Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
32 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
1.1 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
mix of privately owned and state-run broadcast media; over 100 commercial radio stations and about 20 TV channels; cable TV is available; many community radio and TV stations; adopted the hybrid Japanese/Brazilian HDTV standard (ISDB-T) in 2010 (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.uy
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
91.99% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
36 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
1.205 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
146 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
4.93 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
milk, rice, wheat, barley, soybeans, beef, rapeseed, sugarcane, maize, beef offal (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
1.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$17.808 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$27.781 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$2.016 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$1.838 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$147.1 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$474.3 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$7.4 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$300.4 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$803.1 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$343.5 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$1.478 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$2.675 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$2.64 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$821.38 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
40.2128 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
20.4816 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
23.2460 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
27.3274 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
30.1626 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
28.6764 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
30.7253 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
35.2554 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
42.0133 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
43.5546 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
41.1711 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
38.8239 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
40.2128 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
wood pulp, beef, milk, rice, wood (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$13.302 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$14.478 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$12.965 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$15.481 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$16.857 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$17.265 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$17.363 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$14.026 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$20.010 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$23.56 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$21.946 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$23.329 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
22.5% (2015 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
13.8% (2015 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
66.8% (2015 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-22.9% (2015 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
19.8% (2015 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
-0.1% (2015 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
6.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
16.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
65.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$36,418 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$80.962 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$123.332 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
40.1 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
39.7 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
39.5 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
39.7 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
39.7 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
40.2 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
40.8 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
40.6 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
40.9 (2023 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
40.0 (2024 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
30.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, trucks, fertilizers (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$10.637 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$13.180 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$12.381 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$13.292 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$13.964 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$13.589 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$11.539 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$15.410 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$19.639 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$19.259 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$19.117 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
4.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
8.67% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
9.64% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
6.22% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
7.61% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
7.88% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
9.76% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
7.75% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
9.10% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.87% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
4.85% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
1.768 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
10.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
40.09% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
41.29% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
46.46% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
45.07% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
47.34% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
50.13% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
60.40% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2021
58.11% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2022
54.24% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
62.37% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$73.396 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$74.664 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$77.185 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$79.990 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$87.589 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$87.439 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$99.971 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$104.456 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$105.231 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$108.502 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
0.37% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
1.69% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
1.74% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
0.16% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
0.93% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-7.36% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
5.84% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.49% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
0.74% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
3.11% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$21,868 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$22,169 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$22,841 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$23,607 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$25,783 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$25,725 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$29,432 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$33,001 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$34,471 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$98.8 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$97.8 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$90.3 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$111.1 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$125.7 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$15.634 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$13.472 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$15.959 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$15.557 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$14.504 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$16.250 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$16.963 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$15.127 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$16.257 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$17.378 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
18.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
8.84% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
10.41% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
9.33% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
