which the city of Montevideo was founded; the earliest meaning may have been "[the place where we] saw the hill"
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:
history:
several previous; latest approved by plebiscite 27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967
amendments:
initiated by public petition of at least 10% of qualified voters, proposed by agreement of at least two fifths of the General Assembly membership, or by existing "constitutional laws" sanctioned by at least two thirds of the membership in both houses of the Assembly; proposals can also be submitted by senators, representatives, or by the executive power and require the formation of and approval in a national constituent convention; final passage by either method requires approval by absolute majority of votes cast in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2004
Legal system:
civil law system based on the Spanish civil code
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth:
yes
citizenship by descent only:
yes
dual citizenship recognized:
yes
residency requirement for naturalization:
3-5 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (since 1 March 2020); Vice President Beatriz ARGIMON Cedeira (since 1 March 2020); the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (since 1 March 2020); Vice President Beatriz ARGIMON Cedeira (since 1 March 2020)
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 27 October 2019 with a runoff election on 24 November 2019 (next to be held in October 2024, and a runoff if needed in November 2024)
election results:
Luis Alberto LACALLE POU elected president - results of the first round of presidential elections: percent of vote - Daniel MARTINEZ (FA) 40.7%, Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (Blanco) 29.7%, Ernesto TALVI (Colorado Party) 12.8%, and Guido MANINI RIOS (Open Cabildo) 11.3%, other 5.5%; results of the second round: percent of vote - Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (Blanco) 50.6%, Daniel MARTINEZ (FA) 49.4%
Legislative branch:
description:
bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of: 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) ++ 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 27 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2024) ++ Chamber of Representatives - last held on 27 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2024)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by coalition/party - na; seats by coalition/party - Frente Amplio 13, National Party 10, Colorado Party 4, Open Cabildo 3; ++ Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by coalition/party - na; seats by coalition/party - Frente Amplio 42, National Party 30, Colorado Party 13, Open Cabildo 11, Independent Party 1, other 2
Judicial branch:
highest courts:
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 serve 10-year terms, with reelection possible after a lapse of 5 years following the previous term
subordinate courts:
Courts of Appeal; District Courts (Juzgados Letrados); Peace Courts (Juzgados de Paz); Rural Courts (Juzgados Rurales)
Political parties and leaders:
Broad Front or FA (Frente Amplio) [Javier MIRANDA] - (a broad governing coalition that includes Uruguay Assembly [Danilo ASTORI], Progressive Alliance [Rodolfo NIN NOVOA], New Space [Rafael MICHELINI], Socialist Party [Monica XAVIER], Vertiente Artiguista [Enrique RUBIO], Christian Democratic Party [Jorge RODRIGUEZ], For the People's Victory [Luis PUIG], Popular Participation Movement (MPP) [Jose MUJICA], Broad Front Commitment [Raul SENDIC], Big House [Constanza MOREIRA], Communist Party [Marcos CARAMBULA], The Federal League [Dario PEREZ] ++ Colorado Party (including Vamos Uruguay (or Let's Go Uruguay), Open Space [Tabare VIERA], and Open Batllism [Ope PASQUET]) ++ Independent Party [Pablo MIERES] ++ National Party or Blanco (including Everyone [Luis LACALLE POU] and National Alliance [Jorge LARRANAGA]) ++ Popular Unity [Gonzalo ABELLA] ++ Open Cabildo [Guido MANINI RIOS]
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:
Charge d'Affaires Alejandro Ramon RODRIGUEZ COTRO (since 15 July 2020)
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 Kenneth S. GEORGE (since 2 September 2019)
telephone:
(+598) 1770-2000
embassy:
Laura Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address:
APO AA 34035
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 (delineated in black) 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
Economic overview:
Uruguay has a free market economy characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, and high levels of social spending. Uruguay has sought to expand trade within the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) and with non-Mercosur members, and President VAZQUEZ has maintained his predecessor's mix of pro-market policies and a strong social safety net. ++
Following financial difficulties in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Uruguay's economic growth averaged 8% annually during the 2004-08 period. The 2008-09 global financial crisis put a brake on Uruguay's vigorous growth, which decelerated to 2.6% in 2009. Nevertheless, the country avoided a recession and kept growth rates positive, mainly through higher public expenditure and investment; GDP growth reached 8.9% in 2010 but slowed markedly in the 2012-16 period as a result of a renewed slowdown in the global economy and in Uruguay's main trade partners and Mercosur counterparts, Argentina and Brazil. Reforms in those countries should give Uruguay an economic boost. Growth picked up in 2017.
GDP real growth rate:
2.7%
(2017 est.)
1.7%
(2016 est.)
0.4%
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.8%
(2019 est.)
7.5%
(2018 est.)
6.2%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Credit ratings:
Fitch rating:
BBB-
(2013)
Moody's rating:
Baa2
(2014)
Standard & Poors rating:
BBB
(2015)
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$78.16 billion
(2017 est.)
$76.14 billion
(2016 est.)
$74.87 billion
(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$56.108 billion
(2019 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$22,400
(2017 est.)
$21,900
(2016 est.)
$21,600
(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 68
Gross national saving:
17.2% of GDP
(2017 est.)
18.6% of GDP
(2016 est.)
