Uruguay - Economic Indicators

Latin America Weekly Highlights and Preview, March 15, 2024

Mar 15, 2024

Download the full Latin America Weekly Highlights and Preview Mexico Industrial production started to recover at the beginning of the year as expected given the reacceleration of investment in infrastructure. The economy continued to work under tight monetary conditions and external demand remains moderate. Hence, the index of industrial production reported a marginal advance in January, growing 2.9%, after no growth in the previous month and a gain...

Continue reading on Economy.com View Factbook for Uruguay

GDP Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Investment 2022 540,876,203,000 465,025,320,057 UYU Annual
Nominal Gross Domestic Product 2022 2,930,192,283,770 2,687,356,125,814 UYU Annual
Real Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2021 306,494 263,197 Mil. 2016 UYU Annual
Nominal Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2021 469,417 361,682 Mil. UYU Annual
Private Consumption 2021 1,518,048,671,252 1,364,681,503,791 UYU Annual
Price Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Consumer Price Index (CPI) Feb 2024 106.83 106.15 Index Oct2022=100, NSA Monthly
Producer Price Index (PPI) Oct 2019 209.35 204.01 2010=100, NSA Monthly
Labor Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Real Wages & Salaries Jan 2024 469.75 449.27 2008=100, NSA Monthly
Unemployment Dec 2020 186,856 193,974 #, NSA Monthly
Unemployment Rate Jan 2020 8.91 8.74 %, NSA Monthly
Trade Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Current Account Balance 2023 Q3 -1,043,496,723 -802,134,502 USD, NSA Quarterly
Balance of Goods 2023 Q3 374,784,783 756,580,183 USD, NSA Quarterly
Imports of Goods 2023 Q3 3,282,113,785 3,230,802,109 USD, NSA Quarterly
Exports of Goods 2023 Q3 3,656,898,569 3,987,382,293 USD, NSA Quarterly
Exports of Goods and Services 2022 917,801,637,235 814,881,213,234 UYU Annual
Imports of Goods and Services 2022 758,020,386,323 640,171,233,795 UYU Annual
Government Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Gross External Debt 2023 Q3 0 0 USD, NSA Quarterly
Markets Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Treasury Bills (over 31 days) Jan 2024 9.25 9.48 % p.a., NSA Monthly
Money Market Rate Jan 2024 9.06 8 % p.a., NSA Monthly
Business Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Industrial Production Dec 2023 1,130,000,000 1,200,000,000 2010 USD, NSA Monthly
Capacity Utilization 2017 64.7 % Annual
Demographics Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Births 2022 32,301 34,603 # Annual
Deaths 2022 39,322 41,168 # Annual
Population 2020 3,473,727 3,461,731 # Annual

Factbook

Background

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.

Geography

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: 176,215 sq km
land: 175,015 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km
country comparison to the world: 92
Area - comparative:
about the size of Virginia and West Virginia combined; slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Land boundaries:
total: 1,591 km
border countries (2): Argentina 541 km, Brazil 1,050 km
Coastline:
660 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin
Climate:
warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain:
mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
Elevation:
mean elevation: 109 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
Natural resources:
arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish
Land use:
agricultural land: 87.2%
arable land 10.1%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 76.9%
forest: 10.2%
other: 2.6% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
2,380 sq km (2012)
Population - distribution:
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
Natural hazards:
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
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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
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 & Society

Population:
3,360,148 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Nationality:
noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan
Ethnic groups:
white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent)
Languages:
Spanish (official), Portunol, Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)
Religions:
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.)
Demographic profile:
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.
Age structure:
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:
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio: 55.9
youth dependency ratio: 33.4
elderly dependency ratio: 22.5
potential support ratio: 4.4 (2015 est.)
Median age:
total: 35 years
male: 33.1 years
female: 36.7 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Population growth rate:
0.27% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Birth rate:
13 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Death rate:
9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Net migration rate:
-0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Population distribution:
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
Urbanization:
urban population: 95.6% of total population (2017)
rate of urbanization: 0.44% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
MONTEVIDEO (capital) 1.707 million (2015)
Sex ratio:
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 (2017 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio:
15 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Infant mortality rate:
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
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.4 years
male: 74.2 years
female: 80.6 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Total fertility rate:
1.8 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Health expenditures:
8.6% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 47
Physicians density:
3.94 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Hospital bed density:
2.8 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Drinking water source:
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.)
Sanitation facility access:
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.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
12,000 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
<500 (2016 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
27.9% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 34
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
4% (2011)
country comparison to the world: 94
Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 92
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.5%
male: 98.1%
female: 98.9% (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 14 years
female: 17 years (2010)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total: 22.5%
male: 19.9%
female: 26.2% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54