7.88% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
8.36% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
8.21% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
29.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
23.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
26.4% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
23.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
27.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
37% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
9.826 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
84 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
5.682 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
1.136 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
45.755 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
90.018 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
90.871 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
50,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
400 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
39,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
177,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
6.681 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
6.896 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Environment: Environmental issues
water pollution from meat-packing, tannery industries; heavy metal pollution; inadequate solid and hazardous waste disposal; deforestation
Environment: Geoparks: global geoparks and regional networks
Grutas del Palacio (2023)
Environment: Geoparks: total global geoparks and regional networks
1
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
81.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 68.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
11.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
7.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
730.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
18.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
2.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
115.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
8.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
172.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
3.479 billion cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
603.701 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
424.428 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
95.60% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
1.26 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
24.8% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
about the size of Virginia and West Virginia combined; slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Geography: Area: land
175,015 sq km
Geography: Area: water
1,200 sq km
Geography: Coastline
660 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Cerro Catedral 514 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
109 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
33 00 S, 56 00 W
Geography: Geography - note
second-smallest South American country (after Suriname); most of the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is grassland, ideal for cattle and sheep
Geography: Irrigated land
2,230 sq km (2018)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Argentina 541 km; Brazil 1,050 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,591 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
81.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 68.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
11.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
7.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Guarani Aquifer System
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): salt water lake(s)
Lagoa Mirim (shared with Brazil) - 2,970 sq km
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
Rio de la Plata/Parana river mouth (shared with Brazil [s], Argentina, Paraguay) - 4,880 km; Uruguay river mouth (shared with Brazil [s] and Argentina) - 1,610 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Map references
South America
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm or the edge of continental margin
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts
Geography: Population distribution
most of the country's population resides in the southern half of the country; approximately 80% of the populace is urban; nearly half of the population lives in and around the capital of Montevideo
Geography: Terrain
mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
Government: Administrative divisions
19 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandú, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San José, Soriano, Tacuarembó, Treinta y Tres
Government: Capital: etymology
the origin of the name is disputed but refers to a hill or mountain ( monte ); one theory combines the Spanish word monte (mountain) with the Latin video (I see)
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
34 51 S, 56 10 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
3-5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
initiated by public petition of at least 10% of qualified voters, proposed by agreement of at least two fifths of the General Assembly membership, or by existing "constitutional laws" sanctioned by at least two thirds of the membership in both houses of the Assembly; proposals can also be submitted by senators, representatives, or by the executive power and require the formation of and approval in a national constituent convention; final passage by either method requires approval by absolute majority of votes cast in a referendum
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest approved by plebiscite 27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967, reinstated in 1985 at the conclusion of military rule
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Uruguay
Government: Country name: etymology
name derives from the Uruguay River, which makes up the western border of the country; the river's name comes from the Guarani words uru (bird) and guay (tail)
Government: Country name: former
Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province
Government: Country name: local long form
República Oriental del Uruguay
Government: Country name: local short form
Uruguay
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Lou RINALDI (since 30 September 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
MontevideoACS@state.gov https://uy.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[+598] 1770-2128
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
3360 Montevideo Place, Washington DC 20521-3360
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
(+598) 1770-2000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Daniel CASTILLOS Gómez (since 5 September 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Miami, New York, San Francisco
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
urueeuu@mrree.gub.uy https://embassyofuruguay.us/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 331-8142
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 331-1313
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the General Assembly
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Yamandú ORSI Martínez (since 1 March 2025)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2024: Yamandú ORSI Martínez elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Yamandú ORSI Martínez (FA) 46.2%, Álvaro Luis DELGADO Ceretta (PN) 28.2%, Andrés OJEDA Ojeda Spitz (PC) 16.9%, other 8.7%; percent of vote in second round - Yamandú ORSI Martínez 52.1%, Álvaro Luis DELGADO Ceretta 47.9% 2019: Luis Alberto LACALLE POU elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Daniel MARTINEZ (FA) 40.7%, Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (PN) 29.7%, Ernesto TALVI (Colorado Party) 12.8%, Guido MANINI RIOS (Open Cabildo) 11.3%, other 5.5%; percent of vote in second round - Luis Alberto LACALLE POU 50.6%, Daniel MARTINEZ 49.4%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for nonconsecutive terms)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
28 October 2029, with a runoff, if needed, on 25 November 2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Yamandú ORSI Martínez (since 1 March 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
27 October 2024, with a runoff on 24 November 2024
Government: Flag
description: nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; a white square in the upper-left corner has a yellow sun with a human face (outlined in black) known as the Sun of May, with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy meaning: the stripes represent the country's nine original departments; the sun refers to the legend of the sun breaking through the clouds on 25 May 1810 as independence was declared from Spain; the sun is said to be Inti, the Inca god of the sun
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 5 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
judges nominated by the president and appointed by two-thirds vote in joint conference of the General Assembly; judges serve 10-year terms, with reelection possible after a lapse of 5 years following the previous term
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; District Courts (Juzgados Letrados); Peace Courts (Juzgados de Paz); Rural Courts (Juzgados Rurales)
Government: Legal system
civil law system based on the Spanish civil code
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
October 2029
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
10/27/2024
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
99 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Broad Front (FA) (48); National Party (PN) (29); Colorado Party (PC) (17); Other (5)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
