Editing Uruguay (section)

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Uruguay}}
[[File:GDP per capita development of Uruguay.svg|thumb|GDP per capita development since 1900]]
[[File:World Trade Center Montevideo.jpg|thumb|[[World Trade Center Montevideo]]]]

In 1991, the country experienced an increase in strikes to obtain wage compensation to offset inflation and to oppose the privatizations desired by the government of Luis Alberto Lacalle. A general strike was called in 1992, and the privatization policy was widely rejected by the referendum.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Molano |first=Walter |date=August 1997 |title=The Political Economy of Privatization: Uruguay's Attempt to Divest Administration Nacional de Telecomunicaciones del Uruguay (ANTEL) |url=https://bvrie.bcu.gub.uy/local/File/JAE/1997/Molano.pdf |journal=Banco Central del Uruguay |publication-place=New York |pages=2, 12}}</ref> In 1994 and 1995, Uruguay faced economic difficulties caused by the liberalization of foreign trade, which increased the trade deficit.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=16 March 1995 |title=Uruguayan Trade Deficit Hits Record High in 1994 |url=https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=12836&context=notisur#:~:text=economy%20resulting%20from%20a%20drop%20in%20Argentine,Argentina%20will%20likely%20decline%2C%20and%20because%20the |journal=Latin American Data Base |issn=1060-4189 |via=University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository}}</ref> The Montevideo Gas Company and the Pluna airline were turned over to the private sector, but the pace of privatization slowed down in 1996. Uruguay experienced a major economic and financial crisis between 1999 and 2002, principally a [[spillover effect]] from the [[Argentine economic crisis (1999–2002)|economic problems of Argentina]].<ref name="cong-r"/> The economy contracted by 11%, and unemployment climbed to 14–21%.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=March 2001 |title=Uruguay: Recent Economic Developments |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2001/cr0147.pdf#:~:text=The%20Uruguayan%20economy%20is%20gradually%20emerging%20from,with%20the%20effects%20of%20the%20Mexico%20crisis. |journal=International Monetary Fund |publication-place=Washington, D.C. |issue=1 |page=4}}</ref><ref name="cong-r"/>

In 2004, the Batlle government signed a three-year $1.1&nbsp;billion stand-by arrangement with the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF), committing the country to a substantial [[primary surplus|primary fiscal surplus]], low inflation, considerable reductions in external debt, and several [[structural reforms]] designed to improve competitiveness and attract [[foreign direct investment|foreign investment]].<ref name="cong-r"/> Uruguay terminated the agreement in 2006 following the early repayment of its debt but maintained a number of the policy commitments.<ref name="cong-r"/> Vázquez, who assumed the government in March 2005, created the [[Ministry of Social Development (Uruguay)|Ministry of Social Development]] and sought to reduce the country's poverty rate with a $240&nbsp;million National Plan to Address the Social Emergency (PANES), which provided a monthly [[conditional cash transfer]] of approximately $75 to over 100,000 households in extreme poverty. In exchange, those receiving the benefits were required to participate in community work, ensure that their children attended school daily, and have regular health check-ups.<ref name="cong-r" />

