Economy of Uruguay

Last updated

Economy of Uruguay
World Trade Center Montevideo.jpg
World Trade Center Montevideo
Currency Uruguayan peso (UYU, $U)
Calendar year
Trade organizations
WTO, ALADI, Mercosur, Andean Community (associate)
Country group
Statistics
PopulationIncrease Neutral.svg 3,496,016 (2022) [3]
GDP
  • Increase2.svg $82.6 billion (nominal, 2024) [4]
  • Increase2.svg $108 billion (PPP, 2024) [4]
GDP rank
GDP growth
  • Increase2.svg 4.9% (2022) [5]
  • Increase2.svg 2.0% (2023f) [5]
  • Increase2.svg 2.9% (2024f) [5]
GDP per capita
  • Increase2.svg $23,088 (nominal, 2024) [4]
  • Increase2.svg $30,170 (PPP, 2024) [4]
GDP per capita rank
GDP by sector
9.12% (February 2021) [7]
Population below poverty line
Increase Negative.svg 11.6% (2020) [8]
Increase Negative.svg 39.7 medium (2018, World Bank) [9]
Labor force
  • Decrease2.svg 1,686,487 (2020) [11]
  • Decrease2.svg 54.9% employment rate (February 2021) [12]
Labor force by occupation
UnemploymentIncrease Negative.svg 11.1% (February 2021) [12]
Main industries
food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
External
ExportsIncrease2.svg $11.41 billion (2017 est.) [6]
Export goods
beef, soybeans, cellulose, rice, wheat, wood, dairy products, wool
Main export partners
ImportsIncrease2.svg $8.607 billion (2017 est.) [6]
Import goods
refined oil, crude oil, passenger and other transportation vehicles, vehicle parts, cellular phones
Main import partners
FDI stock
  • Increase2.svg $44.84 billion (31 December 2017 est.) [6]
  • Increase2.svg Abroad: $19.97 billion (31 December 2017 est.) [6]
Increase2.svg $879 million (2017 est.) [6]
Increase Negative.svg $28.37 billion (31 December 2017 est.) [6]
Public finances
Increase Negative.svg 65.7% of GDP (2017 est.) [6] [note 1]
−3.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) [6]
Revenues17.66 billion (2017 est.) [6]
Expenses19.72 billion (2017 est.) [6]
Increase2.svg $15.96 billion (31 December 2017 est.) [6]
Main data source: CIA World Fact Book
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.
Historical GDP per capita development GDP per capita development of Uruguay.svg
Historical GDP per capita development

The economy of Uruguay features an export-oriented agricultural sector and a well-educated workforce, along with high levels of social spending. Tourism and banking are also prominent sectors; Uruguay acts as a regional hub for international finance and tourism. The country also has a history and representation of advanced workers-rights protection, with unions and the eight-hour work-day protected at the beginning of the 20th century.

Contents

90% of the country's population is urbanized, while most of the industry and over half of the population is concentrated in the capital Montevideo. [15]

After averaging growth of 5% annually during 1996–98, Uruguay's economy suffered a major downturn in 1999–2002, stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problems of its large neighbors; Argentina and Brazil. In 2001–02, Argentine citizens made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks after bank deposits in Argentina were frozen, which led to a plunge in the Uruguayan peso, causing the 2002 Uruguay banking crisis.

History

19th century

In the 19th century, the country had similar characteristics to other Latin American countries: caudillismo, civil wars and permanent instability (40 revolts between 1830 and 1903), foreign capitalism's control of important sectors of the economy, a high percentage of illiterate people (more than half the population in 1900). Among foreign investments, investors from Great Britain controlled 22% of the land and many majors parts of the industrial infrastructure, including meatpacking and leather industry, infrastructure for water and gas, and transport systems like trolley and 1100 miles of rail. [15]

Reforms after Batlle

José Batlle y Ordóñez, President from 1903 to 1907 and again from 1911 to 1915, set the pattern for Uruguay's modern political development and dominated the political scene until he died in 1929. Batlle introduced widespread political, social, and economic reforms such as a welfare program, government participation in many facets of the economy, and a new constitution. [16]

