one-half of the adult
population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%,
nonprofessing or other 30%
Languages: Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on
the Brazilian frontier)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.3%
male: 96.9%
female: 97.7% (1995 est.)
@Uruguay:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay
Data code: UY
Government type: republic
Capital: Montevideo
Administrative divisions: 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
Independence: 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
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
Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jorge BATLLE (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 (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 1999
with run-off election on 28 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Jorge BATLLE elected president; percent of vote -
52% in a runoff against Tabare VAZQUEZ
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-yea
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