Following the 2001 Argentine credit default, prices in the Uruguayan economy made a variety of services, including information technology and architectural expertise, once too expensive in many foreign markets, exportable.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stewart|first=Diego|date=May 2005|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BEK/is_5_13/ai_n13699159|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716005156/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BEK/is_5_13/ai_n13699159|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 July 2012|title=Building out: Uruguay exports architectural services to India and Latin America|work=Latin Trade|access-date=11 August 2007}}</ref> The [[Broad Front (Uruguay)|Frente Amplio]] government, while continuing payments on Uruguay's external debt,<ref>{{cite web |title=Uruguay's Frente Amplio: From Revolution to Dilution |url=http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=13102 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224211625/http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=13102 |archive-date=24 February 2008}}</ref> also undertook an emergency plan to attack the widespread problems of poverty and unemployment.<ref name="BBC-profile">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1229360.stm|title=Uruguay Country Profile|date=26 October 2010|work=BBC News|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=24 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224045926/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1229360.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The economy grew at an annual rate of 6.7% during the 2004–2008 period.<ref name="wb-ub">{{cite web|url=http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/LACEXT/URUGUAYEXTN/0,,contentMDK:22256166~pagePK:1497618~piPK:217854~theSitePK:331609,00.html|title=Uruguay Brief|publisher=World Bank|access-date=25 February 2011|archive-date=30 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430160609/http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/LACEXT/URUGUAYEXTN/0,,contentMDK:22256166~pagePK:1497618~piPK:217854~theSitePK:331609,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Uruguay's export markets have been diversified to reduce dependency on Argentina and Brazil.<ref name="wb-ub"/> Poverty was reduced from 33% in 2002 to 21.7% in July 2008, while extreme poverty dropped from 3.3% to 1.7%.<ref name="wb-ub"/>

Between the years 2007 and 2009, Uruguay was the only country in the Americas that did not technically experience a recession (two consecutive downward quarters).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2018/03/28/uruguays-record-setting-economic-growth-streak|title=Uruguay's record-setting economic growth streak|date=28 March 2018|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=27 October 2019|issn=0013-0613|archive-date=2 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002070254/https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2018/03/28/uruguays-record-setting-economic-growth-streak|url-status=live}}</ref> Unemployment reached a record low of 5.4% in December 2010 before rising to 6.1% in January 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-30/uruguay-rate-rise-strong-signal-bergara-lorenzo-say-1-.html|title = Uruguay Rate Rise 'Strong Signal,' Bergara, Lorenzo Say|agency = Reuters|date = 31 March 2011|access-date = 29 April 2011|archive-date = 23 June 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110623231648/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-30/uruguay-rate-rise-strong-signal-bergara-lorenzo-say-1-.html|url-status = live}}</ref> While unemployment is still at a low level, the IMF observed a rise in inflationary pressures,<ref name="mp-imf-2010"/> and Uruguay's GDP expanded by 10.4% for the first half of 2010.<ref>{{cite news|last=Faries |first=Bill |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-15/uruguay-s-gdp-rose-10-4-in-second-quarter-from-year-before-on-transport.html |title=Uruguay's GDP Rose 10.4% in Second quarter From Year Before on Transport |publisher=Bloomberg |date=15 September 2010 |access-date=2 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429102429/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-15/uruguay-s-gdp-rose-10-4-in-second-quarter-from-year-before-on-transport.html |archive-date=29 April 2011}}</ref> According to IMF estimates, Uruguay was probably to achieve growth in real GDP of between 8% and 8.5% in 2010, followed by 5% growth in 2011 and 4% in subsequent years.<ref name="mp-imf-2010">{{cite web|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2010/12/17/imf-anticipates-soft-landing-of-uruguay-s-economy-in-next-two-years|title=IMF anticipates 'soft-landing' of Uruguay's economy in next two years|date=17 December 2010|publisher=MercoPress|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=28 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228142103/http://en.mercopress.com/2010/12/17/imf-anticipates-soft-landing-of-uruguay-s-economy-in-next-two-years|url-status=live}}</ref> Gross [[public sector debt]] contracted in the second quarter of 2010, after five consecutive periods of sustained increase, reaching $21.885 billion US dollars, equivalent to 59.5% of the GDP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2010/10/04/uruguay-s-debt-gdp-ratio-down-after-five-quarters-running-increases|title=Uruguay's debt/GDP ratio down after five quarters running increases|publisher=MercoPress|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=24 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224072246/http://en.mercopress.com/2010/10/04/uruguay-s-debt-gdp-ratio-down-after-five-quarters-running-increases|url-status=live}}</ref>