Batlle nationalized foreign-owned companies and created a modern social welfare system. Income tax for lower incomes was abolished in 1905, secondary schools established in every city (1906), telephone network nationalized, unemployment benefits were introduced (1914), eight-hour working day introduced (1915), etc. [16] [15] By 1929, 84% of manufacturing was concentrated in a handful of industries: meatpacking, leather and wool. [15] Industrial policies further encouraging migration from rural to urban communities, as well as waves of immigrants from southern and eastern Europe. [15] Investment in urban infrastructure in Montevideo and a growing economy, was capped by hosting the first 1930 FIFA World Cup. [15]

Claudio Williman who served between Batlle's two terms was his supporter and continued all his reforms, as did the next President Baltasar Brum (1919–1923). Around 1900 infant mortality rates (IMR) in Uruguay were among the world's lowest, indicating a very healthy population.

Mid-20th century

The economy of Uruguay started in the early 20th century (1920s-1950s) with government policy focused on import substitution industrialization, where the government encouraged and protected national manufacturers to reduce dependency on imports. [15] Generally, manufacturing prospered during this period with growth of 8.4% a year from 1945 to 1954. [15]

By 1956 the middle class was approximately 40% of the population, with urban services and culture, like mass media and cinema, flourishing. [15] However, the policy of import substitution industrialization began to collapse in the 1950s, leading to economic and social unrest. [15] Many economic histories describe both the 50s and 60s and dictatorship period (70s and 80s) as economic downturn periods, followed by further economic degradation caused by neoliberalism. [15]

The policies of the Colorado Party under Julio María Sanguinetti and Jorge Batlle during the 90s and early 2000s, following global trends of neo-liberalization, facilitated a shift from manufacturing and small-scale agriculture, towards increasing monoculture agriculture and services like finance and tourism. [15] However, these policies faded as the regional economic problems in Argentina and Brazil caused a downturn and unemployment from 1998 to 2003. [15] The economic and social crises that followed allowed for the election of the Broad Front a leftist coalition against the neoliberal policies. [15]

The number of trade unionists has quadrupled since 2003, from 110,000 to more than 400,000 in 2015 for a working population of 1.5 million people. According to the International Trade Union Confederation, Uruguay has become the most advanced country in the Americas in terms of respect for "fundamental labor rights, in particular, freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining and the right to strike".[ citation needed ]

Currency

Uruguay has a partially dollarized economy. As of August 2008 almost 60% of bank loans use United States dollars, [17] but most transactions use the Uruguayan peso. [18] Today, the Uruguayan peso is minted in coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 50 pesos and in banknotes of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 pesos.

Sectors

Agriculture, textiles and leather

Throughout Uruguay's history, their strongest exporting industries have been beef and wool. In the case of beef exports, they have been boosted since Uruguay joined the Mercosur agreement in 1991 and the country has been able trade with more distant markets, such as Japan. In 2018, it produced 589 thousand tons of beef. [19] In the case of wool exports, they have not been doing so well in recent years suffering from other competitors in the market like New Zealand and the fluctuations of its demand during the 2008 recession in the developed world.

As timber refining is being kept within the country, forestry has become a growth industry in recent years. In 2018, the country produced 1.36 million tons of rice, 1.33 million tons of soy, 816 thousand tons of maize, 637 thousand tons of barley, 440 thousand tons of wheat, 350 thousand tons of sugar cane, 106 thousand tons of orange, 104 thousand tons of grape, 90 thousand tons of rapeseed, 87 thousand tons of potato, 76 thousand tons of sorghum, 71 thousand tons of tangerine, 52 thousand tons of oats, 48 thousand tons of apple, in addition to smaller yields of other agricultural products. [20]

Liebig Extract of Meat Company ran a very large and influential beef extract factory in Fray Bentos for 100 years.

