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Uruguayans are of predominantly European origin, with over 90.7% of the population claiming European descent in the 2011 census.[76] Most Uruguayans of European ancestry are descendants of 19th and 20th century immigrants from Spain and Italy (about one-quarter of the population is of Italian origin),[15] France, Germany and Britain.[13] Earlier settlers had migrated from Argentina.[13] People of African descent make up an even smaller proportion of the total.[13] From 1963 to 1985, an estimated 320,000 Uruguayans emigrated.[77] The most popular destinations for Uruguayan emigrants are Argentina, followed by the United States, Australia, Canada, Spain, Italy and France.[77] In 2009, for the first time in 44 years, the country saw an overall positive influx when comparing immigration to emigration. 3,825 residence permits were awarded in 2009, compared with 1,216 in 2005.[78] 50% of new legal residents come from Argentina and Brazil. A migration law passed in 2008 gives immigrants the same rights and opportunities that nationals have, with the requisite of proving a monthly income of $650.[78] Uruguay's rate of population growth is much lower than in other Latin American countries.[13] Its median age is higher than the global average[15] due to its low birth rate, high life expectancy, and relatively high rate of emigration among younger people. A quarter of the population is less than 15 years old and about a sixth are aged 60 and older.[13] Metropolitan Montevideo is the only large city, with around 1.9 million inhabitants, or more than half the country's total population. The rest of the urban population lives in about 30 towns.[15] Largest cities v t e Largest cities or towns of Uruguay http://www.citypopulation.de/Uruguay.html Rank Name Department Pop. Rank Name Department Pop. Montevideo Montevideo Salto Salto 1 Montevideo Montevideo 1,304,687 11 Artigas Artigas 40,657 Ciudad de la Costa Ciudad de la Costa Paysandú Paysandú 2 Salto Salto 104,011 12 Minas Lavalleja 38,446 3 Ciudad de la Costa Canelones 95,176 13 San José de Mayo San José 36,743 4 Paysandú Paysandú 76,412 14 Durazno Durazno 34,368 5 Las Piedras Canelones 71,258 15 Florida Florida 33,639 6 Rivera Rivera 64,465 16 Barros Blancos Canelones 31,650 7 Maldonado Maldonado 62,590 17 Ciudad del Plata San José 31,145 8 Tacuarembó Tacuarembó 54,755 18 San Carlos Maldonado 27,471 9 Melo Cerro Largo 51,830 19 Colonia del Sacramento Colonia 26,231 10 Mercedes Soriano 41,974 20 Pando Canelones 25,947 Health Health statistics:[79] Fertility rate – 140th most fertile, at 1.89 per woman Birth rate – 157th most births, at 13.91 per 1000 people Infant mortality – 128th most deaths, at 1 per 1000 live births Death rate – 84th death rate at 9.16 per 1000 people Life expectancy – 47th at 76.4 years Suicide rate – 24th suicide rate per 100,000 (15.1 for males and 6.4 for females) HIV/AIDS rate – 108th at 0.30% Religion Religion in Uruguay (2008)[80] Religion Percent Roman Catholic 45.7% Non-Catholic Christian 9.0% Nonsectarian believers 30.1% Atheist 12.0% Agnostic 2.0% Other 1.2% Main article: Religion in Uruguay Uruguay has no official religion; church and state are officially separated,[15] and religious freedom is guaranteed. A 2008 survey by the INE of Uruguay showed Catholicism as the main religion, with 45.7% of the population; 9.0% are non-Catholic Christians, 0.6% are Animists or Umbandists (an Afro-Brazilian religion), and 0.4% Jewish. 30.1% reported believing in a god, but not belonging to any religion, while 14% were Atheist or Agnostic.[80] Among the sizeable Armenian community in Montevideo, the dominant religion is Christianity, specifically Armenian Apostolic.[81] Political observers consider Uruguay the most secular country in the Americas.[82] Uruguay's secularization began with the relatively minor role of the church in the colonial era, compared with other parts of the Spanish Empire. The small numbers of Uruguay's Indians and their fierce resistance to proselytism reduced the influence of the ecclesiastical authorities.[83] After independence, anti-clerical ideas spread to Uruguay, particularly from France, further eroding the influence of the church.[84] In 1837, civil marriage was recognized and in 1861 the state took over the running of public cemeteries. In 1907, divorce was legalized and in 1909, all religious instruction was banned from state schools.