2025 Edition Primary

Background

<p>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.</p>

Area

Land

175,015 sq km

Total

176,215 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

Climate

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Coastline

660 km

Continent

South America

Elevation

Highest point

Cerro Catedral 514 m

Lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

109 m

Geographic coordinates

33 00 S, 56 00 W

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

Irrigated land

2,230 sq km (2018)

Land boundaries

Border countries

Argentina 541 km; Brazil 1,050 km

number of neighbors

2

Total

1,591 km

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.)

arable land

12.57%

Forest

11.4% (2023 est.)

Other

7.3% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

0.22%

Landlocked

No

Location

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

Major aquifers

Guarani Aquifer System

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<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Map links

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/tiQ9Baekb1jQtDSD9

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/287072

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Continental shelf

200 nm or the edge of continental margin

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 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

Natural resources

arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish

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

Subregion

South America

Terrain

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Time zone

UTC-03:00

number of time zones

1

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

Beer

1.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

5.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

2.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

9.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.8% (2018 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

55.4% (2023 est.)

Death rate

9.88 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

74 per 1,000

adult male

140 per 1,000

Dependency ratios

Elderly dependency ratio

22.5 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

4.4 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

48.7 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

26.2 (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.)

Education expenditures

5 % of GDP

Ethnic groups

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

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represent primary ethnic identity

Gross reproduction rate

0.62 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

9 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

9.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

20.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

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

Infant mortality rate

Female

6.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

9.1 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

4 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

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

Major-language sample(s)

<br>La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

number of languages

1

Life expectancy at birth

Female

82.1 years

Male

75.8 years

Total population

78.9 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

Female

99.2% (2024 est.)

Male

98.6% (2024 est.)

Total population

98.9% (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.774 million MONTEVIDEO (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

Female

38.2 years

Male

34.9 years

Total

37.4 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

26 births/1,000 women 15-19

Nationality

Adjective

Uruguayan

Noun

Uruguayan(s)

Net migration rate

0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27.9% (2016)

Physician density

4.67 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

Female

1,771,025

Male

1,678,419

Total

3,449,444 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.06% (2025 est.)

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%<br><br>Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 15%, other 6%, agnostic 3%, atheist 10%, unspecified 24% (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.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Female

19 years (2022 est.)

Male

16 years (2022 est.)

Total

18 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

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

At birth

1.04 male(s)/female

Total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

Female

14.9% (2025 est.)

Male

21.3% (2025 est.)

Total

18% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Rate of urbanization

0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

95.8% of total population (2023)

Vaccination rate

measles

97%

Administrative divisions

19 departments (<em>departamentos</em>, singular - <em>departamento</em>); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandú, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San José, Soriano, Tacuarembó, Treinta y Tres

Capital

Etymology

the origin of the name is disputed but refers to a hill or mountain (<em>monte</em>); one theory combines the Spanish word <em>monte </em>(mountain) with the Latin <em>video </em>(I see)

Geographic coordinates

34 51 S, 56 10 W

Name

Montevideo

Time difference

UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth

yes

Citizenship by descent only

yes

Dual citizenship recognized

yes

Residency requirement for naturalization

3-5 years

Coat of arms

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/uy.svg

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

History

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

Country name

alternative spellings

UY, Oriental Republic of Uruguay, República Oriental del Uruguay

Conventional long form

Oriental Republic of Uruguay

Conventional short form

Uruguay

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 <em>uru </em>(bird) and <em>guay </em>(tail)

FIFA code

URU

Former

Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province

Local long form

Rep&uacute;blica Oriental del Uruguay

local long form (spa)

República Oriental del Uruguay

Local short form

Uruguay

Diplomatic representation from the US

Chief of mission

Ambassador Lou RINALDI (since 30 September 2025)

Email address and website

<br>MontevideoACS@state.gov<br><br>https://uy.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200

FAX

[+598] 1770-2128

Mailing address

3360 Montevideo Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-3360

Telephone

(+598) 1770-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chancery

1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006

Chief of mission

Ambassador Daniel CASTILLOS G&oacute;mez (since 5 September 2025)

Consulate(s) general

Miami, New York, San Francisco

Email address and website

<br>urueeuu@mrree.gub.uy<br><br>https://embassyofuruguay.us/

FAX

[1] (202) 331-8142

Telephone

[1] (202) 331-1313

Executive branch

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the General Assembly

Chief of state

President Yamand&uacute; ORSI Mart&iacute;nez (since 1 March 2025)

Election results

<em><br>2024: </em>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%<br><em><br>2019:</em> 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%

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

Head of government

President Yamand&uacute; ORSI Mart&iacute;nez (since 1 March 2025)

Most recent election date

27 October 2024, with a runoff on 24 November 2024

Note

<strong>note: </strong>the president is both chief of state and head of government

Flag

<strong>description: </strong>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<br><br><strong>meaning: </strong>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

<strong>note:</strong> the banner was inspired by the national colors of Argentina and the design of the US flag

Flag description

The flag of Uruguay is composed of nine equal horizontal bands of white alternating with blue, with a white square superimposed in the canton. In the white square is a yellow sun bearing a human face — the Sun of May — from which sixteen rays extend. The sun's rays alternate between triangular and wavy.