Energy

Not to be confused with Electricity sector in Uruguay

Wind turbines in Tacuarembo Department Windmills in northern Uruguay 2.jpg
Wind turbines in Tacuarembó Department
Energy in Uruguay describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Uruguay. As part of climate mitigation measures and an energy transformation, Uruguay has converted over 98% of its electrical grid to sustainable energy sources (primarily solar, wind, and hydro). [21] Fossil fuels are primarily imported into Uruguay for transportation, industrial uses and applications like domestic cooking. Four hydroelectric dams provide a lot of the country's energy supply.

Software

During the last decades the software industry has developed considerably. Many start-ups have been very successful, such is the case of PedidosYa. Uruguay also exports software; the similar geographic longitude to that of the United States makes it attractive for companies to outsource software development to Uruguayan companies. Other notable Uruguayan software enterprises are: Genexus, Códigos del Sur, Overactive. [22]

Mining

Although this is a sector that does not make substantial contributions to the country's economy, in recent years there has been some activity in gold and cement production, and also in the extraction of granite.

Artigas Department is well known for its amethyst and agate quartz varieties mining. During 2010s 20 thousand tons of minerals were extracted with a value of 9 million of US dollars, exported to Germany, United States, Brazil and China. [23]

Plastics

Due to two major investments made in 1991 and 1997, the most significant manufactured exports in Uruguay are plastics. These investments laid the way for most of the substantial exports of plastic-based products which have taken a very important role in Uruguay's economy.[ citation needed ]

Telecommunications

Despite having poor levels of investment in the fixed-line sector, the small size of Uruguay's population has enabled them to attain one of the highest telecommunication density levels in South America and reach a 100% digitalization of main lines. Although the telecommunications sector has been under a state monopoly for some years, provisions have been made to introduce liberalization and to allow for the entry of more firms into the cellular sector.[ citation needed ]

Travel and tourism

In 2013, travel and tourism accounted for 9.4% of the country's GDP. [24] Their tourist industry is mainly characterized for attracting visitors from neighboring countries. Currently Uruguay's major attraction is the interior, particularly located in the region around Punta del Este. [25]

Specialties

"With a population of only three million, Uruguay has rapidly become Latin America's outsourcing hub. In partnership with one of India's largest technology consulting firms, engineers in Montevideo work while their counterparts in Mumbai sleep." - The New York Times, Sep 22, 2006.

Trade agreements

Currently in force (Free Trade Agreements / Economic Complementation Agreements)
Mercosur (signed and effective November 1991)
ECA N.º 36 MERCOSUR with Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg  Bolivia (signed December 1996 and effective February 1997)
FTA with Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico (signed November 2003 and effective July 2004)
ECAa N.º 59 with Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador (signed October 2004 and effective April 2005)
ECA N.º 58 MERCOSUR with Flag of Peru.svg  Peru (signed August 2005 and effective December 2005)
ECA N.º 62 MERCOSUR with Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba (signed July 2006 and effective September 2008)
Comercial Preference Agreement MERCOSUR with Flag of India.svg  India (signed January 2004 and effective June 2009)
FTA MERCOSUR with Flag of Israel.svg  Israel (signed December de 2007 and effective December 2009)
Partial Agreement N.º 63 with Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela (signed December 2012 and effective March 2013)
Comercial Preference Agreement MERCOSUR with SACU (signed September 2011 and effective April 2016)
FTA MERCOSUR with Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt (signed December 2015 and effective September 2017)
ECA N.º 72 MERCOSUR with Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia (signed July 2017 and effective December 2017)
FTA with Flag of Chile.svg  Chile signed October 2016 and effective December 2018)
Concluded (not in force)
FTA MERCOSUR with Flag of Palestine.svg  State of Palestine (signed December 2011)

Data

The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2021 (with IMF staff estimates in 2022–2027). Inflation below 10% is in green. [33]

YearGDP

(in Bil. US$PPP)

GDP per capita

(in US$ PPP)

GDP

(in Bil. US$nominal)

