CapitalMontevideo
Population3,449,444
Area176,215 km²
GDP per capita$32,000
LanguagesSpanish
CurrencyUruguayan pesos
Life Expectancy78.9 yr
Governmenta presidential republic.
Introduction
Background
In 1726, the Spanish established the city of Montevideo in present-day Uruguay as a military outpost, which quickly evolved into a significant commercial hub thanks to its advantageous natural harbor. Initially, Argentina laid claim to Uruguay, but Brazil took over the territory in 1821. Uruguay proclaimed its independence in 1825 and achieved sovereignty in 1828 following a three-year conflict. During the early 20th century, President Jose BATLLE's administrations initiated extensive political, social, and economic reforms that fostered a statist tradition. In the late 1960s, a violent urban guerrilla group known as the Tupamaros (or Movimiento de Liberación Nacional-Tupamaros) emerged, prompting Uruguay's president to hand over governmental authority to the military in 1973. By the end of that year, the insurgents had been defeated, yet the military maintained and intensified its control over the government. Civilian governance was reinstated in 1985. The left-leaning Frente Amplio (FA) Coalition triumphed in the national elections of 2004, effectively ending 170 years of dominance by the Colorado and National (Blanco) parties. This left-of-center coalition held the presidency and command of both legislative chambers until 2019. Uruguay boasts some of the freest political and labor environments on the South American continent.
Geography
Area
land
175,015 sq km
water
1,200 sq km
total
176,215 sq km
Climate
characterized by a warm temperate climate; instances of freezing temperatures are virtually non-existent
Terrain
predominantly consists of gently rolling plains and low hills; features lush coastal lowlands
Land use
other
7.3% (2023 est.)
forest
11.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
81.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 68.6% (2023 est.)
Location
located in the southern region of South America, adjacent to the South Atlantic Ocean, situated between Argentina and Brazil
Coastline
660 km
Elevation
lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point
Cerro Catedral 514 m
mean elevation
109 m
Irrigated land
2,230 sq km (2018)
Major aquifers
Guarani Aquifer System
Map references
South America
Land boundaries
total
1,591 km
border countries
Argentina 541 km; Brazil 1,050 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
experiences seasonally strong winds (notably the pampero, a cold and occasionally severe wind originating from the Argentine pampas), as well as droughts and floods; due to the lack of mountainous barriers, all areas are especially susceptible to swift shifts resulting from weather fronts
Geography - note
the second smallest nation in South America (following Suriname); the majority of the flat terrain (approximately 75% of the nation) consists of grasslands, which are well-suited for raising cattle and sheep
Natural resources
arable land, hydropower resources, minor mineral deposits, fishery resources
Area - comparative
roughly equivalent in size to the combined area of Virginia and West Virginia; slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Geographic coordinates
33 00 S, 56 00 W
Population distribution
the majority of the population is concentrated in the southern part of the country; around 80% of the inhabitants live in urban areas; nearly 50% of the populace resides in and near the capital city, Montevideo
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s)
Lagoa Mirim (shared with Brazil) - 2,970 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Rio de la Plata/Parana river mouth (shared with Brazil [s], Argentina, Paraguay) - 4,880 km; Uruguay river mouth (shared with Brazil [s] and Argentina) - 1,610 km
note: [s] indicates river source following the country name; [m] indicates river mouth following the country name
People & Society
Literacy
male
98.6% (2024 est.)
female
99.2% (2024 est.)
total population
98.9% (2024 est.)
Languages
Languages
Spanish (official language, with Rioplatense being the predominant dialect)
major-language sample(s)
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Roman Catholic 36.5%, Protestant 5% (Evangelical (non-specific) 4.6%, Adventist 0.2%, Protestant (non-specific) 0.3%), African American Cults/Umbanda 2.8%, Jehovah's Witness 0.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 0.2%, other 1%, Believer (not belonging to the church) 1.8%, agnostic 0.3%, atheist 1.3%, none 47.3%, unspecified 3.4%
Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 15%, other 6%, agnostic 3%, atheist 10%, unspecified 24% (2023 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.99 male(s)/female
total population
0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.68 male(s)/female
Birth rate
9.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
9.88 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
34.9 years
total
37.4 years (2025 est.)
