Official Name: República Oriental del Uruguay
Country Code: UY
Capital City: Montevideo
Gentilicio: People from Uruguay call themselves both Orientals and Uruguayans
Geographic
location:
Located southeast of South America, between parallels 30 and 35 south Latitude and meridians 53 and 58 west Longitude
Borders: It borders with the Federative Republic of Brazil at the north and northwest and with the Republic of Argentina through the Rio de la Plata at south and southeast, and the Rio Uruguay at west
Total Area: 176.215 Km2
Government: A Democratic Republic comprised of two legislatives houses, the Senate and the Representative House
Political division: 19 Departments
Official Language: Spanish
Business
Languages:
English and Portuguese (French and Italian widely spoken)
Currency: Uruguayan Pesos
 
 
Population: 3.241.003 (2005)
Population in rural areas:
9,2 %
Population in urban areas:
90,8%
 
 
GDP (2004): US$13.2 billion
Agriculture and fishing: 11.5%
Manufacturing and mining: 20.8 %
Utilities (electricity, gas and water): 4.3%
Construction: 3.4%
Transport, communications: 9.4%
Retail, restaurants and hotels: 12.7%
Financial services, insurance, real estate and services: 21.0%
Other services: 17.0%
GDP per Capita (2004):
4.078 (American Dollars)
Inflation: 4,42 % (year to July 2005)
Active population: 1.256.600 (as per December 2004)
Unemployment rate:
12.3% (as per June 2005)
Main products: Beef, rice, grains, dairy, honey, leather and skins, food, drinks and tobacco, wool and textiles, plastics and rubber
 
 
Electricity Network: 98%
Digital Telephone Network:
100%
 
 
Weather: Uruguay is the only country in South America which is located entirely on a temperate zone. The lack of major orographic systems is the reason for low temperature and rain variation. The average annual temperature is 17ºC.

The total annual rainfall ranges from a minimum of 1000 mm. in the south close to the Rio de la Plata to a maximum of 1400 mm. over the Brazilian border.

Average wind speeds rounds 15 km/h with a maximum of 27 km/h reached at Colonia’s coast. Winds of around 100 km/h are commonly found having reached a maximum of 200 km/h.

Annual humidity rate goes from 70% to 75% around the country with the highest rate of 80% in July and the lowest of 65% in January. Humidity of as low as 45% could be frequently experienced around midday and as high as 90% at dawn.

 
 
Topography: A flat landscape is dominates the south of Uruguay. North and northeast regions are well known for a number of peaks which reach up to 377 meters (1,237 feet) from see level. “Cuchilla Grande”, a hilly area which runs from south of Brazil to the Department of Maldonado, is typical of eastern Uruguay. Rising up to 501 meters (1,677 feet) the “Cerro Catedral” is the highest peak in the country.
   
Hydrographic: The Rio Negro is the main inner river in Uruguay running from east to west, while the Rio Uruguay covers the west side of the country from north to south ending up its stream at the Rio de la Plata. The country is run by these two major rivers and its various creeks.