The Spanish founded the city of Montevideo in modern-day Uruguay in 1726 as a military stronghold, and it soon became an important commercial center due to its natural harbor. Argentina initially claimed Uruguay, but Brazil annexed the country in 1821. Uruguay declared its independence in 1825 and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century launched widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros (or Movimiento de Liberación Nacional-Tupamaros) launched in the late 1960s and pushed Uruguay’s president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By year-end, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was restored in 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio (FA) Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control by the Colorado and National (Blanco) parties. The left-of-center coalition retained the presidency and control of both chambers of congress until 2019. Uruguay’s political and labor conditions are among the freest on the South American continent.
Geography
Location
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
Geographic coordinates
33 00 S, 56 00 W
Map references
South America
Area
total : 176,215 sq km
land: 175,015 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km
comparison ranking: total 91
Area – comparative
about the size of Virginia and West Virginia combined; slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 1,591 km
border countries (2): 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: 80.9% (2022 est.)
arable land: 12.1% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.2% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 68.6% (2022 est.)
forest: 11.8% (2022 est.)
other: 7.3% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
2,230 sq km (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
People and Society
Population
total: 3,425,330 (2024 est.)
male: 1,660,132
female: 1,765,198
comparison rankings: total 133; female 133; male 135
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: data represent primary ethnic identity
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.
Spanish audio sample:
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.)
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)
2024 population pyramid:
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.)
Median age
total: 36.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 34.9 years
female: 38.2 years
comparison ranking: total 89
Population growth rate
0.26% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 170
Birth rate
12.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 136
Death rate
9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 57
Net migration rate
-0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 140
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
Urbanization
urban population: 95.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
1.774 million MONTEVIDEO (capital) (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.)
Maternal mortality ratio
19 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 127
Infant mortality rate
total: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 145
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 75.8 years
female: 82.1 years
comparison ranking: total population 70
Total fertility rate
1.75 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 149
Gross reproduction rate
0.86 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
79.6% (2015)
note: percent of women aged 15-44
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
9.4% of GDP (2021)
20.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
4.67 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density
2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 99.2% of population
rural: 99.6% of population
total: 99.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.8% of population
rural: 0.4% of population
total: 0.8% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
27.9% (2016)
comparison ranking: 33
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.)
comparison ranking: total 82
Tobacco use
total: 18% (2025 est.)
male: 21.3% (2025 est.)
female: 14.9% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 84
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
1.8% (2018)
comparison ranking: 101
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
55.4% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure
3.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
15.4% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 125
Literacy
total population: 99% (2022 est.)
male: 99% (2022 est.)
female: 99% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 19 years
male: 17 years
female: 20 years (2019)
Environment
Environment – current issues
water pollution from meat-packing, tannery industries; heavy metal pollution; inadequate solid and hazardous waste disposal; deforestation
Environment – international 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
agricultural land: 80.9% (2022 est.)
arable land: 12.1% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.2% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 68.6% (2022 est.)
forest: 11.8% (2022 est.)
other: 7.3% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 95.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 8.48 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 6.77 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 25.59 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,260,140 tons (2012 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 100,811 tons (2011 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2011 est.)
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
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 410 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 3.17 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
172.2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
global geoparks and regional networks: Grutas del Palacio (2023)
Government
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)
Government type
presidential republic
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
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
elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 27 October 2024 with a runoff on 24 November 2024 (next to be held on 28 October 2029 and a runoff, if needed, on 25 November 2029)
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%
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
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: 28.3%
expected date of next election: October 2029
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
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 Andrés Augusto DURÁN Hareau (since 23 December 2020)
chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313
FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://embassyofuruguay.us/
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Heide B. FULTON (since 22 March 2023)
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:
[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, 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 hoist-side 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; 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 (Uruguay subsequently won its independence from Brazil); 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
National symbol(s)
Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol)
National colors
blue, white, yellow
National anthem
name: “Himno Nacional” (National Anthem of Uruguay)
lyrics/music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Francisco Jose DEBALI
note: 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); generally 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
Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$105.096 billion (2023 est.)