Uruguay was ranked 62nd in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite book |author=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]] |year=2024 |title=Global Innovation Index 2024: Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |page=18 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.50062 |isbn=978-92-805-3681-2}}</ref> The number of union members has quadrupled since 2003, rising from 110,000 to more than 400,000 in 2015 for a working population of 1.5 million.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rico |first=Salina |date=February 2022 |title=Uruguay 2021 Investment Climate Statement |url=https://www.ccuruguayusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Uruguay-2021-Investment-Climate-Statement-FINAL-2021-.pdf |journal=Cámara de Comercio Uruguay Estados Unidos |at=11. Labor Policies and Practices}}</ref> According to the [[International Trade Union Confederation]], Uruguay has "ratified all eight core ILO labour Conventions".<ref>{{Cite journal |date=April 2012 |title=Internationally Recognised Core Labour Standards In Uruguay |url=https://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/final_uruguay_tpr.pdf |journal=International Trade Union Confederation |page=1}}</ref> The growth, use, and sale of [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] were legalized on 11 December 2013,<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-25328656 "Uruguay becomes first nation to legalise marijuana trade"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428152829/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-25328656 |date=28 April 2018 }}, BBC, 11 December 2013</ref> by former president José "Pepe" Mujica, making Uruguay the first country in the world to fully legalize marijuana. The law was voted on at the Uruguayan Senate on the same date with 16 votes to approve it and 13 against.

=== Agriculture ===
{{Main|Agriculture in Uruguay}}
[[File:Viña en Otoño.jpg|thumb|Vineyard in Uruguay]]
In 2010, Uruguay's export-oriented agricultural sector contributed to 9.3% of the GDP and employed 13% of the workforce.<ref name=CIA/> Official statistics from Uruguay's Agriculture and Livestock Ministry indicate that meat and sheep farming in Uruguay occupies 59.6% of the land. The percentage further increases to 82.4% when cattle breeding is linked to other farm activities such as dairy, forage, and rotation with crops such as rice.<ref name="mp-aigri">{{cite web|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2007/07/30/uruguay-has-3-8-cattle-per-capita-highest-in-the-world|title=Uruguay has 3.8 cattle per capita, highest in the world|date=30 July 2007|publisher=MercoPress|access-date=24 February 2011|archive-date=24 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224190530/http://en.mercopress.com/2007/07/30/uruguay-has-3-8-cattle-per-capita-highest-in-the-world|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to [[FAOSTAT]], Uruguay is one of the world's largest producers of [[soybeans]] (9th), [[Scoured wool|wool]] (12th), [[horse meat]] (14th), [[beeswax]] (14th), and [[quinces]] (17th). Most farms (25,500 out of 39,120) are family-managed; beef and wool represent the main activities and main source of income for 65% of them, followed by vegetable farming at 12%, dairy farming at 11%, [[Pig|hogs]] at 2%, and poultry also at 2%.<ref name="mp-aigri"/> Beef is the main export commodity of the country, totaling over US$1&nbsp;billion in 2006.<ref name="mp-aigri"/>

In 2007, Uruguay had cattle herds totalling 12&nbsp;million head, making it the country with the highest number of cattle per capita at 3.8.<ref name="mp-aigri"/> However, 54% is in the hands of 11% of farmers, who have a minimum of 500 head. At the other extreme, 38% of farmers exploit small lots and have herds averaging below one hundred head.<ref name="mp-aigri"/>

=== Tourism ===
{{main|Tourism in Uruguay}}
[[File:Punta del este3.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Punta del Este]] is one of the main tourist destinations in the [[Southern Cone]].]]
The tourism industry in Uruguay is an important part of its economy. In 2012, the sector was estimated to account for 97,000 jobs and (directly and indirectly) 9% of GDP.<ref name="uruguayxxi.gub.uy">{{cite web |url=http://www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/invest/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2014/09/Tourism-Sector-Uruguay-XXI-2014.pdf |title=Uruguay XXI |publisher=Uruguay XXI |access-date=18 July 2018 |archive-date=7 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907170401/http://www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/invest/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2014/09/Tourism-Sector-Uruguay-XXI-2014.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Uruguay is the Latin American country that receives the most tourists in relation to its population. In 2023, 3.8&nbsp;million tourists entered Uruguay, of which the majority were Argentines and Brazilians, followed by Chileans, Paraguayans, Americans and Europeans of various nationalities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Uruguay recibió más de tres millones ochocientos mil turistas en el 2023 |trans-title=Uruguay received more than three million eight hundred thousand tourists in 2023 |url=https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-turismo/comunicacion/noticias/uruguay-recibio-tres-millones-ochocientos-mil-turistas-2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117222359/https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-turismo/comunicacion/noticias/uruguay-recibio-tres-millones-ochocientos-mil-turistas-2023 |archive-date=2024-01-17 |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=Ministerio de Turismo |language=es}}</ref>
[[File:Colo do sac 1.jpg|thumb|The historic colonial city of [[Colonia del Sacramento]]]]Cultural experiences in Uruguay include exploring the country's colonial heritage, as found in [[Colonia del Sacramento]]. Historical monuments include [[Torres García Museum]] and [[Estadio Centenario]]. One of the main natural attractions in Uruguay is [[Punta del Este]]. Punta del Este is situated on a small peninsula off the southeast coast of Uruguay. Its beaches are divided into Mansa, or tame (river) side and Brava, or rugged (ocean) side. Punta del Este adjoins the city of Maldonado, while to its northeast along the coast are found the smaller resorts of La Barra and José Ignacio.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/travel/09next.html|title=José Ignacio, an Uruguayan Resort Town That's Chic, but So Far Not Famous|first=Paola|last=Singer|work=The New York Times |date=6 November 2008|via=NYTimes.com|access-date=17 September 2017|archive-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719024354/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/travel/09next.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Transportation ===
{{Main|Transport in Uruguay}}
[[File:Вид на монтевидеоский порт.jpg|thumb|[[Port of Montevideo]]]]
[[File:Aeropuerto carrasco.jpg|thumb|[[Carrasco International Airport]], Montevideo]]

The [[Port of Montevideo]] is one of the major [[Container port|container terminal port]]; it handles over 1.1&nbsp;million containers annually.<ref name="mp-port">{{cite web|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2009/10/14/montevideo-port-becomes-most-advanced-container-terminal-in-south-america|title=Montevideo port becomes most advanced container terminal in South America|date=14 October 2009|publisher=MercoPress|access-date=25 February 2011|archive-date=3 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103100910/http://en.mercopress.com/2009/10/14/montevideo-port-becomes-most-advanced-container-terminal-in-south-america|url-status=live}}</ref> Its quay can handle {{convert|14|m|ft|adj=mid|sp=us|[[Draft (hull)|draft]]}} vessels. Nine [[Straddle carrier|straddle cranes]] allow for 80 to 100 movements per hour.<ref name="mp-port" /> The port of [[Nueva Palmira]] is a major regional merchandise transfer point and houses both private and government-run terminals.<ref name="urxxi-log">{{cite web|url=http://www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/innovaportal/v/134/2/innova.front/logistics_infrastructure_and_communications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501084057/http://www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/innovaportal/v/134/2/innova.front/logistics_infrastructure_and_communications|archive-date=1 May 2011|title=Logistics, infrastructure and communications|publisher=Uruguay XXI|access-date=25 February 2011}}</ref>

