Uruguay

Presidential RepublicPop3.4MGDP (PPP)$108.5BCI79Beta CP0.0→Beta

Uruguay

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Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land: 175,015 sq km
Water: 1,200 sq km
Total: 176,215 sq km

Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Land Use

Other: 7.3% (2023 est.)
Forest: 11.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 81.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 68.6% (2023 est.)

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
Coastline: 660 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
Mean elevation: 109 m

Irrigated land: 2,230 sq km (2018)
Major aquifers: Guarani Aquifer System
Map references: South America

Land Boundaries

Total: 1,591 km
Border countries: Argentina 541 km; Brazil 1,050 km

Maritime Claims

Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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 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
Natural resources: arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish
Area comparative: about the size of Virginia and West Virginia combined; slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 S, 56 00 W
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

Major Lakes (Area Sq Km)

Salt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Brazil) - 2,970 sq km

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

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 98.6% (2024 est.)
Female: 99.2% (2024 est.)
Total population: 98.9% (2024 est.)

Languages

Languages: Spanish (official, Rioplatense is the most widely spoken dialect)
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.

Religions: Roman Catholic 36.5%, Protestant 5% (Evangelical (non-specific) 4.6%, Adventist 0.2%, Protestant (non-specific) 0.3%), African American Cults/Umbanda 2.8%, Jehovah's Witness 0.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 0.2%, other 1%, Believer (not belonging to the church) 1.8%, agnostic 0.3%, atheist 1.3%, none 47.3%, unspecified 3.4%

Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 15%, other 6%, agnostic 3%, atheist 10%, unspecified 24% (2023 est.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 9.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.88 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 34.9 years
Total: 37.4 years (2025 est.)
Female: 38.2 years

Population

Male: 1,678,419
Total: 3,449,444 (2025 est.)
Female: 1,771,025

Nationality

Noun: Uruguayan(s)
Adjective: Uruguayan

Tobacco Use

Male: 21.3% (2025 est.)
Total: 18% (2025 est.)
Female: 14.9% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 95.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 18.9% (male 329,268/female 317,925)
15 64 years: 65.4% (male 1,112,622/female 1,128,418)
65 years and over: 15.7% (2024 est.) (male 218,242/female 318,855)

Ethnic groups: White 87.7%, Black 4.6%, Indigenous 2.4%, other 0.3%, none or unspecified 5% (2011 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 48.7 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 26.2 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 4.4 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 22.5 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 4.67 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 20.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 95.3% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 4.7% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.6% national budget (2023 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: -0.06% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.62 (2025 est.)
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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 75.8 years
Female: 82.1 years
Total population: 78.9 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 1.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 2.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 5.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 1.774 million MONTEVIDEO (capital) (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 27.9% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 55.4% (2023 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.8% (2018 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 16 years (2022 est.)
Total: 18 years (2022 est.)
Female: 19 years (2022 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

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

Capital

Name: Montevideo
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)
Time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 34 51 S, 56 10 W

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Citizenship

Citizenship BY birth: yes
Citizenship BY descent only: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 3-5 years

Constitution

History: several previous; latest approved by plebiscite 27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967, reinstated in 1985 at the conclusion of military rule
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

Country Name

Former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province
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)
Local long form: República Oriental del Uruguay
Local short form: Uruguay
Conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Conventional short form: Uruguay

Independence: 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
Legal system: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code
Government type: presidential republic

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 5 judges)
Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; District Courts (Juzgados Letrados); Peace Courts (Juzgados de Paz); Rural Courts (Juzgados Rurales)
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

Executive Branch

Note: note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the General Assembly
Chief of state: President Yamandú ORSI Martínez (since 1 March 2025)
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%
Head of government: President Yamandú ORSI Martínez (since 1 March 2025)
Most recent election date: 27 October 2024, with a runoff on 24 November 2024
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)
Expected date of next election: 28 October 2029, with a runoff, if needed, on 25 November 2029

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
National color(s): blue, white, yellow

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites: 3 (all cultural)
Selected world heritage site locales: Historic City of Colonia del Sacramento; Fray Bentos Industrial Landscape; The work of engineer Eladio Dieste: Church of Atlántida

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

Legislative Branch

Legislature name: General Assembly (Asamblea General)
Legislative structure: bicameral

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem of Uruguay)
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
Lyrics/music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Francisco Jose DEBALI

National symbol(s): Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol)
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

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Chamber name: House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes)
Term in office: 5 years
Number of seats: 99 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 10/27/2024
Expected date of next election: October 2029
Percentage of women in chamber: 31.3%
Parties elected and seats per party: Broad Front (FA) (48); National Party (PN) (29); Colorado Party (PC) (17); Other (5)