female
38.2 years
Population
male
1,678,419
total
3,449,444 (2025 est.)
female
1,771,025
Nationality
noun
Uruguayan(s)
adjective
Uruguayan
Tobacco use
male
21.3% (2025 est.)
total
18% (2025 est.)
female
14.9% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
95.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
18.9% (male 329,268/female 317,925)
15-64 years
65.4% (male 1,112,622/female 1,128,418)
65 years and over
15.7% (2024 est.) (male 218,242/female 318,855)
Ethnic groups
White 87.7%, Black 4.6%, Indigenous 2.4%, other 0.3%, none or unspecified 5% (estimates from 2011)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
48.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
26.2 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
4.4 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
22.5 (2025 est.)
Physician density
4.67 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
9.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
20.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 95.3% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 4.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
15.6% national budget (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
9.1 deaths/1,000 live births
total
6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
-0.06% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.62 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
a significant portion of the nation's population is located in the southern region; around 80% of the population is urban; almost half of the inhabitants reside in and near the capital, Montevideo
Life expectancy at birth
male
75.8 years
female
82.1 years
total population
78.9 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
1.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
2.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
5.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.774 million MONTEVIDEO (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
27.9% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
55.4% (2023 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
1.8% (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
16 years (2022 est.)
total
18 years (2022 est.)
female
19 years (2022 est.)
Environment
Climate
mild temperate; occurrences of freezing temperatures are nearly nonexistent
Geoparks
global geoparks and regional networks
Grutas del Palacio (2023)
total global geoparks and regional networks
1
Land use
other
7.3% (2023 est.)
forest
11.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
81.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 68.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
95.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
2.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
115.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
18.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
730.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
1.26 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
24.8% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
contamination of water due to the meat-packing and tanning sectors; pollution from heavy metals; insufficient disposal of solid and hazardous waste; deforestation
Total water withdrawal
municipal
424.428 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial
603.701 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural
3.479 billion cubic meters (2022)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
6.896 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
177,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
39,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
6.681 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
8.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
172.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
Marine Dumping - London Convention, Conservation of Marine Life
Government
Flag
description: composed of nine equal horizontal stripes of white, with blue stripes in between; a white square located in the upper-left corner contains a yellow sun featuring a human face (outlined in black), referred to as the Sun of May, which has 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy shapes.
meaning: the stripes symbolize the nine original departments of the nation; the sun alludes to the legend of the sun emerging from behind the clouds on 25 May 1810, marking the declaration of independence from Spain; this sun is identified as Inti, the Inca sun god.
Capital
name
Montevideo
etymology
the name's origin is contested but is thought to refer to a hill or mountain (monte); one hypothesis fuses the Spanish term monte (mountain) with the Latin video (I see).
time difference
UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
34 51 S, 56 10 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
3-5 years
Constitution
history
multiple prior versions; the most recent was ratified by plebiscite on 27 November 1966, coming into effect on 15 February 1967, and was reinstated in 1985 following the end of military governance.
amendment process
can be initiated through a public petition signed by at least 10% of eligible voters, proposed by the agreement of a minimum of two-fifths of the General Assembly, or by existing "constitutional laws" that receive sanction from at least two-thirds of the members in both legislative houses; senators, representatives, or the executive may also submit proposals, which need to be approved by a national constituent convention; final endorsement via either channel necessitates an absolute majority of votes in a referendum.
Country name
former
Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province
etymology
the name is derived from the Uruguay River, which constitutes the western boundary of the country; the river's name comes from the Guarani terms uru (bird) and guay (tail).
local long form
República Oriental del Uruguay
local short form
Uruguay
conventional long form
Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form
Uruguay
Independence
25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
Legal system
a civil law framework influenced by the Spanish civil code.
Government type
a presidential republic.
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 5 judges)
subordinate courts
includes Courts of Appeal; District Courts (Juzgados Letrados); Peace Courts (Juzgados de Paz); Rural Courts (Juzgados Rurales).
judge selection and term of office
judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by a two-thirds vote in a joint session of the General Assembly; they serve for 10 years, with the possibility of reelection after a five-year interval following their previous term.