==== Air ====
[[Carrasco Airport|Carrasco International Airport]] was initially inaugurated in 1947, and in 2009, Puerta del Sur, the airport owner and operator, commissioned [[Rafael Viñoly]] Architects to expand and modernize the existing facilities with a spacious new passenger terminal with an investment of $165&nbsp;million.<ref name="airport">{{cite web|url=http://www.aic.com.uy/en/informacion-general.php|title=General Information|publisher=Aeropuerto de Carrasco|access-date=25 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319234758/http://www.aic.com.uy/en/informacion-general.php|archive-date=19 March 2011}}</ref><ref name="mp-air">{{cite web|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2010/02/08/new-carrasco-terminal-among-the-most-beautiful-airports-in-the-world|title=New Carrasco terminal among the "most beautiful airports in the world"|date=8 February 2010|publisher=MercoPress|access-date=25 February 2011|archive-date=26 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226165648/http://en.mercopress.com/2010/02/08/new-carrasco-terminal-among-the-most-beautiful-airports-in-the-world|url-status=live}}</ref> The airport can handle up to 4.5&nbsp;million users per year.<ref name="airport" /> [[PLUNA]] was the [[flag carrier]] of Uruguay and was headquartered in [[Carrasco, Montevideo|Carrasco]].<ref>{{cite web |date=8 September 2009 |title=Pluna: reunión de conciliación entre el Estado y Leadgate |trans-title=Pluna: conciliation meeting between the State and Leadgate |url=http://www.espectador.com/1v4_contenido.php?id=131484&sts=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821024221/http://www.espectador.com/1v4_contenido.php?id=131484&sts=1 |archive-date=21 August 2013 |access-date=9 July 2010 |work=[[Espectador.com]]}} "La reunión estaba fijada en la sede de Pluna en Carrasco,"</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://flypluna.com/cat/en/offices-and-call-centre-41.html |title=Offices and call centre |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722142114/http://www.flypluna.com/cat/en/offices-and-call-centre-41.html |archive-date=22 July 2012 | work=PLUNA |access-date=13 May 2010}}</ref>

The [[Laguna del Sauce Airport|Punta del Este International Airport]], located {{convert|15|km|mi|sp=us}} from [[Punta del Este]] in the [[Maldonado Department]], is the second busiest air terminal in Uruguay, built by the Uruguayan architect [[Carlos Ott]]. It was inaugurated in 1997.<ref name="urxxi-log" />

==== Land ====
The [[Administración de Ferrocarriles del Estado]] is the autonomous agency in charge of rail transport and the maintenance of the [[Rail transport in Uruguay|railroad network]]. Uruguay has about {{convert|1200|km|mi|abbr=on}} of operational railroad track.<ref name="CIA" /> Until 1947, about 90% of the railroad system was British-owned.<ref name="ur-rw">{{cite web|url=http://www.olauruguay.com/2010/03/14/uruguay%E2%80%99s-railroad-makes-a-comeback|title=Uruguay's Railroad Makes a Comeback|publisher=Ola Uruguay Real Estate and Investments|access-date=25 February 2011|archive-date=29 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329064902/http://www.olauruguay.com/2010/03/14/uruguay%E2%80%99s-railroad-makes-a-comeback|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1949, the government nationalized the railways, along with the electric trams and the [[Montevideo Waterworks Company]].<ref name="ur-rw" /> However, in 1985, the "National Transport Plan" suggested passenger trains were too costly to repair and maintain.<ref name="ur-rw" /> Cargo trains would continue, but bus transportation became the "economic" alternative for travellers.<ref name="ur-rw" /> Passenger service was then discontinued in 1988.<ref name="ur-rw" /> However, rail passenger commuter service into Montevideo was restarted in 1993, and now comprises three suburban lines.
[[File:Aeropuerto Punta del Este.png|thumb|[[Capitán de Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo International Airport|Punta del Este International Airport]]]]
[[Road surface|Surfaced]] roads connect Montevideo to the other urban centers in the country, the main highways leading to the border and neighboring cities. Numerous unpaved roads connect farms and small towns. Overland trade has increased markedly since [[Mercosur]] (Southern Common Market) was formed in the 1990s and again in the later 2000s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geoportal.mtop.gub.uy/visualizador/|title=Geoportal MTOP|website=geoportal.mtop.gub.uy|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814135057/http://geoportal.mtop.gub.uy/visualizador/|url-status=live}}</ref> Most of the country's domestic freight and passenger service is by road rather than rail. The country has several international bus services<ref>{{cite web|url=http://viajeros.com.uy/|title=Viajeros!|website=viajeros.com.uy|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814135058/http://viajeros.com.uy/|url-status=live}}</ref> connecting the capital and frontier localities to neighboring countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalogodatos.gub.uy/showcase/omnibus-interior|title=Omnibus Interior – Catálogo de Datos Abiertos|website=catalogodatos.gub.uy|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814165928/https://catalogodatos.gub.uy/showcase/omnibus-interior|url-status=live}}</ref> These include 17 destinations in Argentina,{{NoteTag|Namely, [[Bell Ville]], Buenos Aires, [[Concepción del Uruguay]], [[Concordia, Entre Ríos]], [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]], [[Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos|Gualeguaychú]], [[Mendoza, Argentina|Mendoza]], [[Paraná, Entre Ríos|Paraná]], [[Río Cuarto, Córdoba|Rio Cuarto]], [[Rosario]], [[San Francisco, Córdoba|San Francisco]], [[San Luis, Argentina|San Luis]], [[Santa Fe, Argentina|Santa Fe]], [[Tigre, Buenos Aires|Tigre]], [[Venado Tuerto]], [[Villa María, Córdoba|Villa María]], and [[Villa Mercedes, San Luis|Villa Mercedes]]}} 12 destinations in Brazil{{NoteTag|Namely [[Camboriú]], [[Curitiba]], [[Florianópolis]], [[Jaguarão]], [[Joinville]], [[Pelotas]], [[Porto Alegre]], [[Quaraí]], [[São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul|São Gabriel]], São Paulo, [[Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul|Santa Maria]], and [[Santana do Livramento]].{{pb}}(Santana do Livramento has open borders with the Uruguayan city of [[Rivera]]. There are no physical barriers or immigration checkpoints inhibiting movement between or within the two contiguous cities, despite each one belonging to separate national jurisdictions.)}} and the capital cities of Chile and [[Paraguay]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.trescruces.com.uy/horarios-destinos/ |title = Horarios y Destinos |website = www.trescruces.com.uy |date = November 2016 |access-date = 14 August 2018 |archive-date = 14 August 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180814135157/https://www.trescruces.com.uy/horarios-destinos/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

