Uruguay

Location

• Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
• second-smallest South American country (after Suriname); most of the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is grassland, ideal for cattle and sheep

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Montevideo	1,270,737	Capital
Salto	99,823
Paysandú	73,249
Las Piedras	69,682
Rivera	64,631
Maldonado	55,478
Tacuarembó	51,854
Melo	51,023
Mercedes	42,359
Artigas	41,909

Size

• 68,039 square miles
• 176,220 square kilometers
• about the size of Virginia and West Virginia combined; slightly smaller than the state of Washington

History

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.

Climate

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Terrain

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Languages

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 36.5%, Protestant 5% (Evangelical (non-specific) 4.6%, Adventist 0.2%, Protestant (non-specific) 0.3%), African American Cults/Umbanda 2.8%, Jehovah's Witness 0.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 0.2%, other 1%, Believer (not belonging to the church) 1.8%, agnostic 0.3%, atheist 1.3%, none 47.3%, unspecified 3.4%Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 15%, other 6%, agnostic 3%, atheist 10%, unspecified 24% (2023 est.)

Government

presidential republic

• Constitution: history: several previous; latest approved by plebiscite 27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967, reinstated in 1985 at the conclusion of military ruleamendment 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
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
• Legal System: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code
• 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 Assemblyelection/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 2024election results: 2024: Yamandú ORSI Martínez elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Yamandú ORSI Martínez (FA) 46.2%, Álvaro Luis DELGADO Ceretta (PN) 28.2%, Andrés OJEDA Ojeda Spitz (PC) 16.9%, other 8.7%; percent of vote in second round - Yamandú ORSI Martínez 52.1%, Álvaro Luis DELGADO Ceretta 47.9%2019: Luis Alberto LACALLE POU elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Daniel MARTINEZ (FA) 40.7%, Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (PN) 29.7%, Ernesto TALVI (Colorado Party) 12.8%, Guido MANINI RIOS (Open Cabildo) 11.3%, other 5.5%; percent of vote in second round - Luis Alberto LACALLE POU 50.6%, Daniel MARTINEZ 49.4%expected date of next election: 28 October 2029, with a runoff, if needed, on 25 November 2029note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
• 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 termsubordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; District Courts (Juzgados Letrados); Peace Courts (Juzgados de Paz); Rural Courts (Juzgados Rurales)
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: General Assembly (Asamblea General)legislative structure: bicameral

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• 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
• 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
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish
• Industries: food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
• Agricultural Products: milk, rice, wheat, barley, soybeans, beef, rapeseed, sugarcane, maize, beef offal (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• 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.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, trucks, fertilizers (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: Brazil 22%, China 18%, Argentina 11%, USA 9%, Nigeria 4% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: wood pulp, beef, milk, rice, wood (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: China 21%, Brazil 17%, USA 8%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports