The People's Guide To Uruguay

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Contents
Contents
Articles
History of Uruguay 1
Demographics of Uruguay 8
Geography of Uruguay 17
List of cities in Uruguay 24
Politics of Uruguay 26
Human rights in Uruguay 31
President of Uruguay 33
Economy of Uruguay 36
Culture of Uruguay 41
References
Article Sources and Contributors 45
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 46
Article Licenses
License 47
History of Uruguay
1
History of Uruguay
Topics
Communications
Culture
Demographics
Economy
Education
Foreign
relations
Geography
Government
History
Military
Politics
Religion
Tourism
Transport
Uruguay
The history of Uruguay.
Pre-Columbian times and colonization
Uruguayan Indians Drawing from Hendrick
Ottsen journal, 1603.
The only documented inhabitants of Uruguay before European
colonization of the area were the Charrua, a small tribe driven south by
the Guaran of Paraguay. There have also been identified examples of
ancient rock art, at locations such as Chamang, and elsewhere.
The Spanish arrived in the territory of present-day Uruguay in 1516,
but the people's fierce resistance to conquest, combined with the
absence of gold and silver, limited settlement in the region during the
16th and 17th centuries. Uruguay became a zone of contention between
the Spanish and the Portuguese empires. In 1603 the Spanish began to
introduce cattle, which became a source of wealth in the region. The
first permanent settlement on the territory of present-day Uruguay was founded by the Spanish in 1624 at Soriano on
the Ro Negro. In 1669-71, the Portuguese built a fort at Colonia del Sacramento. Spanish colonization increased as
Spain sought to limit Portugal's expansion of Brazil's frontiers.
Montevideo was founded by the Spanish in the early 18th century as a military stronghold; its natural harbor soon
developed into a commercial center competing with Buenos Aires. Uruguay's early 19th century history was shaped
by ongoing fights between the British, Spanish, Portuguese, and colonial forces for dominance in the La Plata basin.
In 1806 and 1807, the British (enemies of Spain in the Napoleonic Wars) launched the British invasions of the Ro
de la Plata. Buenos Aires was invaded in 1806, and then liberated by forces from Montevideo led by Santiago de
Liniers. A new and stronger attack in 1807 aimed to Montevideo first, which was occupied by a 10,000-strong
British force. The British forces were unable to invade Buenos Aires a second time, and Liniers demanded the
History of Uruguay
2
liberation of Montevideo in the terms of capitulation. The British gave up their attacks over Spanish territories when
the Peninsular War turned Britain and Spain into allies against Napoleon.
Struggle for independence
Jos Gervasio Artigas, as depicted by Juan
Manuel Blanes.
In 1811, Jos Gervasio Artigas, who became Uruguay's national hero,
launched a successful revolt against Spain, defeating Spanish forces on
May 18 in the Battle of Las Piedras. In 1814 he formed the Liga
Federal (Federal League) of which he was declared Protector.
The steady growth of influence and prestige of the Federal League
frightened the Portuguese government, which did not want the
League's republicanism to spread to the adjoining Portuguese colony of
Brazil. In August, 1816 forces from Brazil invaded the Eastern
Province, with the intention of destroying the protector and his
revolution. The Portuguese forces, thanks to their numerical and
material superiority, occupied Montevideo on January 20, 1817, and
finally after struggling for three years in the countryside, defeated
Artigas in the Battle of Tacuaremb. In 1821, the Eastern Province of
the Ro de la Plata (present-day Uruguay), was annexed by Brazil
under the name of Provncia Cisplatina. In response, the Thirty-Three
Orientals led by Juan Antonio Lavalleja declared independence on
August 25, 1825 supported by the United Provinces of the Ro de la
Plata, present-day Argentina.
This led to the 500-day Cisplatine War. Neither side gained the upper
hand, and in 1828 the Treaty of Montevideo, fostered by Britain, gave birth to Uruguay as an independent state. The
nation's first constitution was adopted on July 18, 1830. For the remainder of the 19th century, under a series of
elected and appointed presidents, Uruguay saw interventions by and conflicts with neighboring states, political
and economic fluctuations, and large inflows of immigrants, mostly from Europe.
History of Uruguay
3
The "Guerra Grande" 1839-1852
Manuel Oribe.
Fructuoso Rivera.
The political scene in Uruguay became split between two parties, the
conservative Blancos ("Whites") and the liberal Colorados ("Reds").
The Colorados were led by Fructuoso Rivera and represented the
business interests of Montevideo; the Blancos were headed by Manuel
Oribe, who looked after the agricultural interests of the countryside and
promoted protectionism. The two groups took their names from the
color of the armbands that they wore; initially, the Colorados wore
blue, but when it faded in the sun, they replaced it with red. The
Uruguayan parties became associated with warring political factions in
neighbouring Argentina. The Colorados favored the exiled Argentinian
liberal Unitarios, many of whom had taken refuge in Montevideo,
while the Blanco president Manuel Oribe was a close friend of the
Argentine governor Juan Manuel de Rosas. Oribe took Rosas's side
when the French navy blockaded Buenos Aires in 1838. This led the
Colorados and the exiled Unitarios to seek French backing against
Oribe and on June 15, 1838, an army led by the Colorado leader Rivera
overthrew the president, who fled to Argentina. The Argentinian
Unitarios formed a government-in-exile in Montevideo and, with secret
French encouragement, Rivera declared war on Rosas in 1839. The
conflict would last thirteen years and become known as the "Guerra
Grande" (the "Great War"). In 1840, an army of exiled Unitarios
attempted to invade northern Argentina from Uruguay but they had
little success. Two years later, an Argentinian army overran Uruguay
on Oribe's behalf. They seized most of the country but failed to take
the capital. The siege of Montevideo, which began in February 1843,
would last nine years and capture the world's imagination. Alexandre
Dumas, pre compared it to a new Trojan War. The besieged
Uruguayans called on resident foreigners for help and a French and an
Italian legion were formed. The latter was led by the exiled Giuseppe
Garibaldi, who was working as a mathematics teacher in Montevideo
when the war broke out. Garibaldi was also made head of the
Uruguayan navy. He was involved in many famous actions during the
war, notably the Battle of San Antonio, which won him a worldwide
reputation as a formidable guerrilla leader. The Argentinian blockade
of Montevideo was ineffective as Rosas generally tried not to interfere
with international shipping on the River Plate. But in 1845, when access to Paraguay was blocked, Britain and
France allied against Rosas, seized his fleet and began a blockade of Buenos Aires, while Brazil joined in against
Argentina. Rosas reached peace deals with Great Britain and France in 1849 and 1850 respectively. The French
agreed to withdraw their legion if Rosas evacuated Argentinian troops from Uruguay. Oribe still maintained a loose
siege of the capital. In 1851, the Argentinian caudillo Justo Jos de Urquiza turned against Rosas and signed a pact
with the exiled Unitarios, the Uruguayan Colorados and Brazil against him. Urquiza crossed into Uruguay, defeated
Oribe and lifted the siege of Montevideo. He then overthrew Rosas at the Battle of Caseros on February 3, 1852.
With Rosas's defeat and exile, the "Guerra Grande" finally came to an end. Slavery was abolished in 1852.
History of Uruguay
4
Social and economic developments up to 1890
After the "Guerra Grande" there was a steady rise in the number of immigrants, above all from Italy and Spain. The
number of immigrants had risen from 48% of the population in 1860 to 68% in 1868. In the 1870s, a further 100,000
Europeans arrived, so that by 1879 about 438,000 people were living in Uruguay, a quarter of them in Montevideo.
[1]
In 1857, the first bank was opened; three years later a canal system was begun, the first telegraph line was set up, and
rail links were built between the capital and the countryside. The Italians set up the Camera di Commercio Italiana di
Montevideo (Italian Chamber of Commerce of Montevideo) which played a strategic role in trade with Italy and
building up the Italian middle class in the city.
The economy saw a steep upswing after the "Guerra Grande", above all in livestock raising and export. Between
1860 and 1868, the number of sheep rose from three to seventeen million. The reason for this increase lay above all
in the improved methods of husbandry introduced by European immigrants.
Montevideo became a major economic centre of the region. Thanks to its natural harbour, it became an entrepot for
goods from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. The towns of Paysand and Salto, both on the River Uruguay, also
experienced similar development.
20th century
Modernization
Jos Batlle y Ordez, president from 1903 to 1907 and again from 1911 to 1915, set the pattern for Uruguay's
modern political development. He established widespread political, social, and economic reforms such as a welfare
program, government participation in many facets of the economy, and a plural executive. Some of these reforms
were continued by his successors.
Around 1900 infant mortality rates (IMR) in Uruguay were among the world's lowest, indicating a very healthy
population. By 1910, however, the IMR leveled off, while it continued to drop in other countries. The leading causes
of death diarrheal and respiratory diseases did not decline, indicating a growing public health problem.
[2]
During World War I, Uruguay sided against Germany and broke off diplomatic relations. It did not play a role in the
combat operations.
In 1930, Uruguay was chosen as the site of the first Football World Cup. Although the field was much smaller than
the competitions of today, the event provided national pride when the home team won the tournament over their
neighbors Argentina.
World War II
On December 13, 1939 the Battle of the River Plate took place off the coast of Uruguay between British forces and
the German "pocket battleship" Admiral Graf Spee. After a 72-hour layover in port of Montevideo the captain of the
Graf Spee, believing he was hopelessly outnumbered by the British, ordered the ship to be scuttled. Most of the
surviving crew of 1,150 were interned in Uruguay and Argentina and many remained after the war. A German
Embassy official in Uruguay said his government has sent an official letter stating its position as to whether
Germany claims ownership of the vessel. The German claim would be invalid because early in 1940 the Nazi
government sold salvaging rights to the vessel to a Uruguayan businessman who was acting on behalf of the British
government. However, any salvaging rights would have expired under Uruguayan law. By 1940 Germany had
threatened to break off diplomatic relations with Uruguay. Germany protested that Uruguay gave safe harbor to the
HMS Carnarvon Castle after it was attacked by a Nazi raider. The ship was repaired with steel plate reportedly
salvaged from the Graf Spee.
On January 25, 1942 Uruguay broke diplomatic relations with Nazi Germany, as 21 American nations did the same
(except for Argentina). In 1945, it formally joined the Declaration by United Nations.
History of Uruguay
5
Economic distress
In the late 1950s, partly because of a decrease in demand in the world market for agricultural products, Uruguay
began having economic problems, which included inflation, mass unemployment, and a steep drop in the standard of
living for Uruguayan workers. This led to student militancy and labor unrest.
Tupamaros guerrillas
An urban guerrilla movement known as the Tupamaros formed in the early 1960s, first robbing banks and
distributing food and money in poor neighborhoods, then undertaking political kidnappings and attacks on security
forces. Their efforts succeeded in first embarrassing, and then destabilizing, the government.
The US Office of Public Safety (OPS) began operating in Uruguay in 1965. The US OPS trained Uruguayan police
and intelligence in policing and interrogration techniques. The Uruguayan Chief of Police Intelligence, Alejandro
Otero, told a Brazilian newspaper in 1970 that the OPS, especially the head of the OPS in Uruguay, Dan Mitrione,
had instructed the Uruguayan police how to torture suspects, especially with electrical implements.
Dictatorship
President Jorge Pacheco declared a state of emergency in 1968, and this was followed by a further suspension of
civil liberties in 1972 by his successor, President Juan Mara Bordaberry. President Bordaberry brought the Army in
to combat the guerrillas of the Movement of National Liberation (MLN), which was led by Ral Sendic. After
defeating the Tupamaros, the military seized power in 1973. Torture was effectively used to gather information
needed to break up the MLN and also against trade union officers, members of the Communist Party and even
regular citizens. Torture practices extended until the end of Uruguayan dictatorship in 1985. Uruguay soon had the
highest per capita percentage of political prisoners in the world. The MLN heads were isolated in improvised prisons
and subjected to repeated acts of torture. Emigration from Uruguay rose drastically, as large numbers of Uruguayans
looked for political asylum throughout the world.
Bordaberry was finally removed from his "president charge" in 1976. He was first succeeded by Alberto Demicheli.
Subsequently a national council chosen by the military government elected Aparicio Mndez. In 1980, in order to
legitimize their position, the armed forces proposed a change in the constitution, to be subjected to a popular vote by
a referendum. The "No" votesagainst the constitutional changes totalled 57.2% of the votes, showing the
unpopularity of the de facto government, that was later accelerated by an economic crisis.
In 1981, General Gregorio lvarez assumed the presidency. Massive protests against the dictatorship broke out in
1984. After a 24-hour general strike, talks began and the armed forces announced a plan for return to civilian rule.
National elections were held later in 1984. Colorado Party leader Julio Mara Sanguinetti won the presidency and,
following the brief interim Presidency of Rafael Addiego Bruno, served from 1985 to 1990. The first Sanguinetti
administration implemented economic reforms and consolidated democratization following the country's years under
military rule. Nonetheless, Sanguinetti never supported the human rights violations accusations, and his government
did not prosecute the military officials who engaged in repression and torture against either the Tupamaros or the
MLN. Instead, he opted for signing an amnesty treaty called in Spanish "Ley de Amnistia."
Around 180 Uruguayans are known to have been killed during the 12-year military rule from 1973-1985. Most were
killed in Argentina and other neighbouring countries, with only 36 of them having been killed in Uruguay. A large
number of those killed, were never found and the missing people have been referred to as the "disappeared", or
"desaparecidos" in Spanish.
History of Uruguay
6
Recent history
Modern Montevideo
Sanguinetti's economic reforms, focusing on
the attraction of foreign trade and capital,
achieved some success and stabilized the
economy. In order to promote national
reconciliation and facilitate the return of
democratic civilian rule, Sanguinetti secured
public approval by plebiscite of a controversial general amnesty for military leaders accused of committing human
rights violations under the military regime and sped the release of former guerrillas.
The National Party's Luis Alberto Lacalle won the 1989 presidential election and served from 1990 to 1995.
President Lacalle executed major economic structural reforms and pursued further liberalization of trade regimes,
including Uruguay's inclusion in the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) in 1991. Despite economic growth
during Lacalle's term, adjustment and privatization efforts provoked political opposition, and some reforms were
overturned by referendum.
In the 1994 elections, former President Sanguinetti won a new term, which ran from 1995 until March 2000. As no
single party had a majority in the General Assembly, the National Party joined with Sanguinetti's Colorado Party in a
coalition government. The Sanguinetti government continued Uruguay's economic reforms and integration into
MERCOSUR. Other important reforms were aimed at improving the electoral system, social security, education, and
public safety. The economy grew steadily for most of Sanguinetti's term until low commodity prices and economic
difficulties in its main export markets caused a recession in 1999, which continued into 2002.
The 1999 national elections were held under a new electoral system established by a 1996 constitutional amendment.
Primaries in April decided single presidential candidates for each party, and national elections on October 31
determined representation in the legislature. As no presidential candidate received a majority in the October election,
a runoff was held in November. In the runoff, Colorado Party candidate Jorge Batlle, aided by the support of the
National Party, defeated Broad Front candidate Tabar Vzquez.
The Colorado and National Parties continued their legislative coalition, as neither party by itself won as many seats
as the 40% of each house won by the Broad Front coalition. The formal coalition ended in November 2002, when the
Blancos withdrew their ministers from the cabinet, although the Blancos continued to support the Colorados on most
issues.
Batlle's five-year term was marked by economic recession and uncertainty, first with the 1999 devaluation of the
Brazilian real, then with the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (aftosa) in Uruguay's key beef sector in 2001, and
finally with the political and economic collapse of Argentina. Unemployment rose to close to twenty percent, real
wages fell, the peso was devalued and the percentage of Uruguayans in poverty reached almost forty percent.
These worsening economic conditions played a part in turning public opinion against the free market economic
policies adopted by the Batlle administration and its predecessors, leading to popular rejection through plebiscites of
proposals for privatization of the state petroleum company in 2003 and of the state water company in 2004. In 2004
Uruguayans elected Tabar Vzquez as president, while giving the Broad Front coalition a majority in both houses
of parliament. The newly elected government, while pledging to continue payments on Uruguay's external debt, has
also promised to undertake a crash jobs programs to attack the widespread problems of poverty and unemployment.
In 2009, former Tupamaro and agriculture minister Jos Mujica, was elected president, subsequently succeeding
Vzquez on March 1, 2010.
History of Uruguay
7
References
[1] Michael Goebel, "Gauchos, Gringos and Gallegos: The Assimilation of Italian and Spanish Immigrants in the Making of Modern Uruguay
18801930," Past & Present, Aug 2010, Vol. 208 Issue 1, pp 191-229
[2] Anne-Emanuelle Birn, et al. "The infant mortality conundrum in Uruguay during the first half of the twentieth century: an analysis according
to causes of death," Continuity & Change, 2010, Vol. 25 Issue 3, pp 435-461
Bibliography and further reading
Finch, M. H. J. A Political Economy of Uruguay since 1870 (London, 1981)
Goebel, Michael. "Gauchos, Gringos and Gallegos: The Assimilation of Italian and Spanish Immigrants in the
Making of Modern Uruguay 18801930," Past and Present (August 2010) 208(1): 191-229 doi:
10.1093/pastj/gtp037 (http:/ / dx. doi. org/ 10. 1093/ pastj/ gtp037)
Oddone, Juan Antonio. "The Formation of Modern Uruguay, c.18701930", in Leslie Bethell ed., The Cambridge
History of Latin America, v, c.1870 to 1930 (Cambridge U.P., 1986),
Panizza, Francisco. "Late Institutionalisation and Early Modernisation: The Emergence of Uruguays Liberal
Democratic Political Order", Journal of Latin American Studies (1997) v 29
Rock, David, and Fernando Lpez-Alves. "State-Building and Political Systems in Nineteenth-Century Argentina
and Uruguay", Past and Present, no. 167 (May 2000).
Weinstein, Martin. Uruguay: The Politics of Failure (Greenwood, 1975)
Historiography
Bresciano, Juan Andrs. "L'Immigrazione Italiana in Uruguay Nella Piu Recente Storiografia (1990-2005)."
["Italian immigration to Uruguay in the most recent historiography, 1990-2005"] Studi Emigrazione, June 2008,
Vol. 45 Issue 170, pp 287-299
External links
Uruguayan Government Portal (http:/ / portal. gub. uy/ )
U.S. State Department Background Note: Uruguay (http:/ / www. state. gov/ r/ pa/ ei/ bgn/ 2091. htm)
The Economic History of Uruguay (http:/ / eh. net/ encyclopedia/ article/ Bertola. Uruguay. final) from EH.NET's
Encyclopedia
Information about Uruguay (http:/ / www. alluruguay. com)
Mongabay.com: Uruguay History (http:/ / www. mongabay. com/ reference/ country_studies/ uruguay/
HISTORY. html)
Demographics of Uruguay
8
This article is about the demographic features of the population of Uruguay, including population density, ethnicity,
education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Topics
Communications
Culture
Demographics
Economy
Education
Foreign
relations
Geography
Government
History
Military
Politics
Religion
Tourism
Transport
Uruguay
Population
Demographics of Uruguay, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in
thousands.
9
Census population in
thousands
Year Pop. % p.a.
1852 132
1860 229.5 +7.16%
1908 1,042.7 +3.20%
1963 2,595.5 +1.67%
1975 2,788.4 +0.60%
1985 2,955.2 +0.58%
1996 3,163.8 +0.62%
2004 3,241 +0.30%
2011 3,286.3 +0.20%
According to the 2010 revison of the World Population Prospects the total population was 3,369,000 in 2010,
compared to only 2,239,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 22.5%, 63.7% was
between 15 and 65 years of age, while 13.8% was 65 years or older .
[1]
Total
population
(x 1000)
Proportion
aged 014
(%)
Proportion
aged
1564
(%)
Proportion
aged 65+
(%)
1950 2 239 27.9 63.9 8.2
1955 2 372 27.6 64.3 8.1
1960 2 538 27.8 64.1 8.1
1965 2 694 28.1 63.6 8.3
1970 2 809 27.9 63.3 8.8
1975 2 829 27.7 62.7 9.6
1980 2 915 26.9 62.7 10.4
1985 3 011 26.8 62.3 10.9
1990 3 109 26.0 62.4 11.6
1995 3 223 25.0 62.6 12.4
2000 3 319 24.5 62.4 13.0
2005 3 323 23.8 62.8 13.5
2010 3 369 22.5 63.7 13.8
10
Vital statistics
UN estimates
The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates for Uruguay.