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Chamber name: Senate (Cámara de Senadores)
Term in office: 5 years
Number of seats: 31 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 10/27/2024
Expected date of next election: October 2029
Percentage of women in chamber: 32.3%
Parties elected and seats per party: Broad Front (FA) (16); National Party (PN) (9); Colorado Party (PC) (5)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 331-8142
Chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
Telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313
Chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel CASTILLOS Gómez (since 5 September 2025)
Consulate(s) general: Miami, New York, San Francisco
Email address and website: urueeuu@mrree.gub.uy

https://embassyofuruguay.us/

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [+598] 1770-2128
Embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
Telephone: (+598) 1770-2000
Mailing address: 3360 Montevideo Place, Washington DC  20521-3360
Chief of mission: Ambassador Lou RINALDI (since 30 September 2025)
Email address and website: MontevideoACS@state.gov

https://uy.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: 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
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

URUGUAY · LOWER HOUSE

House of Representatives

99 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

Broad Front (FA)

Parties

All political parties6 parties · 99 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Upper house

URUGUAY · UPPER HOUSE

Senate

31 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

Broad Front (FA)

Parties

All political parties3 parties · 31 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

YO
Yamandú Orsi
- Head of StateSince 2025
- Head of GovernmentSince 2025

Economy

Budget

Note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $27.781 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $17.808 billion (2023 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $23.3B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022: $23.56 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $21.946 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $23.329 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $19.2B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2022: $19.639 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $19.259 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $19.117 billion (2024 est.)

Industries: food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Labor force: 1.768 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 66.4%

Note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2023: 62.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 42.013 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 43.555 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 41.171 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 38.824 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 40.213 (2024 est.)

Economic overview: high-income, export-oriented South American economy; South America’s largest middle class; low socioeconomic inequality; growing homicide rates; growing Chinese and EU relations; 2019 Argentine recession hurt; key milk, beef, rice, and wool exporter

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 7.5%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 7.9% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 8.5% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: China 21%, Brazil 17%, USA 8%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Imports partners: Brazil 22%, China 18%, Argentina 11%, USA 9%, Nigeria 4% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $36,418

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $30,800 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $31,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $32,000 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 3.1%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.1% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: milk, rice, wheat, barley, soybeans, beef, rapeseed, sugarcane, maize, beef offal (2023)
Exports commodities: wood pulp, beef, milk, rice, wood (2023)
Imports commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, trucks, fertilizers (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): -$635.9M

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2022: -$2.675 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$2.64 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: -$821.38 million (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 18.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $80.962 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 66.8% (2015 est.)
Government consumption: 13.8% (2015 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.1% (2015 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 19.8% (2015 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 22.5% (2015 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -22.9% (2015 est.)

Population below poverty line: 10.1% (2023 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

On food: 18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 1.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 4.8%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 9.1% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.8% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: 4.4% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $108.502 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $104.456 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $105.231 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $108.502 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 23.5% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 26.4% (2024 est.)
Female: 29.8% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $15.127 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $16.257 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $17.378 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 16.8% (2024 est.)
Services: 65.3% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 6.4% (2024 est.)

Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Highest 10%: 30.8% (2023 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2023: 40.9 (2023 est.)

Energy

Coal

Imports: 13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Total petroleum production: 400 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 50,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Exports: 2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 84 million kWh (2023 est.)
Consumption: 9.826 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 5.682 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.136 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Imports: 90.871 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 90.018 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 45.755 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Wind: 37% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 27.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Biomass and waste: 23.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 90% (2023 est.)

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)
Internet country code: .uy

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 1.205 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2023 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 4.93 million (2024 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 146 (2024 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 1.1 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 1
Medium: 1
Key ports: Colonia, Fray Bentos, Jose Ignacio, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Puerto Sauce
Very small: 6
Total ports: 8 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 2

Airports: 65 (2025)

Railways

Total: 1,673 km (2016) (operational; government claims overall length is 2,961 km)
Standard gauge: 1,673 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge

Heliports: 4 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 58 (2023)
BY type: container ship 1, general cargo 4, oil tanker 3, other 50

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: CX

Environment

Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Geoparks

Global geoparks and regional networks: Grutas del Palacio (2023)
Total global geoparks and regional networks: 1

Land Use

Other: 7.3% (2023 est.)
Forest: 11.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 81.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 68.6% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 95.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Methane Emissions

Other: 2.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste: 115.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy: 18.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Agriculture: 730.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.26 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.8% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: water pollution from meat-packing, tannery industries; heavy metal pollution; inadequate solid and hazardous waste disposal; deforestation

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 424.428 million cubic meters (2022)
Industrial: 603.701 million cubic meters (2022)
Agricultural: 3.479 billion cubic meters (2022)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 6.896 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 177,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 39,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 6.681 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 8.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 172.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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
Signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation

Military & 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 deployments: 630 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 210 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2025)

Military Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 2.3%

Military expenditures 2020: 2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures 2021: 2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022: 2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures 2023: 2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures 2024: 2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

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 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)
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 service personnel strengths: approximately 23,000 active-duty Armed Forces (15,000 Army; 5,000 Navy; 3,000 Air Force) (2025)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps: 33 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 32,149 (2024 est.)
Stateless persons: 5 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index79.0 / 100as of 2024-Q424 / 1902024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.77as of 2024-Q417 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusFree (100/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Uruguay — vintage 2026-Q1: Uruguay factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/uruguay

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Uruguay

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