Uruguay

{{Main|History of Uruguay}}

File:Los últimos Charrúas. Senaca, Vaimaca-Piru, Guyunusa y Tacuabe.JPG, the indigenous people of Uruguay]]

Human presence in the region now known as Uruguay dates back approximately 13,000 years, with evidence of hunter-gatherer communities.{{Cite web |last=Jean-Louis |first=Lawrence |date=2025-05-07 |title=Countries: Uruguay |url=https://lawrencejeanlouis.medium.com/countries-uruguay-57bf9e209555 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Medium |language=en}} It is estimated that at the time of the first contact with Europeans in the 16th century, there were about 9,000 Charrúa and 6,000 Chaná and some Guaraní island settlements.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/uruguay00jerm |url-access=registration |quote=uruguay by leslie jermyn. |title=Uruguay |first=Leslie |last=Jermyn |date=1 October 1998 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |isbn=9780761408734 |via=Internet Archive}}

There is an extensive archeological collection of man-made tumuli known as "Cerritos de Indios" in the eastern part of the country, some of them dating back to 5,000 years ago. Very little is known about the people who built them as they left no written record, but evidence has been found in place of indigenous agriculture and of extinct indigenous woolly dogs.{{cite journal |last=López Mazz |first=José M. |date=2001 |title=Las estructuras tumulares (cerritos) del litoral atlantico uruguayo |trans-title=The mound structures (cerritos) of the Uruguayan Atlantic coast |url=https://www.mna.gub.uy/innovaportal/file/20809/1/lopez_mazz_j._m._2001._las_estructuras_tumulares_cerritos_del_litoral_atlantico_uruguayo..pdf |url-status=live |journal=Latin American Antiquity |language=Spanish |volume=12 |pages=231–255 |doi=10.2307/971631 |issn=1045-6635 |jstor=971631 |s2cid=163375789 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517194512/https://www.mna.gub.uy/innovaportal/file/20809/1/lopez_mazz_j._m._2001._las_estructuras_tumulares_cerritos_del_litoral_atlantico_uruguayo..pdf |archive-date=17 May 2021 |access-date=17 May 2021 |number=3}}{{Cite web |title=Mutton, 1859 |url=https://www.pagosasun.com/premium/theconversation/stories/mutton-an-indigenous-woolly-dog-died-in-1859-new-analysis-confirms-precolonial-lineage-of%2C79538}}{{Cite web |title=Extinct Woolly Dog Analyzed in Collaborative Study {{!}} AMNH |url=https://www.amnh.org/explore/news-blogs/extinct-woolly-dog |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250419060626/https://www.amnh.org/explore/news-blogs/extinct-woolly-dog |archive-date=2025-04-19 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=American Museum of Natural History |language=en-US}}

File:PortugueseMuseum-Colonia4 (cropped).jpg established Colonia do Sacramento in 1680.]]

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to enter the region of present-day Uruguay in 1512.{{cite book|author=Oskar Hermann Khristian Spate|title=The Spanish Lake|publisher=Canberra: ANU E Press, 2004|page=37|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JH9SIogNd3sC&q=San+Matias|isbn=9781920942168|date=1 November 2004|access-date=30 September 2020|archive-date=11 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211030451/https://books.google.com/books?id=JH9SIogNd3sC&q=San+Matias|url-status=live}}{{cite book |last = Bethell |first = Leslie |title = The Cambridge History of Latin America, Volume 1, Colonial Latin America |publisher = Cambridge University Press |year = 1984 |location = Cambridge |page = 257 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_w0kAPYQ5xMC&q=1511 |isbn = 9780521232234 |access-date = 7 October 2020 |archive-date = 11 December 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201211002802/https://books.google.com/books?id=_w0kAPYQ5xMC&q=1511 |url-status = live }} The Spanish arrived in present-day Uruguay in 1515 but were the first to set foot in the area, claiming it for the crown.{{cite web|author=Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs|title=Background Note: Uruguay|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2091.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122194621/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2091.htm|archive-date=22 January 2017|access-date=23 February 2011|publisher=US Department of State}} The indigenous peoples' fierce resistance to conquest, combined with the absence of valuable resources, limited European settlement in the region during the 16th and 17th centuries. Uruguay then became a zone of contention between the Spanish and Portuguese empires. In 1603, the Spanish began introducing cattle, which became a source of regional wealth. The first permanent Spanish settlement was founded in 1624 at Soriano on the Río Negro. In 1680, the Portuguese built a fort at Colonia del Sacramento.The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Colonia del Sacramento". Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Mar. 2006, https://www.britannica.com/place/Colonia-del-Sacramento. Accessed 21 May 2025

Montevideo, the current capital of Uruguay, was founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold.{{Cite web |title=Uruguay - The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/archives/2023/countries/uruguay/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=www.cia.gov}} Its natural harbor soon developed into a commercial area competing with Río de la Plata's capital, Buenos Aires. Uruguay's early 19th-century history was shaped by ongoing fights for dominance in the Platine region between British, Spanish, Portuguese, and other colonial forces. In 1806 and 1807, the British army attempted to seize Buenos Aires and Montevideo as part of the Napoleonic Wars.{{Cite web |title=The British Invasion of the River Plate 1806-1807 - Casemate Publishers US |url=https://www.casematepublishers.com/9781781590669/the-british-invasion-of-the-river-plate-1806-1807/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Casemate Publishers |language=en-US}} Montevideo was occupied by British forces from February to September 1807.

{{Further|Banda Oriental|Liga Federal|Cisplatina}}

File:Juan Manuel Blanes - El Juramento de los Treinta y Tres Orientales.jpg in 1825 prior to the beginning of the Cisplatine War, in which Uruguay gained independence from the Empire of Brazil]]

In 1811, José Gervasio Artigas, who became Uruguay's national hero, launched a successful revolt against the Spanish authorities, defeating them on 18 May at the Battle of Las Piedras. In 1813, the new government in Buenos Aires convened a constituent assembly where Artigas emerged as a champion of federalism, demanding political and economic autonomy for each area and the Banda Oriental in particular. The assembly refused to seat the delegates from the Banda Oriental; however, Buenos Aires pursued a system based on unitary centralism.{{csref |country=uruguay|section=The Struggle for Independence 1811–30|last1=Jacob |first1=Raúl |last2=Weinstein |first2=Martin |pd=no}} pp. [https://countrystudies.us/uruguay/7.htm 8]–[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31822015230782&seq=48 11]

As a result, Artigas broke with Buenos Aires and besieged Montevideo, taking the city in early 1815. Once the troops from Buenos Aires had withdrawn, the Banda Oriental appointed its first autonomous government. Artigas organized the Federal League under his protection, consisting of six provinces, five of which later became part of Argentina.

In 1816, 10,000 Portuguese troops invaded the Banda Oriental from Brazil; they took Montevideo in January 1817. After nearly four more years of struggle, the Portuguese Kingdom of Brazil annexed the Banda Oriental as a province under the name of "Cisplatina". The Brazilian Empire became independent of Portugal in 1822. In response to the annexation, the Thirty-Three Orientals, led by Juan Antonio Lavalleja, declared independence on 25 August 1825, supported by the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata (present-day Argentina). This led to the 500-day-long Cisplatine War. Neither side gained the upper hand, and in 1828, the Treaty of Montevideo, fostered by the United Kingdom through the diplomatic efforts of Viscount John Ponsonby, gave birth to Uruguay as an independent state. 25 August is celebrated as Independence Day, a national holiday.{{Cite news |url=https://www.elobservador.com.uy/google-homenajea-uruguay-el-dia-la-independencia-n231109 |title=Google homenajea a Uruguay |date=25 August 2012 |work=El Observador |access-date=23 August 2018 |language=es-uy |archive-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823210735/https://www.elobservador.com.uy/google-homenajea-uruguay-el-dia-la-independencia-n231109 |url-status=live }} The nation's first constitution was adopted on 18 July 1830.

{{see also|Uruguayan Civil War|Uruguayan War}}

At the time of independence, Uruguay had an estimated population of just under 75,000. The political scene in Uruguay became split between two parties: the conservative Blancos (Whites), headed by the second President Manuel Oribe, representing the agricultural interests of the countryside, and the liberal Colorados (Reds), led by the first President Fructuoso Rivera, representing the business interests of Montevideo. The Uruguayan parties received support from warring political factions in neighboring Argentina, which became involved in Uruguayan affairs.

The Colorados favored the exiled Argentine liberal Unitarios, many of whom had taken refuge in Montevideo, while the Blanco president Manuel Oribe was a close friend of the Argentine ruler Manuel de Rosas. On 15 June 1838, an army led by the Colorado leader Rivera overthrew President Oribe, who fled to Argentina. Rivera declared war on Rosas in 1839. The conflict would last 13 years and become known as the Guerra Grande (the Great War).{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/5.htm |title=BEGINNINGS OF INDEPENDENT LIFE, 1830–52 – Uruguay |publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies |access-date=2011-02-23 |archive-date=2011-04-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430025513/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/5.htm |url-status=live}} In 1843, an Argentine army overran Uruguay on Oribe's behalf but failed to take the capital. The siege of Montevideo, began in February 1843 and lasted nine years. The besieged Uruguayans called on resident foreigners for help, which led to a French and an Italian legion being formed, the latter led by the exiled Giuseppe Garibaldi.{{csref |country=uruguay |section=The Great War, 1843–52 |last1=Jacob |first1=Raúl |last2=Weinstein |first2=Martin |pd=no}} pp. [http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/6.htm 13–14] {{webarchive |date=30 April 2011 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430025441/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/6.htm}}

File:Caseros.jpg at the Battle of Caseros resulted in the overthrow of Juan Manuel de Rosas.]]

In 1845, Britain and France intervened against Rosas to restore commerce to normal levels in the region. Their efforts proved ineffective, and by 1849, tired of the war, both withdrew after signing a treaty favorable to Rosas. It appeared that Montevideo would finally fall when an uprising against Rosas, led by Justo José de Urquiza, governor of Argentina's Entre Ríos Province, began. The Brazilian intervention in May 1851 on behalf of the Colorados, combined with the uprising, changed the situation, and Oribe was defeated. The siege of Montevideo was lifted, and the Guerra Grande finally came to an end. Montevideo rewarded Brazil's support by signing treaties that confirmed Brazil's right to intervene in Uruguay's internal affairs.