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the General Assembly
chief of state
President Yamandú ORSI Martínez (since 1 March 2025)
election results
2024: Yamandú ORSI Martínez was elected president in the second round; the vote percentage in the first round was - Yamandú ORSI Martínez (FA) 46.2%, Álvaro Luis DELGADO Ceretta (PN) 28.2%, Andrés OJEDA Ojeda Spitz (PC) 16.9%, others 8.7%; the percentage in the second round was - Yamandú ORSI Martínez 52.1%, Álvaro Luis DELGADO Ceretta 47.9%
2019: Luis Alberto LACALLE POU was elected president in the second round; the first round vote percentages were - 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%, others 5.5%; in the second round, the percentages were - Luis Alberto LACALLE POU 50.6%, Daniel MARTINEZ 49.4%.
head of government
President Yamandú ORSI Martínez (since 1 March 2025)
most recent election date
27 October 2024, with a runoff on 24 November 2024
election/appointment process
the president and vice president are elected directly on the same ballot through an absolute-majority vote, possibly requiring two rounds, serving five-year terms (eligible for non-consecutive terms).
expected date of next election
scheduled for 28 October 2029, with a runoff, if necessary, on 25 November 2029.
National holiday
Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
National color(s)
blue, white, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
3 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic City of Colonia del Sacramento; Fray Bentos Industrial Landscape; The engineering works of Eladio Dieste: Church of Atlántida.
Political parties
Broad Front or FA (Frente Amplio) - (a broad governing coalition that comprises 34 factions including Popular Participation Movement or MPP, Uruguay Assembly, Progressive Alliance, Broad Social Democratic Space, Socialist Party, Vertiente Artiguista, Christian Democratic Party, Big House, Communist Party, The Federal League, Fuerza Renovadora)
Colorado Party or PC (including Batllistas and Ciudadanos)
Intransigent Radical Ecologist Party (Partido Ecologista Radical Intransigente) or PERI
Independent Party
National Party or PN (including Todos (Everyone) and National Alliance)
Open Cabildo
Popular Unity
Legislative branch
legislature name
General Assembly (Asamblea General)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Himno Nacional" (National Anthem of Uruguay)
history
adopted in 1848; the anthem is also known as "Orientales, la Patria o la tumba!" ("Uruguayans, the Fatherland or Death!"); it holds the record for the longest national anthem in terms of music (105 bars; nearly five minutes long), though typically only the first verse and chorus are performed.
lyrics/music
Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Francisco Jose DEBALI
National symbol(s)
Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol)
Administrative divisions
19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandú, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San José, Soriano, Tacuarembó, Treinta y Tres.
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
99 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
10/27/2024
expected date of next election
October 2029
percentage of women in chamber
31.3%
parties elected and seats per party
Broad Front (FA) (48); National Party (PN) (29); Colorado Party (PC) (17); Other (5).
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Cámara de Senadores)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
31 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
10/27/2024
expected date of next election
October 2029
percentage of women in chamber
32.3%
parties elected and seats per party
Broad Front (FA) (16); National Party (PN) (9); Colorado Party (PC) (5).
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 331-8142
chancery
1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone
[1] (202) 331-1313
chief of mission
Ambassador Daniel CASTILLOS Gómez (since 5 September 2025)
consulate(s) general
Miami, New York, San Francisco
email address and website
[email protected]
https://embassyofuruguay.us/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[+598] 1770-2128
embassy
Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
telephone
(+598) 1770-2000
mailing address
3360 Montevideo Place, Washington DC 20521-3360
chief of mission
Ambassador Lou RINALDI (since 30 September 2025)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://uy.usembassy.gov/
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction.
