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Compare Western Sahara (2004) - Uruguay (2004)

Compare Western Sahara (2004) z Uruguay (2004)

 Western Sahara (2004)Uruguay (2004)
 Western SaharaUruguay
Administrative divisions none (under de facto control of Morocco) 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
Age structure 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA
0-14 years: 23.5% (male 406,500; female 392,497)


15-64 years: 63.4% (male 1,066,464; female 1,087,100)


65 years and over: 13.1% (male 182,654; female 264,022) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads) rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish
Airports 11 (2003 est.) 64 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2004 est.)
total: 14


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 6


under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
total: 50


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 17


under 914 m: 31 (2004 est.)
Area total: 266,000 sq km


land: 266,000 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 176,220 sq km


land: 173,620 sq km


water: 2,600 sq km
Area - comparative about the size of Colorado slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Background Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed. 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.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population 14.44 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: NA


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
revenues: $2.934 billion


expenditures: $3.425 billion, including capital expenditures of $193 million (2003)
Capital none Montevideo
Climate hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Coastline 1,110 km 660 km
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
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Western Sahara


former: Spanish Sahara
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
Currency Moroccan dirham (MAD) Uruguayan peso (UYU)
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population 9.07 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external NA $10.73 billion (2003)
Diplomatic representation from the US none 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) 418-8611
Diplomatic representation in the US none chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo FERNANDEZ-FAINGOLD


chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006


telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316


FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142


consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
Disputes - international Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991 but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals uncontested dispute with Brazil over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina
Economic aid - recipient NA NA
Economy - overview Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. 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 $11.3 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.
Electricity - consumption 83.7 million kWh (2001) 6.152 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 1.377 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 123 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 90 million kWh (2001) 7.963 billion kWh (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m


highest point: unnamed location 463 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
Environment - current issues sparse water and lack of arable land water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
Environment - international agreements party to: none of the selected agreements


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected 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: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Ethnic groups Arab, Berber white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian, practically nonexistent
Exchange rates Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 9.574 (2003), 11.584 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999) Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 28.2091 (2003), 21.257 (2002), 13.3191 (2001), 12.0996 (2000), 11.3393 (1999)
Executive branch none 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: 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


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 2004 (next to be held October 2009)


election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ 50.7%, Jorge LARRANAGA 34.1%, Guillermo STIRLING 10.3%; note - VAZQUEZ will take office on 1 March 2005
Exports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities phosphates 62% meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products
Exports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts Brazil 21.4%, US 11.4%, Argentina 7.1%, Germany 6.6%, China 4.3%, Mexico 4.1%, Italy 4.1%, Canada 4% (2003)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
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
GDP purchasing power parity - NA purchasing power parity - $43.67 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: 40% (1996 est.)
agriculture: 7.4%


industry: 26.6%


services: 66% (2003)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - NA purchasing power parity - $12,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA 2.5% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates 24 30 N, 13 00 W 33 00 S, 56 00 W
Geography - note the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas 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
Highways total: 6,200 km


paved: 1,350 km


unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est)
total: 8,983 km


paved: 8,081 km


unpaved: 902 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: 3.7%


highest 10%: 25.8% (1997)
Imports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude petroleum
Imports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2000) Argentina 26.1%, Brazil 21%, Russia 11.7%, US 7.6% (2003)
Independence - 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
Industrial production growth rate NA 0.7% (2003 est.)
Industries phosphate mining, handicrafts food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total: 12.31 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 13.67 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 10.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA 19.4% (2003 est.)
International organization participation none FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Irrigated land NA sq km 1,800 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch - Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly)
Labor force 12,000 1.56 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50% agriculture 14%, industry 16%, services 70%
Land boundaries total: 2,046 km


border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
total: 1,564 km


border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
Land use arable land: 0.02%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 99.98% (2001)
arable land: 7.43%


permanent crops: 0.23%


other: 92.34% (2001)
Languages Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)
Legal system - based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 2004 (next to be held October 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)


election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - 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
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years
total population: 75.92 years


male: 72.71 years


female: 79.24 years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 98%


male: 97.6%


female: 98.4% (2003 est.)
Location Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
Map references Africa South America
Maritime claims contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Merchant marine - total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 10,918 GRT/10,342 DWT


by type: chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1


foreign-owned: Argentina 4, Greece 1


registered in other countries: 6 (2004 est.)
Military branches - Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Marines, Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure NA $217.9 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA 2% (2003)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 838,195 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 677,315 (2004 est.)
National holiday - Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
Nationality noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)


adjective: Sahrawi,Sahrawian, Sahraouian
noun: Uruguayan(s)


adjective: Uruguayan
Natural hazards hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility 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
Natural resources phosphates, iron ore arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
Net migration rate - -0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Pipelines - gas 192 km (2004)
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 none Agrupacion UTE (powerful state worker's union), Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association), Uruguayan Construction League, Chamber of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer's association), Chemist and Pharmaceutical Association (professional organization), Architect's Society of Uruguay (professional organization), the Catholic Church, students
Population 267,405 (July 2004 est.) 3,399,237 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA 23.7% (2002)
Population growth rate NA 0.51% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun) Colonia, Fray Bentos, Juan La Caze, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Punta del Este, Piriapolis
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 91, FM 149, shortwave 7 (2001)
Railways - total: 2,073 km


standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge


note: 461 km have been taken out of service and 460 km are in partial use (2003)
Religions Muslim Roman Catholic 66% (less than half of the adult population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, nonprofessing or other 31%
Sex ratio NA at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Telephone system general assessment: sparse and limited system


domestic: NA


international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
general assessment: fully digitalized


domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network


international: country code - 598; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2002)
Telephones - main lines in use about 2,000 (1999 est.) 946,500 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1999) 652,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations NA 23 (2002)
Terrain mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman 1.96 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate NA 16% (2003)
Waterways - 1,600 km (2002)
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