GDP per capita

(in US$ nominal)

GDP growth

(real)

Inflation rate

(in Percent)

Unemployment

(in Percent)

Government debt

(in % of GDP)

198014.85,050.012.24,139.9Increase2.svg6.0%Increase Negative.svg63.5%n/an/a
1981Increase2.svg16.6Increase2.svg5,594.3Increase2.svg13.6Increase2.svg4,589.0Increase2.svg1.9%Increase Negative.svg34.0%n/an/a
1982Decrease2.svg15.9Decrease2.svg5,347.4Decrease2.svg11.1Decrease2.svg3,727.4Decrease2.svg-9.4%Increase Negative.svg19.0%n/an/a
1983Decrease2.svg15.6Decrease2.svg5,198.1Decrease2.svg6.1Decrease2.svg2,033.0Decrease2.svg-5.9%Increase Negative.svg49.2%14.5%n/a
1984Increase2.svg15.9Increase2.svg5,273.5Decrease2.svg5.8Decrease2.svg1,920.9Decrease2.svg-1.5%Increase Negative.svg55.3%Decrease Positive.svg14.0%n/a
1985Increase2.svg16.5Increase2.svg5,422.0Decrease2.svg5.7Decrease2.svg1,865.1Increase2.svg0.3%Increase Negative.svg72.2%Decrease Positive.svg13.1%n/a
1986Increase2.svg18.0Increase2.svg5,912.7Increase2.svg7.0Increase2.svg2,302.5Increase2.svg7.5%Increase Negative.svg76.4%Decrease Positive.svg10.1%n/a
1987Increase2.svg19.6Increase2.svg6,381.1Increase2.svg8.8Increase2.svg2,864.7Increase2.svg5.9%Increase Negative.svg63.6%Decrease Positive.svg9.1%n/a
1988Increase2.svg20.4Increase2.svg6,599.9Increase2.svg9.1Increase2.svg2,946.4Increase2.svg0.5%Increase Negative.svg62.2%Decrease Positive.svg8.6%n/a
1989Increase2.svg21.4Increase2.svg6,896.1Increase2.svg9.6Increase2.svg3,088.0Increase2.svg1.1%Increase Negative.svg80.4%Decrease Positive.svg8.0%n/a
1990Increase2.svg22.3Increase2.svg7,136.0Increase2.svg11.2Increase2.svg3,573.1Increase2.svg0.3%Increase Negative.svg112.5%Increase Negative.svg8.5%n/a
1991Increase2.svg23.8Increase2.svg7,594.2Increase2.svg13.4Increase2.svg4,281.1Increase2.svg3.5%Increase Negative.svg102.0%Increase Negative.svg8.9%n/a
1992Increase2.svg26.3Increase2.svg8,333.4Increase2.svg15.5Increase2.svg4,890.2Increase2.svg7.9%Increase Negative.svg68.5%Increase Negative.svg9.0%n/a
1993Increase2.svg27.7Increase2.svg8,705.4Increase2.svg18.0Increase2.svg5,659.5Increase2.svg2.7%Increase Negative.svg54.1%Decrease Positive.svg8.3%n/a
1994Increase2.svg30.3Increase2.svg9,449.3Increase2.svg21.0Increase2.svg6,530.0Increase2.svg7.3%Increase Negative.svg44.7%Increase Negative.svg9.2%n/a
1995Increase2.svg30.5Decrease2.svg9,448.7Increase2.svg23.2Increase2.svg7,176.4Decrease2.svg-1.4%Increase Negative.svg42.2%Increase Negative.svg10.3%n/a
