Knelstrom Intelligence · World Factbook

Uruguay

Repúbilca Oriental del Uruguay

UY / URYsouth-america

CapitalMontevideo

Population3,384,688

GDP$85.3bn

Area176,215 km²

RegionLatin America & Caribbean

Data sources current · last checked September 20, 2026 2:11 am

Country facts

Official nameRepúbilca Oriental del Uruguay

CapitalMontevideo

Area176,215 km²

CurrencyUruguayan peso (UYU)

Calling code+598

RegionLatin America & Caribbean

Income levelHigh income

Form of governmentrepublic, participatory democracy, presidential system

Time zoneUTC−03:00, America/Montevideo

Overview

Population3,384,6882025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate3,382,5372026 · Estimated

GDP (current US$)$85,347,696,2782025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$25,2162025 · Verified

GDP growth1.8%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices4.7%2025 · Verified

Unemployment7.5%2025 · Verified

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.

Reference: 2019, 2004, 1985, 1973

Geography

Latitude-34.8941°current · Verified

Longitude-56.0675°current · Verified

Location

Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil

Map references

South America

Area

total: 176,215 sq km
land: 175,015 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km

Area - comparative

about the size of Virginia and West Virginia combined; slightly smaller than the state of Washington

Land boundaries

total: 1,591 km
border countries: Argentina 541 km; Brazil 1,050 km

Coastline

660 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin

Climate

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Terrain

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Elevation

highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 109 m

Natural resources

arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish

Land use

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.)
forest: 11.4% (2023 est.)
other: 7.3% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Irrigated land

2,230 sq km (2018)

Reference: 2018

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

Major aquifers

Guarani Aquifer System

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

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

Population & Society

Population3,384,6882025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate3,382,5372026 · Estimated

Fertility rate1.42024 · Verified

Urban population95.7%2025 · Verified

Nationality

noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan

Ethnic groups

White 87.7%, Black 4.6%, Indigenous 2.4%, other 0.3%, none or unspecified 5% (2011 est.)
note: note: data represent primary ethnic identity

Reference: 2011

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.)

Reference: 2023

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)

Reference: 2024

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 49.1 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 26.9 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 22.2 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 4.5 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Median age

total: 36.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 34.9 years
female: 38.2 years

Reference: 2024

Population growth rate

0.26% (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Birth rate

12.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Death rate

9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

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 urban areas - population

1.774 million MONTEVIDEO (capital) (2023)

Reference: 2023

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
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Maternal mortality ratio

15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Gross reproduction rate

0.86 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Drinking water source

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

Reference: 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.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

4.67 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Reference: 2022

Hospital bed density

2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Reference: 2021

Sanitation facility access

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

Reference: 2022

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27.9% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 5.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 2.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Tobacco use

total: 18% (2025 est.)
male: 21.3% (2025 est.)
female: 14.9% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.8% (2018 est.)

Reference: 2018

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

55.4% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 18 years (2022 est.)
male: 16 years (2022 est.)
female: 19 years (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Migration & Displacement

Immigrant/emigrant stock measures the number of international migrants resident in, or originating from, the country; it is not the same as annual immigration/emigration flows.

International migrant stock (immigrants)160,0642024 · Verified

International migrant stock4.7%2024 · Verified

International emigrant stock263,2852024 · Estimated

Net migration-1,3382025 · Verified

Refugees from this country1262025 · Verified

Asylum seekers from this country5402025 · Verified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 32,149 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 33 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 5 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Government & Politics

Form of governmentrepublic, participatory democracy, presidential systemcurrent · Reported

Office	Holder	Affiliation	From	Status	Evidence
Head of state	Yamandú Orsi	—	2025-03-01	Current	Reported
Head of government	Yamandú Orsi	—	2025-03-01	Current	Reported

Country name

conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local long form: República Oriental del Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay
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)

Capital

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

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

Legal system

civil law system based on the Spanish civil code

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

Reference: 1985, 1967, 1966

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 3-5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

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

Reference: 2029, 2025, 2024, 2019

Legislative branch

legislature name: General Assembly (Asamblea General)
legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name: House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes)
number of seats: 99 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 10/27/2024
parties elected and seats per party: Broad Front (FA) (48); National Party (PN) (29); Colorado Party (PC) (17); Other (5)
percentage of women in chamber: 31.3%
expected date of next election: October 2029

