Uruguay

Geography

Economics

Demographics

Military

Politics

Surface

Surface (in square kilometers)

Surface (in square miles)

Surface (water)

Water Surface (in square kilometers)

Water Surface (in square miles)

Share of water (%)

Temperature

Average temperature (in Celcius)

Average temperature (in Farenheit)

Average high temperature (in Celcius)

Average high temperature (in Farenheit)

Average low temperature (in Celcius)

Average low temperature (in Farenheit)

Rainfall

Average rainfall (mm)

Average rainfall (inch)

Distance to other capitals (kilometers)

Distance to other capitals (miles)

Proximity

Economic organizations

Gross Domestic Product (US$)

Gross Domestic Product per capita

Amount of memberships (economic organizations)

Absolute earnings for every 1$

Relative earnings

GDP in PPP per capita (in US$)

GDP in PPP per capita

Gross Domestic product (in million US$)

GDP per capita (in US$)

Surface GDP

GDP per square kilometer (in US$)

GDP per square mile(in US$)

Relative GDP in PPP

Population

Population density

Emigration

Immigration

Literacy

Health

Population density (in km2)

Population density (in mi2)

Religion

Christianity (share of the total population)

Islam (share of the total population)

Buddhism (share of the total population)

Hinduism (share of the total population)

Judaism (share of the total population)

Other religions (share of the total population)

Non-religious (share of the total population)

Military spending (in % of GDP)

Military spending

In total, Uruguay spends US$1.146 million on its military, or 2.1 percent of its GDP. This makes Uruguay the 75th highest military spender in the world and represents 0.06 percent of total global military expenditure.

The military of Uruguay, called the Armed Forces of Uruguay, consists of an army, a Navy and an Air Force. Its main task is to defend its territorial integrity, but its main activity has been with UN peacekeeping missions. Historically, the military has played a large political role at the end of the 20th century when a military coup took place.

Military membership

Uruguay is also a member of 5 international military organizations. This makes it the 93rd most militarily connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone
System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
International Atomic Energy Agency

Military membership

International wars

Uruguay has partaken in 3 international wars. These are:

Platine War 1851-1851
Uruguayan War 1864-1865
Paraguayan War 1864-1870

Number of international wars fought

Military spending (in US$ million)

Membership (international political organizations)

In total, Uruguay is a member of 13 international political organizations. This makes it the 79th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

Member state of the United Nations
International Labour Organization
Organization of American States
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
Organization of Ibero-American States
UNIDROIT
International Criminal Court
Interpol

Political Membership

Democracy/dictatorship rating

It is the 20th most democratic state in the world due to its social inclusion as well as upholding civil liberties. There is, however, some mistreatment in regards to gender-based discrimination as well as mistreatment of ethnic minorities.

Democracy/Dictatorship

The politics of Uruguay take place in the form of a presidential representative Republic where the president is head of state as well as head of government. The president is supported by the upper house and the chamber of representatives, all of which are elected every five years.

Permanent Court of Arbitration
Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
World Organization for Animal Health

If you liked this page, and you want to support us, please take a look at the support options on the top bar.

If you want to know more about other states, click on the flag on the right to discover Uzbeikstan.

Known for its flat terrain, its cuisine as well as having the most cattle per capita, Uruguay, or the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, has had a tumultuous 20th century. Before contact with Europeans, the area was inhabited by the indigenous Charruas people that lived a hunter gatherer lifestyle. After coming into contact with Spanish explorers at the start of the 16th century, it received Portuguese settlers at the end of the 17th century. At the start of the 18th century, the Spanish took over the area and ruled it from the start of the 19th century. At the start of the 19th century, the Spanish monarchy was overthrown by Napoleon which gave way to an independence movement and it became independent in 1828. Since then, it has seen a civil war between two political parties which resulted in a military coup at the start of the 20th century. This has led to a guerrilla movement with a conflict that lasted until 1973. By the end of the 20th century you, the military government agreed to return to a democratic state which saw its first democratically elected president in 1994. Since then, Uruguay has slowly regained political and economic stability which continues to this day.

Located in the southern part of South America, the geography of Uruguay mainly consists of a flat terrain with a low mountain range that run along its center. Most of its terrain is covered by grassland with the exception of small pockets of forests scattered along its northern part. In total, Uruguay borders two other states with Brazil to its north and Argentina to its west. It is also located on the Atlantic Ocean to its east and its south.

It is the 89th largest state with a total surface area of 177.096 square kilometers or 68.377 square miles. This makes Uruguay slightly smaller than Suriname and slightly larger than Cambodia.

It has a total water surface area of 1.206 square kilometers or 462 square miles. This makes Uruguay the 104th largest state in the world.

