Country´s Profile
Oficial name:
República Oriental del Uruguay
Location:
The República Oriental del Uruguay is situated on South America´s Southern Cone, between the 30th and 35th southern latitude parallels and between the 53rd and 58th western longitude meridians. Uruguay borders Brazil on the north and northeast, Argentina on the west and south, the Rio de la Plata to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
Surface Area:
a) Land 176,215 Km2
b) Jurisdictional waters and territorial sea: 142,093 Km2
Topography:
Rolling flat landscape with an average altitude of 117 mts. The highest hill has 514 mts.
Climate:
The climate is temperate, mild and mostly uniform throughout the whole country. Average temperatures are 23 ºC in summer, 18ºC in autumm, 11ºC in winter and 17ºC in spring. The average annual rainfall ranges between 1.000 and 1.300 mm. Snow, hurricans and earthquakes do not ocurr. The absence of mountains exposes the region to a wide spectrum of cold and humid southeasterly winds.
Society:
Uruguay was colonized by Spain in the 15th and 16th centuries. It is presently is a cosmopolitan society, the result of many successive European migrations, and no indigenous population. The country is an open democratic society, promoting tolerance and non-discrimination, regardless of origin, race, religion or political ideology.
Population:
a) Total: 3.151,600
b) Urban 89%
c) Rural 11%
d) The capital city, Montevideo, concentrates 1,330,440 inhabitants.
e) Number of people economically active : 1,474,900 (58,1%)
f) Population density : 18 km2
g) Annual demographic growth rate: 6.8 per 1,000 inhabitants
Education:
Freedom of education is constitutionally guaranteed. Public education is secular, free and obligatory. Public primary, secondary and advanced education at the University of the Republic, are offered at no cosy.
Literacy rate:
Uruguay has a literacy rate of 97%, the highest of all Latin American countries, and one of the highest in the world. It also has Latin America's highest rate of secondary education - 50% higher than the continent´s average and the highest indicators related to culture and communication. This is exemplified by newspaper circulation, television transmissions and telephone lines per 1000 inhabitants (285).
Political Division:
Uruguay is divided into 19 Departments with the capital, Montevideo, having an area of 530 km2. Montevideo is a modern and safe metropolis built adjacent to a natural harbour on the Rio de la Plata which provides an exceptional port.
System of Government:
Since its first political constitution in 1830, as a nation, Uruguay has adopted a Democratic - Republican system. Its sovereignty is directly exercised by the electorate and indirectly by three independent government branches established by the constitution, the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary powers.
Recent surveys have indicated that, in all of Latin America, the people of Uruguay are the strongest supporters (at 69 %) of democratic government.
The Executive power is exercised by the President of the Republic in concert with the Ministers of the Cabinet. The Vice-President of the Republic functions as the President of the General Assembly and of the Senate (Legislative branch).
Both the President and the Vice-President of the Republic are elected for five year terms.
Language:
Spanish is the official language. English and Portuguese are spoken by a high proportion of the population. The teaching of English is obligatory in public secondary schools.
Religion:
No official religion exists and the constitution guarantees freedom of faith. Diverse religions coexist in Uruguay with catholicism as the predominant religion.
Currency:
The Peso Uruguayo ($U) is the legal currency. A free exchange rate system rules every operation and transaction.
Quality of Life Indicators:
a. Life expectancy: 72.4 years
b. Infant mortality rate: 15/1000
c. Health insurance coverage 95%
Infrastructure:
Uruguay has a well developed and well maintained road system, with major highways predominantly radiating out into rural areas from the capital city and port of Montevideo.
Productive Activity:
Uruguay has 4.7 hectares of fertile land per inhabitant, some six times the world average. The proportion of the country's area dedicated to agriculture is 85%, one of the highest in the world.
The economic potential of Uruguay´s 15 millon/ha of fertile land is very high. It has areas suitable for agriculture, livestock and forestry. For many decades, the first two have positioned Uruguay as a privileged provider of food, leather and wool, generating more than 55% of Uruguay´s exports.
Many components of the national economy have achieved international recognition for their quality, allowing them to gain access to markets never thought possible a decade ago.
As examples, we can cite
Beef cattle meat. Exports have reached 450.000 tons
Textiles, with wool production attaining levels of about 45 million kilos annually, 90% of which is processed locally;
Furs and leather are exported worldwide;
Grains (soybean,sunflower,wheat,barley,sorghum)
Rice, with production levels at about one million tons and, because of its high quality, good acceptance in the international market;
Dairy products, which attained a production level of 1.369 million litres of milk;
Wines, especially of the Tannat grape variety, presently exported to European markets.
Services:
Uruguay´s provision of services is fundamental for the preservation of the quality of life and the maintenance of the environment and personal security. These matters are important to encourage foreign investment and to enhance the number of international visitors (currently at about 2.5 million annually).