Period Live
births
per year
Deaths
per year
Natural
change
per year
CBR* CDR* NC* TFR* IMR* Life
expectancy
total
Life
expectancy
males
Life
expectancy
females
1950-1955 49 000 24 000 25 000 21.2 10.5 10.7 2.73 57 66.0 63.3 69.3
1955-1960 54 000 25 000 29 000 21.9 10.0 11.9 2.83 53 67.0 64.2 70.3
1960-1965 57 000 25 000 32 000 21.9 9.5 12.4 2.90 48 68.3 65.3 71.5
1965-1970 56 000 26 000 30 000 20.5 9.6 10.8 2.80 47 68.5 65.5 71.8
1970-1975 60 000 28 000 32 000 21.1 10.0 11.1 3.00 46 68.7 65.6 72.1
1975-1980 58 000 29 000 29 000 20.2 10.1 10.1 2.89 42 69.5 66.3 73.1
1980-1985 54 000 29 000 25 000 18.3 9.8 8.5 2.57 34 70.9 67.6 74.5
1985-1990 56 000 30 000 26 000 18.2 9.8 8.4 2.53 23 72.1 68.6 75.7
1990-1995 58 000 31 000 27 000 18.2 9.7 8.5 2.49 20 73.0 69.2 76.8
1995-2000 55 000 31 000 24 000 16.9 9.5 7.4 2.30 16 74.2 70.4 77.9
2000-2005 53 000 31 000 22 000 15.9 9.5 6.5 2.20 14 75.3 71.6 78.9
2005-2010 51 000 31 000 20 000 15.1 9.3 5.8 2.12 13 76.4 72.7 79.9
* CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000
births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)
Births and deaths
[2]

[3]
Average population (x
1000)
Live
births
Deaths Natural
change
Crude birth rate (per
1000)
Crude death rate (per
1000)
Natural change (per
1000)
1900 926 30 580 12 878 17 702 33.0 13.9 19.1
1901 951 31 703 12 504 19 199 33.3 13.1 20.2
1902 976 31 526 13 439 18 087 32.3 13.8 18.5
1903 1 004 32 600 13 673 18 927 32.5 13.6 18.9
1904 1 023 26 984 11 515 15 469 26.4 11.3 15.1
1905 1 056 33 709 13 612 20 097 31.9 12.9 19.0
1906 1 087 32 578 15 083 17 495 30.0 13.9 16.1
1907 1 124 33 657 15 561 18 096 29.9 13.8 16.1
1908 1 043 35 520 14 421 21 099 34.1 13.8 20.2
1909 1 079 35 663 15 249 20 414 33.1 14.1 18.9
1910 1 116 35 927 16 515 19 412 32.2 14.8 17.4
1911 1 160 37 530 16 552 20 978 32.4 14.3 18.1
1912 1 208 39 171 16 745 22 426 32.4 13.9 18.6
1913 1 261 40 315 15 374 24 941 32.0 12.2 19.8
1914 1 297 38 571 15 350 23 221 29.7 11.8 17.9
11
1915 1 327 38 046 16 602 21 444 28.7 12.5 16.2
1916 1 359 36 983 20 338 16 645 27.2 15.0 12.2
1917 1 387 36 752 17 348 19 404 26.5 12.5 14.0
1918 1 409 38 914 20 009 18 905 27.6 14.2 13.4
1919 1 442 39 307 18 904 20 403 27.3 13.1 14.1
1920 1 473 39 335 19 041 20 294 26.7 12.9 13.8
1921 1 505 39 611 18 449 21 162 26.3 12.3 14.1
1922 1 542 40 261 16 415 23 846 26.1 10.6 15.5
1923 1 579 40 231 18 110 22 121 25.5 11.5 14.0
1924 1 616 41 880 19 132 22 748 25.9 11.8 14.1
1925 1 653 42 167 19 332 22 835 25.5 11.7 13.8
1926 1 695 43 091 17 828 25 263 25.4 10.5 14.9
1927 1 737 42 845 19 939 22 906 24.7 11.5 13.2
1928 1 782 44 632 19 070 25 562 25.0 10.7 14.3
1929 1 823 44 236 19 660 24 576 24.3 10.8 13.5
1930 1 875 45 718 20 049 25 669 24.4 10.7 13.7
1931 1 922 44 854 21 163 23 691 23.3 11.0 12.3
1932 1 956 44 036 19 825 24 211 22.5 10.1 12.4
1933 1 982 41 650 20 358 21 292 21.0 10.3 10.7
1934 2 007 41 337 20 065 21 272 20.6 10.0 10.6
1935 2 030 41 426 21 514 19 912 20.4 10.6 9.8
1936 2 053 40 705 19 843 20 862 19.8 9.7 10.2
1937 2 080 41 337 21 561 19 776 19.9 10.4 9.5
1938 2 108 41 701 21 658 20 043 19.8 10.3 9.5
1939 2 132 42 862 19 341 23 521 20.1 9.1 11.0
1940 2 155 42 893 20 695 22 198 19.9 9.6 10.3
1941 2 175 44 287 20 381 23 906 20.4 9.4 11.0
1942 2 194 42 670 20 646 22 024 19.4 9.4 10.0
1943 2 211 43 500 20 738 22 762 19.7 9.4 10.3
1944 2 216 46 443 19 990 26 453 21.0 9.0 11.9
1945 2 266 49 021 19 627 29 394 21.6 8.7 13.0
1946 2 290 48 978 18 415 30 563 21.4 8.0 13.3
1947 2 317 46 796 20 139 26 657 20.2 8.7 11.5
1948 2 343 49 033 19 326 29 707 20.9 8.2 12.7
1949 2 383 54 838 18 351 36 487 23.0 7.7 15.3
1950 2 239 56 858 19 199 37 659 25.4 8.6 16.8
1951 2 261 45 281 19 190 26 091 20.0 8.5 11.5
1952 2 286 46 710 19 083 27 627 20.4 8.4 12.1
1953 2 313 47 464 19 408 28 056 20.5 8.4 12.1
12
1954 2 342 49 888 19 153 30 735 21.3 8.2 13.1
1955 2 373 56 111 20 611 35 500 23.7 8.7 15.0
1956 2 405 56 389 19 895 36 494 23.5 8.3 15.2
1957 2 438 56 337 21 722 34 615 23.1 8.9 14.2
1958 2 471 57 100 20 937 36 163 23.1 8.5 14.6
1959 2 505 56 589 23 523 33 066 22.6 9.4 13.2
1960 2 539 56 302 22 104 38 507 22.2 8.7 15.2
1961 2 572 54 950 21 954 42 503 21.4 8.5 16.5
1962 2 604 56 120 22 563 43 541 21.6 8.7 16.7
1963 2 635 57 141 23 524 39 542 21.7 8.9 15.0
1964 2 666 55 100 24 118 38 707 20.7 9.0 14.5
1965 2 695 53 830 24 774 35 440 20.0 9.2 13.2
1966 2 723 51 120 24 862 33 966 18.8 9.1 12.5
1967 2 750 52 010 26 484 34 024 18.9 9.6 12.4
1968 2 775 53 330 25 991 35 277 19.2 9.4 12.7
1969 2 795 56 750 27 544 28 456 20.3 9.9 10.2
1970 2 810 54 870 26 441 28 429 19.5 9.4 10.1
1971 2 818 55 990 28 527 27 463 19.9 10.1 9.7
1972 2 822 56 470 28 327 28 143 20.0 10.0 10.0
1973 2 822 56 640 28 438 28 202 20.1 10.1 10.0
1974 2 824 58 280 28 289 29 991 20.7 10.0 10.6
1975 2 830 59 140 27 437 31 703 20.9 9.7 11.2
1976 2 842 59 190 28 845 30 345 20.8 10.2 10.7
1977 2 857 57 976 28 927 29 049 20.3 10.1 10.2
1978 2 876 57 276 28 041 29 235 19.9 9.8 10.2
1979 2 896 55 770 28 321 27 449 19.3 9.8 9.5
1980 2 916 53 854 29 844 24 010 19.1 10.6 8.5
1981 2 935 53 923 27 644 26 279 18.4 9.4 9.0
1982 2 954 53 713 27 186 26 527 18.2 9.2 9.0
1983 2 973 53 405 28 475 24 930 18.0 9.6 8.4
1984 2 993 53 348 30 011 23 337 17.8 10.0 7.8
1985 3 012 53 766 28 566 25 200 17.9 9.5 8.4
1986 3 031 54 080 28 791 25 289 17.9 9.5 8.4
1987 3 050 53 368 29 885 23 483 17.5 9.8 7.7
1988 3 069 55 798 30 912 24 886 18.2 10.1 8.1
1989 3 089 55 324 29 621 25 703 17.9 9.6 8.3
1990 3 110 56 013 30 210 26 277 18.0 9.7 8.5
1991 3 132 54 754 29 774 24 980 17.5 9.5 8.0
1992 3 155 54 190 30 008 24 182 17.2 9.5 7.7
13
1993 3 178 55 953 31 616 24 337 17.6 9.9 7.7
1994 3 201 55 990 30 122 25 868 17.5 9.4 8.1
1995 3 224 56 695 31 525 25 170 17.6 9.8 7.8
1996 3 248 58 862 31 108 27 754 18.1 9.6 8.5
1997 3 271 58 032 30 451 27 581 17.7 9.3 8.4
1998 3 292 54 760 31 917 22 843 16.6 9.7 6.9
1999 3 309 54 004 32 430 21 574 16.3 9.8 6.5
2000 3 321 52 770 30 456 22 314 15.9 9.2 6.7
2001 3 327 51 959 31 228 20 731 15.6 9.4 6.2
2002 3 328 51 953 31 628 20 325 15.6 9.5 6.1
2003 3 325 50 631 32 587 18 044 15.2 9.8 5.4
2004 3 324 50 052 32 220 17 832 15.1 9.7 5.4
2005 3 325 46 944 32 319 14 625 14.1 9.7 4.4
2006 3 330 47 410 31 056 16 354 14.2 9.3 4.9
2007 3 338 47 373 33 706 13 667 14.2 10.1 4.1
2008 3 349 47 484 31 363 16 121 14.2 9.4 4.8
2009 3 360 47 152 32 179 14 973 14.0 9.6 4.5
2010 3 372 47 420 33 474 13 946 14.1 9.9 4.1
2011 3 383 46 699 33 000 13 699 13.8 9.8 4.0
Origins and Ethnicity
Uruguay is a multiethnical society, which means that it is home to people of many different ethnical backgrounds. In
that case, Uruguyans usually treat their nationality as a citizenship rather than an ethnicity.
Uruguayans share a Spanish linguistic and heavily Spanish cultural background with its neighbour Argentina. Most
Uruguayans are descended from colonial-era settlers and immigrants from Europe with almost 88% of the population
being of European descent,
[4]
The majority of these European immigrants were mainly Spaniards, followed closely
by Italians, including numbers of French, Germans, Portuguese, British (English or Scots), Irish, Swiss, Russians,
Poles, Bulgarians, Hungarians, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Estonians, Latvians, Swedish, Danish, Dutch, Belgians,
Austrians, Croats, Greeks and Scandinavians. There are also smaller numbers of Turkish, Armenian, Serbs,
Georgian, Jews and Lebanese people.
Almost the entire ethnic-European population has at least partial Spanish and/or Italian roots, with many having
ancestry from various other ethnic groups, e.g. Portuguese, French and English descent.
Many Swiss settlements (colonias or "colonies") such as Colonia Suiza, Colonia Valdense and Nueva Helvecia were
founded in the department of Colonia. Also, there are towns founded by early British settlers, such as Conchillas and
Barker. A Russian colony called San Javier, is found in the department of Ro Negro. Also there are Mennonite
colonies in the department of Ro Negro and in the department of Canelones.
Many of the European immigrants arrived in the late 19th century and have heavily influenced the architecture and
culture of Montevideo and other major cities. For this reason, Montevideo and life within the city are very
reminiscent of Western Europe.
