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Uruguay:
Country Guide

Uruguay - General Country Guide

Sample

Map

Summary Data

summary data
Total Area (km²)	176,220
Land (km²⁾	173,620
Water (km²)	2,600
Population	3,477,778
Population Density (/km²)	20
Capital	Montevideo
Religion (%)	Roman Catholic 66% Protestant 2% Jewish 1% Other 31%
Time	GMT-3
Climate	Uruguay has a warm, temperate climate. The hottest month is January and the coolest month is June.

^{Source: CIA World Factbook}

Geography

Bordering Brazil, Argentina and the Atlantic, Uruguay has a mountainous landscape which is broken up by several rivers and streams. Argentina and Uruguay are separated by the River Uruguay which dominated the western border. There are a number of beaches along the coast which become very popular in summer months. Agriculture is very important in Uruguay and the land is ideal for cattle grazing. Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay with almost half of the population residing both in and around the city. The Rio Negro is the main international river which runs from Brazil through the center of the country and joins into the Rio de la Plata.

Government

The government of Uruguay has been a Republic since 1803. The head of state is Tobare Vazquez with Rodolfo Nin Novoa as vice president. Both were elected in 2005 for a five year term. When Vazquez was running for the head of state role he stated that he would improve poverty and build relations with close nations and so far he has re-established diplomatic relations with Cuba. Uruguay's economic crisis in 2002 understandably effected the country and provoked the government's focus to rebuild and stabilize the economy.

Language

Spanish is the official language in Uruguay, along with Portunol and Brazilero. English is spoken in popular tourist areas.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are predominantly used but a version of the continental flat three-pin style is sometimes used.

Passports/Visa

Passports and return or ongoing tickets are required by all nationals to enter Uruguay.

Visas

Visas are not required by EU members or nationals of Canada, Australia and USA. Nationals of Canada, Ireland, Malta and the USA are only allowed in the country for a maximum stay of three months without a visa. US nationals travelling on diplomatic or official passports then require a visa.

Passport/Visa Information

Uruguay Embassy
2nd Floor
140 Brompton Road
London SW3 1HY

Telephone: (020) 7589 8835

Fax: (020) 7581 9585

Airports and Airlines

Montevideo (MVD)

Location: The airport is situated 19km (12 miles) from Montevideo.
Time: GMT - 3
Contacts: Tel: + 40 (0)21 204 1200.
Website: www.aic.com.uy
Transfer to the city: There is an airport bus to the city and taxis are available at the airport taking approximately 30 minutes to reach the city.
Car rental: Car rental companies including Avis, Europcar and Hertz are available
Facilities: The airport has a duty-free shop, a post office, restaurants, a pharmacy, travel agencies, ATMs and a bureau de change.
Parking: Parking is available.

Standard of Living

Uruguay enjoys a moderate standard of living that compares well against other Latin American countries. Its low birth rate, high life expectancy, and relatively high rate of emigration by younger generations mean that the country has a mature population. The country is not in extreme poverty and health care is available to all nationals. Uruguay has one of the lowest crime and corruption rates in Latin America. The country is known for having extremely good infrastructure and is distinguished by its high literacy rate.