Introduction :: URUGUAY
-
Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century launched widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was restored in 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control previously held by the Colorado and National (Blanco) parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.
Geography :: URUGUAY
-
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
33 00 S, 56 00 W
South America
total: 176,215 sq km
land: 175,015 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km
country comparison to the world: 92
about the size of Virginia and West Virginia combined; slightly smaller than the state of Washington
total: 1,591 km
border countries (2): Argentina 541 km, Brazil 1,050 km
660 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin
warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
mean elevation: 109 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish
agricultural land: 87.2%
arable land 10.1%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 76.9%
forest: 10.2%
other: 2.6% (2011 est.)
2,380 sq km (2012)
most of the country's population resides in the southern half of the country; approximately 80% of the populace is urban, living in towns or cities; nearly half of the population lives in and around the capital of Montevideo
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts
water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
second-smallest South American country (after Suriname); most of the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is grassland, ideal for cattle and sheep raising
People and Society :: URUGUAY
-
3,360,148 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan
white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent)
Spanish (official), Portunol, Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)
Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1% (2006 est.)
Uruguay rates high for most development indicators and is known for its secularism, liberal social laws, and well-developed social security, health, and educational systems. It is one of the few countries in Latin America and the Caribbean where the entire population has access to clean water. Uruguay's provision of free primary through university education has contributed to the country's high levels of literacy and educational attainment. However, the emigration of human capital has diminished the state's return on its investment in education. Remittances from the roughly 18% of Uruguayans abroad amount to less than 1 percent of national GDP. The emigration of young adults and a low birth rate are causing Uruguay's population to age rapidly.
In the 1960s, Uruguayans for the first time emigrated en masse - primarily to Argentina and Brazil - because of economic decline and the onset of more than a decade of military dictatorship. Economic crises in the early 1980s and 2002 also triggered waves of emigration, but since 2002 more than 70% of Uruguayan emigrants have selected the US and Spain as destinations because of better job prospects. Uruguay had a tiny population upon its independence in 1828 and welcomed thousands of predominantly Italian and Spanish immigrants, but the country has not experienced large influxes of new arrivals since the aftermath of World War II. More recent immigrants include Peruvians and Arabs.
0-14 years: 20.17% (male 344,810/female 332,791)
15-24 years: 15.69% (male 267,000/female 260,135)
25-54 years: 39.34% (male 654,036/female 667,780)
55-64 years: 10.56% (male 167,002/female 187,865)
65 years and over: 14.25% (male 191,597/female 287,132) (2017 est.)
population pyramid:
South America
::URUGUAY
Population Pyramid
A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
total dependency ratio: 55.9
youth dependency ratio: 33.4
elderly dependency ratio: 22.5
potential support ratio: 4.4 (2015 est.)
total: 35 years
male: 33.1 years
female: 36.7 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
0.27% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
13 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
-0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
most of the country's population resides in the southern half of the country; approximately 80% of the populace is urban, living in towns or cities; nearly half of the population lives in and around the capital of Montevideo
urban population: 95.6% of total population (2017)
rate of urbanization: 0.44% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
MONTEVIDEO (capital) 1.707 million (2015)
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
15 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
total: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
total population: 77.4 years
male: 74.2 years
female: 80.6 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
1.8 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
8.6% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 47
3.94 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
2.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 93.9% of population
total: 99.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 6.1% of population
total: 0.3% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 96.6% of population
rural: 92.6% of population
total: 96.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.4% of population
rural: 7.4% of population
total: 3.6% of population (2015 est.)
0.6% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
12,000 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
<500 (2016 est.)
27.9% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 34
4% (2011)
country comparison to the world: 94
4.4% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 92
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.5%
male: 98.1%
female: 98.9% (2015 est.)