The rest of the Uruguayan population is Black/Afro-Uruguayan of African descent and about 1 or 2% are of Asian
descent, mostly are Lebanese/Syrian Arab, and Chinese or Japanese ancestry (see Brbara Mori).
14
Amerindians make up a small population in the Rural North-West region, with Mestizos making up 6% of the
Population.
Demographic Distribution
Metropolitan Montevideo, with about one and a half million inhabitants, is the capital and largest city. The rest of the
urban population lives in about 20 towns. Montevideo is about 200 kilometers (120mi) away from Buenos Aires in
neighboring Argentina.
Uruguay is distinguished by its high literacy rate (97.3%) and a large urban middle class.
As a result of the low birth rate, high life expectancy, and relatively high rate of emigration of younger people,
Uruguay's population is quite mature. In 2006, the country had a birth rate of 13.91 births per thousand population,
lower than neighboring countries Argentina (16.73 births/1000 population)[3] and Brazil (16.56 births/1,000
population).
Emigration
During the past four decades, an estimated 500,000 Uruguayans had emigrated, principally to Brazil, Argentina and
Europe. (Spain is the main destination for Uruguayans, but they are also drawn to the United Kingdom, Italy, France
and Germany).
[citation needed]
Other Uruguayans went to various countries in Europe, Australia and the USA. There
are 500,000 Uruguayans in Brazil, the largest community of this group and many came there to escape political
persecution in the 1970s.
Neighboring ties and short distances between Uruguayan cities and Argentine capital Buenos Aires, have drawn a
path of success for very talented Uruguayans who settled in the neighbor country and became famous and locally
accepted. Some famous Uruguayans who excelled in Argentina are entrepreneur and financier Juan Navarro, sports
journalist Victor Hugo Morales, singer and actress Natalia Oreiro, soccer players Antonio Alzamendi, Enzo
Francescoli and Carlos Goyen, actor Daniel Hendler, actress China Zorrilla, entertainer Carlos Perciavalle and
former playboy and journalist Luis Csar Avils.
Emigration to the United States also rose recently, but remains a small part of the US population. The majority of
Uruguayans in the US live in New York City, New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and urban areas of California.
Religion
Religion in Uruguay (2008)
Religion Percent
Roman Catholic 45.7%
Non-Catholic Christian 9.0%
Nonsectarian believers 30.1%
Atheist 12.0%
Agnostic 2.0%
Other 1.2%
Uruguay has no official religion, church and state are officially separated and religious freedom is guaranteed. A
2008 survey by the Instituto Nacional de Estadstica of Uruguay gave Catholicism as the main religion, with 45.7%
of the population, 9.0% are non-Catholic Christians, 0.6% are Animists or Umbandists (an Afro-Brazilian religion)
and 0.4% Jewish. 30.1% reported believing in a god, but not belonging to any religion, while 14% were Atheist or
Agnostic. Among the sizeable Armenian community in Montevideo the dominant religion is Christianity,
15
specifically Armenian Apostolic.
Political observers consider Uruguay the most secular country in the Americas. Uruguay's secularization began with
the relatively minor role of the church in the colonial era, compared with other parts of the Spanish Empire. The
small numbers of Uruguay's Indians and their fierce resistance to proselytism reduced the influence of the
ecclesiastical authorities.
After independence, anticlerical ideas spread to Uruguay, particularly from France, further eroding the influence of
the church. In 1837, civil marriage was recognized and in 1861 the state took over the running of public cemeteries.
In 1907, divorce was legalized and in 1909, all religious instruction was banned from state schools. Under the
influence of the radical Colorado reformer Jos Batlle y Ordez (19031911) complete separation of church and
state was introduced with the new constitution of 1917.
Demographic Data
Population
3,316,328 (July 2011 est.)
Note: The 2011 Census of the National Statistics Institute of Uruguay has started in September 2011 and the
preliminary results, stating population of departments, were announced in December 2011. Final results with
numbers for localities are still pending (26 June 2012).
Median age
total: 33.64013 years
male: 32 years
female: 35.2 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate
0.24% (2011 est.)
Net migration rate
-1.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 92% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
1564 years: 0.5 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
16
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.5% (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
9,900 (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
Racial groups
European 88%, Mestizo 8%, Black 4%, Amerindian <1%
Languages
Spanish, Uruguayan Sign Language, Portuol, Portuguese.
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 16 years
male: 14 years
female: 17 years (2008)
Education expenditures
2.9% of GDP (2006)
References
[1] Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The
2010 Revision (http:/ / esa. un. org/ unpd/ wpp/ index. htm)
[2] (http:/ / unstats. un. org/ unsd/ demographic/ products/ dyb/ dyb2. htm#2001) United nations. Demographic Yearbooks
[3] Instituto Nacional de Estadistica: Estadisticas vitales (http:/ / www. ine. gub. uy/ socio-demograficos/ vitales2008. asp)
[4] Constituciones Hispanoamericanas - Constituciones - Uruguay (http:/ / www. cervantesvirtual. com/ portal/ constituciones/ pais.
formato?pais=Uruguay& indice=datos)
Geography of Uruguay
17
Continent South America
Region Americas
Coordinates
3300S 5600W
[1]
Area
Total
176,215km
2
(68,037sqmi)
Coastline 660km (410mi)
Borders Total land borders:
1564km
Argentina: 579km
Brazil: 985km
Highest point Cerro Catedral (514 m)
Lowest point Atlantic Ocean (0 m)
Longest river Rio Negro
Topics
Communications
Culture
Demographics
Economy
Education
Foreign
relations
Geography
Government
History
Military
Politics
Religion
Tourism
Transport
Uruguay
18
A satellite image of Uruguay
Shaded relief map of Uruguay
Uruguay is a country in Southern South
America, bordering the South Atlantic
Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil. It is
located in the Southern Hemisphere on the
Atlantic seaboard of South America
between 53 and 58 west longitude and 30
and 35 south latitude. It is bounded on the
west by Argentina, on the north and
northeast by Brazil, and on the southeast by
the Atlantic Ocean.
To the south, it fronts the Ro de la Plata, a
broad estuary that opens out into the South
Atlantic. Montevideo, the capital and major
port, sits on the banks of the Ro de la Plata
and is on approximately the same latitude as
Cape Town and Sydney. Uruguay is the
smallest Spanish-speaking nation in South
America with a land area of 173,620km
2
(67,035sqmi) and a water area of
2,600km
2
(1,004sqmi).
Topography and
hydrography
Most of Uruguay is a rolling plain that
represents a transition from the almost
featureless Argentine pampas to the hilly
uplands of southern Brazil. The country
itself has flat plains on its eastern, southern,
and western edges. The narrow Atlantic
coastal plain is sandy and marshy,
occasionally broken by shallow lagoons.
The littorals of the Ro de la Plata and the
Ro Uruguay are somewhat broader and
merge more gradually into the hilly interior.
The remaining two-quarters of the country is
a rolling plateau marked by ranges of low
hills that become more prominent in the
north as they merge into the highlands of
southern Brazil. Even these hilly areas are
remarkably featureless, however, and
elevations seldom exceed 200 meters.
Uruguay is a water-rich land. Prominent
bodies of water mark its limits on the east,
19
Political map of Uruguay
south, and west, and even most of the
boundary with Brazil follows small rivers.
Lakes and lagoons are numerous, and a high
water table makes digging wells easy.
Three systems of rivers drain the land: rivers
flow westward to the Ro Uruguay, eastward
to the Atlantic or tidal lagoons bordering the
ocean, and south to the Ro de la Plata. The
Ro Uruguay, which forms the border with
Argentina, is flanked by low banks, and
disastrous floods sometimes inundate large
areas. The longest and most important of the
rivers draining westward is the Ro Negro,
which crosses the entire country from
northeast to west before emptying into the
Ro Uruguay. A dam on the Ro Negro at
Paso de los Toros has created a
reservoirthe Embalse del Ro Negrothat
is the largest artificial lake in South
America. The Ro Negro's principal
tributary and the country's second most
important river is the Y River (Ro Y). The
rivers flowing east to the Atlantic are
generally shallower and have more variable flow than the other rivers. Many empty into lagoons in the coastal plain.
The largest coastal lagoon, Laguna Mern, forms part of the border with Brazil. Six smaller lagoons, some freshwater
and some brackish, line the coast farther south.
Climate
Located entirely within the temperate zone, Uruguay has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa according to the Kppen
climate classification) that is fairly uniform nationwide. Seasonal variations are pronounced, but extremes in
temperature are rare. As would be expected by its abundance of water, high humidity and fog are common. The
absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, makes all locations vulnerable to high winds and rapid changes
in weather as fronts or storms sweep across the country. Weather is sometimes humid.
Seasons are fairly well defined, and in most of Uruguay spring is usually damp, cool, and windy; summers are warm;
autumns are mild; and winters are chilly and uncomfortably damp. Northwestern Uruguay, however, is farther from
large bodies of water and therefore has warmer summers and milder and drier winters than the rest of the country.
Average highs and lows in summer (January) in Montevideo are 28 and 17C (82.4 and 62.6F), respectively, with
an absolute maximum of 43C (109.4F); comparable numbers for Artigas in the northwest are 33 and 18C (91.4
and 64.4F), with the highest temperature ever recorded (42C or 107.6F). Winter (July) average highs and lows
in Montevideo are 14 and 6C (57.2 and 42.8F), respectively, although the high humidity makes the temperatures
feel colder; the lowest temperature registered in Montevideo is 4C (24.8F). Averages in July of a high of 18C
(64.4F) and a low of 7C (44.6F) in Artigas confirm the milder winters in northwestern Uruguay, but even here
temperatures have dropped to a subfreezing 4C (24.8F).
Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, and annual amounts increase from southeast to northwest.
Montevideo averages annually, and Artigas receives 1,235 millimeters (48.6in) in an average year. As in most
20
temperate climates, rainfall results from the passage of cold fronts in winter, falling in overcast drizzly spells, and
summer thunderstorms are frequent.
High winds are a disagreeable characteristic of the weather, particularly during the winter and spring, and wind shifts
are sudden and pronounced. A winter warm spell can be abruptly broken by a strong pampero, a chilly and
occasionally violent wind blowing north from the Argentine pampas. Summer winds off the ocean, however, have
the salutary effect of tempering warm daytime temperatures.
Land use and settlement patterns
Uruguay may be divided into four regions, based on social, economic, and geographical factors. The regions include
the interior, the littoral, Greater Montevideo, and the coast.
The interior
This largest region includes the departments of Artigas, Cerro Largo, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Rivera,
Salto, Tacuaremb, and Treinta y Tres and the eastern halves of Paysand, Ro Negro, and Soriano. The topsoil is
thin and unsuited to intensive agriculture, but it nourishes abundant natural pasture.
Only 2 to 3% of Uruguay's land is forested. An estimated 30,000 to 40,000km
2
(15,444sqmi) (17 to 23% of the
total land) are arable, but only one-third of this (about 7% of the total productive land) was cultivated in 1990.