1996Increase2.svg32.8Increase2.svg10,095.7Increase2.svg24.6Increase2.svg7,580.6Increase2.svg5.6%Increase Negative.svg28.3%Increase Negative.svg11.9%n/a
1997Increase2.svg35.0Increase2.svg10,665.0Increase2.svg26.0Increase2.svg7,925.9Increase2.svg5.0%Increase Negative.svg19.8%Decrease Positive.svg11.6%n/a
1998Increase2.svg37.0Increase2.svg11,183.4Increase2.svg27.6Increase2.svg8,329.1Increase2.svg4.5%Increase Negative.svg10.8%Decrease Positive.svg10.1%n/a
1999Decrease2.svg36.8Decrease2.svg11,042.6Decrease2.svg26.1Decrease2.svg7,814.5Decrease2.svg-1.9%Increase2.svg5.7%Increase Negative.svg11.2%n/a
2000Increase2.svg36.9Decrease2.svg11,030.1Decrease2.svg24.8Decrease2.svg7,406.0Decrease2.svg-1.9%Increase2.svg4.8%Increase Negative.svg13.4%n/a
2001Decrease2.svg36.3Decrease2.svg10,837.5Decrease2.svg22.7Decrease2.svg6,776.8Decrease2.svg-3.8%Increase2.svg4.4%Increase Negative.svg15.2%n/a
2002Decrease2.svg34.0Decrease2.svg10,170.0Decrease2.svg14.8Decrease2.svg4,425.1Decrease2.svg-7.7%Increase Negative.svg14.0%Increase Negative.svg16.8%n/a
2003Increase2.svg35.0Increase2.svg10,480.1Decrease2.svg13.1Decrease2.svg3,926.7Increase2.svg0.8%Increase Negative.svg19.4%Increase Negative.svg17.2%n/a
2004Increase2.svg37.7Increase2.svg11,289.8Increase2.svg14.9Increase2.svg4,456.8Increase2.svg5.0%Increase2.svg9.2%Decrease Positive.svg13.3%n/a
2005Increase2.svg41.8Increase2.svg12,471.6Increase2.svg18.9Increase2.svg5,638.0Increase2.svg7.5%Increase2.svg4.7%Decrease Positive.svg12.1%n/a
2006Increase2.svg44.9Increase2.svg13,360.9Increase2.svg21.3Increase2.svg6,347.3Increase2.svg4.1%Increase2.svg6.4%Decrease Positive.svg10.8%n/a
2007Increase2.svg49.1Increase2.svg14,616.2Increase2.svg25.5Increase2.svg7,587.9Increase2.svg6.5%Increase2.svg8.1%Decrease Positive.svg9.4%n/a
2008Increase2.svg53.6Increase2.svg15,945.2Increase2.svg33.0Increase2.svg9,808.9Increase2.svg7.2%Increase2.svg7.9%Decrease Positive.svg7.9%46.4%
2009Increase2.svg56.3Increase2.svg16,653.9Increase2.svg34.4Increase2.svg10,181.7Increase2.svg4.2%Increase2.svg7.1%Decrease Positive.svg7.8%Decrease Positive.svg46.4%
2010Increase2.svg61.4Increase2.svg18,069.7Increase2.svg43.8Increase2.svg12,899.7Increase2.svg7.8%Increase2.svg6.7%Decrease Positive.svg7.0%Decrease Positive.svg40.8%
2011Increase2.svg65.9Increase2.svg19,306.8Increase2.svg52.3Increase2.svg15,331.1Increase2.svg5.2%Increase2.svg8.1%Decrease Positive.svg6.3%Increase Negative.svg41.6%
2012Increase2.svg66.8Increase2.svg19,489.1Increase2.svg55.6Increase2.svg16,213.8Increase2.svg3.5%Increase2.svg8.1%Steady2.svg6.3%Increase Negative.svg49.8%