In accordance with the 1851 treaties, Brazil intervened militarily in Uruguay as often as it deemed necessary. In 1865, the Triple Alliance was formed by the emperor of Brazil, the president of Argentina, and the Colorado general Venancio Flores, the Uruguayan head of government whom they both had helped to gain power. The Triple Alliance declared war on the Paraguayan leader Francisco Solano López. The resulting Paraguayan War ended with the invasion of Paraguay and its defeat by the armies of the three countries. Montevideo was used as a supply station by the Brazilian navy, and it experienced a period of prosperity and relative calm during the war.{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/7.htm |title=THE STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL, 1852–75 – Uruguay |publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-date=30 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430025431/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/7.htm |url-status=live}}

File:Tuyuti1.jpg in 1866, during the War of the Triple Alliance]]

The first railway line was assembled in Uruguay in 1867, and a branch consisting of a horse-drawn train was opened. The present-day State Railways Administration of Uruguay maintains 2,900 km of extendable railway network.{{Cite web |title=Uruguay-Railway |url=https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/uruguay-railway |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=www.trade.gov |date=27 February 2020 |language=en |archive-date=23 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223032347/https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/uruguay-railway |url-status=live }}

The constitutional government of General Lorenzo Batlle y Grau (1868–72) suppressed the Revolution of the Lances by the Blancos. After two years of struggle, a peace agreement was signed in 1872 that gave the Blancos a share in the emoluments and functions of government through control of four of the departments of Uruguay.{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/9.htm|title=Caudillos and Political Stability – Uruguay|publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=30 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430025503/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/9.htm|url-status=live}} This establishment of the policy of co-participation represented the search for a new formula of compromise based on the coexistence of the party in power and the opposition party. Despite this agreement, the Colorado rule was threatened by the failed Tricolor Revolution in 1875 and the Revolution of the Quebracho in 1886.

The Colorado effort to reduce Blancos to only three departments caused a Blanco uprising of 1897, which ended with creating 16 departments, of which the Blancos now had control over six. Blancos were given ⅓ seats in Congress.{{cite book |last=Lewis |first=Paul H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LAvw-YXm4TsC&q=co-participation+uruguay&pg=PA85 |title=Authoritarian Regimes in Latin America: Dictators, Despots, and Tyrants |date=1 January 2006 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=9780742537392 |via=Google Books}} This division of power lasted until President Jose Batlle y Ordonez instituted his political reforms, which caused the last uprising by Blancos in 1904 that ended with the Battle of Masoller and the death of Blanco leader Aparicio Saravia.

Between 1875 and 1890, the military became the center of power. During this authoritarian period, the government took steps toward the organization of the country as a modern state, encouraging its economic and social transformation. Pressure groups (consisting mainly of businessmen, hacendados, and industrialists) were organized and had a strong influence on the government. A transition period (1886–90) followed, during which politicians began recovering lost ground, and some civilian participation in government occurred.{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/10.htm|title=MODERN URUGUAY, 1875–1903 – Uruguay|publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=30 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430025448/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/10.htm|url-status=live}} After the Guerra Grande, there was a sharp rise in the number of immigrants, primarily from Italy and Spain. By 1879, the total population of the country was over 438,500. The economy reflected a steep upswing (if demonstrated graphically, above all other related economic determinants) in livestock raising and exports. Montevideo became a major financial center of the region and an entrepôt for goods from Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/8.htm|title=Evolution of the Economy and Society – Uruguay|publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=30 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430025434/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/8.htm|url-status=live}}

File:Palaciosalvouruguay.jpg, built in Montevideo from 1925 to 1928, was once the tallest building in Latin America.]]

The Colorado leader José Batlle y Ordóñez was elected president in 1903.{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/12.htm|title=THE NEW COUNTRY, 1903–33 – Uruguay|publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=30 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430025506/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/12.htm|url-status=live}} The following year, the Blancos led a rural revolt, and eight bloody months of fighting ensued before their leader, Aparicio Saravia, was killed in battle. Government forces emerged victorious, leading to the end of the co-participation politics that had begun in 1872. Batlle had two terms (1903–07 and 1911–15) during which he instituted major reforms, such as a welfare program, government participation in the economy, and a plural executive.

Gabriel Terra became president in March 1931. His inauguration coincided with the effects of the Great Depression, and the social climate became tense as a result of the lack of jobs. There were confrontations in which police and leftists died. In 1933, Terra organized a coup d'état, dissolving the General Assembly and governing by decree. A new constitution was promulgated in 1934, transferring powers to the president. In general, the Terra government weakened or neutralized economic nationalism and social reform.{{csref|country=uruguay|section=The Conservative Adjustment, 1931–43|last1=Jacob |first1=Raúl |last2=Weinstein |first2=Martin |pd=no}} pp. [http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/14.htm 27–33] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429204151/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/14.htm|date=29 April 2011}}

In 1938, general elections were held, and Terra's brother-in-law, General Alfredo Baldomir, was elected president. Under pressure from organized labor and the National Party, Baldomir advocated free elections, freedom of the press, and a new constitution. Although Baldomir declared Uruguay neutral in 1939, British warships and the German ship {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Graf Spee||2}} fought a battle not far off Uruguay's coast. The Admiral Graf Spee took refuge in Montevideo, claiming sanctuary in a neutral port, but was later ordered out.{{csref|country=uruguay|section=Baldomir and the End of Dictatorship|last1=Jacob |first1=Raúl |last2=Weinstein |first2=Martin |pd=no}} pp. [http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/15.htm 31–33] {{webarchive|date=30 April 2011 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430025438/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/15.htm}}

File:Admiral Graf Spee Flames.jpg is the most known event occurring in Uruguay during World War II.]]

In 1945, Uruguay formally signed the Declaration by the United Nations and entered World War II, leading the country to declare war on Germany and Japan. Following the end of the war, it became a founding member of the United Nations.

An armed group of Marxist–Leninist urban guerrillas, known as the Tupamaros, emerged in the 1960s, engaging in activities such as bank robbery, kidnapping, and assassination, in addition to attempting an overthrow of the government.{{Cite news |date=11 August 1970 |title=Kidnapped U.S. Official Found Slain in Uruguay |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/08/11/archives/kidnapped-us-official-found-slain-in-uruguay-body-of-abducted-us.html |access-date=19 October 2024 |work=The New York Times |page=1}}{{Cite web |last=Schrader |first=Stuart |date=10 August 2020 |title=From Police Reform to Police Repression: 50 Years after an Assassination |url=https://nacla.org/uruguay-police-killing-anniversary |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=NACLA |language=en}}

File:Museo de la Memoria - 2022 03.jpg]]

President Jorge Pacheco declared a state of emergency in 1968, followed by a further suspension of civil liberties in 1972. In 1973, amid increasing economic and political turmoil, the armed forces, asked by President Juan María Bordaberry, disbanded Parliament and established a civilian-military regime. The CIA-backed campaign of political repression and state terror involving intelligence operations and assassination of opponents was called Operation Condor.{{cite web |last1=Dinges |first1=John |title=Operation Condor |url=http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/chile/operation-condor.htm |website=latinamericanstudies.org |publisher=Columbia University |access-date=6 July 2018 |archive-date=22 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722031734/http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/chile/operation-condor.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Marcetic |first1=Branco |title=The CIA's Secret Global War Against the Left |url=https://jacobin.com/2020/11/operation-condor-cia-latin-america-repression-torture |access-date=22 June 2023 |publisher=Jacobin |date=30 November 2020 |archive-date=22 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622185604/https://jacobin.com/2020/11/operation-condor-cia-latin-america-repression-torture |url-status=live }}

According to one source, around 180 Uruguayans are known to have been killed and disappeared, with thousands more illegally detained and tortured during the 12-year civil-military rule from 1973 to 1985.{{cite news|title=New find in Uruguay 'missing' dig|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4494286.stm|work=BBC News|access-date=4 February 2011|date=3 December 2005|archive-date=11 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511151500/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4494286.stm|url-status=live}} Most were killed in Argentina and other neighboring countries, with 36 of them having been killed in Uruguay.{{cite news|title=Uruguay dig finds 'disappeared'.|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4485288.stm|work=BBC News|access-date=4 February 2011|date=30 November 2005|archive-date=4 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504081010/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4485288.stm|url-status=live}} According to Edy Kaufman (cited by David Altman{{Cite book|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288427223|title=Direct Democracy Worldwide|last=Altman|first=David|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2010|isbn=978-1107427099}}), Uruguay at the time had the highest per capita number of political prisoners in the world. "Kaufman, who spoke at the U.S. Congressional Hearings of 1976 on behalf of Amnesty International, estimated that one in every five Uruguayans went into exile, one in fifty were detained, and one in five hundred went to prison (most of them tortured)." Social spending was reduced, and many state-owned companies were privatized. However, the economy did not improve and deteriorated after 1980; the gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 20%, and unemployment rose to 17%. The state intervened by trying to bail out failing companies and banks.{{cite book |last1=Jacob |first1=Raúl |last2=Weinstein |first2=Martin |editor1=Rex A. Hudson |editor2=Sandra W. Meditz |title=Uruguay: A country study |pages=44–46 |date=1992 |publisher=Federal Research Division, Library of Congress |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31822015230782&seq=84 |isbn=978-0-8444-0737-1 |edition=2nd |chapter=The military Government 1973–80: The Military's Economic Record}}{{rp|45}}

File:Batlle1.jpg with former U.S. president George H. W. Bush in 2003]]

A new constitution, drafted by the military, was rejected in a November 1980 referendum. Following the referendum, the armed forces announced a plan for the return to civilian rule, and national elections were held in 1984. Colorado Party leader Julio María Sanguinetti won the presidency and served from 1985 to 1990. The first Sanguinetti administration implemented economic reforms and consolidated democracy following the country's years under military rule. The National Party's Luis Alberto Lacalle won the 1989 presidential election, and a referendum endorsed amnesty for human rights abusers. Sanguinetti was then reelected in 1994.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1229362.stm|title=Uruguay timeline|work=BBC News|access-date=27 April 2011|date=12 April 2011|archive-date=27 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527054941/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1229362.stm|url-status=live}} Both presidents continued the economic structural reforms initiated after the reinstatement of democracy.{{Cite journal |last=Gillespie |first=Charles G. |date=1987 |title=From Authoritarian Crises to Democratic Transitions |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0023879100037092 |journal=Latin American Research Review |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=165–184 |doi=10.1017/s0023879100037092 |issn=0023-8791}}

The 1999 national elections were held under a new electoral system established by a 1996 constitutional amendment.{{Cite web |title=Uruguay (04/02) |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/uruguay/20690.htm |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=U.S. Department of State |at=History}} Colorado Party candidate Jorge Batlle, aided by the support of the National Party, defeated Broad Front candidate Tabaré Vázquez. The formal coalition ended in November 2002, when the Blancos withdrew their ministers from the cabinet, although the Blancos continued to support the Colorados on most issues. Low commodity prices and economic difficulties in Uruguay's main export markets (starting in Brazil with the devaluation of the real, then in Argentina in 2002) caused a severe recession; the economy contracted by 11%, unemployment climbed to 21%, and the percentage of Uruguayans in poverty rose to over 30%.{{cite web |last=Meyer |first=Peter J. |date=4 January 2010 |title=Uruguay: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations |url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40909.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208201408/http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40909.pdf |archive-date=8 February 2010 |access-date=24 February 2011 |publisher=Congressional Research Service}}