[83] Under the influence of the innovative Colorado reformer José Batlle y Ordóñez (1903–1911), complete separation of church and state was introduced with the new constitution of 1917.[83] Language Main article: Rioplatense Spanish Uruguayan Spanish has some modifications due to the considerable number of Italian immigrants. Immigrants used to speak a mixture of Italian and Spanish known as 'cocoliche' and some of the words are still commonly used by the population. As is the case with neighboring Argentina, Uruguay employs both voseo and yeísmo (with [ʃ] or [ʒ]). English is common in the business world and its study has risen significantly in recent years, especially among the young. Other languages include Portuguese and Portuñol (a mixture of Spanish and Portuguese). Both are spoken in the northern regions near the Brazilian border.[85][86] As few native people exist in the population, no indigenous languages are thought to remain in Uruguay.[87] Culture Main article: Culture of Uruguay Uruguayan culture is strongly European and its influences from southern Europe are particularly important.[13] The tradition of the gaucho has been an important element in the art and folklore of both Uruguay and Argentina.[13] Visual arts A "livable sculpture", Carlos Páez Vilaró's Casapueblo was his home, hotel and museum. A prominent exponent of Uruguayan art was abstract painter and sculptor Carlos Páez Vilaró. He drew from both Timbuktu and Mykonos to create his best-known work: his home, hotel and atelier Casapueblo near Punta del Este. Casapueblo is a "livable sculpture" and draws thousands of visitors from around the world. The 19th-century painter Juan Manuel Blanes, whose works depict historical events, was the first Uruguayan artist to gain widespread recognition.[13] The Post-Impressionist painter Pedro Figari achieved international renown for his pastel studies of subjects in Montevideo and the countryside. Blending elements of art and nature the work of the landscape architect Leandro Silva Delgado (es) has also earned international prominence.[13] Uruguay has a small but growing film industry, and movies such as Whisky by Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll (2004), Marcelo Bertalmío's Los días con Ana (2000; "Days with Ana") and Ana Díez's Paisito (2008), about the 1973 military coup, have earned international honours.[13] Music La cumparsita MENU0:00 It is among the most famous and recognizable tangos of all time. Problems playing this file? See media help. Main article: Music of Uruguay The folk and popular music of Uruguay shares not only its gaucho roots with Argentina, but also those of the tango.[13] One of the most famous tangos, "La cumparsita" (1917), was written by the Uruguayan composer Gerardo Matos Rodríguez.[13] The candombe is a folk dance performed at Carnival, especially Uruguayan Carnival, mainly by Uruguayans of African ancestry.[13] The guitar is the preferred musical instrument, and in a popular traditional contest called the payada two singers, each with a guitar, take turns improvising verses to the same tune.[13] Folk music is called canto popular and includes some guitar players and singers such as Alfredo Zitarrosa, José Carbajal "El Sabalero", Daniel Viglietti, Los Olimareños, and Numa Moraes. Numerous radio stations and musical events reflect the popularity of rock music and the Caribbean genres, known as música tropical ("tropical music").[13] Early classical music in Uruguay showed heavy Spanish and Italian influence, but since the 20th century a number of composers of classical music, including Eduardo Fabini (es), Vicente Ascone (es), and Héctor Tosar (es), have made use of Latin American musical idioms.[13] Tango has also had an impact on Uruguayan culture, especially during the 20th century, especially the ´30s and ´40s with Uruguayan singers such as Julio Sosa from Las Piedras.[88] When the famous tango singer Carlos Gardel was 29 years old he changed his nationality to be Uruguayan, saying he was born in Tacuarembó, but this subterfuge was probably done to keep French authorities from arresting him for failing to register in the French Army for World War I. Gardel was born in France and was raised in Buenos Aires. He never lived in Uruguay.[89] Nevertheless, a Carlos Gardel museum was established in 1999 in Valle Edén, near Tacuarembó.[90] Rock and roll first broke into Uruguayan audiences with the arrival of the Beatles and other British bands in the early 1960s. A wave of bands appeared in Montevideo, including Los Shakers, Los Mockers, Los Iracundos, Los Moonlights, and Los Malditos, who became major figures in the so-called Uruguayan Invasion of Argentina.