世界各国

Uruguay

Introduction to Uruguay

A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement, the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to agree to military control of his administration in 1973. By yearend, 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.

Government

Capital:

Montevideo 

Independence:

25 August 1825 (from Brazil) 

National holiday:

Independence Day, 25 August (1825) 

Economy

Economy overview:

Uruguay's well-to-do 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 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 massive withdrawals by Argentina of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks led to a plunge in the Uruguyan 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 serious banking crisis. Unemployment rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF and the US has limited the damage. The debt swap with private creditors carried out in 2003, which extended the maturity dates on nearly half of Uruguay's id=mce_marker1.3 billion in public debt, substantially alleviated the country's amortization burden in the coming years and restored public confidence. The economy is expected to resume growth in 2004 (perhaps 4% or more) as a result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, the weakness of the dollar against the euro, growth in the region, low international interest rates, and greater export competitiveness. On the negative side, in December 2003 the electorate voted to repeal the law permitting a cautious liberalization of the energy industry. 

GDP:

purchasing power parity - $43.67 billion (2004 est.) 

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7.4%
industry: 26.6%
services: 66% (2004 est.)

Agriculture products:

rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish 

Industries:

food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages 

Transportation

Waterways:

1,600 km (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 192 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Colonia, Fray Bentos, Juan La Caze, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Punta del Este, Piriapolis

Merchant marine:

total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 10,918 GRT/10,342 DWT
registered in other countries: 6 (2003 est.)
foreign-owned: Argentina 4, Greece 1
by type: chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1

Airports:

64 (2003 est.)

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