In 2004, Uruguayans elected Tabaré Vázquez as president while giving the Broad Front a majority in both houses of Parliament.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/01/world/americas/uruguays-left-makes-history-by-winning-presidential-vote.html|title=Uruguay's Left Makes History by Winning Presidential Vote|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 2004|last1=Rohter|first1=Larry|access-date=2 April 2021|archive-date=23 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323130246/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/01/world/americas/uruguays-left-makes-history-by-winning-presidential-vote.html|url-status=live}} Vázquez stuck to economic orthodoxy. As commodity prices soared and the economy recovered from the recession, he tripled foreign investment, cut poverty and unemployment, cut public debt from 79% of GDP to 60%, and kept inflation steady.{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/14700728|title=The mystery behind Mujica's mask|date=22 October 2009|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=24 February 2011|archive-date=3 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203013432/http://www.economist.com/node/14700728|url-status=live}} In 2009, José Mujica, a former left-wing guerrilla leader (Tupamaros) who spent almost 15 years in prison during the country's military rule, emerged as the new president as the Broad Front won the election for a second time.{{Cite news |last1=Barrionuevo |first1=Alexei |date=29 November 2009 |title=Leftist Wins Uruguay Presidential Vote |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/world/americas/30uruguay.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414133233/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/world/americas/30uruguay.html |archive-date=14 April 2021 |access-date=2 April 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times}}{{cite news |last=Piette |first=Candace |date=30 November 2009 |title=Uruguay elects José Mujica as president, polls show |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8385092.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208000831/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8385092.stm |archive-date=8 February 2011 |access-date=24 February 2011 |work=BBC News}} Abortion was legalized in 2012,{{Cite news |date=17 October 2012 |title=Uruguay legalises abortion |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-19986107 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513024044/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-19986107 |archive-date=13 May 2017 |access-date=2 April 2021 |work=BBC News}} followed by same-sex marriage{{Cite news |date=5 August 2013 |title=Same-sex marriage bill comes into force in Uruguay |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-23571197 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408183713/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-23571197 |archive-date=8 April 2021 |access-date=2 April 2021 |work=BBC News}} and cannabis in the following year,{{Cite news |date=3 April 2019 |title=Uruguay: The world's marijuana pioneer |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47785648 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401152212/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47785648 |archive-date=1 April 2021 |access-date=2 April 2021 |work=BBC News}} making Uruguay the first country in the modern era to legalize cannabis.

File:Actividades conmemorativas de las Instrucciones Año XIII 22.jpg in Montevideo]]

In 2014, Tabaré Vázquez was elected to a non-consecutive second presidential term, which began on 1 March 2015.{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-30268862|title = Tabare Vazquez wins Uruguay's run-off election|work = BBC News|date = December 2014|access-date = 2 April 2021|archive-date = 14 April 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210414080118/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-30268862|url-status = live}} In 2020, after 15 years of left-wing rule, he was succeeded by Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou, a member of the conservative National Party, as the 42nd President of Uruguay.{{cite web|url = https://www.france24.com/en/20200301-uruguay-s-new-center-right-president-sworn-in|title = Uruguay's new center-right president sworn in|date = March 2020|access-date = 2 April 2021|archive-date = 14 April 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210414044459/https://www.france24.com/en/20200301-uruguay-s-new-center-right-president-sworn-in|url-status = live}} On 1 March 2025, Yamandu Orsi took office as Uruguay's new president, meaning the left-wing coalition, the Broad Front, returned to power after a five-year interruption.{{cite news |title=Uruguay's new leftist president takes office |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/uruguay-s-new-leftist-president-takes-office/7994077.html |work=Voice of America |date=2 March 2025 |language=en}}

{{Main|Geography of Uruguay}}

{{See also|Geology of Uruguay}}

File:Uruguay fisico.png

With {{convert|176214|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} of continental land and {{convert|142199|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} of jurisdictional water and small river islands,{{cite web|language=es |publisher=National Institute of Statistics |title=Uruguay in Numbers |url=http://www.ine.gub.uy/biblioteca/uruguayencifras2006/Territorio%20y%20medio%20ambiente.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113231013/http://www.ine.gub.uy/biblioteca/uruguayencifras2006/Territorio%20y%20medio%20ambiente.pdf |archive-date=13 November 2013}} Uruguay is the second smallest sovereign nation in South America (after Suriname) and the third smallest territory (French Guiana is the smallest).{{cite web |author=Central Intelligence Agency |title=Uruguay |work=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |location=Langley, Virginia |year=2016 |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/uruguay/ |access-date=1 January 2017}} The landscape features mostly rolling plains and low hill ranges (cuchillas) with a fertile coastal lowland. Uruguay has {{convert|660|km|mi|0|sp=us|abbr=on}} of coastline. The highest point in the country is the Cerro Catedral, whose peak reaches {{convert|514|m|ft|0|sp=us|abbr=on}} AMSL in the Sierra Carapé hill range. To the southwest is the Río de la Plata, the estuary of the Uruguay River (the river which forms the country's western border).

A dense fluvial network covers the country, consisting of four river basins, or deltas: the Río de la Plata Basin, the Uruguay River, the Laguna Merín, and the Río Negro. The major internal river is the Río Negro ("Black River"), dammed in 1945, resulting in the formation of the artificial Rincón del Bonete Lake in the heart of Uruguay. Several lagoons are found along the Atlantic coast.

Montevideo is the southernmost national capital in the Americas and the third most southerly in the world (after Canberra and Wellington). Uruguay is the only country in South America situated entirely south of the Tropic of Capricorn, and is the southernmost sovereign state in the world when ordered by northernmost point of latitude. There are ten national parks in Uruguay: Five in the wetland areas of the east, three in the central hill country, and one in the west along the Rio Uruguay. Uruguay is home to the Uruguayan savanna terrestrial ecoregion.{{cite journal |last1=Dinerstein |first1=Eric |last2=Olson |first2=David |last3=Joshi |first3=Anup |last4=Vynne |first4=Carly |last5=Burgess |first5=Neil D. |last6=Wikramanayake |first6=Eric |last7=Hahn |first7=Nathan |last8=Palminteri |first8=Suzanne |last9=Hedao |first9=Prashant |last10=Noss |first10=Reed |last11=Hansen |first11=Matt |last12=Locke |first12=Harvey |last13=Ellis |first13=Erle C |last14=Jones |first14=Benjamin |last15=Barber |first15=Charles Victor |display-authors=1 |year=2017 |title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm |journal=BioScience |volume=67 |issue=6 |pages=534–545 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014 |issn=0006-3568 |pmc=5451287 |pmid=28608869 |doi-access=free |last16=Hayes |first16=Randy |last17=Kormos |first17=Cyril |last18=Martin |first18=Vance |last19=Crist |first19=Eileen |last20=Sechrest |first20=Wes |last21=Price |first21=Lori |last22=Baillie |first22=Jonathan E. M. |last23=Weeden |first23=Don |last24=Suckling |first24=Kierán |last25=Davis |first25=Crystal |last26=Sizer |first26=Nigel |last27=Moore |first27=Rebecca |last28=Thau |first28=David |last29=Birch |first29=Tanya |last30=Potapov |first30=Peter |last31=Turubanova |first31=Svetlana |last32=Tyukavina |first32=Alexandra |last33=de Souza |first33=Nadia |last34=Pintea |first34=Lilian |last35=Brito |first35=José C. |last36=Llewellyn |first36=Othman A. |last37=Miller |first37=Anthony G. |last38=Patzelt |first38=Annette |last39=Ghazanfar |first39=Shahina A. |last40=Timberlake |first40=Jonathan |last41=Klöser |first41=Heinz |last42=Shennan-Farpón |first42=Yara |last43=Kindt |first43=Roeland |last44=Lillesø |first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow |last45=van Breugel |first45=Paulo |last46=Graudal |first46=Lars |last47=Voge |first47=Maianna |last48=Al-Shammari |first48=Khalaf F. |last49=Saleem |first49=Muhammad}} The country had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 3.61/10, ranking it 147th globally out of 172 countries.{{cite journal |last1=Grantham |first1=H. S. |last2=Duncan |first2=A. |last3=Evans |first3=T. D. |last4=Jones |first4=K. R. |last5=Beyer |first5=H. L. |last6=Schuster |first6=R. |last7=Walston |first7=J. |last8=Ray |first8=J. C. |last9=Robinson |first9=J. G. |last10=Callow |first10=M. |last11=Clements |first11=T. |last12=Costa |first12=H. M. |last13=DeGemmis |first13=A. |last14=Elsen |first14=P. R. |last15=Ervin |first15=J. |display-authors=1 |year=2020 |title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material |journal=Nature Communications |volume=11 |issue=1 |page=5978 |bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G |doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3 |issn=2041-1723 |pmc=7723057 |pmid=33293507 |doi-access=free |last16=Franco |first16=P. |last17=Goldman |first17=E. |last18=Goetz |first18=S. |last19=Hansen |first19=A. |last20=Hofsvang |first20=E. |last21=Jantz |first21=P. |last22=Jupiter |first22=S. |last23=Kang |first23=A. |last24=Langhammer |first24=P. |last25=Laurance |first25=W. F. |last26=Lieberman |first26=S. |last27=Linkie |first27=M. |last28=Malhi |first28=Y. |last29=Maxwell |first29=S. |last30=Mendez |first30=M. |last31=Mittermeier |first31=R. |last32=Murray |first32=N. J. |last33=Possingham |first33=H. |last34=Radachowsky |first34=J. |last35=Saatchi |first35=S. |last36=Samper |first36=C. |last37=Silverman |first37=J. |last38=Shapiro |first38=A. |last39=Strassburg |first39=B. |last40=Stevens |first40=T. |last41=Stokes |first41=E. |last42=Taylor |first42=R. |last43=Tear |first43=T. |last44=Tizard |first44=R. |last45=Venter |first45=O. |last46=Visconti |first46=P. |last47=Wang |first47=S. |last48=Watson |first48=J. E. M.}}

{{Main|Climate of Uruguay}}

File:Koppen-Geiger Map URY present.svg

Located entirely within the southern temperate zone, Uruguay has a climate that is relatively mild and fairly uniform nationwide. According to the Köppen climate classification, most of the country has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Only in some spots of the Atlantic Coast and at the summit of the highest hills of the Cuchilla Grande the climate is oceanic (Cfb).