2013Increase2.svg70.4Increase2.svg20,475.3Increase2.svg62.1Increase2.svg18,049.7Increase2.svg4.6%Increase2.svg8.6%Increase Negative.svg6.5%Increase Negative.svg50.1%
2014Increase2.svg74.2Increase2.svg21,491.9Decrease2.svg61.9Decrease2.svg17,908.8Increase2.svg3.2%Increase2.svg8.9%Increase Negative.svg6.6%Increase Negative.svg50.8%
2015Increase2.svg74.9Increase2.svg21,614.5Decrease2.svg57.4Decrease2.svg16,565.8Increase2.svg0.4%Increase2.svg8.7%Increase Negative.svg7.5%Increase Negative.svg57.8%
2016Increase2.svg76.9Increase2.svg22,092.5Decrease2.svg57.2Decrease2.svg16,448.8Increase2.svg1.7%Increase2.svg9.6%Increase Negative.svg7.9%Decrease Positive.svg55.8%
2017Increase2.svg79.1Increase2.svg22,637.3Increase2.svg64.4Increase2.svg18,431.4Increase2.svg1.6%Increase2.svg6.2%Steady2.svg7.9%Increase Negative.svg56.7%
2018Increase2.svg81.4Increase2.svg23,204.0Decrease2.svg64.3Decrease2.svg18,338.8Increase2.svg0.5%Increase2.svg7.6%Increase Negative.svg8.4%Increase Negative.svg58.3%
2019Increase2.svg83.1Increase2.svg23,617.2Decrease2.svg61.0Decrease2.svg17,341.4Increase2.svg0.4%Increase2.svg7.9%Increase Negative.svg8.9%Increase Negative.svg61.0%
2020Decrease2.svg79.0Decrease2.svg22,361.7Decrease2.svg53.7Decrease2.svg15,208.0Decrease2.svg-6.1%Increase2.svg9.8%Increase Negative.svg10.4%Increase Negative.svg68.3%
2021Increase2.svg85.9Increase2.svg24,233.1Increase2.svg59.3Increase2.svg16,735.3Increase2.svg4.4%Increase2.svg7.7%Decrease Positive.svg9.4%Decrease Positive.svg65.1%
2022Increase2.svg96.8Increase2.svg27,232.8Increase2.svg71.2Increase2.svg20,017.6Increase2.svg5.3%Increase2.svg9.1%Decrease Positive.svg7.9%Decrease Positive.svg61.2%
2023Increase2.svg103.8Increase2.svg29,109.3Increase2.svg73.0Increase2.svg20,463.9Increase2.svg3.6%Increase2.svg7.8%Steady2.svg7.9%Increase Negative.svg62.6%
2024Increase2.svg108.9Increase2.svg30,425.7Increase2.svg74.8Increase2.svg20,919.5Increase2.svg2.7%Increase2.svg6.4%Steady2.svg7.9%Increase Negative.svg63.9%
2025Increase2.svg113.7Increase2.svg31,668.3Increase2.svg77.6Increase2.svg21,620.1Increase2.svg2.5%Increase2.svg5.8%Steady2.svg7.9%Increase Negative.svg64.1%
2026Increase2.svg118.4Increase2.svg32,882.5Increase2.svg79.6Increase2.svg22,122.0Increase2.svg2.2%Increase2.svg4.5%Steady2.svg7.9%Increase Negative.svg64.9%
2027Increase2.svg123.3Increase2.svg34,153.7Increase2.svg82.0Increase2.svg22,710.1Increase2.svg2.2%Increase2.svg4.5%Steady2.svg7.9%Decrease Positive.svg64.7%