[91] Popular bands of the Uruguayan Invasion sang in English. Popular Uruguayan rock bands include La Vela Puerca, No Te Va Gustar, El Cuarteto de Nos, Once Tiros, La Trampa, Chalamadre, Snake, Buitres, and Cursi. In 2004, the Uruguayan musician and actor Jorge Drexler won an Academy Award for composing the song "Al otro lado del río" from the movie The Motorcycle Diaries, which narrated the life of Che Guevara. Literature José Enrique Rodó Main article: Uruguayan literature José Enrique Rodó (1871–1917), a modernist, is considered Uruguay's most significant literary figure.[13] His book Ariel (1900) deals with the need to maintain spiritual values while pursuing material and technical progress.[13] Besides stressing the importance of upholding spiritual over materialistic values, it also stresses resisting cultural dominance by Europe and the United States.[13] The book continues to influence young writers.[13] Notable amongst Latin American playwrights is Florencio Sánchez (1875–1910), who wrote plays about contemporary social problems that are still performed today.[13] From about the same period came the romantic poetry of Juan Zorrilla de San Martín (1855–1931), who wrote epic poems about Uruguayan history. Also notable are Juana de Ibarbourou (1895–1979), Delmira Agustini (1866–1914), Idea Vilariño (1920–2009), and the short stories of Horacio Quiroga and Juan José Morosoli (1899–1959).[13] The psychological stories of Juan Carlos Onetti (such as "No Man's Land" and "The Shipyard") have earned widespread critical praise, as have the writings of Mario Benedetti.[13] Uruguay's best-known contemporary writer is Eduardo Galeano, author of Las venas abiertas de América Latina (1971; "Open Veins of Latin America") and the trilogy Memoria del fuego (1982–87; "Memory of Fire").[13] Other modern Uruguayan writers include Mario Levrero, Sylvia Lago, Jorge Majfud, and Jesús Moraes.[13] Uruguayans of many classes and backgrounds enjoy reading historietas, comic books that often blend humour and fantasy with thinly veiled social criticism.[13] Media The Reporters Without Borders worldwide press freedom index has ranked Uruguay as 37th of 178 reported countries in 2010.[92] Freedom of speech and media are guaranteed by the constitution, with qualifications for inciting violence or "insulting the nation".[59] Uruguayans have access to more than 100 private daily and weekly newspapers, more than 100 radio stations, and some 20 terrestrial television channels, and cable TV is widely available.[59] Uruguay's long tradition of freedom of the press was severely curtailed during the years of military dictatorship. On his first day in office in March 1985, Sanguinetti re-established complete freedom of the press.[93] Consequently Montevideo's newspapers, which account for all of Uruguay's principal daily newspapers, greatly expanded their circulations.[93] State-run radio and TV are operated by the official broadcasting service SODRE.[59] Some newspapers are owned by, or linked to, the main political parties.[59] El Día was the nation's most prestigious paper until its demise in the early 1990s, founded in 1886 by the Colorado party leader and (later) president José Batlle y Ordóñez. El País, the paper of the rival Blanco Party, has the largest circulation.[13] Búsqueda is Uruguay's most important weekly news magazine and serves as an important forum for political and economic analysis.[93] Although it sells only about 16,000 copies a week, its estimated readership exceeds 50,000.[93] MercoPress is an independent news agency focusing on news related to Mercosur and is based in Montevideo.[94] Cuisine Main article: Uruguayan cuisine The local hot drink mate being consumed in transit Beef is fundamental to Uruguayan cuisine, and the country is one of the world's top consumers of red meat per capita. Asado, a kind of barbecued beef, is the national dish in Uruguay, and other popular foods include beef platters, chivito (steak sandwiches), pasta, barbecued kidneys, and sausages. Locally produced soft drinks, beer, and wine are commonly served, as is clericó, a mixture of fruit juice and wine. Uruguay and Argentina share a national drink called mate. Grappamiel, made with alcohol and honey, is served in the cold mornings of autumn and winter to warm up the body. Often locals can be seen carrying leather cases containing a thermos of hot water, the traditional hollowed gourd called a mate or guampa, a