Below, a graph is shown which displays the absolute amount of water of each state in square kilometers and square miles.

It has a total water surface area of 1.206 square kilometers or 462 square miles. This makes Uruguay the 104th largest state in the world.

The climate of Uruguay is a subtropical climate with little to no variation throughout its territory. It has warm and humid summers and mild and rainy winters. The average temperature is 17.6 degrees Celsius or 64 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes Uruguay the 123rd warmest state in the world.

The average high temperature is 22.2 degrees Celsius or 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

The average low temperature is 11.7 degrees Celsius or 53.1 degrees Fahrenheit.

Rain is fairly evenly spread out throughout Uruguay with its northern part receiving the slightly more than its southern part. On average, Uruguay receives 113.4 centimetres or 44.6 inches of rainfall per year which ranks it as the 81st highest in the world.

The capital of Uruguay, Montevideo, is home to roughly 1.5 million people. The closest capital is Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a distance of 213 kilometers or 132 miles. The capital that is the furthest removed is Seoul, South Korea, with a distance of 19.629 kilometers or 12.197 miles.

The economy of Uruguay is a free-market economy which is largely oriented towards the export of agricultural products. After a financial struggle at the end of the 20th century, the economy of Uruguay grew rapidly throughout the first two decades of the 21st century which makes it the second wealthiest state in south America compared to its size. Most of its exported goods are corn, soybeans and dairy which is mainly exported to China and Brazil which combined represent nearly 45 percent of all exports. Most of its imports come from Argentina, Brazil and China which combined represent nearly 50 percent of all imports.

Uruguay is a member of 9 international economic organizations. This makes it the 173rd most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
International Monetary Fund
World Bank Group
World Customs Organization
World Trade Organization
Mercosur
International Renewable Energy Agency
Group of 77
Advisory Centre on World Trade Organization Law

It has a GDP of US$55.596 million, which makes it the 84th highest in the world and represents 0.066 percent of total global GDP.

Its GDP per surface area is the 113th highest in the world with US$313.930 per square kilometer or US$813.074 per square mile.

Its GDP per capita is the 51st highest in the world with US$15.931.

The absolute earnings (GDP per capita) reflect the average yearly income. The figure below shows how much, on average, an inhabitant of another state earns for every $1 earned by a citizen of this state.

Its purchasing power parity per capita is the 65th highest in the world with US$22.084.

The relative Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity compares the purchasing power of this state with that of the rest of the world. The graph on the left shows how much purchasing power of 1$ compared to the purchasing power of other states

With a total population of 3.5 million people, it is the 133rd most populous state in the world. Despite originally being inhabited by native tribes, its current population mostly consists of descendants from southern Europe.

It has the 164th highest population density in the world with 20 people per square kilometer or 51 people per square mile.

10.2 percent of the population, or just over 350,000 people, have migrated to other states. This makes Uruguay the 120th state with the highest number of emigrants and represents 0.14 percent of total global emigration. The main reason for migration has been due to political oppression throughout the 20th century which forced many Uruguayans to go into exile.

Immigration to Uruguay is represented by 2.16 percent of the population, or just over 75,000 people. This makes it the 106th state with the highest number of immigrants and represents 0.03 percent of total global immigration. The main supplier of migrants has been Argentina and mainly comes in the form of remigration.

The literacy rate in Uruguay is 98.2 percent which is the 55th highest in the world. Its education is free and compulsory between the ages of six and 14. This is the highest literacy rate in southern America. Despite making education free and compulsory, there is a discrepancy between the urban areas and rural areas where the literacy rate is significantly lower.

The health care system of Uruguay is highly developed and is among the best in south America. Its healthcare system is centralized with a single institution being responsible for financing health care for the majority of the population. The average life expectancy is 78.5 years which is the 56th highest in the world. Women have an average life expectancy of 81.9 years, while men have an average life expectancy of 74.8 years.

The government of Uruguay provides freedom of religion for all religions.

Christianity is the largest religion in Uruguay and is represented by 48.3 percent of the population. This makes Uruguay the 120th most Christian state in the world. The largest denomination is Catholicism.

On the right, the global share of Christians per state is displayed

Less than 0.01 percent of the population adheres to Islam. In total, Uruguay has three Islamic centers where Muslims are able to pray.

Buddhism is represented by 0.07 percent of the population. The largest denomination is the Vajrayana denomination.

Buddhism is represented by 0.03 percent of the population and is largely represented by a small Indian community that lives in the capital.

Judaism is represented by 0.36 percent of the population.

Other religions are represented by 0.73 percent of the population and are adherents to indigenous beliefs as well as the Baha'i faith.

Irreligion is the second largest group in Uruguay and is represented by 27.26 percent of the population.