total: 16 years
male: 14 years
female: 17 years (2010)
total: 22.5%
male: 19.9%
female: 26.2% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Government :: URUGUAY
-
conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay
former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province
etymology: name derives from the Spanish pronunciation of the Guarani Indian designation of the Uruguay River, which makes up the western border of the country and whose name later came to be applied to the entire country
presidential republic
name: Montevideo
geographic coordinates: 34 51 S, 56 10 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres
25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
several previous; latest approved by plebiscite 27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967; amended several times, last in 2004 (2016)
civil law system based on the Spanish civil code
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 3-5 years
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ (since 1 March 2015); Vice President Lucia TOPOLANSKY (since 13 September 2017); note - note - Vice President Raul Fernando SENDIC Rodriguez (since 1 March 2015) stepped down on 9 September amid accusations of misuse of public funds; the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ (since 1 March 2015); Vice President Lucia TOPOLANSKY (since 13 September 2017); note - Vice President Raul Fernando SENDIC Rodriguez (since 1 March 2015) stepped down on 9 September amid accusations of misuse of public funds
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the General Assembly
elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for nonconsecutive terms); election last held on 26 October 2014, with a runoff election on 30 November 2014 (next to be held on 27 October 2019, and a runoff if needed on 24 November 2019)
election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president in second round; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ (Socialist Party) 56.5%, Luis Alberto LACALLE Pou (Blanco) 43.4%
description: bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (31 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; the vice-president serves as the presiding ex-officio member; elected members serve 5-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held on 26 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 26 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by coalition/party - Frente Amplio 49.5%, National Party 31.9%, Colorado Party 13.3%, Independent Party 3.2%, other 2.1%; seats by coalition/party - Frente Amplio 15, National Party 10, Colorado Party 4, Independent Party 1
Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by coalition/party - Frente Amplio 49.5%, National Party 31.9%, Colorado Party 13.3%, Independent Party 3.2%, AP 1.2%, other 0.9%; seats by coalition/party - Frente Amplio 50, National Party 32, Colorado Party 13, Independent Party 3, AP 1
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 5 judges)
judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the president and appointed in joint conference of the General Assembly; judges appointed for 10-year terms, with reelection after a lapse of 5 years following the previous term
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; District Courts (Juzgados Letrados); Peace Courts (Juzgados de Paz); Rural Courts (Juzgados Rurales)
Broad Front or FA (Frente Amplio) - (a broad governing coalition that includes Uruguay Assembly [Danilo ASTORI], Progressive Alliance [Rodolfo NIN NOVOA], New Space [Rafael MICHELINI], Socialist Party [Monica XAVIER], Vertiente Artiguista [Enrique RUBIO], Christian Democratic Party [Juan Andres ROBALLO], For the People’s Victory [Luis PUIG], Popular Participation Movement (MPP) [Jose MUJICA], Broad Front Commitment [Raul SENDIC], Big House [Constanza MOREIRA], Communist Party [Marcos CARAMBULA], The Federal League [Dario PEREZ]
Colorado Party (including Vamos Uruguay (or Let's Go Uruguay) [Pedro BORDABERRY], Open Space [Tabare VIERA], and Open Batllism [Ope PASQUET])
Independent Party [Pablo MIERES]
National Party or Blanco (including All Forward [Luis LACALLE POU] and National Alliance [Jorge LARRANAGA])
Popular Assembly [Gonzalo ABELLA]
B'nai B'rith
Catholic Church
Chamber of Commerce and Export of Agriproducts
Chamber of Industries (manufacturers' association)
Exporters Union of Uruguay
National Chamber of Commerce and Services
PIT/CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan Unions - umbrella labor organization)
Rural Association of Uruguay (ranchers' association)
Uruguayan Network of Political Women
other: students
CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alberto GIANELLI Derois (since 3 August 2015)
chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313
FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Kelly Ann KEIDERLING-FRANZ (since 23 June 2016)
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: [598] (2) 1770-2000
FAX: [598] (2) 1770-2128
nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face (delineated in black) known as the Sun of May with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy; the stripes represent the nine original departments of Uruguay; the sun symbol evokes the legend of the sun breaking through the clouds on 25 May 1810 as independence was first declared from Spain (Uruguay subsequently won its independence from Brazil); the sun features are said to represent those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun
note: the banner was inspired by the national colors of Argentina and by the design of the US flag
Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol); national colors: blue, white, yellow
name: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem of Uruguay)
lyrics/music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Francisco Jose DEBALI
note: adopted 1848; the anthem is also known as "Orientales, la Patria o la tumba!" ("Uruguayans, the Fatherland or Death!"); it is the world's longest national anthem in terms of music (105 bars; almost five minutes); generally only the first verse and chorus are sung
Economy :: URUGUAY
-
Uruguay has a free market economy characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, and high levels of social spending. Uruguay has sought to expand trade within the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) and with non-Mercosur members, and President VAZQUEZ has maintained his predecessor’s mix of pro-market policies and a strong social safety net.
Following financial difficulties in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Uruguay's economic growth averaged 8% annually during the period 2004-08. The 2008-09 global financial crisis put a brake on Uruguay's vigorous growth, which decelerated to 2.6% in 2009. Nevertheless, the country managed to avoid a recession and keep positive growth rates, mainly through higher public expenditure and investment; GDP growth reached 8.9% in 2010 but slowed markedly in the period 2012-16 as a result of a renewed slowdown in the global economy and in Uruguay's main trade partners and Mercosur counterparts, Argentina and Brazil. Reforms in those countries should give Uruguay an economic boost. Growth picked up in 2017.
$78.41 billion (2017 est.)
$75.76 billion (2016 est.)
$74.67 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 96
$60.27 billion (2016 est.)
3.5% (2017 est.)
1.5% (2016 est.)
0.4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$22,400 (2017 est.)
$21,800 (2016 est.)