metal straw called a bombilla, and the dried yerba mate leaves. Sweet treats, including flans with dulce de leche and alfajores (shortbread cookies), are favorites for desserts or afternoon snacks. Other Uruguayan dishes include morcilla dulce (a type of blood sausage cooked with ground orange fruit, orange peel, and walnuts), chorizo, milanesa (a breaded veal cutlet similar to the Austrian Wienerschnitzel), snacks such as olímpicos (club sandwiches), húngaras (spicy sausage in a hot dog roll), "tortas fritas" (similar to elephant ears, and traditionally eaten when it rains), "martin fierro" (a bread-less sandwich of cheese and quince paste), postre chaja (a cake made mostly from meringue and peaches in syrup), "pascualina" (kale and egg pie), "pastafrola" (a quince pie) and masas surtidas (bite-sized pastries), many of which are of Spanish and Italian origin, like the "massini". Sport Centenario Stadium Main article: Sport in Uruguay Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Uruguay. The first international match outside the British Isles was played between Uruguay and Argentina in Montevideo in July 1902.[95] Uruguay won gold at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games[96] and again in 1928 in Amsterdam.[97] The Uruguay national football team has won the FIFA World Cup on two occasions. Uruguay won the inaugural tournament on home soil in 1930 and again in 1950, famously defeating home favourites Brazil in the final match.[98] Uruguay has won the Copa América (an international tournament for South American nations and guests) more than any other country, their victory in 2011 making a total of 15 Copa Américas won. Uruguay has by far the smallest population of any country that has won a World Cup.[98] Despite their early success, they have only qualified for three of the last six World Cups.[98] Uruguay performed very credibly in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, having reached the semi-final for the first time in 40 years. Diego Forlán was presented with the Golden Ball award as the best player of the 2010 tournament.[99] In the rankings for June 2012, Uruguay were ranked the second best team in the world, according to the FIFA world rankings, their highest ever point in football history, falling short of the first spot to the Spain national football team.[100] Uruguay exported 1,414 football players during the 2000s, almost as many players as Brazil and Argentina.[101] In 2010, the Uruguayan government enacted measures intended to retain players in the country.[101] Football was taken to Uruguay by English sailors and labourers in the late 19th century. Less successfully, they introduced rugby and cricket. There are two Montevideo-based football clubs, Nacional and Peñarol, who are successful in domestic and South American tournaments and have won three Intercontinental Cups each. Education Main article: Education in Uruguay Education in Uruguay is secular, free,[102] and compulsory for 14 years, starting at the age of 4.[103] The system is divided into six levels of education: early childhood (3–5 years); primary (6–11 years); basic secondary (12–14 years); upper secondary (15–17 years); higher education (18 and up); and post-graduate education.[103] Public education is the primary responsibility of three institutions: the Ministry of Education and Culture, which coordinates education policies, the National Public Education Administration, which formulates and implements policies on early to secondary education, and the University of the Republic, responsible for higher education.[103] In 2009, the government planned to invest 4.5% of GDP in education.[102] Uruguay ranks high on standardised tests such as PISA at a regional level, but compares unfavourably to the OECD average, and is also below some countries with similar levels of income.[102] In the 2006 PISA test, Uruguay had one of the greatest standard deviations among schools, suggesting significant variability by socio-economic level.[102] Uruguay is part of the One Laptop per Child project, and in 2009 became the first country in the world to provide a laptop for every primary school student,[104] as part of the Plan Ceibal.[105] Over the 2007–2009 period, 362,000 pupils and 18,000 teachers were involved in the scheme; around 70% of the laptops were given to children who did not have computers at home.[105] The OLPC programme represents less than 5% of the country's education budget.[105] |
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