Economy
Budget
revenues
$27.781 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$17.808 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$23.56 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$21.946 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$23.329 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$19.639 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$19.259 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$19.117 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
beverages, chemicals, textiles, petroleum products, transportation equipment, electrical machinery, food processing
Labor force
1.768 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2023
62.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
42.013 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
43.555 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
41.171 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
38.824 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
40.213 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
A high-income, export-driven economy in South America; it boasts the largest middle class in the region; characterized by low socioeconomic inequality; facing increasing homicide rates; strengthening ties with China and the EU; the 2019 recession in Argentina had negative effects; it is a significant exporter of milk, beef, rice, and wool.
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
7.9% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
8.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
8.5% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 21%, Brazil 17%, USA 8%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
Brazil 22%, China 18%, Argentina 11%, USA 9%, Nigeria 4% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$30,800 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$31,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$32,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
0.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
3.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
beef, maize, sugarcane, rapeseed, soybeans, barley, wheat, rice, milk, beef offal (2023)
Exports - commodities
wood pulp, beef, milk, rice, wood (2023)
Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, trucks, cars, fertilizers (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
-$2.675 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$2.64 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
-$821.38 million (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
18.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$80.962 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
66.8% (2015 est.)
government consumption
13.8% (2015 est.)
investment in inventories
-0.1% (2015 est.)
investment in fixed capital
19.8% (2015 est.)
exports of goods and services
22.5% (2015 est.)
imports of goods and services
-22.9% (2015 est.)
Population below poverty line
10.1% (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
1.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
9.1% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
4.8% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
4.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$104.456 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$105.231 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$108.502 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
23.5% (2024 est.)
total
26.4% (2024 est.)
female
29.8% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$15.127 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$16.257 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$17.378 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
16.8% (2024 est.)
services
65.3% (2024 est.)
agriculture
6.4% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.1% (2023 est.)
highest 10%
30.8% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
40.9 (2023 est.)
Energy
Coal
imports
13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
400 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
50,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
exports
2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports
84 million kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
9.826 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
5.682 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
1.136 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
imports
90.871 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
90.018 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
45.755 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
37% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
27.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
23.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
90% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
a combination of privately operated and government-managed broadcasting media; more than 100 commercial radio outlets and approximately 20 television channels; cable television services are accessible; numerous community radio and television stations exist; in 2010, the hybrid Japanese/Brazilian HDTV standard (ISDB-T) was adopted (2019)
Internet country code
.uy
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
1.205 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
36 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
4.93 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
146 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
1.1 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
32 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
1
medium
1
key ports
Colonia, Fray Bentos, Jose Ignacio, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Puerto Sauce
very small
6
total ports
8 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
2
Airports
65 (2025)
Railways
total
1,673 km (2016) (operational; government claims overall length is 2,961 km)
standard gauge
1,673 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge
Heliports
4 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
58 (2023)
by type
1 container ship, 4 general cargo vessels, 3 oil tankers, 50 others
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
CX
Military & Security
Military - note
The armed forces are tasked with safeguarding the nation's independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity, along with the protection of strategic resources. Additionally, they have certain domestic duties, such as securing the perimeters of various prisons, ensuring border security, and delivering humanitarian and disaster relief assistance. The military also collaborates with the Ministry of Interior to fight against drug trafficking. It engages in UN peacekeeping operations and participates in joint exercises with international partners. Traditionally, Uruguay has maintained security partnerships with Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and the United States. Since 2018, it has entered into defense cooperation agreements with China and Russia (2025).
Military deployments
630 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 210 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of Uruguay (Fuerzas Armadas del Uruguay or FF.AA. del Uruguay): National Army, National Navy (which includes the Coast Guard (Prefectura Nacional Naval or PRENA)), and the Uruguayan Air Force.
Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025).
Military service age and obligation
For voluntary military service, the age range is typically 18-30 years (up to 22 for the Navy and up to 40 for certain specialized roles); the initial service commitment is 24 months (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The military's arsenal consists of a diverse array of predominantly older or secondhand equipment sourced from various suppliers, including Brazil, Germany, the former Soviet Union/Russia, South Korea, and the United States (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
Approximately 23,000 active-duty personnel in the Armed Forces (15,000 in the Army; 5,000 in the Navy; 3,000 in the Air Force) (2025).
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
33 (2024 est.)
refugees
32,149 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
5 (2024 est.)