$21,500 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 84
17.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
18.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
17.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
household consumption: 65.3%
government consumption: 14.1%
investment in fixed capital: 18.6%
investment in inventories: -0.2%
exports of goods and services: 22.3%
imports of goods and services: -20.1% (2017 est.)
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 25%
services: 68.8% (2017 est.)
Cellulose, beef, soybeans, rice, wheat; dairy products; fish; lumber, tobacco, wine
food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
1.6% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
1.748 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
agriculture: 13%
industry: 14%
services: 73% (2010 est.)
7.3% (2017 est.)
7.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
9.7% (2015 est.)
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 30.8% (2014 est.)
41.6 (2014)
41.9 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 52
revenues: $17.69 billion
expenditures: $19.9 billion (2017 est.)
29.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
-3.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
62.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
62.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions.
country comparison to the world: 68
calendar year
6.1% (2017 est.)
9.6% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
9% (31 December 2012)
8.75% (31 December 2011)
note: Uruguay's central bank uses the benchmark interest rate, rather than the discount rate, to conduct monetary policy; the rates shown here are the benchmark rates
country comparison to the world: 31
13.6% (31 December 2017 est.)
16.17% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$4.859 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.582 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$9.329 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$8.781 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$20.98 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$19.61 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$175.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)
$174.6 million (31 December 2011 est.)
$156.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
-$268 million (2017 est.)
-$36 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$8.976 billion (2017 est.)
$8.387 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
beef, soybeans, cellulose, rice, wheat, wood, dairy products, wool
Brazil 16.4%, China 12.2%, US 6.2%, Argentina 5% (2016)
$8.74 billion (2017 est.)
$8.037 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
refined oil, crude oil, passenger and other transportation vehicles, vehicle parts, cellular phones
China 18.8%, Brazil 17.9%, Argentina 13.3%, US 6.9%, Germany 4.7% (2016)
$14.28 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$13.47 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$28.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$27.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$24.35 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$22.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$228.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$136.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar -
28.77 (2017 est.)
30.163 (2016 est.)
30.163 (2015 est.)
27.52 (2014 est.)
23.246 (2013 est.)
Energy :: URUGUAY
-
population without electricity: 20,106
electrification - total population: 99.4%
electrification - urban areas: 99.7%
electrification - rural areas: 93.8% (2012)
12.23 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
9.42 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
1.321 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
2 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
4.408 million kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
34.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
34.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
39% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
37,900 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)
country comparison to the world: 211
42,440 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
54,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
537.5 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
10,870 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
378 million cu m (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
40 million cu m (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
country comparison to the world: 203
7.4 million Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Communications :: URUGUAY
-
total subscriptions: 1,113,566
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
total: 5,116,736
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 153 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
general assessment: fully digitalized
domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity over 185 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 598; the UNISOR submarine cable system provides direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)
mixture of privately owned and state-run broadcast media; more than 100 commercial radio stations and about 20 TV channels; cable TV is available; many community radio and TV stations; adopted the hybrid Japanese/Brazilian HDTV standard (ISDB-T) in December 2010 (2010)
.uy
total: 2,225,075
percent of population: 66.4% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Transportation :: URUGUAY
-
number of registered air carriers: 2
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 (2015)
CX (2016)
133 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 42
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2013)
total: 122
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 40
under 914 m: 79 (2013)
gas 257 km; oil 160 km (2013)
total: 1,673 km (operational; government claims overall length is 2,961 km)
standard gauge: 1,673 km 1.435-m gauge (2016)
country comparison to the world: 78
total: 77,732 km
paved: 7,743 km
unpaved: 69,989 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 63
1,600 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 48
total: 56
by type: container ship 1, general cargo 6, oil tanker 4, other 45 (2017)
country comparison to the world: 107
major seaport(s): Montevideo
Military and Security :: URUGUAY
-
1.85% of GDP (2016)
1.82% of GDP (2015)
1.81% of GDP (2014)
1.82% of GDP (2013)
1.8% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 42
Uruguayan Armed Forces: Uruguayan National Army (Ejercito Nacional Uruguaya, ENU), Uruguayan National Navy (Armada Nacional del Uruguay, includes naval air arm, Naval Rifle Corps (Cuerpo de Fusileros Navales, Fusna), Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Uruguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2012)
18-30 years of age (18-22 years of age for navy) for male or female voluntary military service; up to 40 years of age for specialists; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies; minimum 6-year education (2013)
Transnational Issues :: URUGUAY
-
in 2010, the ICJ ruled in favor of Uruguay's operation of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina; the two countries formed a joint pollution monitoring regime; uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border
small-scale transit country for drugs mainly bound for Europe, often through sea-borne containers; law enforcement corruption; money laundering because of strict banking secrecy laws; weak border control along Brazilian frontier; increasing consumption of cocaine base and synthetic drugs