Flag image

svg

https://flagcdn.com/uy.svg

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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)

Legal system

civil law system based on the Spanish civil code

Legislative branch

Legislative structure

bicameral

Legislature name

General Assembly (Asamblea General)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

Chamber name

House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes)

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

October 2029

Most recent election date

10/27/2024

Number of seats

99 (all directly elected)

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%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

Chamber name

Senate (Cámara de Senadores)

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

October 2029

Most recent election date

10/27/2024

Number of seats

31 (all directly elected)

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%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

National color(s)

blue, white, yellow

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 Atl&aacute;ntida

Total World Heritage Sites

3 (all cultural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

National symbol(s)

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

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)<br>Colorado Party or PC (including Batllistas and Ciudadanos)<br>Intransigent Radical Ecologist Party (Partido Ecologista Radical Intransigente) or PERI<br>Independent Party<br>National Party or PN (including Todos (Everyone) and National Alliance)<br>Open Cabildo<br>Popular Unity

Start of week

Monday

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

UN Member

Yes

Agricultural products

milk, rice, wheat, barley, soybeans, beef, rapeseed, sugarcane, maize, beef offal (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

On alcohol and tobacco

1.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

Expenditures

$17.808 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

Currency

code

UYU

name

Uruguayan peso (UYU) [$]

Current account balance

$-632,864,632

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.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

high-income, export-oriented South American economy; South America&rsquo;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

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.)

Exports

$23.29 billion

Exports 2022

$23.56 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$21.946 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$23.329 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

wood pulp, beef, milk, rice, wood (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

China 21%, Brazil 17%, USA 8%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Foreign direct investment

net inflows

$-3,936,668,278

GDP - composition, by end use

Exports of goods and services

22.5% (2015 est.)

Government consumption

13.8% (2015 est.)

Household consumption

66.8% (2015 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-22.9% (2015 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

19.8% (2015 est.)

Investment in inventories

-0.1% (2015 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Agriculture

6.4% (2024 est.)

Industry

16.8% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

65.3% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$80.962 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP per capita (nominal)

$23,907

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

39.7 (2019)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

40.9 (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

GNI (gross national income)

$75.96 billion

GNI per capita

$21,650

Gross domestic investment

16 % of GDP

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Highest 10%

30.8% (2023 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.1% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$19.19 billion

Imports 2022

$19.639 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$19.259 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$19.117 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, trucks, fertilizers (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Brazil 22%, China 18%, Argentina 11%, USA 9%, Nigeria 4% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

4.4% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.85%

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.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

1.768 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

1.81 million persons

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

8.07%

industry

18.78%

services

73.15%

Population below poverty line

10.1% (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

66 % of GDP

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2023

62.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$123.33 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

Real GDP growth rate

3.11%

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

Real GDP per capita

$36,418

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

Remittances

$136.12 million

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$17.38 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

Revenue (excl grants)

31 % of GDP

Tax revenue

18 % of GDP

Taxes and other revenues

18.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

7.52%

Note

<b>note:</b> % 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.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Female

29.8% (2024 est.)

Male

23.5% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

26.4% (2024 est.)

Coal

Consumption

8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption

9.826 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

3,590 kWh

Exports

2 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

84 million kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

5.682 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

1.136 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

Biomass and waste

23.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

38.38%

Hydroelectricity

27.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

84.35%

Solar

3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

37% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

1,626 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

45.755 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

Consumption

90.018 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

90.871 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Refined petroleum consumption

50,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Total petroleum production

400 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Renewable energy consumption

57.8%

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

per 100 inhabitants

32 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

32 (2023 est.)

Total

1.1 million (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

Internet users

Percent of population

90% (2023 est.)

Postal code format

#####

Telephone calling code

+598

Telephones - fixed lines

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

36 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

1.205 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100

142 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

146 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

4.93 million (2024 est.)

Airports

65 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

CX

Driving side

Right

Heliports

4 (2025)

Merchant marine

By type

container ship 1, general cargo 4, oil tanker 3, other 50

Total

58 (2023)

Ports

Key ports

Colonia, Fray Bentos, Jose Ignacio, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Puerto Sauce

Large

0

Medium

1

Ports with oil terminals

2

Small

1

Total ports

8 (2024)

Very small

6

Railways

Standard gauge

1,673 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge

Total

1,673 km (2016) (operational; government claims overall length is 2,961 km)

Vehicle registration code

ROU

Land forces

armored vehicles

tanks

Military - note

the armed forces are responsible for defense of the country&rsquo;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 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<br><br>Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)

active duty personnel

22,000

note

<strong>note: </strong>the National Police includes the paramilitary National Republican Guard (Guardia Nacional Republicana)

percent of total labor force

1.32 %

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 deployments

630 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 210 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (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 expenditures

2 % of GDP

current USD

$1,736,764,487

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.)

percent of central government expenditure

6.78 %

percent of GDP

2.31 % of GDP

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 strength ranking

PowerIndex score

2.1537

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

33 (2024 est.)

Refugees

32,149 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

5 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

From coal and metallurgical coke

39,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

177,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

6.681 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

6.896 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

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

Geoparks

Global geoparks and regional networks

Grutas del Palacio (2023)

Total global geoparks and regional networks

1

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

Methane emissions

Agriculture

730.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

18.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

2.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

115.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

8.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Protected areas

2 % of total land area

Renewable electricity output

51 % of total

Total renewable water resources

172.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

5 % of internal resources

Agricultural

3.479 billion cubic meters (2022)

Industrial

603.701 million cubic meters (2022)

Municipal

424.428 million cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually

1.26 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

24.8% (2022 est.)