Almost all of the interior consisted of cattle and sheep ranches; pasture accounted for 89% of the country's
productive land.
Sheep rearing was typically undertaken on medium-sized farms concentrated in the west and south. It began to boom
as an export industry in the last quarter of the 19th century, particularly following the invention of barbed wire,
which allowed the easy enclosure of properties. Uruguayan wool is of moderate quality, not quite up to Australian
standards.
Cattle ranches, or estancias, for beef and hides were typically quite large (over 10km) and were concentrated in the
north and east. (Dairying was concentrated in the department of Colonia.) Because ranching required little labor,
merely a few gauchos, the interior lacked a peasantry and large towns. Despite being sparsely populated, however,
the interior was relatively urbanized in that the capital of each department usually contained about half the
inhabitants. Social and economic development indicators were lowest for the departments along the Brazilian border
to the northeast. Government attempts to encourage agricultural colonization by means of land reform in the interior
had largely failed in economic terms, as had the promotion of wheat production. One exception, rice, most of which
was produced in the east, had become a major nontraditional export in recent years.
21
The Littoral
Countryside in San Jose department
Stretching west along the Ro de la Plata from
Montevideo, are the agricultural and dairying
departments of San Jos and Colonia. To the
north along the Ro Uruguay lie the departments
of Soriano, Ro Negro, Paysand and Salto. Their
western halves form part of the litoral, a region
that is somewhat more developed than the
interior. Here soils are alluvial and more fertile,
favoring crop production and farms of more
modest size than in the interior. Citrus cultivation
for export has increased in the departments along
the Ro Uruguay. The department of Colonia,
some of which was settled by the Swiss, was
famous for the production of milk, butter, cheese,
and dulce de leche (a dessert made from concentrated milk and sugar). Most wheat (in which Uruguay was
self-sufficient) also was produced in this region.
Construction with Argentina of the Salto Grande Dam across the Ro Uruguay north of Salto was a major boost to
the development of the northern litoral in the 1970s. By contrast, the closure of the famous meat-packing plant at
Fray Bentos in the department of Ro Negro transformed it into a virtual ghost town. Farther south, the litoral
economy had benefited from completion of the General Artigas Bridge across the Ro Uruguay from Paysand to the
Argentine province of Entre Ros. However, the advent of a convenient (if circuitous) land route from Montevideo to
Buenos Aires via the new bridge reduced freight and passenger traffic through the small port of Colonia on the Ro
de la Plata just opposite the Argentine capital. To compensate, the Uruguayan government encouraged the
architectural restoration of Colonia, which was originally built by the Portuguese in colonial times. By 1990 Colonia
had become one of Uruguay's most historic tourist attractions, and many of its houses had been bought by
vacationers from Buenos Aires.
Greater Montevideo
According to the 2004 census, the population of the department of Montevideo was 1,325,968,
[2]
and that of the
neighboring department of Canelones was 485,240,
[3]
out of a total population of 3,241,003.
[4]
Thus, these
departments and the eastern portion of San Jos, which together constituted the Greater Montevideo region, held
over one-half of Uruguay's population. This monocephalic pattern of settlement was more pronounced in Uruguay
than in any other nation of the world, barring citystates. The 2004 census indicated a population density of about
2,475 inhabitants per square kilometer in the department of Montevideo and about 80 inhabitants per square
kilometer in the department of Canelones. Densities elsewhere in the country were dramatically lower.
Montevideo was originally founded on a promontory beside a large bay that forms a perfect natural harbor. In the
19th century, the British promoted it as a rival port to Buenos Aires. The city has expanded to such an extent that by
1990 it covered most of the department. The original area of settlement, known as the Old City, lies adjacent to the
port, but the central business district and the middle-class residential areas have moved eastward. The only exception
to this pattern of eastward expansion is that banking and finance continued to cluster in the Old City around the
Stock Exchange, the Bank of Uruguay (Banco de la Repblica Oriental del UruguayBROU), and the Central Bank
of Uruguay.
Since the 1950s, Montevideo's prosperous middle classes have tended to abandon the formerly fashionable
downtown areas for the more modern high-rise apartment buildings of Pocitos, a beachfront neighborhood east of the
22
center. Still farther east lies the expensive area of Carrasco, a zone of modern luxury villas that has come to replace
the old neighborhood of El Prado in the north of the city as home to the country's wealthy elite. Its beaches were less
polluted than those closer to the center. Montevideo's Carrasco International Airport is located nearby, crossing the
border to Canelones Department. The capital's principal artery, 18 July Avenue, was long the principal shopping
street of Montevideo, but it has been hurt since the mid-1980s by the construction of a modern shopping mall
strategically located between Pocitos and Carrasco.
Montevideo's poorer neighborhoods tended to be located in the north of the city and around the bay in the areas of
industrial activity. However, the degree of spatial separation of social classes was moderate by the standards of other
cities in South America. Starting in the 1970s, the city began to acquire a belt of shantytowns around its outskirts,
but in 1990 these remained small compared with Rio de Janeiro or Guayaquil, for example. About 60,000 families
lived in such shantytowns, known in Uruguay as cantegriles. An intensive program of public housing construction
was undertaken in the 1970s and 1980s, but it had not solved the problem by 1990.
In 1990 Greater Montevideo was by far the most developed region of Uruguay and dominated the nation
economically and culturally. It was home to the country's two universities, its principal hospitals, and most of its
communications media (television stations, radio stations, newspapers, and magazines). Attempts by the military
governments from 1973 to 1985 to promote the development of the north of the country (partly for strategic reasons)
failed to change this pattern of extreme centralization. In one way, however, they achieved a major success: the
introduction of direct dialing revolutionized the country's longdistance telephone system. By contrast, the local
telephone network in Montevideo remained so hopelessly antiquated and unreliable that many firms relied on courier
services to get messages to other downtown businesses.
Until the construction boom of the late 1970s, relatively few modern buildings had been constructed. In many parts
of the center, elegant nineteenth-century houses built around a central patio were still to be seen in 1990. In some
cases, the patio was open to the air, but in most cases it was covered by a skylight, some of which were made of
elaborate stained glass. Few of these houses were used for single-family occupancy, however, and many had been
converted into low-cost apartments.
The middle classes preferred to live in more modern apartments near the city center or the University of the
Republic. Alternatively, they might purchase a single-family villa with a small yard at the back. Many of these were
close to the beaches running east from the downtown along the avenue known as the Rambla. In Pocitos, however,
high-rise apartments had replaced the single-family homes on those streets closest to the beach.
The coast
Stretching east from Montevideo along the Ro de la Plata are the departments of Canelones, Maldonado, and Rocha.
The inland portion of Canelones is an area of small farms and truck gardens, which produce vegetables for the
capital. It was relatively poor in 1990. Many inhabitants of the department's small towns also commuted to jobs in
Montevideo by express bus. Along the coast lie a string of small seaside towns (balnearios), from which more
prosperous employees had also begun to commute. Farther east in the highly developed department of Maldonado
lies the major resort of Punta del Este. This has been developed as a fashionable playground more for Argentines
than for average Uruguayans, who found it too expensive. With its hotels, restaurants, casino, and nightclubs, Punta
del Este was a major export earner, and it dominated Uruguay's tourism industry.
Vacationing Uruguayans of more modest means were concentrated in smaller resorts such as Piripolis and
Atlntida, which are closer to Montevideo. Beyond Punta del Este in the still mostly undeveloped department of
Rocha, a number of communities had sprouted along the unspoiled Atlantic coast with its kilometres of sandy
beaches and huge breakers. These small vacation communitiessuch as Aguas Dulces and Cabo Polonio, both in
Rocha Departmentwere entirely unplanned and lacked essential services. In many cases, simple holiday chalets
had been built on public property adjoining the seashore without any legal title to the land. In 1990 the authorities in
Rocha Department announced plans to regulate and improve this development in hopes of encouraging visits by
23
higher-spending tourists.
Regional development
Uruguay's regions differed markedly not only in population size and density but also in their indexes of social and
economic development, including education, health care, communications, energy consumption, and
industrialization. Least developed were the northern ranching departments along the Brazilian borderArtigas,
Rivera, and Cerro Largoand also Tacuaremb. Somewhat more developed was a band of six departments
stretching across the center of the country, from west to east: Ro Negro, Flores, Florida, Durazno, Treinta y Tres,
and Rocha. More industrialized and urbanized, but still quite poor, were the departments of Soriano and Salto,
which, as noted previously, benefited from the construction of a bridge and a dam, respectively, across the Ro
Uruguay in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The two remaining western departmentsColonia and Paysandwere
the most developed of the littoral.
Three departments close to MontevideoSan Jos, Canelones, and Lavallejapresented a contradictory picture of
relatively advanced economic development combined with low indexes of social modernization. Finally,
Montevideo and the department of Maldonado (which is strongly affected by the tourism industry in Punta del Este)
had the highest indexes of social and economic development in the country.
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 200nmi (370.4km; 230.2mi); overflight and navigation guaranteed beyond 12nmi (22.2km;
13.8mi)
Natural resources: arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
Irrigated land: 1,180km
2
(2003)
Total renewable water resources: 139 km
3
(2011)
Environment - current issues: water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous
waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Antipodes
Uruguay is only marginally antipodal to any other land mass. The northern corner on the Argentinian border, north
and south of the town of Salto, are opposite a few small islands and bits of coast off Shanghai. The eastern corner on
the Brazilian border, including the town of Cebollat, overlaps half the South Korean island of Jeju, while the eastern
coast corresponds to some small islands off the southwestern tip of South Korea, such as Jindo Island ( Cabo
Polonio).
External links
Uruguayan Government Portal
[5]
24
References
[1] http:/ / tools.wmflabs. org/ geohack/ geohack. php?pagename=Geography_of_Uruguay& params=33_00_S_56_00_W_type:country
[2] 2004 census Montevideo Department (http:/ / www.ine. gub. uy/ fase1new/ Montevideo/ Cuadro7_01. XLS)
[3] 2004 census Canelones Department (http:/ / www. ine.gub. uy/ fase1new/ Canelones/ Cuadro7_03. XLS)
[4] 2004 census Totals (http:/ / www. ine.gub. uy/ fase1new/ TotalPais/ divulgacion_TotalPais. asp)
[5] http:/ / portal. gub.uy/
Rex A. Hudson and Sandra W. Meditz, editors. Uruguay: A Country Study (http:/ / countrystudies. us/ uruguay/ ).
Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1990.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of the Library of Congress
Country Studies.
List of cities in Uruguay
The list of cities in Uruguay is a list of all populated centres of Uruguay that have received the status of "Ciudad"
(City). There are several populated places that have not received this status, with a population below 10,000 but as
big as that of many cities. The ranks shown are only among cities and not including their wider metropolitan areas.
The 39 top ones are the biggest populated centres of Uruguay.
