Uruguay
Country Guide

Explore Uruguay

Uruguay with its capital Montevideo is located in South America (Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 176,216 square kilometers (about the size of Virginia and West Virginia combined) with a population of 3,360,150. Spanish is the official language spoken by people in Uruguay. As an interesting fact, is sharing borders with Argentina and Brazil.

Uruguay is a country in South America. It has a South Atlantic Ocean coastline and lies between Argentina to the west and Brazil to the north. One of the best experiences to have while your stay at Uruguay is to watch a game between Nacional and Peñarol, the two most followed football teams in the nation. Sunbathing, surfing and bathing in the oceanic coast. The most important beaches are Punta del Este, Piriapolis, La Paloma, La Pedrera, Cabo Polonio, Punta del Diablo and Santa Teresa(national park and camping).

Popular Destinations in Uruguay

Administrative regions of Uruguay

• Departamento de Artigas
• Departamento de Canelones
• Departamento de Cerro Largo
• Departamento de Colonia
• Departamento de Durazno
• Departamento de Flores
• Departamento de Florida
• Departamento de Maldonado
• Departamento de Montevideo
• Departamento de Paysandu
• Departamento de Rio Negro
• Departamento de Rivera
• Departamento de Rocha
• Departamento de Salto
• Departamento de San Jose
• Departamento de Soriano
• Departamento de Tacuarembo
• Departamento de Treinta y Tres
• Lavalleja Department

About the country

The topography is mostly rolling plains and low hills with fertile coastal lowland. The average density of population is about 19 per km². The climate in Uruguay can be described as warm temperate with freezing temperatures almost unknown. Potential natural disasters are because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods

To reach someone Uruguay dial +598 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".uy". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 220 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, F, L). The sign for the locally used currency Peso is UYU.

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.

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

Area
Total (World Rank: 92)	176,215	sq km
Land (World Rank: 90)	175,015	sq km
Water (World Rank: 105)	1,200	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 7)	76.90	%
Comparative	about the size of Virginia and West Virginia combined; slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Coastline
660
Landborder
1591
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 193)	514	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 4)	87.20	%
Arable (World Rank: 109)	10.10	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 167)	0.20	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 7)	76.90	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 73)	2,380	sq km
Map reference
South America
Environment
Issues	- inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal - water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry
Agreement party	- Antarctic Treaty - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol - Antarctic-Marine Living Resources - Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Environmental Modification - Hazardous Wastes - Law of the Sea - Ozone Layer Protection - Ship Pollution - Wetlands
Agreement signed	- Marine Dumping - Marine Life Conservation
Hazzards	- because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts - seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods
Location
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
Climate
warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain
mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 133)	3,360,150
Deathrate (World Rank: 59)	0.94	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 149)	1.30	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 173)	0.27	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 102)	-0.09	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 149)	1.80	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 86)	33.10
Female (World Rank: 71)	36.70
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 139)	344,810
0 14 female (World Rank: 139)	332,791
15 24 male (World Rank: 133)	267,000
15 24 female (World Rank: 132)	260,135
25 54 male (World Rank: 135)	654,036
25 54 female (World Rank: 135)	667,780
55 64 male (World Rank: 126)	167,002
55 64 female (World Rank: 124)	187,865
65 x male (World Rank: 104)	191,597
65 x female (World Rank: 99)	287,132
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 150)	0.83	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 69)	77	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 67)	81	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 76)	74	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 17)	3.94
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 89)	2.50
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 63)	96.40	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 33)	27.90	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 46)	99.70	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 92)	12,230,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 96)	9,420,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 52)	1,321,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 112)	2,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 178)	34.70	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 57)	34.90	%
Source renew (World Rank: 5)	39.00	%
Crude oil
Imports (World Rank: 57)	37,900	bbl / day
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 83)	42,440	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 100)	54,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 109)	538	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 138)	10,870	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 108)	378,000,000	m³
Import (World Rank: 28)	0	m³
Carbon footprint
7400000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 93)	4	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 57)	2	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 47)	9	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 129)	-4	% of GDP
National symbol
Sun of May
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Uruguayan
Noun
Uruguayan(s)
Background
Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century launched widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was restored in 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control previously held by the Colorado and National (Blanco) parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.
Flag description
nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face (delineated in black) known as the Sun of May with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy; the stripes represent the nine original departments of Uruguay; the sun symbol evokes the legend of the sun breaking through the clouds on 25 May 1810 as independence was first declared from Spain (Uruguay subsequently won its independence from Brazil); the sun features are said to represent those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 94)	74,460,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 153)	1.50	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 82)	21,400	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 113)	6.80	%
Source industry (World Rank: 99)	27.40	%
Source service (World Rank: 83)	65.90	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 126)	1,736,000
In poverty (World Rank: 148)	9.70	%
Products
Industries	- beverages - chemicals - electrical machinery - food processing - petroleum products - textiles - transportation equipment
Agriculture	- beef - Cellulose - dairy products - fish - lumber - rice - soybeans - tobacco - wheat - wine
Exports	- beef - cellulose - dairy products - rice - soybeans - wheat - wood - wool
Imports	- cellular phones - crude oil - other transportation vehicles - passenger - refined oil - vehicle parts

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 74)	1,113,570
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 59)	33.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 24)	153.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 107)	2,225,080
Population (World Rank: 83)	66.40	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 110)	11.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 31)	122.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 80)	1,673
Road
Total length (World Rank: 63)	77,732
Paved length (World Rank: 81)	7,743
Unpaved length (World Rank: 29)	69,989
Water
Total length (World Rank: 51)	1,600

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