31.3%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate (Cámara de Senadores)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
October 2029
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
10/27/2024
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
31 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Broad Front (FA) (16); National Party (PN) (9); Colorado Party (PC) (5)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
32.3%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
General Assembly (Asamblea General)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1848; the anthem is also known as "Orientales, la Patria o la tumba!" ("Uruguayans, the Fatherland or Death!"); it is the world's longest national anthem in terms of music (105 bars; almost five minutes); usually only the first verse and chorus are sung
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Francisco Jose DEBALI
Government: National color(s)
blue, white, yellow
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic City of Colonia del Sacramento; Fray Bentos Industrial Landscape; The work of engineer Eladio Dieste: Church of Atlántida
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
3 (all cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
Government: National symbol(s)
Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol)
Government: Political parties
Broad Front or FA (Frente Amplio) - (a broad governing coalition that comprises 34 factions including Popular Participation Movement or MPP, Uruguay Assembly, Progressive Alliance, Broad Social Democratic Space, Socialist Party, Vertiente Artiguista, Christian Democratic Party, Big House, Communist Party, The Federal League, Fuerza Renovadora) Colorado Party or PC (including Batllistas and Ciudadanos) Intransigent Radical Ecologist Party (Partido Ecologista Radical Intransigente) or PERI Independent Party National Party or PN (including Todos (Everyone) and National Alliance) Open Cabildo Popular Unity
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Introduction: Background
The Spanish founded the city of Montevideo in modern-day Uruguay in 1726 as a military stronghold, and it soon became an important commercial center due to its natural harbor. Argentina initially claimed Uruguay, but Brazil annexed the country in 1821. Uruguay declared its independence in 1825 and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century launched widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros (or Movimiento de Liberación Nacional-Tupamaros) launched in the late 1960s and pushed Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By year-end, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was restored in 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio (FA) Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control by the Colorado and National (Blanco) parties. The left-of-center coalition retained the presidency and control of both chambers of congress until 2019. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the South American continent.
Military and Security: Military - note
the armed forces are responsible for defense of the country’s independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as protecting strategic resources; it has some domestic responsibilities, including perimeter security for a number of prisons, border security, and providing humanitarian/disaster assistance; it also assists the Ministry of Interior in combating narcotics trafficking; the military participates in UN peacekeeping missions and multinational exercises with foreign partners; Uruguay traditionally has held security ties with Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and the US; since 2018, it has also signed defense cooperation agreements with China and Russia (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Armed Forces of Uruguay (Fuerzas Armadas del Uruguay or FF.AA. del Uruguay): National Army, National Navy (includes Coast Guard (Prefectura Nacional Naval or PRENA)), Uruguayan Air Force Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 23,000 active-duty Armed Forces (15,000 Army; 5,000 Navy; 3,000 Air Force) (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
630 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 210 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory includes a variety of mostly older or secondhand equipment originating from a range of suppliers, including Brazil, Germany, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Korea, and the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.77% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.81% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.91% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
2.08% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
2.01% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
2.06% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
2.26% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
2.04% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
2.12% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
2.31% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
generally 18-30 years of age (up to 22 for the Navy and up to 40 for some specialist positions) for voluntary military service for men and women; initial 24-month service obligation (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
18.9% (male 329,268/female 317,925)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
65.4% (male 1,112,622/female 1,128,418)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
15.7% (2024 est.) (male 218,242/female 318,855)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
1.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
5.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
2.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
9.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
1.8% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
9.02% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
55.4% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
9.88 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
22.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
4.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
48.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
26.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 95.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 4.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
15.6% national budget (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.76% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
White 87.7%, Black 4.6%, Indigenous 2.4%, other 0.3%, none or unspecified 5% (2011 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.62 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
9.4% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
20.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.4 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
9.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Spanish (official, Rioplatense is the most widely spoken dialect)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
82.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
74.4 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
99.2% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
98.6% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
98.91% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1.774 million MONTEVIDEO (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
38.2 years
People and Society: Median age: male
34.9 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Uruguayan
People and Society: Net migration rate
0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
27.9% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
4.67 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
3,386,588 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
most of the country's population resides in the southern half of the country; approximately 80% of the populace is urban; nearly half of the population lives in and around the capital of Montevideo
People and Society: Population growth rate
-0.04% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
1,771,025
People and Society: Population: male
1,678,419
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
19 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
16 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
18 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.99 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.68 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
14.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
21.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
18% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.40 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
95.60% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
33 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
32,149 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
5 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
65 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
CX
Transportation: Heliports
4 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
container ship 1, general cargo 4, oil tanker 3, other 50
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
58 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Colonia, Fray Bentos, Jose Ignacio, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Puerto Sauce
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
2
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
8 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
6
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
1,673 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
1,673 km (2016) (operational; government claims overall length is 2,961 km)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.