EVATT 2016
COUNTRY BRIEFING
Uruguay
Type of Government: Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic
Head of Government: President Tabare Vazquez (since 2015)
Capital City: Montevideo
Ideology: Democratic, socially liberal
Region: South America
Neighbours: Brazil, Argentina
DEMOGRAPHICS
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Population: 3.3 million
Religion: 47% Roman Catholic, 23% non-denominational, 11% nonCatholic Christian
Age: Median 34.3 years (About average)
Ethnicities: 88% White, 8% Mestizo, 4% Black
Languages: Spanish
ECONOMY
Uruguay’s financial system is regulated by the Central Bank of Uruguay.
Uruguay experienced a major economic crisis between 1999 and 2002, forcing it to sign a $1.1
billion arrangement with the IMF; bucking the trend of IMF loans, Uruguay actually managed to pay
back this debt early, and use the loans as a springboard to reboot its economy.
• The economy is mainly agricultural and export-based; Uruguay also features a very well-educated
population.
• The country also has a relatively free economy
compared to its neighbours, and is the only Latin
American country considered ‘high-income’ by the UN.
Exports
• Major export partners: Brazil 14.7%, China 14.3%,
US 6.7%, Argentina 4.9%
• Main exports: Beef, soybeans, cellulose, rice, wheat,
wood, dairy, wool
Im ports
• Major import partners: China 18.3%, Brazil 16.8%,
Argentina 13%, US 9%, Germany 4.5%, Nigeria 4.2%
• Includes: Refined oil, crude oil, vehicles, vehicle parts,
cellular phones
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MILITARY
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Made up of three branches: the Uruguayan National Army, the Uruguayan National Navy, and the
Uruguayan Air Force. Available manpower: 1,555,000 people.
POLITICS
Dom estic Politics
• Since the mid-2000s, President Vazquez has overseen significant boosts to the education and
welfare systems, as well as general working conditions. Economic improvements over this time
have seen widespread reductions in poverty, and enabled the government to bolster the alreadystrong welfare state.
• Recent years have also brought more policies of social liberalisation, such as the legalization of
abortion, same-sex marriage, and recreational use of cannabis.
Foreign Policy Concerns
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Uruguay is a major player in Latin American diplomacy, with its close geographic relations to Brazil
and Argentina allowing it to have its voice heard strongly in regional discussions. Additionally,
Uruguay’s positive record on human rights and social freedoms has led to it often being called upon
to chair international bodies.
Uruguay maintains good relations with the US, largely through close economic ties, and with
Russia, largely through cooperation in nuclear energy technology.
The country’s only international dispute is with Brazil, over the tiny Isla Brasiliera. It has not caused
any meaningful conflict.
Uruguay is also a significant contributor of peacekeepers to UN operations.
M ore Inform ation
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguay CIA: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-­‐world-­‐factbook/geos/uy.html BBC: http://www.bbc.com/news/world/latin_america Latest news from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/pages/world/americas/index.html The Economist http://www.economist.com/news/world-­‐week/21643226-­‐politics-­‐week Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/world/americas Al Jazeera http://www.aljazeera.com/topics/regions/latin-­‐america.html