$104.711 billion (2022 est.)
$100.004 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 97
Real GDP growth rate
0.37% (2023 est.)
4.71% (2022 est.)
5.56% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 182
Real GDP per capita
$31,000 (2023 est.)
$30,900 (2022 est.)
$29,400 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 77
GDP (official exchange rate)
$77.241 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.8% (2024 est.)
5.9% (2023 est.)
9.1% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 147
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
industry: 16.4% (2023 est.)
services: 66.3% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 53; industry 164; agriculture 111
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 66.8% (2015 est.)
government consumption: 13.8% (2015 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 17.4% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.1% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 27.5% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -24.2% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
milk, rice, wheat, barley, soybeans, beef, rapeseed, sugarcane, maize, beef offal (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Industrial production growth rate
-3.74% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 193
Labor force
1.768 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 130
Unemployment rate
8.4% (2024 est.)
8.4% (2023 est.)
7.9% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 147
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 26.4% (2024 est.)
male: 23.5% (2024 est.)
female: 29.8% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 34
Population below poverty line
9.9% (2022 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
40.6 (2022 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 42
Average household expenditures
on food: 18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.2% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 30.5% (2022 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
0.17% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.18% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.21% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $16.522 billion (2020 est.)
expenditures: $18.58 billion (2020 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
63% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 72
Taxes and other revenues
18.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 93
Current account balance
-$2.576 billion (2023 est.)
-$2.604 billion (2022 est.)
-$1.496 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 164
Exports
$22.005 billion (2023 est.)
$23.621 billion (2022 est.)
$19.973 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 90
Exports – partners
China 21%, Brazil 17%, USA 8%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
wood pulp, beef, milk, rice, wood (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$19.308 billion (2023 est.)
$19.407 billion (2022 est.)
$15.448 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 96
Imports – partners
Brazil 22%, China 18%, Argentina 11%, USA 9%, Nigeria 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, trucks, fertilizers (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$17.369 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
comparison ranking: 62
Exchange rates
Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
40.213 (2024 est.)
38.824 (2023 est.)
41.171 (2022 est.)
43.555 (2021 est.)
42.013 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
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.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 105; imports 113; exports 59; consumption 106; installed generating capacity 85
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.)
Coal
consumption: 8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 400 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 50,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas
consumption: 90.018 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 90.871 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide 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.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 124
Energy consumption per capita
45.755 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 98
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 1.205 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 63
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 4.8 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 139 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 128
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.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 1.1 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 78
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
CX
Airports
65 (2025)
comparison ranking: 75
Heliports
4 (2025)
comparison ranking: 109
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
Merchant marine
total: 58 (2023)
by type: container ship 1, general cargo 4, oil tanker 3, other 50
comparison ranking: total 115
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
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of Uruguay (Fuerzas Armadas del Uruguay or FF.AA. del Uruguay): National Army (Ejercito Nacional), National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Coast Guard (Prefectura Nacional Naval or PRENA)), Uruguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea)
Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)
note: the National Police includes the paramilitary National Republican Guard (Guardia Nacional Republicana)
Military expenditures
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.)
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)
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: as of 2023, women comprised nearly 20% of the active military
Military deployments
600 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 200 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (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 and border security and providing humanitarian/disaster assistance; since 2020, the military has deployed additional troops to the frontiers with Argentina and Brazil to assist the National Police in securing the border; 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 has traditionally held security ties with Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and the US; since 2018, it has also signed defense cooperation agreements with China and Russia (2024)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 32,939 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2023)
stateless persons: 5 (2022)
Trafficking in persons
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Uruguay was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/uruguay/
Illicit drugs
transit country for drugs mainly bound for Europe, often through sea-borne containers; limited law enforcement corruption; money laundering; weak border control along Brazilian frontier; increasing consumption of cocaine base and synthetic drugs
