launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to agree to military
control of his administration in 1973. By the end of the year the rebels
had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold throughout
the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. Uruguay's
political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.
Geography Uruguay
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Argentina and Brazil
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 S, 56 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 176,220 sq km land: 173,620 sq km water: 2,600 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Land boundaries: total: 1,564 km border countries: Argentina 579 km,
Brazil 985 km
Coastline: 660 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive
economic zone: 200 NM
Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:
Cerro Catedral 514 m
Natural resources: arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% other: 93% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,800 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and
occasional violent wind which 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
Environment - current issues: water pollution from meat packing/tannery
industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
Environment - international agreements: 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: Geography -
note: 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 Uruguay
Population: 3,386,575 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24.4% (male 422,826; female 402,324) 15-64
years: 62.6% (male 1,047,740; female 1,072,032) 65 years and over: 13%
(male 181,522; female 260,131) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.79% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 17.28 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 79.17 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 2.35 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.33% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 6,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 150 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan
Ethnic groups: white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian, practically
nonexistent
Religions: Roman Catholic 66% (less than half of the adult population
attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, nonprofessing or
other 31%
Languages: Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on
the Brazilian frontier)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 97.3% male: 96.9% female: 97.7% (1995 est.)
Government Uruguay
Country name: conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay local short form: Uruguay former:
Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province local long form: Republica Oriental
del Uruguay
Government type: constitutional republic
Capital: Montevideo
Administrative divisions: 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
Independence: 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
Constitution: 27 November 1966, effective 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
Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (since
1 March 2000) and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government head
of government: Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government 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; election last held 31 October 1999,
with runoff election on 28 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Jorge BATLLE Ibanez elected president; percent of vote -
Jorge BATLLE Ibanez 52% in a runoff against Tabare VAZQUEZ 44%
Legislative branch: 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) 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 1999 (next to be held NA 2004);
Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October 1999 (next to be held
NA 2004) election results: Encuentro Progresista 12, Colorado Party 10,
Blanco 7, New Sector/Space Coalition 1; Chamber of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Encuentro Progresista
40, Colorado Party 33, Blanco 22, New Sector/Space Coalition 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president
and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly)
Political parties and leaders: Colorado Party [Jorge BATLLE Ibanez];
National Party or Blanco [Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera]; New Sector/Space
Coalition or Nuevo Espacio [Rafael MICHELINI]; Progressive Encounter/Broad
Front Coalition or Encuentro Progresista/Frente Amplio [Tabare VAZQUEZ]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM
(observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo
FERNANDEZ-FAINGOLD consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami,
and New York FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142 telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313
through 1316 chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Martin J. SILVERSTEIN embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address: APO AA 34035 telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777 FAX: [598]
(2) 410-0022
Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom)
alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side
corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May
and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy
Economy Uruguay
Economy - overview: Uruguay's economy is characterized by an
export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce,
and high levels of social spending. After averaging growth of 5%
annually in 1996-98, in 1999-2001 the economy suffered from lower
demand in Argentina and Brazil, which together account for nearly
half of Uruguay's exports. Despite the severity of the trade shocks,
Uruguay's financial indicators remained more stable than those of its
neighbors, a reflection of its solid reputation among investors and its
investment-grade sovereign bond rating - one of only two in South America.
Challenges for the government of President Jorge BATLLE include reducing
the budget deficit, expanding Uruguay's trade ties beyond its Mercosur
trade partners, and reducing the costs of public services. GDP fell by
1.3% in 2000 and by 1.5% in 2001.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $31 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -1.5% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,200 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 29% services: 65%
(2001)
Population below poverty line: 6% (1997)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 25.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 42.3 (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (2001)
Labor force: 1.2 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 14%, industry 16%, services 70%
Unemployment rate: 15.2% (2001)
Budget: revenues: $3.7 billion expenditures: $4.6 billion, including
capital expenditures of $500 million (2000)
Industries: food processing, electrical machinery, transportation
equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: -2.4% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 7.527 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 6.64% hydro: 92.83%
other: 0.53% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 7.35 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 950 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 1.3 billion kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish
Exports: $2.24 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: meat, rice, leather products, wool, vehicles,
dairy products
Exports - partners: Mercosur partners 40%, EU 20%, US 8% (2001 est.)
Imports: $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude
petroleum
Imports - partners: Mercosur partners 44%, EU 18%, US 9% (2001 est.)
Debt - external: $7.7 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: Uruguayan peso (UYU)
Currency code: UYU
Exchange rates: Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 14.3325 (January 2002),
13.3191 (2001), 12.0996 (2000), 11.3393 (1999), 10.4719 (1998), 9.4418
(1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Uruguay
Telephones - main lines in use: 929,141 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 350,000 (2001)
Telephone system: general assessment: fully digitalized domestic: most
modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave
radio relay network international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) (2002)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 149, shortwave 7 (2001)
Radios: 1.97 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 20 (2001)
Televisions: 782,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .uy
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 14 (2001)
Internet users: 370,000 (2001)
Transportation Uruguay
Railways: total: 2,993 km standard gauge: 2,993 km 1.435-m gauge note:
of the total route length, 461 km have been taken out of service and
460 km are in only partial use; moreover, not all lines offer passenger
service (2001)
Highways: total: 8,764 km paved: 7,800 km unpaved: 964 km (2001)
Waterways: 1,600 km (used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft)
Ports and harbors: Colonia, Fray Bentos, Juan La Caze, La Paloma,
Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Punta del Este, Piriapolis
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,752
GRT/5,228 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as
a flag of convenience: Argentina 4, Greece 1 (2002 est.) ships by type:
petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1
Airports: 64 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: 5 914 to 1,523 m: Airports - with unpaved
runways: total: 49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m:
31 (2001)
Military Uruguay
Military branches: Army, Navy (including Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard,
Marines), Air Force, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 824,395 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 666,880
(2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $250 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.1% (2000)
Transnational Issues Uruguay
Disputes - international: uncontested dispute with Brazil over islands
in the Rio Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the Arroio Invernada (Arroyo de
la Invernada)
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Uzbekistan
Introduction
Uzbekistan
Background: Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff
resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually suppressed
and a socialist republic set up in 1924. During the Soviet era,
intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to overuse
of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have
left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry.
