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