The year given is not the year of foundation but that of the acquisition of "City" status. If this status was obtained on
an unknown date before the Independence of Uruguay, the foundation year is given in parentheses, or the date it was
declared a "Villa" (Town) followed by an asterisk*.
Rank City Year Population Department
1985 Census 1996 Census 2004 Census 2011 Census
1 Montevideo (1724) 1,251,647 1,303,182 1,269,648 1,319,108 Montevideo
2 Salto 1863 80,823 93,117 99,072 104,028 Salto
3 Ciudad de la Costa 1994 34,483 66,596 83,399 95,176* Canelones
4 Paysand 1863 76,191 74,568 73,272 76,412 Paysand
5 Las Piedras 1925 58,288 66,584 69,222 71,258 Canelones
6 Rivera 1912 57,316 62,859 64,426 64,465 Rivera
7 Maldonado (1755) 33,536 48,936 54,603 62,590 Maldonado
8 Tacuaremb 1912 40,413 45,891 51,224 54,755 Tacuaremb
9 Melo 1895 42,615 46,883 50,578 51,830 Cerro Largo
10 Mercedes 1857 36,702 39,320 42,032 41,974 Soriano
11 Artigas 1915 35,119 40,244 41,687 40,658 Artigas
12 Minas 1888 34,661 37,146 37,925 38,446 Lavalleja
13 San Jos de Mayo 1856 31,827 34,552 36,339 36,743 San Jos
14 Durazno 1906 27,835 30,607 33,576 34,368 Durazno
15 Florida 1894 28,445 31,594 32,128 33,639 Florida
16 Barros Blancos 2006 10,585 13,464 13,553 31,650 Canelones
17 Ciudad del Plata 2006 35,588 (2009 estimate) 31,145 San Jos
18 San Carlos 1929 19,878 24,030 24,771 27,471 Maldonado
19 Colonia del Sacramento 1809* 19,101 22,200 21,714 26,213 Colonia
20 Pando 1920 19,797 23,384 24,004 25,947 Canelones
25
21 Treinta y Tres 1915 28,117 26,390 25,711 25,477 Treinta y Tres
22 Rocha 1894 24,015 26,017 25,538 25,422 Rocha
23 Fray Bentos 1900 20,135 21,959 23,122 22,406 Ro Negro
24 Trinidad 1903 18,372 20,031 20,982 21,429 Flores
25 La Paz 1957 16,209 19,547 19,832 20,524 Canelones
26 Canelones 1916 17,325 19,388 19,631 19,865 Canelones
27 Carmelo 1920 14,127 16,658 16,866 18,041 Colonia
28 Dolores 1923 12,914 14,784 15,753 17,174 Soriano
29 Young 1963 12,249 14,567 15,759 16,756 Ro Negro
30 Santa Luca 1925 14,951 16,764 16,425 16,742 Canelones
31 Progreso 1981 11,244 14,471 15,775 16,244 Canelones
32 Ro Branco 1953 9,035 12,215 13,456 14,604 Cerro Largo
33 Paso de los Toros 1953 12,826 13,315 13,231 12,985 Tacuaremb
34 Juan Lacaze 1953 12,574 12,988 13,196 12,816 Colonia
35 Bella Unin 1963 12,238 13,537 13,187 12,200 Artigas
36 Nueva Helvecia 1952 8,768 9,650 10,002 10,630 Colonia
37 Libertad 1963 7,032 8,353 9,196 10,166 San Jos
38 Rosario 1920 8,879 9,428 9,311 10,085 Colonia
39 Nueva Palmira 1953 7,151 8,339 9,230 9,857 Colonia
40 Chuy 1981 8,257 9,804 10,401 9,675 Rocha
41 Punta del Este 1957 6,731 8,294 7,298 9,277 Maldonado
42 Piripolis 1960 5,878 7,570 7,899 8,830 Maldonado
43 Salinas 1982 2,523 5,279 6,574 8,626 Canelones
44 Parque del Plata 1969 3,229 4,993 5,900 7,896 Canelones
45 Lascano 1952 7,152 7,134 6,994 7,645 Rocha
46 Castillos 1952 6,836 7,346 7,649 7,541 Rocha
47 Tranqueras 1994 4,862 5,967 7,284 7,235 Rivera
48 Sarand del Y 1956 5,910 6,662 7,289 7,176 Durazno
49 San Ramn 1953 7,001 6,828 6,992 7,133 Canelones
50 Tarariras 1969 5,535 6,174 6,070 6,632 Colonia
51 Pan De Azcar 1961 5,513 6,532 7,098 6,597 Maldonado
52 Sauce 1973 4,294 4,932 5,797 6,132 Canelones
53 Sarand Grande 1956 5,379 5,635 6,362 6,130 Florida
54 Atlntida 1967 2,764 3,989 4,580 5,562 Canelones
55 Jos Pedro Varela 1967 4,077 4,983 5,332 5,118 Lavalleja
56 Tala 1960 4,197 4,720 4,939 5,089 Canelones
57 Guichn 1964 4,284 4,826 5,025 5,039 Paysand
58 Cardona 1963 3,822 4,579 4,689 4,600 Soriano
59 San Jacinto 1976 2,795 3,596 3,909 4,510 Canelones
26
60 Toledo 1995 3,321 3,487 4,028 4,397 Canelones
61 Vergara 1994 3,379 3,983 3,985 3,810 Treinta y Tres
62 Santa Rosa 1972 2,808 3,263 3,660 3,727 Canelones
63 Florencio Snchez 1995 2,562 3,038 3,526 3,716 Colonia
64 La Paloma 1982 2,235 3,084 3,202 3,495 Rocha
65 San Gregorio de Polanco 1994 2,856 3,101 3,673 3,415 Tacuaremb
66 Ombes de Lavalle 1984 3,024 3,189 3,451 3,390 Colonia
67 Colonia Valdense 1982 2,409 2,876 3,087 3,235 Colonia
68 Cerrillos 1971 1,763 1,916 2,080 2,508 Canelones
69 Aigu 1956 2,362 2,567 2,676 2,465 Maldonado
70 Migues 1970 2,079 2,004 2,180 2,109 Canelones
71 Dr. Francisco Soca 1971 1,667 1,764 1,742 1,797 Canelones
* According to the INE, during the 2011 census, the population Paso de Carrasco and some barrios not belonging to
the municipality of Ciudad de la Costa were counted as part of the city. This would bring its population to 112,447.
However, Wikipedia takes the number 95,178 as the one reflecting the population of what is officially defined as
"Ciudad de la Costa" and which coincides with the limits of the municipality of the same name.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadstica de Uruguay
References
Politics of Uruguay
Uruguay
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Uruguay
The Politics of Uruguay abide by a presidential representative democratic republic, under which the President of
Uruguay is both the head of state and the head of government, as well as a multiform party system. The president
exercises executive power and Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the General Assembly of
Uruguay. The Judiciary branch is independent from that of the executive and legislature.
The Colorado and National parties have been locked in a power struggle, with the predominance of the Colorado
party throughout most of Uruguay's history. The elections of 2004, however, brought the Encuentro
Progresista-Frente Amplio-Nueva Mayora, a coalition of socialists, former Tupamaros, communists, social
democrats, and Christian Democrats among others to power with majorities in both houses of parliament. A majority
vote elected President Tabar Vzquez.
In 2009, the Broad Front once again won the elections with a plurality of the votes. A presidential runoff was
triggered because their candidate, Jos Mujica, only received 47.96 percent of the vote. The Broad Front's candidate
easily beat Luis Alberto Lacalle of the Nacional Party) in second round of voting. In addition to the presidency, the
Broad Front won a simple majority in the Uruguayan Senate and Congress.
Constitution
Uruguay adopted its first constitution in 1830, following the conclusion of a three year war in which Argentina and
Uruguay fought as a regional federation: the United Provinces of Ro de la Plata. Sponsored by the United Kingdom,
the 1828 Treaty of Montevideo built the foundations for a Uruguayan state and constitution. Attempts to reform the
1830 constitution in 1966 led to the adoption of an entirely new document in 1967. A constitution proposed under a
military revolution in 1980 was rejected by a vote of the entire electorate.
Politics of Uruguay
28
Executive branch
Uruguay's president Jos Mujica
Uruguay's Constitution of 1967 created a strong presidency,
subject to legislative and judicial balance. Many of these
provisions were suspended in 1973 but reestablished in 1985. The
president, who is both the head of state and the head of
government, is elected by popular vote for a five-year term, with
the vice president elected on the same ticket. The President must
act together with the Council of Ministers, which comprises
cabinet ministers, appointed by the president. Thirteen ministers
head various executive departments. The ministers can be removed
by the General Assembly by a majority vote.
Legislative branch
General Assembly of Uruguay.
The General Assembly (Asamblea General) has two chambers. The
Chamber of Deputies (Cmara de Diputados) has 99 members, elected
for a five-year term by proportional representation with at least two
members per department. The Chamber of Senators (Cmara de
Senadores) has 31 members; 30 members are elected for a five-year
term by proportional representation and the Vice-president who
presides over it.
Judicial branch
The Supreme Court is the highest court.
Direct democracy
The Uruguayan constitution allows citizens to challenge laws approved by Parliament by use of a referendum or to
propose changes to the Constitution by the use of a plebiscite.
Political parties and elections
Politics of Uruguay
29
2009 Uruguayan presidential election results
Candidates (Parties) First round Runoff Result
Votes % Votes %
Jos Mujica (Broad Front) 1,105,262 47.96 1,197,638 52.39 President
Luis Alberto Lacalle (National Party) 669,942 29.07 994,510 43.51
Pedro Bordaberry (Colorado Party) 392,307 17.02
Pablo Mieres (Independent Party) 57,360 2.49
Ral Rodrguez (Popular Assembly) 15,428 0.67
Ballots with YES sheets only (no presidential vote cast) 14,410 0.63
Blank votes 22,828 0.99 53,100 2.32
Total null ballots 26,950 1.17 40,103 1.75
Null provisional ballots 199 0.01 607 0.02
Total votes cast 2,304,686 100.00 2,285,958 100.00
Registered voters 2,563,250 89.91%turnout 2,563,285 89.18%turnout
Source: Corte Electoral
[2]
(first round), El Dictamen
[3]
(runoff)
2009 Uruguayan parliamentary election results
Parties Votes % Seats
Chamber
of
Deputies
Senate
Broad Front 1,093,869 47.49 50 16
National Party 657,327 28.54 30 9
Colorado Party 383,912 16.67 17 5
Independent Party 56,156 2.44 2
Popular Assembly 15,166 0.66
Total 2,303,336 100.00
Registered voters 2,563,250 89.86%turnout
[2]
International organization participation
Uruguay or Uruguayan organizations participate in the following international organizations:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Group of 77 (G-77)
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank)
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
International Criminal Court (ICC)
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
Politics of Uruguay
30
International Red Cross
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Interpol
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Latin American Economic System (LAES)
Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)
Mercosur
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) (observer)
Organization of American States (OAS)
Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL)
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
Rio Group (RG)
United Nations
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)
United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET)
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT)
United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG)
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
World Confederation of Labour (WCL)
World Customs Organization (WCO)
World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
World Health Organization (WHO)
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
World Tourism Organization (WToO)
World Trade Organization (WTO)
Politics of Uruguay
31
External links
Official website
[5]
Parliament of Uruguay
[4]
Presidency of Uruguay
[5]
(Spanish) vecinet PRESS The First Uruguayan Neighborhood and Documentatio Agency
[6]
Political Data Bank at the Social Sciences School of the Universidad de la Repblica (Uruguay)
[7]
References
[1] http:/ / en. wikipedia. org/ w/ index. php?title=Template:Politics_of_Uruguay& action=edit
[2] http:/ / elecciones. corteelectoral.gub.uy/ 20091025/ SSPMain. asp
[3] http:/ / www. eldictamen. com. mx/ ver_nota.php?noticia=21490& seccion=Internacionales& fecha=2009-12-04
[4] http:/ / www. parlamento. gub. uy/
[5] http:/ / www. presidencia. gub. uy/
[6] http:/ / www. chasque.net/ vecinet/
[7] http:/ / www. fcs.edu.uy/ pagina. php?PagId=338
Human rights in Uruguay
Uruguay
the
Uruguay
Foreign relations
Other countries
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v
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[1]
. Human rights are comprehensively guaranteed in Uruguay, one of South America's most traditional
democracies.