Independent since 1991, the country seeks to gradually lessen its
dependence on agriculture while developing its mineral and petroleum
reserves. Current concerns include insurgency by Islamic militants
based in Tajikistan and Afghanistan, a nonconvertible currency, and the
curtailment of human rights and democratization.
Geography Uzbekistan
Location: Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 64 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 447,400 sq km water: 22,000 sq km land: 425,400 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 6,221 km border countries: Afghanistan 137
km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km,
Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Coastline: 0 km (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes the
southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline
Maritime claims: none (doubly landlocked)
Climate: mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters;
semiarid grassland in east
Terrain: mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad,
flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr
Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by
mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m highest point:
Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver,
copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 1% other: 88% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 42,810 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in
growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these
substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and
contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes
and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many
human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination
from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the
selected agreements
Geography - note: along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world
People Uzbekistan
Population: 25,563,441 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35.5% (male 4,617,110; female 4,457,065)
15-64 years: 59.8% (male 7,567,510; female 7,726,753) 65 years and over:
4.7% (male 482,137; female 712,866) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.62% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 26.09 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 7.98 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 71.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 67.6 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 3.03 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.01% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Uzbekistani(s) adjective: Uzbekistani
Ethnic groups: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak
2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Languages: Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (yearend 1996)
Government Uzbekistan
Country name: Republic of Uzbekistan conventional short form: local
long form: Uzbekiston Respublikasi
Government type: republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little
power outside the executive branch
Capital: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat),
1 autonomous republic* (respublika), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon
Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati, Farg'ona Viloyati, Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan
Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi), Qaraqalpog'iston
Respublikasi* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati, Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston),
Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Viloyati,
Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch) note: administrative divisions have the same
names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative
center name following in parentheses)
Independence: 1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Constitution: new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system: evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent
judicial system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March
1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet) head of
government: of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of
the Supreme Assembly election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president;
percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz JALALOV 4.2% elections:
last held 9 January 2000 (next to be held NA 2007); (previously was
a five-year term, extended by national referendum on 27 January 2002)
prime minister and deputy ministers appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms);
note - on 27 January 2002, a referendum was held that will make the
Assembly bicameral on the 2004 elections election results: percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NDP 48, Self-Sacrificers Party 34,
Fatherland Progress Party 20, Adolat Social Democratic Party 11, MTP 10,
citizens' groups 16, local government 110, vacant 1 note: not all seats
in the last Supreme Assembly election were contested; all parties in
the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV elections: last held 5
December and 19 December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2004)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president
and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly)
Political parties and leaders: Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party
[Anwar JURABAYEV, first secretary]; Democratic National Rebirth Party
(Milly Tiklanish) or MTP [Aziz KAYUMOV, chairman]; People's Democratic
Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Abdulkhafiz JALOLOV, first
secretary]; Self-Sacrificers Party or Fidokorlar National Democratic
Party [Ahtam TURSUNOV, first secretary]; note - Fatherland Progress
Party merged with Self-Sacrificers Party
Political pressure groups and leaders: Birlik (Unity) Movement
[Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party [Muhammad
SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December 1992; Human Rights Society of
Uzbekistan [Abdumannob POLAT, chairman]; Independent Human Rights Society
of Uzbekistan [Mikhail ARDZINOV, chairman]
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Shavkat HAMRAKULOV FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804
[1] (202) 887-5300 chancery:
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
John Edward HERBST embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115 mailing
address: use embassy street address; US Embassy Tashkent, Department
of State, Washington, DC 20521-7110 telephone: [998] (71) 120-5444 FAX:
[998] (71) 120-6335
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white,
and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon and
12 white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
Economy Uzbekistan
Economy - overview: Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11%
consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than 60%
of its population lives in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan
is now the world's second largest cotton exporter, a large producer
of gold and oil, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals
and machinery. Following independence in December 1991, the government
sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and
tight controls on production and prices. The state continues to be
a dominating influence in the economy and has so far failed to bring
about much-needed structural changes. The IMF suspended Uzbekistan's
$185 million standby arrangement in late 1996 because of governmental
steps that made impossible fulfillment of Fund conditions. Uzbekistan
has responded to the negative external conditions generated by the
Asian and Russian financial crises by emphasizing import substitute
industrialization and by tightening export and currency controls within
its already largely closed economy. Economic policies that have repelled
foreign investment are a major factor in the economy's stagnation. A
growing debt burden, persistent inflation, and a poor business climate led
to disappointing growth in 2001. However, in December 2001 the government
voiced a renewed interest in economic reform, seeking advice from the
IMF and other financial institutions.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $62 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 24% services:
43% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 33.3 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 23% (2001 est.)