The country experiences four seasons, with summer from December to March and winter from June to September. Seasonal variations are pronounced, but extremes in temperature are rare. Summers are tempered by winds off the Atlantic, and severe cold in winter is unknown.{{EB1911|wstitle=Uruguay}} Although it never gets too cold, frosts occur every year during the winter months, and precipitation such as sleet and hail occur almost every winter, but snow is very rare; it does occur every couple of years at higher elevations, but almost always without accumulation. As would be expected with its abundance of water, high humidity, and fog are common.{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/27.htm|title=Climate – Uruguay|publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=30 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430025510/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/27.htm|url-status=live}}

The absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, makes all locations vulnerable to high winds and rapid changes in weather as fronts or storms sweep across the country. These storms can be strong; they can bring squalls, hail, and sometimes even tornadoes.{{Cite web |last=Quinones |first=Nelson |date=16 April 2016 |title=Tornado kills 4, injures hundreds in Uruguay |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/04/16/americas/uruguay-tornado/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014112935/https://www.cnn.com/2016/04/16/americas/uruguay-tornado/index.html |archive-date=14 October 2023 |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=CNN |language=en}} The country experiences extratropical cyclones but no tropical cyclones, due to the fact that the South Atlantic Ocean is rarely warm enough for their development. Both summer and winter weather may vary from day to day with the passing of storm fronts, where a hot northerly wind may occasionally be followed by a cold wind (pampero) from the Argentine Pampas.

Even though both temperature and precipitation are quite uniform nationwide, there are considerable differences across the territory. The average annual temperature of the country is {{convert|17.5|C|F}}, ranging from {{convert|16|C|F}} in the southeast to {{convert|19|C|F}} in the northwest.{{Cite web |title=Características climáticas {{!}} Inumet |trans-title=Climatic Characteristics {{!}} Inumet |url=https://www.inumet.gub.uy/clima/estadisticas-climatologicas/caracteristicas-climaticas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108135502/https://www.inumet.gub.uy/clima/estadisticas-climatologicas/caracteristicas-climaticas |archive-date=8 November 2022 |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=www.inumet.gub.uy}} Winter temperatures range from a daily average of {{convert|11|C|F}} in the south to {{convert|14|C|F}} in the north, while summer average daily temperatures range from {{convert|21|C|F}} in the southeast to {{convert|25|C|F}} in the northwest.{{Cite web |title=Climatología estacional {{!}} Inumet |url=https://www.inumet.gub.uy/clima/climatologia-estacional |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=www.inumet.gub.uy |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108135504/https://www.inumet.gub.uy/clima/climatologia-estacional |url-status=live }} The southeast is considerably cooler than the rest of the country, especially during spring, when the ocean with cold water after the winter cools down the temperature of the air and brings more humidity to that region. However, the south of the country receives less precipitation than the north. For example, Montevideo receives approximately {{convert|1100|mm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} of precipitation per year, while the city of Rivera in the northeast receives {{convert|1600|mm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}}. The heaviest precipitation occurs during the autumn months, although more frequent rainy spells occur in winter. But periods of drought or excessive rain can occur anytime during the year.

National extreme temperatures at sea level are, {{convert|44|C|F}} in Paysandú city (20 January 1943) and Florida city (14 January 2022),{{Cite web |date=2022-01-14 |title=Ola de calor: Florida registró un récord histórico de temperatura |trans-title=Heat wave: Florida recorded a historic temperature record |url=https://ladiaria.com.uy/politica/articulo/2022/1/ola-de-calor-florida-registro-un-record-historico-de-temperatura/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114235000/https://ladiaria.com.uy/politica/articulo/2022/1/ola-de-calor-florida-registro-un-record-historico-de-temperatura/ |archive-date=14 January 2022 |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=la diaria |language=es-UY}} and {{convert|−11.0|C|F}} in Melo city (14 June 1967).[http://www.rau.edu.uy/uruguay/geografia/records.txt RECORDS METEOROLOGICOS EN EL URUGUAY — Boletín Meteorológico Mensual – Dirección Nacional de Meteorología] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609015041/http://www.rau.edu.uy/uruguay/geografia/records.txt |date=9 June 2015 }}. None. Retrieved on 25 June 2012.

{{Main|Politics of Uruguay}}

File:Palacio Legislativo--.JPG, Montevideo]]

Uruguay is a representative democratic republic with a presidential system. The members of government are elected for a five-year term by a universal suffrage system. Uruguay is a unitary state: justice, education, health, security, foreign policy and defense are all administered nationwide.{{cite web|url=http://www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/innovaportal/file/528/1/business_guide_uruguay_xxi_-_november_2009.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501084128/http://www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/innovaportal/file/528/1/business_guide_uruguay_xxi_-_november_2009.pdf|archive-date=1 May 2011|title=Business Guide|publisher=Uruguay XXI|access-date=25 February 2011}} The executive power is exercised by the president and a cabinet of 14 ministers.

File:Palacio Piria, Montevideo 05.jpg, seat of the Supreme Court]]

The legislative power is constituted by the General Assembly, composed of two chambers: the Chamber of Representatives, consisting of 99 members representing the 19 departments, elected for a five-year term based on proportional representation; and the Chamber of Senators, consisting of 31 members, 30 of whom are elected for a five-year term by proportional representation, and the vice-president, who presides over the chamber and has the right to vote.

The judicial arm is exercised by the Supreme Court, the Bench, and Judges nationwide. The members of the Supreme Court are elected by the General Assembly; the members of the Bench are selected by the Supreme Court with the consent of the Senate, and the Judges are directly assigned by the Supreme Court.

Uruguay adopted its current constitution in 1967.{{citation |url=http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/details.jsp?id=7541|title=Uruguay: The Uruguayan Constitution|via=www.wipo.int|language=en|access-date=10 May 2017|archive-date=23 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923194400/http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/details.jsp?id=7541|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Uruguay_2004.pdf?lang=en|title=Uruguay's Constitution of 1966, Reinstated in 1985, with Amendments through 2004|date=28 March 2017|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=10 May 2017|archive-date=24 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924001523/https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Uruguay_2004.pdf?lang=en|url-status=live}} Many of its provisions were suspended in 1973, but reestablished in 1985. Drawing on Switzerland and its use of the initiative, the Uruguayan Constitution also allows citizens to repeal laws or to change the constitution by popular initiative, which culminates in a nationwide referendum. This method has been used several times over the past 15 years: to confirm a law renouncing prosecution of members of the military who violated human rights during the military regime (1973–1985); to stop privatization of public utility companies; to defend pensioners' incomes; and to protect water resources.{{csref|country=uruguay|section=Constitutional Background|first=Rex A.|last=Hudson}} pp. [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31822015230782&seq=195 152–159]

For most of Uruguay's history, the Partido Colorado has been in government.{{Cite book|title=A History of Organized Labor in Uruguay and Paraguay|last=Alexander|first=Robert|publisher=Praeger|year=2005|isbn=978-0275977450}}{{Cite journal|last=Verdesio|first=Gustavo|date=1 June 2010|title=EL DÍA DE LA INDEPENDENCIA O DOSCIENTOS AÑOS DE INCERTIDUMBRE: LA INDECIDIBILIDAD DE UNA FECHA EN EL URUGUAY POST-INDEPENDENCIA.|journal=Revista de Critica Literaria Latinoamericana, 2010|volume=36|issue=71|pages=75–99|issn=0252-8843}} However, in the 2004 Uruguayan general election, the Broad Front won an absolute majority in Parliamentary elections, and in 2009, José Mujica of the Broad Front defeated Luis Alberto Lacalle of the Blancos to win the presidency. In March 2020, Uruguay got a conservative government, meaning the end of 15 years of left-wing leadership under the Broad Front coalition. At the same time, center-right National Party's Luis Lacalle Pou was sworn in as the new President of Uruguay.{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/3/2/uruguay-ushers-in-first-conservative-government-in-15-years|title=Uruguay ushers in first conservative government in 15 years|access-date=8 June 2021|archive-date=1 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401060808/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/3/2/uruguay-ushers-in-first-conservative-government-in-15-years|url-status=live}}

A 2010 Latinobarómetro poll found that, within Latin America, Uruguayans are among the most supportive of democracy and by far the most satisfied with the way democracy works in their country.{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/17627929|title=The democratic routine|date=2 December 2010|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=27 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127105647/http://www.economist.com/node/17627929|url-status=live}} Uruguay ranked 27th in the Freedom House "Freedom in the World" index. According to the V-Dem Democracy indices in 2023, Uruguay ranked 31st in the world on electoral democracy and 2nd behind Switzerland on citizen-initiated direct democracy.{{cite journal |first8=Michael |last8=Bernhard |first9=Agnes |last9=Cornell |first10=M. Steven |last10=Fish |first11=Lisa |last11=Gastaldi |first12=Haakon |last12=Gjerløw |first13=Adam |last13=Glynn |first14=Allen |last14=Hicken |first15=Garry |last15=Hindle |first16=Nina |last16=Ilchenko |first17=Joshua |last17=Krusell |first18=Anna |last18=Lührmann |first19=Seraphine F. |last19=Maerz |first20=Kyle L. |last20=Marquardt |first21=Kelly |last21=McMann |first22=Valeriya |last22=Mechkova |first23=Juraj |last23=Medzihorsky |first24=Pamela |last24=Paxton |first25=Daniel |last25=Pemstein |first26=Josefine |last26=Pernes |first27=Johannes |last27=von Römer |first28=Brigitte |last28=Seim |first29=Rachel |last29=Sigman |first30=Svend-Erik |last30=Skaaning |first31=Jeffrey |last31=Staton |first32=Aksel |last32=Sundström |first33=Eitan |last33=Tzelgov |author34=Yi-ting Wang |first35=Tore |last35=Wig |first36=Steven |last36=Wilson |first37=Daniel |last37=Ziblatt |title=V-Dem [Country–Year/Country–Date] Dataset v11.1 |journal=Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Project |url=https://doi.org/10.23696/vdemds21 |doi=10.23696/vdemds21 |last1=Coppedge |first1=Michael |last2=Gerring |first2=John |last3=Knutsen |first3=Carl Henrik |last4=Lindberg |first4=Staffan I. |last5=Teorell |first5=Jan |last6=Alizada |first6=Nazifa |last7=Altman |first7=David |date=2021 |display-authors=7 |archive-date=7 August 2023 |access-date=20 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807060439/https://www.v-dem.net/data/dataset-archive/ |url-status=dead }}.

{{Main|Departments of Uruguay}}

File:Departments of Uruguay (map).png

Uruguay is divided into 19 departments whose local administrations replicate the division of the executive and legislative powers. Each department elects its own authorities through a universal suffrage system. The departmental executive authority resides in a superintendent and the legislative authority in a departmental board.