18.7% of GDP
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:
6.2%
(2017 est.)
industry:
24.1%
(2017 est.)
services:
69.7%
(2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:
66.8%
(2017 est.)
government consumption:
14.3%
(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
16.7%
(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:
-1%
(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:
21.6%
(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-18.4%
(2017 est.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
58.4
(2020)
Agriculture - products:
Cellulose, beef, soybeans, rice, wheat; dairy products; fish; lumber, tobacco, wine
Industries:
food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
-3.6%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Labor force:
1.748 million
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:
13%
industry:
14%
services:
73%
(2010 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.6%
(2017 est.)
7.9%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Population below poverty line:
9.7%
(2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:
1.9%
highest 10%:
30.8%
(2014 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
17.66 billion
(2017 est.)
expenditures:
19.72 billion
(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
29.8% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.5% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Public debt:
65.7% of GDP
(2017 est.)
61.6% of GDP
(2016 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental 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: 57
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Current account balance:
$879 million
(2017 est.)
$410 million
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Exports:
$11.41 billion
(2017 est.)
$8.387 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Exports - partners:
China 19%, Brazil 16.1%, US 5.7%, Argentina 5.4%
(2017)
Exports - commodities:
beef, soybeans, cellulose, rice, wheat, wood, dairy products, wool
Imports:
$8.607 billion
(2017 est.)
$8.463 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Imports - commodities:
refined oil, crude oil, passenger and other transportation vehicles, vehicle parts, cellular phones
Imports - partners:
China 20%, Brazil 19.5%, Argentina 12.6%, US 10.9%
(2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$15.96 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$13.47 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Debt - external:
$28.37 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$27.9 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Exchange rates:
Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar -
42.645
(2020 est.)
37.735
(2019 est.)
32.2
(2018 est.)
27.52
(2014 est.)
23.25
(2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access:
electrification - total population:
100%
(2020)
Electricity - production:
13.13 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Electricity - consumption:
10.77 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Electricity - exports:
1.321 billion kWh
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Electricity - imports:
24 million kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
4.808 million kW
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
29% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
29% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
42% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Crude oil - imports:
40,200 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Refined petroleum products - production:
42,220 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
53,000 bbl/day
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Refined petroleum products - imports:
9,591 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Natural gas - consumption:
70.79 million cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Natural gas - imports:
70.79 million cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m
(1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
7.554 million Mt
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
1,137,193
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
33.66
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
4,664,993
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
138.08
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Telecommunication systems:
general assessment:
fully digitalized; one of the highest broadband penetrations in Latin America; high fixed-line and mobile penetrations as well; FttP coverage by 2022; nationwide 3G coverage and LTE networks; limited 5G commercial reach; strong focus on fiber infrastructure with 70% residential fixed-broadband connections and all business connections
(2020)
domestic:
most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line 34 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity 138 per 100 persons
(2019)
international:
country code - 598; landing points for the Unisor, Tannat, and Bicentenario submarine cable system providing direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; Bicentenario 2012 and Tannat 2017 cables helped end-users with Internet bandwidth; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
(2020)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
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
(2019)
Internet country code:
.uy
Internet users:
total:
2,300,557
percent of population:
68.28%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:
977,390
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
29
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Transportation
National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers:
2
(2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:
5
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
CX
(2016)
Airports:
133
(2013)
country comparison to the world: 42
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
11
(2013)
over 3,047 m:
1
(2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
4
(2013)
914 to 1,523 m:
4
(2013)
under 914 m:
2
(2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
122
(2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
3
(2013)
914 to 1,523 m:
40
(2013)
under 914 m:
79
(2013)
Pipelines:
257 km gas, 160 km oil
(2013)
Railways:
total:
1,673 km
(operational; government claims overall length is 2,961 km)
(2016)
standard gauge:
1,673 km
1.435-m gauge
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 80
Roadways:
total:
77,732 km
(2010)
paved:
7,743 km
(2010)
unpaved:
69,989 km
(2010)
country comparison to the world: 64
Waterways:
1,600 km
(2011)
country comparison to the world: 50
Merchant marine:
total:
60
by type:
bulk carrier 1, general cargo 5, oil tanker 3, other 51
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 109
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s):
Montevideo
Military and Security
Military and security forces:
Armed Forces of Uruguay (Fuerzas Armadas del Uruguay): National Army (Ejercito Nacional), National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Maritime National Prefecture (Coast Guard)), Uruguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea); Guardia Nacional Republicana (paramilitary regiment of the National Police)
(2020)
Military expenditures:
2% of GDP
(2019)
2.1% of GDP
(2018)
2% of GDP
(2017)
1.9% of GDP
(2016)
1.8% of GDP
(2015)
country comparison to the world: 53
Military and security service personnel strengths:
the Armed Forces of Uruguay have approximately 22,000 active personnel (14,500 Army; 5,000 Navy; 2,500 Air Force); est. 1,400 Guardia Nacional Republicana
(2019 est.)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:
the Armed Forces of Uruguay inventory includes a wide variety of older or second-hand equipment imported from a range of suppliers, including Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Spain, and the US
(2019 est.)
Military deployments:
900 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MINUSCO); 210 Golan Heights (UNDOF)
(2020)
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
(2013)
Transnational Issues
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin):
19,713 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2020)
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