Uruguay in the world

The following table shows the economic rankings of Uruguay compared to the world:

IndexSourceRankPublished
Quality of Life Index Numbeo [34] 44°2023
Human Development Index UNDP [35] 58°2023
Democracy Index Economist Intelligence Unit [36] 11°2022
Global Peace Index Vision of Humanity [37] 46°2020-2022
Prosperity Index Legatum [38] 37°2021
Corruption Perceptions Index Transparency [39] 14°2023
Economic Freedom Index Heritage [40] 34°2022
Global Competitiveness Report World Economic Forum [41] 54°2019
Cost of Living IndexExpatistan [42] 30°2023
Debt Rating [43] MoodysBAA22021
S&PBBB2017
FitchBBB-2020
Developed Country RecognitionWorld BankHigh Income2023
United NationsVery High HDI2021 (2022 report)
Index of Geopolitical Gains and Losses

after Energy Transition (GeGaLo Index)

Overland et al. [44] 6 out of 1562019

See also

Notes

  1. Data cover general government debt, and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions.

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The economy of Kenya is market-based with a few state enterprises. Kenya has an emerging market and is an averagely industrialised nation ahead of its East African peers. Currently a lower middle income nation, it plans to be a newly industrialised nation by 2030. Major industries include financial services, agriculture, real estate, manufacturing, logistics, tourism, retail and energy. As of 2020, Kenya had the third largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa, behind Nigeria and South Africa. By 2023, the country had become Africa's largest start-up hub by both funds invested and number of projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Kyrgyzstan</span>

The economy of Kyrgyzstan is heavily dependent on the agricultural sector. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products, although only tobacco and cotton are exported in any quantity. According to Healy Consultants, Kyrgyzstan's economy relies heavily on the strength of industrial exports, with plentiful reserves of gold, mercury and uranium. The economy also relies heavily on remittances from foreign workers. Following independence, Kyrgyzstan was progressive in carrying out market reforms, such as an improved regulatory system and land reform. In 1998, Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. Much of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Kyrgyzstan's economic performance has been hindered by widespread corruption, low foreign investment and general regional instability. Despite those issues, Kyrgyzstan is ranked 70th on the ease of doing business index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Laos</span>

The economy of Laos is a lower-middle income developing economy. Being one of the socialist states, the Lao economic model resembles the Chinese socialist market and/or Vietnamese socialist-oriented market economies by combining high degrees of state ownership with openness to foreign direct investment and private ownership in a predominantly market-based framework.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Latvia</span>

The economy of Latvia is an open economy in Europe and is part of the European Single Market. Latvia is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 1999, a member of the European Union since 2004, a member of the Eurozone since 2014 and a member of the OECD since 2016. Latvia is ranked the 14th in the world by the Ease of Doing Business Index prepared by the World Bank Group. According to the Human Development Report 2011, Latvia belongs to the group of very high human development countries. Due to its geographical location, transit services are highly developed, along with timber and wood processing, agriculture and food products, and manufacturing of machinery and electronic devices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Nepal</span>

The economy of Nepal is developing category and largely dependent on agriculture and remittances. Until the mid-20th century Nepal was an isolated pre-industrial society, which entered the modern era in 1951 without schools, hospitals, roads, telecommunications, electric power, industry, or civil service. The country has, however, made progress toward sustainable economic growth since the 1950s. The country was opened to economic liberalization, leading to economic growth and improvement in living standards when compared to the past. The biggest challenges faced by the country in achieving higher economic development are the frequent changes in political leadership, as well as corruption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Nicaragua</span>

The economy of Nicaragua is focused primarily on the agricultural sector. Nicaragua itself is the least developed country in Central America, and the second poorest in the Americas by nominal GDP. In recent years, under the administrations of Daniel Ortega, the Nicaraguan economy has expanded somewhat, following the Great Recession, when the country's economy actually contracted by 1.5%, due to decreased export demand in the American and Central American markets, lower commodity prices for key agricultural exports, and low remittance growth. The economy saw 4.5% growth in 2010 thanks to a recovery in export demand and growth in its tourism industry. Nicaragua's economy continues to post growth, with preliminary indicators showing the Nicaraguan economy growing an additional 5% in 2011. Consumer Price inflation have also curtailed since 2008, when Nicaragua's inflation rate hovered at 19.82%. In 2009 and 2010, the country posted lower inflation rates, 3.68% and 5.45%, respectively. Remittances are a major source of income, equivalent to 15% of the country's GDP, which originate primarily from Costa Rica, the United States, and European Union member states. Approximately one million Nicaraguans contribute to the remittance sector of the economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Niger</span>

