An Introduction to Uruguay
Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbour to become an important commercial centre. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. See full country profile.Latest Research News from Uruguay
GOVERNMENT: constitutional republic
AREA: 176,215 sq km
POPULATION: 3,308,535 (July 2011 est.)
MAJOR LANGUAGE: Official Language: Spanish
Some business and general info
The Market Research Industry
Trade and Industry in Uruguay
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Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbour to become an important commercial centre. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle.
A reformist and forward-thinking tradition of government was begun by President Jose Battle in the early 20th century, and despite interruptions by violent Marxist urban guerrillas and military rule in the twenty years before 1985, this has survived. Uruguay's political and labour conditions are among the freest on the continent; its attitudes to same-sex unions are progressive; along with Bolivia it avoided recession in 2009-10; in 2009 it became the first nation in the world to provide every schoolchild with a free laptop and Internet access; and the majority of its military spending is reimbursed by the UN because most of its military is deployed in UN peacekeeping duties.
GDP: $47.99 billion (PPP) (2010 est.) - $13,700 per capita (2010 est.)
Religions Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1% (2006)
Currency: Uruguayan Peso (UYU) - $1 = UYU 31.22
Telephone Code: +598
MR Association(s):
Uruguay's MR industy is among the fastest growing in Latin America. It experienced a net growth of 8% in 2010, turning over $11m - up from $9m in 2009.
Source: ESOMAR
Uruguay has an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated work force, and high levels of social spending. After a few difficult years, Uruguay's growth averaged 8% annually during the period 2004-08, and returned to this level in 2010.
2010 exports worth just over $8bn were mainly beef (the legendary Fr'y Bentos is one of its largest towns), soybeans, cellulose, rice, wheat, wood, dairy produce and wool and went largely to Brazil (21%), Argentina, Chile and Russia. Imports were a fraction higher at $8.32bn, included oil, vehicles and parts, mobile phones and insecticides and came mostly fromBrazil, Argentina, China, Venezuela, the USA and Russia.
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laurence@mrweb.com