Traditional financial freedom practices and strict maintenance of banking secrecy have made Uruguay one of the principal regional "off shore" financial centers. More than 80% of private credits and almost 90% of deposits are made in foreign currency.
 |
"Uruguay is a phenomenon among emerging markets in Latin America. In the past two decades, this small, export-driven economy has come back from economic stagnation to become one of the most politically, economically, socially and legally stable countries in Latin America with one of the most open investment environments." from Uruguay - Open for Growthby by A. Campomar and B. Muggeridge Anderson, Euromoney Publications PLC England, |
Oficial name:
República Oriental del Uruguay
Location:
The República Oriental del Uruguay is situated on South America´s Southern Cone, between the 30th and 35th southern latitude parallels and between the 53rd and 58th western longitude meridians. Uruguay borders Brazil on the north and northeast, Argentina on the west and south, the Rio de la Plata to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
Surface Area:
a) Land 176,215 Km2
b) Jurisdictional waters and territorial sea: 142,093 Km2
Topography:
Rolling flat landscape with an average altitude of 117 mts. The highest hill has 514 mts.
Climate:
The climate is temperate, mild and mostly uniform throughout the whole country. Average temperatures are 23 ºC in summer, 18ºC in autumm, 11ºC in winter and 17ºC in spring. The average annual rainfall ranges between 1.000 and 1.300 mm. Snow, hurricans and earthquakes do not ocurr. The absence of mountains exposes the region to a wide spectrum of cold and humid southeasterly winds.
Society:
Uruguay was colonized by Spain in the 15th and 16th centuries. It is presently is a cosmopolitan society, the result of many successive European migrations, and no indigenous population. The country is an open democratic society, promoting tolerance and non-discrimination, regardless of origin, race, religion or political ideology.
Population:
a) Total: 3.151,600
b) Urban 89%
c) Rural 11%
d) The capital city, Montevideo, concentrates 1,330,440 inhabitants.
e) Number of people economically active : 1,474,900 (58,1%)
f) Population density : 18 km2
g) Annual demographic growth rate: 6.8 per 1,000 inhabitants
Education:
Freedom of education is constitutionally guaranteed. Public education is secular, free and obligatory. Public primary, secondary and advanced education at the University of the Republic, are offered at no cosy.
Literacy rate:
Uruguay has a literacy rate of 97%, the highest of all Latin American countries, and one of the highest in the world. It also has Latin America's highest rate of secondary education - 50% higher than the continent´s average and the highest indicators related to culture and communication. This is exemplified by newspaper circulation, television transmissions and telephone lines per 1000 inhabitants (285).
Political Division:
Uruguay is divided into 19 Departments with the capital, Montevideo, having an area of 530 km2. Montevideo is a modern and safe metropolis built adjacent to a natural harbour on the Rio de la Plata which provides an exceptional port.
Since its first political constitution in 1830, as a nation, Uruguay has adopted a Democratic - Republican system. Its sovereignty is directly exercised by the electorate and indirectly by three independent government branches established by the constitution, the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary powers.
Recent surveys have indicated that, in all of Latin America, the people of Uruguay are the strongest supporters (at 69 %) of democratic government.
The Executive power is exercised by the President of the Republic in concert with the Ministers of the Cabinet. The Vice-President of the Republic functions as the President of the General Assembly and of the Senate (Legislative branch).
Both the President and the Vice-President of the Republic are elected for five year terms.
Language:
Spanish is the official language. English and Portuguese are spoken by a high proportion of the population. The teaching of English is obligatory in public secondary schools.
Religion:
No official religion exists and the constitution guarantees freedom of faith. Diverse religions coexist in Uruguay with catholicism as the predominant religion.
Currency:
The Peso Uruguayo ($U) is the legal currency. A free exchange rate system rules every operation and transaction.
Quality of Life Indicators:
a. Life expectancy: 72.4 years
b. Infant mortality rate: 15/1000
c. Health insurance coverage 95%
Infrastructure:
Uruguay has a well developed and well maintained road system, with major highways predominantly radiating out into rural areas from the capital city and port of Montevideo.
Productive Activity:
Uruguay has 4.7 hectares of fertile land per inhabitant, some six times the world average. The proportion of the country's area dedicated to agriculture is 85%, one of the highest in the world.
The economic potential of Uruguay´s 15 millon/ha of fertile land is very high. It has areas suitable for agriculture, livestock and forestry. For many decades, the first two have positioned Uruguay as a privileged provider of food, leather and wool, generating more than 55% of Uruguay´s exports.
Many components of the national economy have achieved international recognition for their quality, allowing them to gain access to markets never thought possible a decade ago.
As examples, we can cite
Services:
Uruguay´s provision of services is fundamental for the preservation of the quality of life and the maintenance of the environment and personal security. These matters are important to encourage foreign investment and to enhance the number of international visitors (currently at about 2.5 million annually).
Traditional financial freedom practices and strict maintenance of banking secrecy have made Uruguay one of the principal regional "off shore" financial centers. More than 80% of private credits and almost 90% of deposits are made in foreign currency.