=== Telecommunications ===
{{Main|Communications in Uruguay}}

The telecommunications industry is more developed than in most other Latin American countries, being the first country in the Americas to achieve complete digital telephone coverage in 1997. The system is government-owned, and there have been controversial proposals to partially privatize it since the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/10/02/Uruguay-privatization-scheme-jolted-by-opposition/8141717998400/|title=Uruguay privatization scheme jolted by opposition|website=UPI|language=en|access-date=13 January 2019|archive-date=14 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114044556/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/10/02/Uruguay-privatization-scheme-jolted-by-opposition/8141717998400/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The mobile phone market is shared by the state-owned [[ANTEL]] and two private companies, [[Movistar]] and [[Claro Americas|Claro]]. The ANTEL has the largest market share at 49% of Uruguay's mobile lines.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Popov |first=Andrey |date=November 2023 |title=Mobile Network Experience Report |url=https://www.opensignal.com/reports/2023/11/uruguay/mobile-network-experience |access-date=19 October 2024 |website=Opensignal}}</ref> ANTEL has launched a commercial [[5G|5G network]] in April 2019<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tomás |first=Juan Pedro |date=2024-05-31 |title=Antel reaches 300 5G sites in Uruguay, targets 500 by 2025 |url=https://www.rcrwireless.com/20240531/5g/antel-reaches-300-5g-sites-uruguay-targets-500-2025 |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=RCR Wireless News |language=en-US}}</ref> with still continual development.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Srikapardhi |date=5 August 2023 |title=Antel Continues Expansion of 5G Network to More Areas |url=https://telecomtalk.info/uruguays-antel-continues-expansion-of-5g-rollout/845917/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=TelecomTalk |language=en-US}}</ref> While Movistar and Claro have only 30% and 21% of the market share, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-10 |title=Uruguay Telecommunications |url=https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/uruguay-telecommunications |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=International Trade Administration |language=en}}</ref> The [[Google Search]] engine accounted for 95% of total [[search engine]] market share in 2023–2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search Engine Market Share Uruguay |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share/all/uruguay |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=StatCounter Global Stats |language=en}}</ref>