The gross domestic product (GDP) of Niger was $16.617 billion US dollars in 2023, according to official data from the World Bank. This data is based largely on internal markets, subsistence agriculture, and the export of raw commodities: foodstuffs to neighbors and raw minerals to world markets. Niger, a landlocked West African nation that straddles the Sahel, has consistently been ranked on the bottom of the Human Development Index, at 0.394 as of 2019. It has a very low per capita income, and ranks among the least developed and most heavily indebted countries in the world, despite having large raw commodities and a relatively stable government and society not currently affected by civil war or terrorism. Economic activity centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, re-export trade, and export of uranium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Tajikistan</span>

The economy of Tajikistan is dependent upon agriculture and services. Since independence, Tajikistan has gradually followed the path of transition economy, reforming its economic policies. With foreign revenue precariously dependent upon exports of cotton and aluminium, the economy is highly vulnerable to external shocks. Tajikistan's economy also incorporates a massive black market, primarily focused on the drug trade with Afghanistan. Heroin trafficking in Tajikistan is estimated to be equivalent to 30-50% of national GDP as of 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Tanzania</span>

The economy of Tanzania is a lower-middle income economy that is overwhelmingly dependent on agriculture. Tanzania's economy has been transitioning from a planned economy to a market economy since 1985. Although total GDP has increased since these reforms began, GDP per capita dropped sharply at first, and only exceeded the pre-transition figure in around 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Togo</span>

The economy of Togo has struggled greatly. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) ranks it as the tenth poorest country in the world, with development undercut by political instability, lowered commodity prices, and external debts. While industry and services play a role, the economy is dependent on subsistence agriculture, with industrialization and regional banking suffering major setbacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Madagascar</span>

The economy of Madagascar is US$9.769 billion by gross domestic product as of 2020, being a market economy and is supported by an agricultural industry and emerging tourism, textile and mining industries. Malagasy agriculture produces tropical staple crops such as rice and cassava, as well as cash crops such as vanilla and coffee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Fiji</span>

The economy of Fiji is one of the most developed among the Pacific islands. Nevertheless, Fiji is a developing country endowed with forest, mineral and fish resources. The country has a large agriculture sector heavily based on subsistence agriculture. Sugar exports and the tourism industry are the main sources of foreign exchange. There are also light manufacturing and mining sectors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Guyana</span>

The economy of Guyana is one of the fastest growing in the world with a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 19.9% in 2021. In 2023, Guyana had a per capita gross domestic product of Int$60,648 and an average GDP growth of 4.2% over the previous decade. Guyana's economy was transformed in 2015 with the discovery of an offshore oil field in the country’s waters about 120 miles from Georgetown. Making the first commercial grade crude oil draw in December 2019, sending it abroad for refining.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Bolivia</span>

The economy of Bolivia is the 95th-largest in the world in nominal terms and the 87th-largest in purchasing power parity. Bolivia is classified by the World Bank to be a lower middle income country. With a Human Development Index of 0.703, it is ranked 114th. Driven largely by its natural resources, Bolivia has become a region leader in measures of economic growth, fiscal stability and foreign reserves, although it remains a historically poor country. The Bolivian economy has had a historic single-commodity focus. From silver to tin to coca, Bolivia has enjoyed only occasional periods of economic diversification. Political instability and difficult topography have constrained efforts to modernize the agricultural sector. Similarly, relatively low population growth coupled with low life expectancy has kept the labor supply in flux and prevented industries from flourishing. Rampant inflation and corruption previously created development challenges, but in the early twenty-first century the fundamentals of its economy showed unexpected improvement, leading Moody's Investors Service to upgrade Bolivia's economic rating in 2010 from B2 to B1. The mining industry, especially the extraction of natural gas and zinc, currently dominates Bolivia's export economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Algeria</span>

The economy of Algeria deals with Algeria's current and structural economic situation. Since independence in 1962, Algeria has launched major economic projects to build up a dense industrial base. However, despite these major achievements, the Algerian economy has gone through various stages of turbulence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Argentina</span>

The economy of Argentina is the second-largest national economy in South America, behind Brazil. Argentina is a developing country with a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base.

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