Uruguay: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 8, 2026

News •

Pope arrives in Argentina and tells Milei that people, not the economy, should come first • Nov. 8, 2026, 6:40 PM ET (AP)

With an ode to mate tea, pope urges faithful in Uruguay to build bridges of fraternity and faith • Nov. 7, 2026, 8:39 PM ET (AP)

Pope Leo XIV arrives in Uruguay at start of South American tour less than a month after lung surgery • Nov. 6, 2026, 9:53 PM ET (AP)

Vatican confirms Pope Leo's Latin America trip after post-surgery checkup • Oct. 26, 2026, 12:53 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	República Oriental del Uruguay • Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Head Of State And Government	President: Yamandú Orsi
Capital	Montevideo
Population	(2026 est.) 3,545,000
Form Of Government	republic with two legislative houses (Senate [31¹]; House of Representatives [99])
Official Language	Spanish
Official Religion	none
Official Name	República Oriental del Uruguay (Oriental Republic of Uruguay)
Total Area (Sq Km)	177,015
Total Area (Sq Mi)	68,346
Monetary Unit	peso uruguayo (UYU)
Population Rank	(2026) 134
Population Projection 2030	3,955,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 51.9
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 20
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2022) 85.6% • Rural: (2022) 14.4%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2025) 74.3 years • Female: (2025) 80.6 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 73,309
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 21,650
¹Includes the vice president, who serves as ex officio presiding officer.

Photos

Map of southern South America highlighting Uruguay in tan, bordered by Brazil to the north and Argentina to the west, with Montevideo marked as the capital on the southern coast along the Atlantic Ocean. Surrounding countries and major bodies of water are labeled for geographic context.

Plaza Independencia in Montevideo, Uruguay, featuring palm trees, a central monument, and the historic Palacio Salvo building surrounded by modern city architecture.

Map of Uruguay showing national boundaries, major cities, rivers, and departments. Neighboring countries Brazil and Argentina are labeled, and the Atlantic Ocean borders Uruguay to the southeast. An inset locator map highlights Uruguay's position in South America.

Montevideo, Uruguay cityscape with modern and historic buildings, including a tall glass tower and a white arched bridge near the waterfront under a clear blue sky.

Two Monk Parakeets perched on a palm frond against a blue sky in Montevideo, Uruguay.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy in Mercedes, Uruguay, with two bell towers, palm trees at the entrance, and a gated fence in front.

Interior view of Montevideo Metropolitan Cathedral showing ornate altar, religious statues, arched ceiling, chandeliers, and rows of pews.

Aerial view of Punta del Este, Uruguay at sunset, showing the marina, high-rise buildings along the coast, and the ocean under a partly cloudy sky.

A large group of sheep with thick wool are gathered in a corral surrounded by stone walls and trees on a ranch in Uruguay, waiting to be sheared.

National anthem of Uruguay

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Topics

Mercosur UNASUR War of the Triple Alliance League of Nations nation-state Latin American Integration Association Montevideo Convention list of countries in Latin America flag of Uruguay Spanish language United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

José Mujica

José Mujica

president of Uruguay

Tabaré Vázquez

Tabaré Vázquez

president of Uruguay

José Batlle y Ordóñez

José Batlle y Ordóñez

president of Uruguay

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Juan María Bordaberry Arocena

president of Uruguay

Manuel Ceferino Oribe

Manuel Ceferino Oribe

Uruguayan politician

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Raúl Sendic

Uruguayan rebel

José Gervasio Artigas

José Gervasio Artigas

Uruguayan revolutionary

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Wilson Ferreira Adulnate

Uruguayan politician

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Luis Batlle Berres

president of Uruguay

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Aparicio Méndez

president of Uruguay

Brum

Baltasar Brum

Uruguayan statesman

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Fray Bentos

Uruguay

Map of Latin America showing countries, major cities, and key physical features such as mountain ranges, highlands, and rivers. The map includes Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, with labeled regions like the Andes, Brazilian Highlands, and Gran Chaco, as well as an inset highlighting the West Indies. Surrounding bodies of water, including the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea, are also labeled.

history of Latin America

Map showing the countries of South America with national capitals and surrounding bodies of water, including the Atlantic and Pacific.

South America

continent

Montevideo: Salvo Palace

Montevideo

national capital, Uruguay

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Artigas

Uruguay

Colonia del Sacramento, designated a World Heritage site in 1995.

Colonia del Sacramento

Uruguay

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Salto

Uruguay

Punta del Este, Uru.

Punta del Este

Uruguay

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Maldonado

Uruguay

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Tacuarembó

Uruguay

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San José

Uruguay

Cathedral at Paysandú, Uru.

Paysandú

Uruguay

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Rivera

Uruguay

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Florida

Uruguay

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Minas

Uruguay

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