[1]
Uruguay is signatory to all relevant international human rights instruments.
Human rights in Uruguay
32
Women were granted the right to vote in the first half of the 20th century; the first occasion was on a local plebiscite
in Cerro Chato (1927), then they were able to vote in the 1938 general elections.
[2]
Uruguay endured 12 years of dictatorship, a period in which several individual rights were suspended and many
crimes against humanity were committed. Democracy was hard-fought and recovered in 1985, although the
re-institutionalization process was not without problems. In 1985 was passed a law granting amnesty to people who
had been prosecuted by the dictatorship due to ideological reasons; and at the end of 1986, another law granted
amnesty to the military.
In 2012 was established the National Institution for Human Rights (Spanish: Institucin Nacional de Derechos
Humanos, acronym INDDHH).
[3]
References
[1] See Freedom House - Profile: Uruguay (http:/ / www.freedomhouse. org/ country/ uruguay)
[2] When the women started voting in Uruguay (http:/ / el-area-51. blogspot. com/ 2008/ 03/ 70-aos-del-voto-femenino-en-uruguay. html)
[3] Law No. 18446: National Institution for Human Rights (http:/ / www0. parlamento. gub. uy/ leyes/ AccesoTextoLey. asp?Ley=18446)
External links
Human Rights Watch webpage on Uruguay (http:/ / www. hrw. org/ americas/ uruguay)
Amnesty International annual report on Uruguay, 2013 (http:/ / amnesty. org/ en/ region/ uruguay/ report-2013)
Amnesty International Uruguay (http:/ / www. amnistia. org. uy/ ) (Spanish)
U.S. Department of State Country Report on Religious Freedom in Uruguay, 2013 (http:/ / www. state. gov/ j/ drl/
rls/ irf/ 2012/ wha/ 208512. htm)
IFEX: Freedom of expression in Uruguay (http:/ / www. ifex. org/ uruguay/ )
President of Uruguay
33
President of
the Oriental Republic of
Uruguay
Coat of arms of Uruguay
Incumbent
Jos Mujica
sinceMarch 1, 2010
Residence Residencia de Suarez
Appointer Popular election
Term length Five years, not renewable immediately
Inaugural holder Fructuoso Rivera
Formation November 6, 1830
Website
presidencia.gub.uy
[1]
34
Uruguay
the
Uruguay
Foreign relations
Other countries
Atlas
Politics portal
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[1]
The President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (Spanish: Presidente de la Repblica Oriental del Uruguay) is
the head of state of Uruguay. His or her rights are determined in the Constitution of Uruguay. Conforms with the
Secretariat of the Presidency, the Council of Ministers and the Director of the Office of Planning and Budget, the
executive branch. In case of absence, his office is exercised by the Vice President. In turn, the President of the
Republic is the Commander in Chief of the Armed forces.
According to the current Constitution, the President and Vice President are elected by direct popular election. The
President has a term of five years without immediate reelection until after the same period after the cessation of
office. They are elected on a single candidate submitted by the party. In case no candidate obtains an absolute
majority of votes (50.1%), a runoff is held between the two first majorities. In this case, the candidate who obtains
the majority, wins the election.
According to Article 168 of the Constitution, the President, acting with the respective minister or ministers, or the
Council of Ministers, includes, is assigned:
1. 1. The preservation of order and tranquility within and security without.
2. 2. The command of all armed forces.
3. The promulgation of all laws, issuing special regulations necessary for its implementation.
4. The delivery, to the General Assembly of Uruguay at the opening of regular sessions, the state of the Republic
address.
5. 5. The right to veto laws it dislikes.
6. 6. The right to propose bills or amendments to laws previously enacted.
7. 7. The dismissal of public employees for misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance.
8. Management of diplomatic relations and, with consent of the legislature, the right to declare war.
9. The right to declare a state of emergency when needed.
10. 10. The preparation of the state budget.
35
11. 11. Negotiation of treaties with the ratification of the legislature.
Since 1990, the President's term has begun and ended on March 1. The current President is Jos Mujica.
Latest election
2009 Uruguayan presidential election results
Candidates (Parties) First round Runoff Result
Votes % Votes %
Jos Mujica (Broad Front) 1,105,262 47.96 1,197,638 52.39 President
Luis Alberto Lacalle (National Party) 669,942 29.07 994,510 43.51
Pedro Bordaberry (Colorado Party) 392,307 17.02
Pablo Mieres (Independent Party) 57,360 2.49
Ral Rodrguez (Popular Assembly) 15,428 0.67
Ballots with YES sheets only (no presidential vote cast) 14,410 0.63
Blank votes 22,828 0.99 53,100 2.32
Total null ballots 26,950 1.17 40,103 1.75
Null provisional ballots 199 0.01 607 0.02
Total votes cast 2,304,686 100.00 2,285,958 100.00
Registered voters 2,563,250 89.91%turnout 2,563,285 89.18%turnout
[2]
(first round), El Dictamen
[3]
(runoff)
External links
Politics Data Bank at the Social Sciences School Universidad de la Repblica (Uruguay)
[2]
References
[1] http:/ / www. presidencia. gub. uy
[2] http:/ / www. fcs.edu.uy/ subcategoria.php?SubCatId=184& CatId=105
Economy of Uruguay
36
Economy of Uruguay
Economy of Uruguay
Skyline of Montevideo
Currency Uruguayan peso ($, UYU)
Fiscal year Calendar year
Statistics
GDP $53.55 billion (PPP, 2012 est.)
GDP growth 3.8% (2012 est.)
GDP per capita $15,800 (PPP, 2012 est.)
GDP by sector agriculture: 9.1%; industry: 21.5%; services: 69.3% (2012 est.)
Inflation (CPI) 8.1% (CPI, 2012 est.)
Population
below poverty line
18.6% (2010)
Gini coefficient 45.3 (2010)
Labour force 1.691 million (2012 est.)
Labour force
by occupation
agriculture: 13%; industry: 14%; services: 73% (2010 est.)
Unemployment 6.1% (2012 est.)
Main industries food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Ease of doing business
rank
90th
External
Exports $9.812 billion (2012 est.)
Export goods beef, soybeans, cellulose, rice, wheat, wood, dairy products, wool
Main export partners
Brazil 18.5%
China 17.9%
Argentina 6.8%
Germany 4.3% (2012 est.)
Imports $10.97 billion (2012 est.)
Import goods refined oil, crude oil, passenger and other transportation vehicles, vehicle parts, cellular phones
Economy of Uruguay
37
Main import partners
China 16.1%
Argentina 15.8%
Brazil 14.6%
United States 8.9%
Paraguay 7.6% (2012 est.)
FDI stock $15.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Gross external debt $15.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Public finances
Public debt 57.2% of GDP (2012 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.
Revenues $14.28 billion (2012 est.)
Expenses $15.07 billion (2012 est.)
Credit rating Standard & Poor's:
BB (Domestic)
BB (Foreign)
BBB- (T&C Assessment)
Outlook: Stable
Moody's:
Ba1
Outlook: Stable
Fitch:
BB
Outlook: Positive
Foreign reserves US$7.830 billion (March 2011)
Main data source: CIA World Fact Book
[1]
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars
Economy of Uruguay is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector and a well-educated work
force,along with 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. In 2001-02, Argentine citizens made massive withdrawals of
dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks after bank deposits in Argentina were frozen, which led to a plunge in the
Uruguayan peso, a banking crisis, and a sharp economic contraction. Real GDP fell in four years by nearly 20%,
with 2002 the worst year. The unemployment rate rose, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled.
Financial assistance from the IMF helped stem the damage. Uruguay restructured its external debt in 2003 without
asking creditors to accept a reduction on the principal. Economic growth for Uruguay resumed, and 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 2.9% in 2009. Nevertheless, the country managed to avoid a recession and keep positive growth
rates, mainly through higher public expenditure and investment, and GDP growth exceeded 7% in 2010.
Economy of Uruguay
38
Currency
Uruguay has a partially dollarized economy. As of August 2008[2] almost 60% of bank loans use United States
dollars, but most transactions use the Uruguayan peso.
Specialties of Uruguay
Cattle were introduced to Uruguay before its independence by Hernando Arias de Saavedra, the Spanish
Governor of Buenos Aires in 1603. Beef exports in 2006 amounted to around 37% of Uruguayan exports.
[3]
Wool is a traditional product exported mainly to America, followed by the UK and India.
[4]
Milk and dairy products. Conaprole, National Cooperative of Milk Producers
[5]
is the main exporter of dairy
products in Latin America (in 2006). The area of the country dedicated to the dairy food is located mainly in the
south west.
Rice. Fine varieties are produced in the lowlands in the east of the country close to Merin lake on the
Uruguay-Brazil border. The national company Saman claims to be the main exporter in Latin America.
[6]
Countries it exports to include Brazil, Iran, Peru, South Africa, Chile, Senegal, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia,
Ecuador, USA, Canada and China.
Tourism: Several seaside resorts, like Punta del Este or Punta del Diablo in the south-eastern departments of
Maldonado and Rocha, regarded as a jet set resort in South America, are main attractions of Uruguay.
International cruises call at Montevideo from October to March every year. Also, Uruguay hosts many year-round
international conferences. (The original GATT Uruguay Round concerning trade was, as its name suggests,
hosted in Uruguay). Montevideo is home to the headquarters (secretariat) of [Mercosur], the Common Market of
the South, whose full members are Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Venezuela, associate members
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Software and consulting. Uruguay's well-educated workforce and lower-than-international wages have put
Uruguay on the IT map. A product named GeneXus,
[7]
originally created in Uruguay by a company called
ArTech, is noteworthy. Other important developers and consultants include De Larrobla & Asociados,
[8]
Greycon
and Quanam.