Reference: 2029, 2024

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name: Senate (Cámara de Senadores)
number of seats: 31 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 10/27/2024
parties elected and seats per party: Broad Front (FA) (16); National Party (PN) (9); Colorado Party (PC) (5)
percentage of women in chamber: 32.3%
expected date of next election: October 2029

Reference: 2029, 2024

Judicial branch

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel CASTILLOS Gómez (since 5 September 2025)
chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313
FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
email address and website: urueeuu@mrree.gub.uy
https://embassyofuruguay.us/
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York, San Francisco

Reference: 2025, 1913

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Lou RINALDI (since September 2025)
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address: 3360 Montevideo Place, Washington DC 20521-3360
telephone: (+598) 1770-2000
FAX: [+598] 1770-2128
email address and website: MontevideoACS@state.gov
https://uy.usembassy.gov/

Reference: 2025, 2000

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

Independence

25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

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
note: note: the banner was inspired by the national colors of Argentina and the design of the US flag

National symbol(s)

Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol)

National color(s)

blue, white, yellow

National anthem(s)

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

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

Government & Official Links

Institution	Official website	X / Twitter	Verification
Uruguay official website	Official website	—	Reported · source Checked September 20, 2026

Institutional accounts only; personal accounts of political office-holders are excluded.

Legislature & Elections

Legislature

Name	Chamber	Seats	Electoral system
General Assembly of Uruguay	—	—	—

Economy

GDP (current US$)$85,347,696,2782025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$25,2162025 · Verified

GDP growth1.8%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices4.7%2025 · Verified

Unemployment7.5%2025 · Verified

Income levelHigh incomecurrent · Verified

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

Reference: 2019

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

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

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Real GDP per capita

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

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 6.4% (2024 est.)
industry: 16.8% (2024 est.)
services: 65.3% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Reference: 2024

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 66.8% (2015 est.)
government consumption: 13.8% (2015 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 19.8% (2015 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.1% (2015 est.)
exports of goods and services: 22.5% (2015 est.)
imports of goods and services: -22.9% (2015 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Reference: 2015

Agricultural products

milk, rice, wheat, barley, soybeans, beef, rapeseed, sugarcane, maize, beef offal (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Reference: 2023

Industries

food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages

Industrial production growth rate

4.4% (2024 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Reference: 2024

Labor force

1.768 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Reference: 2024

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 26.4% (2024 est.)
male: 23.5% (2024 est.)
female: 29.8% (2024 est.)
note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Reference: 2024

Population below poverty line

10.1% (2023 est.)
note: note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Reference: 2023

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

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

Reference: 2023

Average household expenditures

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

Reference: 2023

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Reference: 2023

Remittances

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

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Budget

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

Reference: 2023

Public debt

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

Reference: 2023

Taxes and other revenues

18.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Reference: 2023

Current account balance

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

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

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

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

China 21%, Brazil 17%, USA 8%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

wood pulp, beef, milk, rice, wood (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

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

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

Brazil 22%, China 18%, Argentina 11%, USA 9%, Nigeria 4% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, trucks, fertilizers (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exchange rates

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

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Trade

Exports of goods and services27.1%2025 · Verified

Imports of goods and services22.6%2025 · Verified

Trade49.7%2025 · Verified

Current account balance

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

China 21%, Brazil 17%, USA 8%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

wood pulp, beef, milk, rice, wood (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

Brazil 22%, China 18%, Argentina 11%, USA 9%, Nigeria 4% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, trucks, fertilizers (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Energy & Resources

Access to electricity100.0%2024 · Verified

Electric power consumption3,790 kWh/person2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption57.8%2021 · Verified

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 5.682 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 9.826 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 84 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.136 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 37% 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.)

Reference: 2023

Coal

consumption: 8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Petroleum

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

Reference: 2023

Natural gas

consumption: 90.018 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 90.871 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Energy consumption per capita

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

Reference: 2023

Infrastructure

Access to electricity100.0%2024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions33.0 per 1002024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions145.5 per 1002024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

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

Reference: 2023

Health

Life expectancy at birth78.3 years2024 · Verified

Current health expenditure9.0%2023 · Verified

Infant mortality rate6.2 per 1,0002024 · Verified

Maternal mortality ratio

15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

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.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

4.67 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Reference: 2022

Hospital bed density

2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Reference: 2021

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27.9% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Tobacco use

total: 18% (2025 est.)
male: 21.3% (2025 est.)
female: 14.9% (2025 est.)