{{Main|Foreign relations of Uruguay}}

File:Sede Del Mercosur 02.jpg, Montevideo]]

The country's foreign policy is directed by the Ministry of Foreign Relations.{{Cite web |title=Cometidos |url=https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-relaciones-exteriores/institucional/cometidos |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406201028/https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-relaciones-exteriores/institucional/cometidos |archive-date=6 April 2024 |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores |language=es }} Uruguay has traditionally had strong political and cultural ties with its neighboring countries and with Europe, and its international relations have been guided by the principles of non-intervention and multilateralism.{{Cite book |last=Bizzozero Revelez |first=Lincoln |title=Uruguay y los procesos de integración regional: Trayectoria, cambios y debates |publisher=Civitas - Revista de Ciências Sociais |year=2010 |location=Porto Alegre |pages=105 |language=es |trans-title=Uruguay and regional integration processes: Trajectory, changes and debates |issn=1519-6089}} The country is a founding member of international organizations such as the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the Southern Common Market, and the Latin American Integration Association.{{Cite web |title=Políticas e historia |url=https://uy.usembassy.gov/es/our-relationship-es/policy-history-es/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107071600/https://uy.usembassy.gov/es/our-relationship-es/policy-history-es/ |archive-date=7 November 2023 |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Embajada de Estados Unidos en Uruguay |language=es-ES |url-status=live }} The headquarters of the latter two are located in its capital Montevideo, for which the role of the city has been compared to that of Brussels in Europe.{{Cite web |title=Google Earth Montevideo Map |url=http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_Montevideo.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328173823/http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_Montevideo.htm |archive-date=28 March 2015 |access-date=5 March 2015 |publisher=One World – Nations Online Project}}

File:04.07.2023 - Fotografia oficial dos chefes de delegação dos países membros, Bolívia, Estados Associados e Convidados Especiais (53022344737).jpg (second from right) at the summit of Mercosur Heads of State in 2023]]

Uruguay has two uncontested boundary disputes with Brazil, over Isla Brasilera and the {{convert|235|sqkm|abbr=on}} Invernada River region near Masoller. The two countries disagree on which tributary represents the legitimate source of the Quaraí/Cuareim River, which would define the border in the latter disputed section, according to the 1851 border treaty between the two countries. The disputed areas remain de facto under Brazilian control, with little to no actual effort by Uruguay to assert its claims. Both countries have friendly diplomatic relations and strong economic ties.

Uruguay is also a founding member of The Forum of Small States (FOSS), a voluntary and informal grouping at the UN.{{Cite book |title=50 Years of Singapore and the United Nations |publisher=World Scientific |year=2015 |isbn=978-981-4713-03-0}} The country has friendly relations with the United States since its transition back to democracy. Commercial ties between both countries have expanded with the signing of a bilateral investment treaty in 2004 and a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement in January 2007. The United States and Uruguay have also cooperated on military matters, with both countries playing significant roles in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. In 2017, Uruguay signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.{{cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |title=Chapter XXVI: Disarmament – No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons |publisher=United Nations Treaty Collection |date=7 July 2017 |access-date=15 August 2019 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806220546/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |url-status=live }} It also rejoined the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR or "Rio Pact") in 2020.{{cite web|url = https://theglobalamericans.org/2020/03/uruguay-returns-to-the-inter-american-treaty-of-reciprocal-assistance/|title = Uruguay returns to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance|date = 19 March 2020|access-date = 6 April 2021|archive-date = 14 April 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210414074602/https://theglobalamericans.org/2020/03/uruguay-returns-to-the-inter-american-treaty-of-reciprocal-assistance/|url-status = live}}

{{Main|Military of Uruguay}}

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| image1 = R.O.C Marine Corps M41A3 Walker Bulldog front view.jpg

| caption1 = Uruguayan Army M41 Walker Bulldog light tank monument

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| caption2 = Two Cessna A-37 Dragonfly of the Air Force during a flypast

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The Uruguayan Armed Forces are constitutionally subordinate to the president of the Republic, through the minister of defense. Armed forces personnel number about 18,000 for the Army,{{Cite news |date=2015-10-22 |title=Para Jefe del Ejército, número de efectivos está en "nivel crítico" |trans-title=For the Army Chief, the number of personnel is at a "critical level" |url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/para-jefe-del-ejercito-numero-de-efectivos-esta-en-nivel-critico |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210105836/https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/para-jefe-del-ejercito-numero-de-efectivos-esta-en-nivel-critico |archive-date=10 December 2023 |access-date=2024-05-05 |work=Diario El País |language=en}} 6,000 for the Navy, and 3,000 for the Air Force. Enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies.

Uruguay ranks first in the world on a per capita basis for its contributions to the United Nations peacekeeping forces, with 2,513 soldiers and officers in 10 UN peacekeeping missions. As of February 2010, Uruguay had 1,136 military personnel deployed to Haiti in support of MINUSTAH and 1,360 deployed in support of MONUC in the Congo. In December 2010, Uruguayan Major General Gloodtdofsky, was appointed Chief Military Observer and head of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan.{{cite web|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2010/12/23/uruguayan-major-general-appointed-head-of-un-mission-in-india-and-pakistan|title=Uruguayan Major General appointed head of UN mission in India and Pakistan|date=23 December 2010|publisher=MercoPress|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=28 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228135451/http://en.mercopress.com/2010/12/23/uruguayan-major-general-appointed-head-of-un-mission-in-india-and-pakistan|url-status=live}}

Since May 2009, homosexuals have been allowed to serve in the military after the defense minister signed a decree stating that military recruitment policy would no longer discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/13/uruguay-to-lift-ban-on-ga_n_203004.html Uruguay To Lift Ban On Gays In The Military] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035552/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/13/uruguay-to-lift-ban-on-ga_n_203004.html|date=4 March 2016}}. Huffingtonpost.com (13 May 2009). Retrieved on 25 June 2012. In the fiscal year 2010, the United States provided Uruguay with $1.7 million in military assistance, including $1 million in Foreign Military Financing and $480,000 in International Military Education and Training.

{{excerpt|National Police of Uruguay}}

{{Main|Economy of Uruguay}}

File:GDP per capita development of Uruguay.svg

File:World Trade Center Montevideo.jpg]]

In 1991, the country experienced an increase in strikes to obtain wage compensation to offset inflation and to oppose the privatizations desired by the government of Luis Alberto Lacalle. A general strike was called in 1992, and the privatization policy was widely rejected by the referendum.{{Cite journal |last=Molano |first=Walter |date=August 1997 |title=The Political Economy of Privatization: Uruguay's Attempt to Divest Administration Nacional de Telecomunicaciones del Uruguay (ANTEL) |url=https://bvrie.bcu.gub.uy/local/File/JAE/1997/Molano.pdf |journal=Banco Central del Uruguay |publication-place=New York |pages=2, 12}} In 1994 and 1995, Uruguay faced economic difficulties caused by the liberalization of foreign trade, which increased the trade deficit.{{Cite journal |date=16 March 1995 |title=Uruguayan Trade Deficit Hits Record High in 1994 |url=https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=12836&context=notisur#:~:text=economy%20resulting%20from%20a%20drop%20in%20Argentine,Argentina%20will%20likely%20decline%2C%20and%20because%20the |journal=Latin American Data Base |issn=1060-4189 |via=University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository}} The Montevideo Gas Company and the Pluna airline were turned over to the private sector, but the pace of privatization slowed down in 1996. Uruguay experienced a major economic and financial crisis between 1999 and 2002, principally a spillover effect from the economic problems of Argentina. The economy contracted by 11%, and unemployment climbed to 14–21%.{{Cite journal |date=March 2001 |title=Uruguay: Recent Economic Developments |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2001/cr0147.pdf#:~:text=The%20Uruguayan%20economy%20is%20gradually%20emerging%20from,with%20the%20effects%20of%20the%20Mexico%20crisis. |journal=International Monetary Fund |publication-place=Washington, D.C. |issue=1 |page=4}}

In 2004, the Batlle government signed a three-year $1.1 billion stand-by arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), committing the country to a substantial primary fiscal surplus, low inflation, considerable reductions in external debt, and several structural reforms designed to improve competitiveness and attract foreign investment. Uruguay terminated the agreement in 2006 following the early repayment of its debt but maintained a number of the policy commitments. Vázquez, who assumed the government in March 2005, created the Ministry of Social Development and sought to reduce the country's poverty rate with a $240 million National Plan to Address the Social Emergency (PANES), which provided a monthly conditional cash transfer of approximately $75 to over 100,000 households in extreme poverty. In exchange, those receiving the benefits were required to participate in community work, ensure that their children attended school daily, and have regular health check-ups.

Following the 2001 Argentine credit default, prices in the Uruguayan economy made a variety of services, including information technology and architectural expertise, once too expensive in many foreign markets, exportable.{{cite news|last=Stewart|first=Diego|date=May 2005|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BEK/is_5_13/ai_n13699159|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716005156/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BEK/is_5_13/ai_n13699159|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 July 2012|title=Building out: Uruguay exports architectural services to India and Latin America|work=Latin Trade|access-date=11 August 2007}} The Frente Amplio government, while continuing payments on Uruguay's external debt,{{cite web |title=Uruguay's Frente Amplio: From Revolution to Dilution |url=http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=13102 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224211625/http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=13102 |archive-date=24 February 2008}} also undertook an emergency plan to attack the widespread problems of poverty and unemployment.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1229360.stm|title=Uruguay Country Profile|date=26 October 2010|work=BBC News|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=24 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224045926/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1229360.stm|url-status=live}} The economy grew at an annual rate of 6.7% during the 2004–2008 period.{{cite web|url=http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/LACEXT/URUGUAYEXTN/0,,contentMDK:22256166~pagePK:1497618~piPK:217854~theSitePK:331609,00.html|title=Uruguay Brief|publisher=World Bank|access-date=25 February 2011|archive-date=30 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430160609/http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/LACEXT/URUGUAYEXTN/0,,contentMDK:22256166~pagePK:1497618~piPK:217854~theSitePK:331609,00.html|url-status=live}} Uruguay's export markets have been diversified to reduce dependency on Argentina and Brazil. Poverty was reduced from 33% in 2002 to 21.7% in July 2008, while extreme poverty dropped from 3.3% to 1.7%.

