Location:
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Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
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Geographic coordinates:
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33 00 S, 56 00 W
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Map references:
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South America
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Area:
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total: 176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water: 2,600 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than the state of Washington
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,648 km
border countries: Argentina 580 km, Brazil 1,068 km
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Coastline:
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660 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or edge of continental margin
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Climate:
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warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
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Terrain:
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mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
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Natural resources:
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arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
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Land use:
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arable land: 7.77%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 91.99% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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2,100 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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139 cu km (2000)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 3.15 cu km/yr (2%/1%/96%)
per capita: 910 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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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
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Environment - current issues:
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water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population:
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3,477,778 (July 2008 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 22.7% (male 401,209/female 388,315)
15-64 years: 64% (male 1,105,891/female 1,120,858)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 185,704/female 275,801) (2008 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 33.2 years
male: 31.8 years
female: 34.6 years (2008 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.486% (2008 est.)
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Birth rate:
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14.17 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Death rate:
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9.12 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-0.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 11.66 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 76.14 years
male: 72.89 years
female: 79.51 years (2008 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.3% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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6,000 (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan
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Ethnic groups:
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white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent)
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1% (2006)
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Languages:
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Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2003 est.)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 16 years (2006)
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Education expenditures:
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2.9% of GDP (2006)
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Country name:
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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
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Government type:
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constitutional republic
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Capital:
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name: Montevideo
geographic coordinates: 34 53 S, 56 11 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in March
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Administrative divisions:
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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
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Independence:
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25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
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Constitution:
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27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967; suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980; two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November 1989 and 7 January 1997
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Legal system:
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based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal and compulsory
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005); Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005); Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2009)
election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ 50.5%, Jorge LARRANAGA 35.1%, Guillermo STIRLING 10.3%; other 4.1%
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; vice president has one vote in the Senate) and Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - EP-FA 16, Blanco 11, Colorado Party 3; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - EP-FA 52, Blanco 36, Colorado Party 10, Independent Party 1
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Broad Front (Frente Amplio) - formerly known as the Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition or EP-FA [Jorge BROVETTO] (a broad governing coalition that includes Movement of the Popular Participation or MPP [Jose MUJICA], New Space Party (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI], Progressive Alliance (Alianza Progresista) [Rodolfo NIN NOVOA], Socialist Party [Eduardo FERNANDEZ], the Communist Party [Marina ARISMENDI], Uruguayan Assembly (Asamblea Uruguay) [Danilo ASTORI], and Vertiente Artiguista [Mariano ARANA]); Colorado Party (Foro Batllista) [Julio Maria SANGUINETTI]; National Party or Blanco [Luis Alberto LACALLE and Jorge LARRANAGA]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Architect's Society of Uruguay (professional organization); Chamber of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer's association); Chemist and Pharmaceutical Association (professional organization); PIT/CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan Unions - umbrella labor organization); Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association); Uruguayan Construction League; Uruguayan Network of Political Women
other: Catholic Church; students
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International organization participation:
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CAN (associate), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alberto GIANELLI Derois
chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington, DC
consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Frank E. BAXTER
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777
FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611
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Flag description:
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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 known as the Sun of May with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy
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Economy - overview:
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Uruguay's economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated work force, and high levels of social spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during 1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn, stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problems of its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. For instance, in 2001-02 Argentina made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks, which led to a plunge in the Uruguayan peso and a massive rise in unemployment. Total GDP in these four years dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year due to the banking crisis. The unemployment rate rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF helped stem the damage. Uruguay in 2007 improved its debt profile by paying off $1.1 billion in IMF debt, and continues to follow the orthodox economic plan set by the Fund in 2005. The construction of a pulp mill in Fray Bentos, which represents the largest foreign direct investment in Uruguay's history at $1.2 billion, came online in November 2007 and is expected to add 1.6% to GDP and boost already rising exports. The economy has grown strongly since 2004 as a result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, a strong peso, growth in the region, and low international interest rates.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$37.5 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$22.95 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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7.4% (2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$10,800 (2007 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 10.1%
industry: 32%
services: 57.9% (2007 est.)
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Labor force:
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1.631 million (2007 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 9%
industry: 15%
services: 76% (2007 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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9.2% (2007 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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27.4% of households (2006)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 34% (2003)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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45.2 (2006)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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8.1% (2007 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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13.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $6.701 billion
expenditures: $6.807 billion (2007 est.)
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Public debt:
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64.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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rice, wheat, soybeans, barley; livestock, beef; fish; forestry
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Industries:
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food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
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Industrial production growth rate:
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7.9% (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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9.2 billion kWh (2007)
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Electricity - consumption:
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7.03 billion kWh (2007)
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Electricity - exports:
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1 billion kWh (2007)
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Electricity - imports:
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780 million kWh (2007)
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Oil - production:
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27,830 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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33,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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4,410 bbl/day (2007)
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Oil - imports:
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43,670 bbl/day (2007)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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NA
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2007)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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102.8 million cu m (2007 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2007 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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116.9 million cu m (2007)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
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Current account balance:
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-$185.6 million (2007 est.)
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Exports:
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$5.063 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products
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Exports - partners:
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Brazil 15.1%, US 9.3%, Argentina 6.8%, Mexico 6.4%, China 6.1%, Russia 5.2%, Germany 4.8% (2007)
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Imports:
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$5.554 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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crude petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, paper, plastics
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Imports - partners:
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Argentina 21.5%, Brazil 18%, US 9.3%, China 8.9%, Paraguay 7.5%, Nigeria 4.5% (2007)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$14.62 million (2005)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$4.121 billion (December 2007 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$11.42 billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$4.19 billion (2007)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$156 million (2007)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$224 million (2007)
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Currency (code):
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Uruguayan peso (UYU)
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Exchange rates:
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Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 23.947 (2007), 24.048 (2006), 24.479 (2005), 28.704 (2004), 28.209 (2003)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Airports:
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60 (2007)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 29 (2007)
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Pipelines:
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gas 257 km; oil 160 km (2007)
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Railways:
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total: 2,073 km
standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge
note: 461 km have been taken out of service and 460 km are in partial use (2006)
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Roadways:
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total: 77,732 km
paved: 7,743 km
unpaved: 69,989 km (2004)
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Waterways:
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1,600 km (2005)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 16 ships (1000 GRT or over) 46,279 GRT/25,981 DWT
by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 9 (Argentina 3, Greece 1, Spain 5)
registered in other countries: 3 (Liberia 3) (2008)
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Ports and terminals:
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Montevideo
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