Government

Country name:
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
Government type:
presidential republic
Capital:
name: Montevideo
geographic coordinates: 34 51 S, 56 10 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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:
several previous; latest approved by plebiscite 27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967; amended several times, last in 2004 (2016)
Legal system:
civil law system based on the Spanish civil code
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 3-5 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
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%
Legislative branch:
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
Judicial branch:
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)
Political parties and leaders:
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]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
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
International organization participation:
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
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
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
note: the banner was inspired by the national colors of Argentina and by the design of the US flag
National symbol(s):
Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol); national colors: blue, white, yellow
National anthem:
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

Economy - overview:
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$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
GDP (official exchange rate):
$60.27 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2017 est.)
1.5% (2016 est.)
0.4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$22,400 (2017 est.)
$21,800 (2016 est.)
$21,500 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 84
Gross national saving:
17.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
18.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
17.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
GDP - composition, by end use:
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.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 25%
services: 68.8% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Cellulose, beef, soybeans, rice, wheat; dairy products; fish; lumber, tobacco, wine
Industries:
food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
1.6% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Labor force:
1.748 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 14%
services: 73% (2010 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.3% (2017 est.)
7.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Population below poverty line:
9.7% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 30.8% (2014 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.6 (2014 est.)
41.9 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Budget:
revenues: $17.69 billion
expenditures: $19.9 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
29.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Public debt:
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: 69
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.1% (2017 est.)
9.6% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Central bank discount rate:
9% (31 December 2012 est.)
8.75% (31 December 2011 est.)
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
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13.6% (31 December 2017 est.)
16.17% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Stock of narrow money:
$4.859 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.582 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Stock of broad money:
$9.329 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$8.781 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Stock of domestic credit:
$20.98 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$19.61 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$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
Current account balance:
$-268 million (2017 est.)
$-36 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Exports:
$8.976 billion (2017 est.)
$8.387 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Exports - commodities:
beef, soybeans, cellulose, rice, wheat, wood, dairy products, wool
Exports - partners:
Brazil 16.4%, China 12.2%, US 6.2%, Argentina 5% (2016)
Imports:
$8.74 billion (2017 est.)
$8.037 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Imports - commodities:
refined oil, crude oil, passenger and other transportation vehicles, vehicle parts, cellular phones
Imports - partners:
China 18.8%, Brazil 17.9%, Argentina 13.3%, US 6.9%, Germany 4.7% (2016)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$14.28 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$13.47 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Debt - external:
$28.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$27.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$24.35 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$22.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$228.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$136.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Exchange rates:
Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar -
28.77 (2017 est.)
30.16 (2016 est.)
30.16 (2015 est.)
27.52 (2014 est.)
23.25 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access:
population without electricity: 20,106
electrification - total population: 99.4%
electrification - urban areas: 99.7%
electrification - rural areas: 93.8% (2012)
Electricity - production:
12.23 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Electricity - consumption:
9.42 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Electricity - exports:
1.321 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Electricity - imports:
2 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
4.408 million kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
34.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
34.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
39% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Crude oil - imports:
37,900 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Refined petroleum products - production:
42,440 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
54,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Refined petroleum products - exports:
537.5 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Refined petroleum products - imports:
10,870 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Natural gas - consumption:
378 million cu m (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Natural gas - imports:
40 million cu m (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
7.4 million Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions: 1,113,566
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total: 5,116,736
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Telephone system:
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)
Broadcast media:
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)
Internet country code:
.uy
Internet users:
total: 2,225,075
percent of population: 66.4% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109

Transportation

National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers: 2
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
CX (2016)
Airports:
133 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 42
Airports - with paved runways:
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)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 122
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 40
under 914 m: 79 (2013)
Pipelines:
gas 257 km; oil 160 km (2013)
Railways:
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: 80
Roadways:
total: 77,732 km
paved: 7,743 km
unpaved: 69,989 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 63
Waterways:
1,600 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 48
Merchant marine:
total: 56
by type: container ship 1, general cargo 6, oil tanker 4, other 45 (2017)
country comparison to the world: 109
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s): Montevideo

Military & Security

Military expenditures:
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: 55
Military branches:
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)
Military service age and obligation:
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

Disputes - international:
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
Illicit drugs:
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

Economic Indicators for Uruguay including actual values, historical data, and latest data updates for the Uruguay economy.