Between the years 2007 and 2009, Uruguay was the only country in the Americas that did not technically experience a recession (two consecutive downward quarters).{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2018/03/28/uruguays-record-setting-economic-growth-streak|title=Uruguay's record-setting economic growth streak|date=28 March 2018|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=27 October 2019|issn=0013-0613|archive-date=2 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002070254/https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2018/03/28/uruguays-record-setting-economic-growth-streak|url-status=live}} Unemployment reached a record low of 5.4% in December 2010 before rising to 6.1% in January 2011.{{cite news|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-30/uruguay-rate-rise-strong-signal-bergara-lorenzo-say-1-.html|title = Uruguay Rate Rise 'Strong Signal,' Bergara, Lorenzo Say|agency = Reuters|date = 31 March 2011|access-date = 29 April 2011|archive-date = 23 June 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110623231648/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-30/uruguay-rate-rise-strong-signal-bergara-lorenzo-say-1-.html|url-status = live}} While unemployment is still at a low level, the IMF observed a rise in inflationary pressures, and Uruguay's GDP expanded by 10.4% for the first half of 2010.{{cite news|last=Faries |first=Bill |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-15/uruguay-s-gdp-rose-10-4-in-second-quarter-from-year-before-on-transport.html |title=Uruguay's GDP Rose 10.4% in Second quarter From Year Before on Transport |publisher=Bloomberg |date=15 September 2010 |access-date=2 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429102429/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-15/uruguay-s-gdp-rose-10-4-in-second-quarter-from-year-before-on-transport.html |archive-date=29 April 2011}} According to IMF estimates, Uruguay was probably to achieve growth in real GDP of between 8% and 8.5% in 2010, followed by 5% growth in 2011 and 4% in subsequent years.{{cite web|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2010/12/17/imf-anticipates-soft-landing-of-uruguay-s-economy-in-next-two-years|title=IMF anticipates 'soft-landing' of Uruguay's economy in next two years|date=17 December 2010|publisher=MercoPress|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=28 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228142103/http://en.mercopress.com/2010/12/17/imf-anticipates-soft-landing-of-uruguay-s-economy-in-next-two-years|url-status=live}} Gross public sector debt contracted in the second quarter of 2010, after five consecutive periods of sustained increase, reaching $21.885 billion US dollars, equivalent to 59.5% of the GDP.{{cite web|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2010/10/04/uruguay-s-debt-gdp-ratio-down-after-five-quarters-running-increases|title=Uruguay's debt/GDP ratio down after five quarters running increases|publisher=MercoPress|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=24 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224072246/http://en.mercopress.com/2010/10/04/uruguay-s-debt-gdp-ratio-down-after-five-quarters-running-increases|url-status=live}}

Uruguay was ranked 62nd in the Global Innovation Index in 2024.{{Cite book |author=World Intellectual Property Organization |year=2024 |title=Global Innovation Index 2024: Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |page=18 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.50062 |isbn=978-92-805-3681-2}} The number of union members has quadrupled since 2003, rising from 110,000 to more than 400,000 in 2015 for a working population of 1.5 million.{{Cite journal |last=Rico |first=Salina |date=February 2022 |title=Uruguay 2021 Investment Climate Statement |url=https://www.ccuruguayusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Uruguay-2021-Investment-Climate-Statement-FINAL-2021-.pdf |journal=Cámara de Comercio Uruguay Estados Unidos |at=11. Labor Policies and Practices}} According to the International Trade Union Confederation, Uruguay has "ratified all eight core ILO labour Conventions".{{Cite journal |date=April 2012 |title=Internationally Recognised Core Labour Standards In Uruguay |url=https://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/final_uruguay_tpr.pdf |journal=International Trade Union Confederation |page=1}} The growth, use, and sale of cannabis were legalized on 11 December 2013,[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-25328656 "Uruguay becomes first nation to legalise marijuana trade"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428152829/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-25328656 |date=28 April 2018 }}, BBC, 11 December 2013 by former president José "Pepe" Mujica, making Uruguay the first country in the world to fully legalize marijuana. The law was voted on at the Uruguayan Senate on the same date with 16 votes to approve it and 13 against.

{{Main|Agriculture in Uruguay}}

File:Viña en Otoño.jpg

In 2010, Uruguay's export-oriented agricultural sector contributed to 9.3% of the GDP and employed 13% of the workforce. Official statistics from Uruguay's Agriculture and Livestock Ministry indicate that meat and sheep farming in Uruguay occupies 59.6% of the land. The percentage further increases to 82.4% when cattle breeding is linked to other farm activities such as dairy, forage, and rotation with crops such as rice.{{cite web|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2007/07/30/uruguay-has-3-8-cattle-per-capita-highest-in-the-world|title=Uruguay has 3.8 cattle per capita, highest in the world|date=30 July 2007|publisher=MercoPress|access-date=24 February 2011|archive-date=24 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224190530/http://en.mercopress.com/2007/07/30/uruguay-has-3-8-cattle-per-capita-highest-in-the-world|url-status=live}}

According to FAOSTAT, Uruguay is one of the world's largest producers of soybeans (9th), wool (12th), horse meat (14th), beeswax (14th), and quinces (17th). Most farms (25,500 out of 39,120) are family-managed; beef and wool represent the main activities and main source of income for 65% of them, followed by vegetable farming at 12%, dairy farming at 11%, hogs at 2%, and poultry also at 2%. Beef is the main export commodity of the country, totaling over US$1 billion in 2006.

In 2007, Uruguay had cattle herds totalling 12 million head, making it the country with the highest number of cattle per capita at 3.8. However, 54% is in the hands of 11% of farmers, who have a minimum of 500 head. At the other extreme, 38% of farmers exploit small lots and have herds averaging below one hundred head.

{{main|Tourism in Uruguay}}

File:Punta del este3.jpg is one of the main tourist destinations in the Southern Cone.]]

The tourism industry in Uruguay is an important part of its economy. In 2012, the sector was estimated to account for 97,000 jobs and (directly and indirectly) 9% of GDP.{{cite web |url=http://www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/invest/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2014/09/Tourism-Sector-Uruguay-XXI-2014.pdf |title=Uruguay XXI |publisher=Uruguay XXI |access-date=18 July 2018 |archive-date=7 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907170401/http://www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/invest/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2014/09/Tourism-Sector-Uruguay-XXI-2014.pdf |url-status=live }} Uruguay is the Latin American country that receives the most tourists in relation to its population. In 2023, 3.8 million tourists entered Uruguay, of which the majority were Argentines and Brazilians, followed by Chileans, Paraguayans, Americans and Europeans of various nationalities.{{Cite web |title=Uruguay recibió más de tres millones ochocientos mil turistas en el 2023 |trans-title=Uruguay received more than three million eight hundred thousand tourists in 2023 |url=https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-turismo/comunicacion/noticias/uruguay-recibio-tres-millones-ochocientos-mil-turistas-2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117222359/https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-turismo/comunicacion/noticias/uruguay-recibio-tres-millones-ochocientos-mil-turistas-2023 |archive-date=2024-01-17 |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=Ministerio de Turismo |language=es}}

File:Colo do sac 1.jpg]]Cultural experiences in Uruguay include exploring the country's colonial heritage, as found in Colonia del Sacramento. Historical monuments include Torres García Museum and Estadio Centenario. One of the main natural attractions in Uruguay is Punta del Este. Punta del Este is situated on a small peninsula off the southeast coast of Uruguay. Its beaches are divided into Mansa, or tame (river) side and Brava, or rugged (ocean) side. Punta del Este adjoins the city of Maldonado, while to its northeast along the coast are found the smaller resorts of La Barra and José Ignacio.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/travel/09next.html|title=José Ignacio, an Uruguayan Resort Town That's Chic, but So Far Not Famous|first=Paola|last=Singer|work=The New York Times |date=6 November 2008|via=NYTimes.com|access-date=17 September 2017|archive-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719024354/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/travel/09next.html|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Transport in Uruguay}}

File:Вид на монтевидеоский порт.jpg]]

File:Aeropuerto carrasco.jpg, Montevideo]]

The Port of Montevideo is one of the major container terminal port; it handles over 1.1 million containers annually.{{cite web|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2009/10/14/montevideo-port-becomes-most-advanced-container-terminal-in-south-america|title=Montevideo port becomes most advanced container terminal in South America|date=14 October 2009|publisher=MercoPress|access-date=25 February 2011|archive-date=3 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103100910/http://en.mercopress.com/2009/10/14/montevideo-port-becomes-most-advanced-container-terminal-in-south-america|url-status=live}} Its quay can handle {{convert|14|m|ft|adj=mid|sp=us|draft}} vessels. Nine straddle cranes allow for 80 to 100 movements per hour. The port of Nueva Palmira is a major regional merchandise transfer point and houses both private and government-run terminals.{{cite web|url=http://www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/innovaportal/v/134/2/innova.front/logistics_infrastructure_and_communications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501084057/http://www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/innovaportal/v/134/2/innova.front/logistics_infrastructure_and_communications|archive-date=1 May 2011|title=Logistics, infrastructure and communications|publisher=Uruguay XXI|access-date=25 February 2011}}

Carrasco International Airport was initially inaugurated in 1947, and in 2009, Puerta del Sur, the airport owner and operator, commissioned Rafael Viñoly Architects to expand and modernize the existing facilities with a spacious new passenger terminal with an investment of $165 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.aic.com.uy/en/informacion-general.php|title=General Information|publisher=Aeropuerto de Carrasco|access-date=25 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319234758/http://www.aic.com.uy/en/informacion-general.php|archive-date=19 March 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2010/02/08/new-carrasco-terminal-among-the-most-beautiful-airports-in-the-world|title=New Carrasco terminal among the "most beautiful airports in the world"|date=8 February 2010|publisher=MercoPress|access-date=25 February 2011|archive-date=26 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226165648/http://en.mercopress.com/2010/02/08/new-carrasco-terminal-among-the-most-beautiful-airports-in-the-world|url-status=live}} The airport can handle up to 4.5 million users per year. PLUNA was the flag carrier of Uruguay and was headquartered in Carrasco.{{cite web |date=8 September 2009 |title=Pluna: reunión de conciliación entre el Estado y Leadgate |trans-title=Pluna: conciliation meeting between the State and Leadgate |url=http://www.espectador.com/1v4_contenido.php?id=131484&sts=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821024221/http://www.espectador.com/1v4_contenido.php?id=131484&sts=1 |archive-date=21 August 2013 |access-date=9 July 2010 |work=Espectador.com}} "La reunión estaba fijada en la sede de Pluna en Carrasco,"{{cite web| url=http://flypluna.com/cat/en/offices-and-call-centre-41.html |title=Offices and call centre |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722142114/http://www.flypluna.com/cat/en/offices-and-call-centre-41.html |archive-date=22 July 2012 | work=PLUNA |access-date=13 May 2010}}

The Punta del Este International Airport, located {{convert|15|km|mi|sp=us}} from Punta del Este in the Maldonado Department, is the second busiest air terminal in Uruguay, built by the Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott. It was inaugurated in 1997.