[9]
Tata Consultancy Services has its headquarters for the Spanish speaking world in Uruguay. Many
of these companies have established in Zonamerica Business & Technology Park
[10]
"With a population of only three million, Uruguay has rapidly become Latin America's outsourcing hub.
In partnership with one of India's largest technology consulting firms, engineers in Montevideo work
while their counterparts in Mumbai sleep." - The New York Times, Sep 22, 2006
Banking Services. Banking has traditionally been one of the strongest service export sectors in the country.
Uruguay was once dubbed "the Switzerland of America", mainly for its banking sector and stability. The largest
bank in Uruguay is Banco Repblica, or BROU, which is state-owned; another important state bank is the BHU.
Almost 20 private banks, most of them branches of international banks, operate in the country (Banco Santander,
ABN AMRO, Citibank, among others). There are also a myriad of brokers and financial-services bureaus, among
them Ficus Capital, Galfin Sociedad de Bolsa, Europa Sociedad de Bolsa, Daro Cukier, GBU, Hordeana &
Asociados Sociedad de Bolsa, etc. Uruguay has fully recovered from the financial crisis that caused a run on its
banks.
Public Sector: The state in Uruguay has an important role in the economy, Uruguay resisted the trend of
privatization in Utilities and state owned enterprises in the region. Several Referendums supported the state being
in control of the most important utilities and energy companies. Some of the companies have a full monopoly
warranted by law (like landline telephony, water), others compete freely with private operators (Insurance, mobile
telephony, Banks). Most of them are dominant in the local market. There is strong debate in the Uruguayan
society about their role, and future. Some of them made a contribution to the Uruguay state treasury.
The most important state owned companies are:Republica AFAP (Pension Fund), AFE (Railways), ANCAP
(Energy), ANCO (Mail), Administracion Nacional de Puertos (Ports), ANTEL (Telecommunications:
Economy of Uruguay
39
Telephony, Mobiles (ANCEL and Data ANTELDATA)), BHU (Mortgage Bank), BROU (Bank), BSE
(Insurance), OSE (Water & Sewage), UTE (Electricity). These companies operate under public law, using a
legal entity defined in the Uruguayan Constitution called 'Ente Autonomo' (Meaning Autonomic Entity). The
government also owns parts of other companies operating under private law like the National Airline Carrier
PLUNA and others owned totally or partially by the CND National Development Corporation.
Raw Data
Topics
Communications
Culture
Demographics
Economy
Education
Foreign
relations
Geography
Government
History
Military
Politics
Religion
Tourism
Transport
Uruguay
Industrial production growth rate: 12.6% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production: 9,474 GWh (1998)
fossil fuel: 3.91%
hydro: 95.62%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.47% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 6,526 GWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 2,363 GWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 78 GWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, rice, barley, maize, sorghum; livestock; fish
Exchange rates: Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 24.048 (2006), 24.479 (2005), 28.704 (2004), 28.209 (2003),
21.257 (2002)
Economy of Uruguay
40
References
[1] https:/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ the-world-factbook/ geos/ uy. html
[2] http:/ / en. wikipedia. org/ w/ index. php?title=Economy_of_Uruguay& action=edit
[3] http:/ / www. aca. com. uy/ datos_estadisticos/ exportaciones_2006. htm
[4] Secretariado Uruguayo de la Lana (http:/ / www.sul.org. uy)
[5] Conaprole (http:/ / www. conaprole.com. uy)
[6] SAMAN. Principal exportador de arroz de Amrica Latina. The leading rice exporter in Latin America (http:/ / www. saman. com. uy)
[7] GeneXus.com (http:/ / www. genexus.com)
[8] Core Bancario - Core Banking Solution - Bantotal (http:/ / www. bantotal. com)
[9] Welcome to Quanam: A knowledge company::: ORACLE CERTIFIED ADVANTAGE PARTNER (http:/ / www. gquanam. com/ home/
index. php?idioma=eng)
[10] http:/ / www.zonamerica. com
Culture of Uruguay
41
Culture of Uruguay
Topics
Communications
Culture
Demographics
Economy
Education
Foreign
relations
Geography
Government
History
Military
Politics
Religion
Tourism
Transport
Uruguay
Contemporary Uruguayan culture is diverse in its nature since the nation's population is one of multicultural
origins. The country has an impressive legacy of artistic and literary traditions, especially for its small size. The
contribution of its alternating conquerors, Spain and Portugal, and diverse immigrants - Italians, Germans, Swiss,
Russians, Jews, and Armenians, among others - has resulted in traditions that integrate this diversity with Native
American elements. Uruguay has centuries-old remains and fortresses of the colonial era. Its cities have a rich
architectural heritage, and an impressive number of writers, artists, and musicians. Carnival and candombe are the
most important examples of African influence by slaves, as well as Umbanda religious beliefs and practices. Guarani
traditions can be seen in the national drink, mate. The folk and popular music of Uruguay shares with Argentina, not
only its gaucho roots, but also the tango.
Art
Well-known Uruguayan painters include realists such as Juan Manuel Blanes, constructivists such as Joaqun Torres
Garca, nativists like Carlos Mara Herrera, post-impressionists such as Pedro Figari and Felipe Seade, abstract
artists such as Carlos Pez Vilar, and numerous others.
Culture of Uruguay
42
Jos Belloni: The Struggle, 1965
Well-known sculptors include realists Pablo Atchugarry, Jos Belloni,
and Jos Luis Zorrilla de San Martn, as well as contemporary
sculptors such as Juan Jos Calandria, gueda Dicancro, Hugo Nantes,
Claudio Silveira Silva, Mariv Ugolino, and Carlos Pez Vilar, who
created an internationally renowned "livable sculpture", Casapueblo.
Music
Uruguayans enjoy musics such as tango, folk, and waltz as well as
local forms such as candombe, milonga and murga. Both tango and
candombe have been recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Uruguay's annual
Carnival is a major event with many unique features distinguishing it from those of its neighbours. Rock, jazz, pop
and other Western musical genres also enjoy great popularity in Uruguay.
Literature
Jos Enrique Rod
One of Uruguay's most famous works of literature is Ariel by Jos
Enrique Rod (18711917). Written in 1900, the book deals with the
need to maintain spiritual values while pursuing material and technical
progress. Florencio Snchez (18751910) wrote plays about social
problems that are still performed today. Juan Zorrilla de San Martn
(18551931) wrote epic poems about Uruguayan history (notably
Tabar). Juana de Ibarbourou (18951979) and Delmira Agustini
(18661914) were also notable poets. Modern Uruguayan writers
include Juan Carlos Onetti (author of No Man's Land and The
Shipyard), novelist Mario Benedetti, social critic Eduardo Galeano,
and Mario Jess Moraes.
Religion
Uruguay is South America's most secular country. It has no official
religion and church and state are separate. Religious freedom is guaranteed. About 66% of all Uruguayans are
Roman Catholics. Most Uruguayans baptise their children and marry in churches, but don't attend church that often.
There is a small Jewish community in Montevideo (about 1% of the population), as well as several Evangelical
Protestant groups (about 2%). Macumba and Umbanda, religions of Afro-Brazilian origin, are currently the
fastest-growing religions in Uruguay.
Culture of Uruguay
43
Languages
Spanish is the official language of Uruguay, and is spoken by almost all of the population. English is common in the
business world, though it is a minority language, as are French and Italian. Other languages include Portuguese and
Portuol, a mixture of Spanish and Portuguese. Both are present in northern regions near the Brazilian border.
Cuisine
The invigorating yerba mate in its gourd with
thermos. It is a fixture in Uruguayan daily life.
Uruguayans rival only neighboring Argentina in their consumption
of beef,
[1]
primarily at gatherings known in the continent as the
asado. The parrillada (beef platter), chivito (a substantial steak
sandwich), and pasta are the national dishes. The latter is due to
Uruguay's many Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries. Other Uruguayan dishes include morcilla dulce (a type of
blood sausage cooked with ground orange fruit, orange peel, and
walnuts) and milanesa (a veal breaded cutlet similar to the German
Wienerschnitzel). Snacks include olmpicos (club sandwiches),
hngaras (spicy sausage in a hot dog roll), and masas surtidas
(bite-sized pastries). Typical drinks include mate, tea, cleric (a
mixture of white wine and fruit juice), and medio y medio (part
sparkling wine and part white wine).
Wine
Plantings of Tannat (also known in Uruguay as Harriague) have
been increasing in Uruguay each year as that country's wine industry
develops, and the country is considered the second most notable
Tannat region after Madiran, France. The Tannat wines produced here are characterized by more elegant and softer
tannins and blackberry fruit notes. Vineyards in Uruguay have begun to distinguish between the "old vines" that are
descendants from the original cuttings brought over from Europe and the new clones being produced today. The
newer vines tend to produce more powerful wines with a higher alcohol level, but less acidity and complex fruit
characteristics. Some wineries utilize both vines to make blends.
[2]
Now the wines typically spend about 20 months
in oak prior to release.
[3]
Today it is often blended with Pinot noir and Merlot, and is made in a variety of styles
including those reminiscent of Port and Beaujolais.
Smoking
Roughly 1/3 of Uruguayan adults smoke tobacco, according to Uruguayan research groups.
[4]
On March 1, 2006, a
law went into effect banning smoking in all enclosed public spaces in Uruguay, including restaurants and bars,
among the toughest smoking bans worldwide and the strictest in Latin America. The penalty for businesses that
allow smoking is a fine of roughly US $1,100 or a three-day closure. One opinion poll found that 70% of smokers
supported the ban.
[5]
Preceding President of Uruguay, Tabar Vzquez, is a medic doctor specializing in cancer
treatment.
Culture of Uruguay
44
References
[1] MercoPress. Uruguay: worlds leading consumer of beef with 58.2 kilos per capita per annum (http:/ / en. mercopress. com/ 2010/ 08/ 17/
uruguay-world-s-leading-consumer-of-beef-with-58.2-kilos-per-capita-per-annum).
[2] Oz Clarke Encyclopedia of Grapes pg 241 Harcourt Books 2001 ISBN 0-15-100714-4
[3] J. Robinson (ed) "The Oxford Companion to Wine" Third Edition pg 679 Oxford University Press 2006 ISBN 0-19-860990-6
[4] http:/ / www. latimes. com/ news/ nationworld/ world/ wire/ sns-ap-uruguay-smoking-ban,1,7707247. story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines
[5] http:/ / news.bbc. co. uk/ 2/ hi/ americas/ 4761624.stm
External links
Uruguayan Government Portal (http:/ / portal. gub. uy/ )
Uruguayan writers in Centro Virtual Cervantes (http:/ / cvc. cervantes. es/ el_rinconete/ anteriores/ agosto_04/
09082004_02. htm)

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