Uruguay

total: 1.1 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.)

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)

.uy

percent of population: 90% (2023 est.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

$80.962 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

$108.502 billion (2024 est.) $105.231 billion (2023 est.) $104.456 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

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.)

45.755 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

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

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

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.)

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

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

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

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

agricultural land: 81.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 68.6% (2023 est.) forest: 11.4% (2023 est.) other: 7.3% (2023 est.)

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.)

8.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

172.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

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

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

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

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

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

660 km

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

33 00 S, 56 00 W

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

2,230 sq km (2018)

total: 1,591 km border countries (2): Argentina 541 km; Brazil 1,050 km

agricultural land: 81.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 68.6% (2023 est.) forest: 11.4% (2023 est.) other: 7.3% (2023 est.)

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

Guarani Aquifer System

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

South America

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

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

arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish

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

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

19 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysand , Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jos , Soriano, Tacuaremb , Treinta y Tres

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)

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

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

conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay conventional short form: Uruguay local long form: Rep blica 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)

chief of mission: Ambassador Lou RINALDI (since 30 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/

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel CASTILLOS G mez (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

chief of state: President Yamand ORSI Mart nez (since 1 March 2025) head of government: President Yamand ORSI Mart nez (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: Yamand ORSI Mart nez elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Yamand ORSI Mart nez (FA) 46.2%, lvaro Luis DELGADO Ceretta (PN) 28.2%, Andr s OJEDA Ojeda Spitz (PC) 16.9%, other 8.7%; percent of vote in second round - Yamand ORSI Mart nez 52.1%, lvaro 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: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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

presidential republic

25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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)

civil law system based on the Spanish civil code

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

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

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

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

blue, white, yellow

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 Atl ntida

Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

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

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

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

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 Liberaci n 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.

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)

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

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

630 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 210 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2025)

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)

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

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)

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)

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.)

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

1.8% (2018 est.)

55.4% (2023 est.)

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

total dependency ratio: 48.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 26.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 22.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 4.4 (2025 est.)

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

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

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

0.62 (2025 est.)

9.4% of GDP (2021) 20.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

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

total: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Spanish (official, Rioplatense is the most widely spoken dialect) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de informaci n b sica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

total population: 78.9 years (2024 est.) male: 75.8 years female: 82.1 years

total population: 98.9% (2024 est.) male: 98.6% (2024 est.) female: 99.2% (2024 est.)

1.774 million MONTEVIDEO (capital) (2023)

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

total: 37.4 years (2025 est.) male: 34.9 years female: 38.2 years

noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan

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

27.9% (2016)

4.67 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

total: 3,449,444 (2025 est.) male: 1,678,419 female: 1,771,025

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

-0.06% (2025 est.)

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.)

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

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

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.)

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

1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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

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

65 (2025)

CX

4 (2025)

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

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

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