The Administración de Ferrocarriles del Estado is the autonomous agency in charge of rail transport and the maintenance of the railroad network. Uruguay has about {{convert|1200|km|mi|abbr=on}} of operational railroad track. Until 1947, about 90% of the railroad system was British-owned.{{cite web|url=http://www.olauruguay.com/2010/03/14/uruguay%E2%80%99s-railroad-makes-a-comeback|title=Uruguay's Railroad Makes a Comeback|publisher=Ola Uruguay Real Estate and Investments|access-date=25 February 2011|archive-date=29 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329064902/http://www.olauruguay.com/2010/03/14/uruguay%E2%80%99s-railroad-makes-a-comeback|url-status=live}} In 1949, the government nationalized the railways, along with the electric trams and the Montevideo Waterworks Company. However, in 1985, the "National Transport Plan" suggested passenger trains were too costly to repair and maintain. Cargo trains would continue, but bus transportation became the "economic" alternative for travellers. Passenger service was then discontinued in 1988. However, rail passenger commuter service into Montevideo was restarted in 1993, and now comprises three suburban lines.

File:Aeropuerto Punta del Este.png]]

Surfaced roads connect Montevideo to the other urban centers in the country, the main highways leading to the border and neighboring cities. Numerous unpaved roads connect farms and small towns. Overland trade has increased markedly since Mercosur (Southern Common Market) was formed in the 1990s and again in the later 2000s.{{cite web|url=http://geoportal.mtop.gub.uy/visualizador/|title=Geoportal MTOP|website=geoportal.mtop.gub.uy|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814135057/http://geoportal.mtop.gub.uy/visualizador/|url-status=live}} Most of the country's domestic freight and passenger service is by road rather than rail. The country has several international bus services{{cite web|url=http://viajeros.com.uy/|title=Viajeros!|website=viajeros.com.uy|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814135058/http://viajeros.com.uy/|url-status=live}} connecting the capital and frontier localities to neighboring countries.{{cite web|url=https://catalogodatos.gub.uy/showcase/omnibus-interior|title=Omnibus Interior – Catálogo de Datos Abiertos|website=catalogodatos.gub.uy|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814165928/https://catalogodatos.gub.uy/showcase/omnibus-interior|url-status=live}} These include 17 destinations in Argentina,{{NoteTag|Namely, Bell Ville, Buenos Aires, Concepción del Uruguay, Concordia, Entre Ríos, Córdoba, Gualeguaychú, Mendoza, Paraná, Rio Cuarto, Rosario, San Francisco, San Luis, Santa Fe, Tigre, Venado Tuerto, Villa María, and Villa Mercedes}} 12 destinations in Brazil{{NoteTag|Namely Camboriú, Curitiba, Florianópolis, Jaguarão, Joinville, Pelotas, Porto Alegre, Quaraí, São Gabriel, São Paulo, Santa Maria, and Santana do Livramento.{{pb}}(Santana do Livramento has open borders with the Uruguayan city of Rivera. There are no physical barriers or immigration checkpoints inhibiting movement between or within the two contiguous cities, despite each one belonging to separate national jurisdictions.)}} and the capital cities of Chile and Paraguay.{{cite web |url = https://www.trescruces.com.uy/horarios-destinos/ |title = Horarios y Destinos |website = www.trescruces.com.uy |date = November 2016 |access-date = 14 August 2018 |archive-date = 14 August 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180814135157/https://www.trescruces.com.uy/horarios-destinos/ |url-status = live }}

{{Main|Communications in Uruguay}}

The telecommunications industry is more developed than in most other Latin American countries, being the first country in the Americas to achieve complete digital telephone coverage in 1997. The system is government-owned, and there have been controversial proposals to partially privatize it since the 1990s.{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/10/02/Uruguay-privatization-scheme-jolted-by-opposition/8141717998400/|title=Uruguay privatization scheme jolted by opposition|website=UPI|language=en|access-date=13 January 2019|archive-date=14 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114044556/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/10/02/Uruguay-privatization-scheme-jolted-by-opposition/8141717998400/|url-status=live}}

The mobile phone market is shared by the state-owned ANTEL and two private companies, Movistar and Claro. The ANTEL has the largest market share at 49% of Uruguay's mobile lines.{{Cite web |last=Popov |first=Andrey |date=November 2023 |title=Mobile Network Experience Report |url=https://www.opensignal.com/reports/2023/11/uruguay/mobile-network-experience |access-date=19 October 2024 |website=Opensignal}} ANTEL has launched a commercial 5G network in April 2019{{Cite web |last=Tomás |first=Juan Pedro |date=2024-05-31 |title=Antel reaches 300 5G sites in Uruguay, targets 500 by 2025 |url=https://www.rcrwireless.com/20240531/5g/antel-reaches-300-5g-sites-uruguay-targets-500-2025 |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=RCR Wireless News |language=en-US}} with still continual development.{{Cite web |last=Srikapardhi |date=5 August 2023 |title=Antel Continues Expansion of 5G Network to More Areas |url=https://telecomtalk.info/uruguays-antel-continues-expansion-of-5g-rollout/845917/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=TelecomTalk |language=en-US}} While Movistar and Claro have only 30% and 21% of the market share, respectively.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-10 |title=Uruguay Telecommunications |url=https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/uruguay-telecommunications |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=International Trade Administration |language=en}} The Google Search engine accounted for 95% of total search engine market share in 2023–2024.{{Cite web |title=Search Engine Market Share Uruguay |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share/all/uruguay |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=StatCounter Global Stats |language=en}}

In 2010, the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry of Uruguay approved Decree 354 on the Promotion of Renewable Energies.{{Cite web |title=Energy system of Uruguay |url=https://www.iea.org/countries/uruguay |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=International Energy Agency |language=en-GB}} In 2021, Uruguay had, in terms of installed renewable electricity, 1,538 MW in hydropower, 1,514 MW in wind power (35th largest in the world), 258 MW in solar power (66th largest in the world), and 423 MW in biomass.{{cite news |last1=Lebedys |first1=Arvydas |last2=Akande |first2=Dennis |last3=Coënt |first3=Nicolas |last4=Elhassan |first4=Nazik |last5=Escamilla |first5=Gerardo |last6=Arkhipova |first6=Iana |last7=Whiteman |first7=Adrian |date=2022 |title=Renewable Energy Statistics 2022 |url=https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2022/Apr/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2022.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2022/Apr/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2022.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |access-date=5 August 2022 |publisher=International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) |location=Abu Dhabi |pages=7, 15, 22, 33 |language=en, fr, es}}

• For: hydropower, p. 7; wind, p. 15; solar, p. 22; biomass, p. 33 In 2023, 98% of Uruguay's electricity comes from renewable energy.{{Cite news |last=Meadows |first=Sam |date=2023-12-27 |title=Uruguay's green power revolution: rapid shift to wind shows the world how it's done |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/dec/27/uruguays-green-power-revolution-rapid-shift-to-wind-shows-the-world-how-its-done |access-date=2024-10-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The dramatic shift, taking less than ten years and without government funding, lowered electricity costs and slashed the country's carbon footprint.{{Cite news|title = Uruguay makes dramatic shift to nearly 95% electricity from clean energy|url = https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/03/uruguay-makes-dramatic-shift-to-nearly-95-clean-energy|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 3 December 2015|access-date = 18 February 2016|issn = 0261-3077|language = en-GB|first = Jonathan|last = Watts|archive-date = 6 March 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170306042438/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/03/uruguay-makes-dramatic-shift-to-nearly-95-clean-energy|url-status = live}}{{cite web|title = Uruguay is now generating 95% of its electricity from renewable energy|url = http://qz.com/566773/uruguay-is-now-generating-95-of-its-electricity-from-renewable-energy/|website = Quartz|access-date = 18 February 2016|language = en-US|first = Sarah|last = Todd| date=6 December 2015 |archive-date = 8 February 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160208131943/http://qz.com/566773/uruguay-is-now-generating-95-of-its-electricity-from-renewable-energy/|url-status = live}} Most of the electricity comes from hydroelectric facilities and wind parks. Uruguay no longer imports electricity.{{cite web |title=Uruguay has shifted to getting 95% of its electricity from renewables in less than 10 years |url=http://www.sciencealert.com/uruguay-has-shifted-to-getting-95-of-its-electricity-from-clean-energy-sources-in-less-than-10-years |website=ScienceAlert |access-date=18 February 2016 |first=Fiona |last=MacDonald |date=4 December 2015 |archive-date=16 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216163621/http://www.sciencealert.com/uruguay-has-shifted-to-getting-95-of-its-electricity-from-clean-energy-sources-in-less-than-10-years |url-status=live }} In 2022, 49% of the country's total carbon dioxide emissions came from the burning of diesel fuel, followed by gasoline, with a 25% share.{{Cite web |title=Uruguay logra más de 90% de energías renovables en la matriz eléctrica en un contexto de más de tres años de sequía |trans-title=Uruguay achieves over 90% renewable energy in its electricity matrix amid more than three years of drought |url=https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-industria-energia-mineria/comunicacion/noticias/uruguay-logra-90-energias-renovables-matriz-electrica-contexto-tres-anos |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Ministerio de Industria, Energía y Minería |language=es}}

{{See also|Uruguayans|Demographics of Uruguay}}

{{Pie chart

|thumb = right

|caption = Racial groups in Uruguay (2011 census){{cite web|title=Atlas Sociodemografico y de la Desigualdad en Uruguay, 2011: Ancestry |language=es |publisher=National Institute of Statistics |url=http://www.ine.gub.uy/biblioteca/Atlas_Sociodemografico/Atlas_fasciculo_2_Afrouruguayos.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209083630/http://www.ine.gub.uy/biblioteca/Atlas_Sociodemografico/Atlas_fasciculo_2_Afrouruguayos.pdf |archive-date=9 February 2014 |page=15}}{{cite web |author=Central Intelligence Agency |title=Uruguay |work=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |location=Langley, Virginia |year=2016 |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/uruguay/ |access-date=1 January 2017}}

|label1 = White

|value1 = 87.68

|color1 = #FBC5A7

|label2 = Black

|value2 = 4.60

|color2 = #55382A

|label3 = Indigenous

|value3 = 2.35

|color3 = #AD5135

|label4 = East Asian

|value4 = 0.23

|color4 = #FAD6A5

|label5 = Other/none

|value5 = 5.14

|color5 = Lightgray

}}

Uruguayans are of predominantly European origin, with 85.2% of the population claiming "white" as their dominant ancestry self-identified in the 2023 census,{{cite web |title=Ascendencia étnico-racial principal, por categoría, según departamento - Censo 2023 |trans-title=Main ethnic-racial ancestry, by category, according to department - 2023 Census |url=https://www.gub.uy/instituto-nacional-estadistica/comunicacion/publicaciones/anuario-estadistico-nacional-2024-volumen-n-101/21-informacion-censal-2 |accessdate=22 January 2025 |work=2024 |publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística |page= |language=es}} a decrease from 87.7% over the 2011 census.{{cite web|url= https://www5.ine.gub.uy/documents/Demograf%C3%ADayEESS/PDF/Demograf%C3%ADa/Atlas_fasciculo_2_Afrouruguayos.pdf|title= ATLAS SOCIODEMOGRÁFICO Y DE LA DEL URUGUAY|website=ine.gub.uy|accessdate=22 January 2025}}