=== Energy ===
In 2010, the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry of Uruguay approved Decree 354 on the Promotion of Renewable Energies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Energy system of Uruguay |url=https://www.iea.org/countries/uruguay |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=International Energy Agency |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2021, Uruguay had, in terms of installed renewable electricity, 1,538 MW in hydropower, 1,514 MW in wind power (35th largest in the world), 258 MW in solar power (66th largest in the world), and 423 MW in biomass.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lebedys |first1=Arvydas |last2=Akande |first2=Dennis |last3=Coënt |first3=Nicolas |last4=Elhassan |first4=Nazik |last5=Escamilla |first5=Gerardo |last6=Arkhipova |first6=Iana |last7=Whiteman |first7=Adrian |date=2022 |title=Renewable Energy Statistics 2022 |url=https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2022/Apr/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2022.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2022/Apr/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2022.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |access-date=5 August 2022 |publisher=International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) |location=Abu Dhabi |pages=7, 15, 22, 33 |language=en, fr, es}}

* For: hydropower, p. 7; wind, p. 15; solar, p. 22; biomass, p. 33</ref> In 2023, 98% of Uruguay's electricity comes from [[renewable energy]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Meadows |first=Sam |date=2023-12-27 |title=Uruguay's green power revolution: rapid shift to wind shows the world how it's done |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/dec/27/uruguays-green-power-revolution-rapid-shift-to-wind-shows-the-world-how-its-done |access-date=2024-10-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The dramatic shift, taking less than ten years and without government funding, lowered electricity costs and slashed the country's [[carbon footprint]].<ref>{{Cite news|title = Uruguay makes dramatic shift to nearly 95% electricity from clean energy|url = https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/03/uruguay-makes-dramatic-shift-to-nearly-95-clean-energy|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 3 December 2015|access-date = 18 February 2016|issn = 0261-3077|language = en-GB|first = Jonathan|last = Watts|archive-date = 6 March 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170306042438/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/03/uruguay-makes-dramatic-shift-to-nearly-95-clean-energy|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Uruguay is now generating 95% of its electricity from renewable energy|url = http://qz.com/566773/uruguay-is-now-generating-95-of-its-electricity-from-renewable-energy/|website = Quartz|access-date = 18 February 2016|language = en-US|first = Sarah|last = Todd| date=6 December 2015 |archive-date = 8 February 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160208131943/http://qz.com/566773/uruguay-is-now-generating-95-of-its-electricity-from-renewable-energy/|url-status = live}}</ref> Most of the electricity comes from hydroelectric facilities and wind parks. Uruguay no longer imports electricity.<ref name="FionaMcDonald">{{cite web |title=Uruguay has shifted to getting 95% of its electricity from renewables in less than 10 years |url=http://www.sciencealert.com/uruguay-has-shifted-to-getting-95-of-its-electricity-from-clean-energy-sources-in-less-than-10-years |website=ScienceAlert |access-date=18 February 2016 |first=Fiona |last=MacDonald |date=4 December 2015 |archive-date=16 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216163621/http://www.sciencealert.com/uruguay-has-shifted-to-getting-95-of-its-electricity-from-clean-energy-sources-in-less-than-10-years |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, 49% of the country's total [[Greenhouse gas emissions|carbon dioxide emissions]] came from the burning of [[diesel fuel]], followed by [[gasoline]], with a 25% share.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Uruguay logra más de 90% de energías renovables en la matriz eléctrica en un contexto de más de tres años de sequía |trans-title=Uruguay achieves over 90% renewable energy in its electricity matrix amid more than three years of drought |url=https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-industria-energia-mineria/comunicacion/noticias/uruguay-logra-90-energias-renovables-matriz-electrica-contexto-tres-anos |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Ministerio de Industria, Energía y Minería |language=es}}</ref>