Education

Adult literacy rate98.9%2024 · Verified

Secondary school enrolment, gross119.1%2023 · Verified

Government education expenditure4.8%2023 · Verified

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 18 years (2022 est.)
male: 16 years (2022 est.)
female: 19 years (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Rights, Freedoms & Society

Press & Media Freedom

V-Dem expert-coded/modelled source measures. Knelstrom does not create a press-freedom ranking or composite score.

Freedom of expression & alternative information index0.9312025 · Estimated

Government censorship effort — media1.9032025 · Estimated

Harassment of journalists2.5972025 · Estimated

Print/broadcast media critical of government1.2272025 · Estimated

Range of perspectives in major media2.1682025 · Estimated

Media bias2.2202025 · Estimated

Media self-censorship1.8012025 · Estimated

LGBTQ+ Rights & Law

Concrete legal-status fields only; Knelstrom does not generate an LGBTQ rights score or country ranking.

Same-sex sexual activityYes Legal since 1934; + UN decl. sign.Reported

Recognition of same-sex relationshipsYes Concubinage union since 2008Reported

Same-sex marriageYes Legal since 2013Reported

Same-sex adoptionYes Legal since 2009Reported

Open military serviceYes Since 2009Reported

Sexual-orientation anti-discrimination lawYes Bans all anti-gay discrimination. Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2017Reported

Gender identity / expression lawYes Transgender persons can change their legal gender and name without surgeries or judicial order required since 2009. Self-determination since 2018.Reported

Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country or territory (CC BY-SA 4.0). Community-edited legal-status summary; retrieved by Knelstrom and not legal advice.

Crime & Justice

Legal system

civil law system based on the Spanish civil code

Judicial branch

Military & 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)
note: note: the National Police includes the paramilitary National Republican Guard (Guardia Nacional Republicana)

Military expenditures

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

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

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 equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory includes a variety of mostly older or second-hand equipment originating from a wide range of suppliers, including Brazil, Canada, the former Czechoslovakia, Germany, Portugal, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Korea, Spain, and the US (2024)

Reference: 2024

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age (18-22 years of age for Navy) for voluntary military service for men and women; up to 40 years of age for specialists; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies (2025)
note: note: as of 2023, women comprised nearly 20% of the active military

Reference: 2025, 2023

Military deployments

600 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 200 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2024)

Reference: 2024

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)

Reference: 2025, 2018

International Relations

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic representation in the US

Reference: 2025, 1913

Diplomatic representation from the US

Reference: 2025, 2000

International organization participation

Treaties & Organisations

Organisation	Status	Joined
United Nations (UN)	member	1945-12-18
World Trade Organization (WTO)	member	1995-01-01

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Conflict & Security

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 32,149 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 33 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 5 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Transportation & Logistics

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

65 (2025)

Heliports

4 (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

Reference: 2016

Merchant marine

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

Reference: 2023

Ports

total ports: 8 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 1
very small: 6
ports with oil terminals: 2
key ports: Colonia, Fray Bentos, Jose Ignacio, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Puerto Sauce

Reference: 2024

Environment

Forest area12.0%2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption57.8%2021 · Verified

Environmental issues

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

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

Climate

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Land use

Reference: 2023

Urbanization

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

Reference: 2023, 2020

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions: 6.896 million 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.)
from consumed natural gas: 177,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Particulate matter emissions

8.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Methane emissions

energy: 18.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 730.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 115.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 2.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022, 2021, 2019

Waste and recycling

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

Reference: 2024, 2022

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 424.428 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 603.701 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 3.479 billion cubic meters (2022)

Reference: 2022

Total renewable water resources

172.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Geoparks

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

Reference: 2023

Communications & Media

Individuals using the Internet92.0%2024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions145.5 per 1002024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions33.0 per 1002024 · Verified

Secure Internet servers4,641 per million2024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

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

Reference: 2023

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)

Reference: 2019, 2010