Most Uruguayans of European ancestry are descendants of 19th and 20th century immigrants from Spain, and to a lesser degree Germany, Italy, France, and Britain. Earlier settlers had migrated from Argentina. People of African descent make up around five percent of the total. There are also important communities of Japanese.{{cite book|last=Genta Dorado|first=Gustavo|title=La Colectividad Japonesa en Uruguay|date=March 1993|language=es|publisher=Ediciones de la Crítica|location=Montevideo|oclc=30613716|pages=43–46}} Overall, the ethnic composition is similar to neighboring Argentine provinces as well as Southern Brazil.{{Cite journal | last1 = Lins | first1 = T. C. | last2 = Vieira | first2 = R. G. | last3 = Abreu | first3 = B. S. | last4 = Grattapaglia | first4 = D. | last5 = Pereira | first5 = R. W. | title = Genetic composition of Brazilian population samples based on a set of twenty-eight ancestry informative SNPs | doi = 10.1002/ajhb.20976 | journal = American Journal of Human Biology | volume = 22 | issue = 2 | pages = 187–192 | date = March–April 2009 | pmid = 19639555 | s2cid = 205301927 | url = https://repositorio.ucb.br:9443/jspui/handle/123456789/7489 | access-date = 7 October 2020 | archive-date = 20 October 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201020004142/https://repositorio.ucb.br:9443/jspui/handle/123456789/7489 | url-status = live | doi-access = free }}

From 1963 to 1985, an estimated 320,000 Uruguayans emigrated.{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/30.htm|title=Population – Uruguay|publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=30 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430025459/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/30.htm|url-status=live}} The most popular destinations for Uruguayan emigrants are Argentina, followed by the United States, Australia, Canada, Spain, Brazil, Italy, France and Portugal. In 2009, for the first time in 44 years, the country saw an overall positive influx when comparing immigration to emigration. 3,825 residence permits were awarded in 2009, compared with 1,216 in 2005. 50% of new legal residents come from Argentina and Brazil. A migration law passed in 2008 gives immigrants the same rights and opportunities that nationals have, with the requisite of proving a monthly income of $650.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11397130|title=Uruguay: South America's best-kept secret?|date=3 October 2010|work=BBC News|access-date=24 February 2011|archive-date=9 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409000445/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11397130|url-status=live}}

Metropolitan Montevideo is the only large city, with around 1.9 million inhabitants, or more than half the country's total population. The rest of the urban population lives in about 30 towns. Uruguay's rate of population growth is much lower than in other Latin American countries. Its median age is 35.3 years, higher than the global average due to its low birth rate, high life expectancy, and relatively high rate of emigration among younger people. A quarter of the population is less than 15 years old, and about a sixth are aged 60 and older. In 2017, the average total fertility rate (TFR) across Uruguay was 1.70 children born per woman, below the replacement rate of 2.1. It remains considerably below the high of 5.76 children born per woman in 1882.{{citation|url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1880&time=1800..2015&country=URY|title=Total Fertility Rate around the world over the last centuries|author=Max Roser|date=2014|work=Our World in Data, Gapminder Foundation|access-date=6 May 2019|archive-date=14 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014112301/https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1880&time=1800..2015&country=URY|url-status=live}}

{{bar box

|title=Racial and ethnic composition in Uruguay (2023 census){{cite web |title= Ascendencia étnico-racial principal, por categoría, según departamento - Censo 2023 |url= https://www.gub.uy/instituto-nacional-estadistica/comunicacion/publicaciones/anuario-estadistico-nacional-2024-volumen-n-101/21-informacion-censal-2 |work=2024|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística |page=|language=es|accessdate= 22 January 2025}}

|titlebar=#ddd

|left1= Main racial ancestry

|float=right

|bars=

{{bar percent|White|#1f77b4|88.0}}

{{bar percent|Black|#2ca02c|10.6}}

{{bar percent|Indigenous|#d62728|6.4}}

{{bar percent|East Asian{{efn|group=note|name=note|The official racial term on the Uruguayan census is "amarilla" or "yellow" in English, which refers to people of East Asian descent.}}|#ffd300|0.7}}

{{bar percent|Other/none|DimGray|6.4}}

|caption= "Main" or "most important" ethnoracial ancestry. Total adds up to more than 100% as people were allowed to choose more than one ancestral racial group

}}

A 2017 IADB report on labor conditions for Latin American nations ranked Uruguay as the region's leader overall in all but one subindexes, including gender, age, income, formality, and labor participation.{{cite web|title=Better Jobs|url=https://mejorestrabajos.iadb.org/en|publisher=IADB|access-date=9 November 2017|archive-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114343/https://mejorestrabajos.iadb.org/en|url-status=live}}

{{Largest cities

| country = Uruguay

| stat_ref = {{cite web |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/Uruguay.html |title=Uruguay |website=citypopulation.de |access-date=17 August 2021 }}

| div_name = Department

|city_1 = Montevideo

|div_1 = Montevideo Department{{!}}Montevideo

|pop_1 = 1,304,687

|img_1 = Piscinas Trouville.jpg

|city_2 = Salto, Uruguay{{!}}Salto

|div_2 = Salto Department{{!}}Salto

|pop_2 = 104,011

|img_2 = Palacio de Oficinas Públicas 1.jpg

|city_3 = Ciudad de la Costa

|div_3 = Canelones Department{{!}}Canelones

|pop_3 = 95,176

|img_3 = Puente americas canelones.jpg

|city_4 = Paysandú

|div_4 = Paysandú Department{{!}}Paysandú

|pop_4 = 76,412

|img_4 = Basílica bajo el sol de la tarde.JPG

|city_5 = Las Piedras, Uruguay{{!}}Las Piedras

|div_5 = Canelones Department{{!}}Canelones

|pop_5 = 71,258

|city_6 = Rivera

|div_6 = Rivera Department{{!}}Rivera

|pop_6 = 64,465

|city_7 = Maldonado, Uruguay{{!}}Maldonado

|div_7 = Maldonado Department{{!}}Maldonado

|pop_7 = 62,590

|city_8 = Tacuarembó

|div_8 = Tacuarembó Department{{!}}Tacuarembó

|pop_8 = 54,755

|city_9 = Melo, Uruguay{{!}}Melo

|div_9 = Cerro Largo Department{{!}}Cerro Largo

|pop_9 = 51,830

|city_10 = Mercedes, Uruguay{{!}}Mercedes

|div_10 = Soriano Department{{!}}Soriano

|pop_10 = 41,974

|city_11 = Artigas, Uruguay{{!}}Artigas

|div_11 = Artigas Department{{!}}Artigas

|pop_11 = 40,657

|city_12 = Minas, Uruguay{{!}}Minas

|div_12 = Lavalleja

|pop_12 = 38,446

|city_13 = San José de Mayo

|div_13 = San José Department{{!}}San José

|pop_13 = 36,743

|city_14 = Durazno

|div_14 = Durazno Department{{!}}Durazno

|pop_14 = 34,368

|city_15 = Florida, Uruguay{{!}}Florida

|div_15 = Florida Department{{!}}Florida

|pop_15 = 33,639

|city_16 = Barros Blancos

|div_16 = Canelones Department{{!}}Canelones

|pop_16 = 31,650

|city_17 = Ciudad del Plata

|div_17 = San José Department{{!}}San José

|pop_17 = 31,145

|city_18 = San Carlos, Uruguay{{!}}San Carlos

|div_18 = Maldonado Department{{!}}Maldonado

|pop_18 = 27,471

|city_19 = Colonia del Sacramento

|div_19 = Colonia Department{{!}}Colonia

|pop_19 = 26,231

|city_20 = Pando, Uruguay{{!}}Pando

|div_20 = Canelones Department{{!}}Canelones

|pop_20 = 25,947

}}

{{clear}}

{{Main|Religion in Uruguay}}

File:Iglesia de San Carlos 1.jpg in San Carlos is one of the oldest churches in Uruguay.]]

Christianity is the largest religion in Uruguay. The country has no official religion; church and state are officially separated, and religious freedom is guaranteed. A 2008 survey by the INE of Uruguay showed Catholic Christianity as the main religion, with 45.7–81.4%{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://cdn.britannica.com/13/185113-050-AAF2D01C/World-Data-religious-affiliation-pie-chart-Uruguay.jpg |title=Religious Affiliation (2006) |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=21 July 2022 |archive-date=7 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107161452/https://cdn.britannica.com/13/185113-050-AAF2D01C/World-Data-religious-affiliation-pie-chart-Uruguay.jpg |url-status=live }} of the population; 9.0% are non-Catholic Christians, 0.6% are Animists or Umbandists (an Afro-Brazilian religion), and 0.4% are Jewish. 30.1% reported believing in a god, but not belonging to any religion, while 14% were atheists or agnostics.{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.gub.uy/anda/ddibrowser/?id=11§ion=variable&varid=V157 |title=Encuesta Continua de Hogares 2008 – Religion |publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística |access-date=2 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114015256/http://www.ine.gub.uy/anda/ddibrowser/?id=11§ion=variable&varid=V157 |archive-date=14 November 2010}} Among the sizeable Armenian community in Montevideo, the dominant religion is Christianity, specifically Armenian Apostolic.{{cite web|first=David |last=Zenian |date= 1 January 1992 |url=http://www.agbu.org/publications/article.asp?A_ID=533 |title=The Airwaves of Montevideo: An Armenian Community Forum

|publisher=Armenian General Benevolent Union |access-date=2 December 2010 |url-status=dead |website=AGBU News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116205137/http://agbu.org/publications/article.asp?A_ID=533 |archive-date=16 November 2010}}

Political observers consider Uruguay the most secular country in the Americas.{{cite web|url=http://www.morris.umn.edu/academic/laas/Uruguay.html|title=UMM | Latin American Area Studies – Countries|publisher=Morris.umn.edu|date=27 August 2009|access-date=26 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714153604/http://www.morris.umn.edu/academic/laas/Uruguay.html|archive-date=14 July 2010|url-status=dead}} Uruguay's secularization began with the relatively minor role of the church in the colonial era, compared with other parts of the Spanish Empire. The small numbers of Uruguay's indigenous peoples and their resistance to proselytism reduced the influence of the ecclesiastical authorities.

After independence, anti-clerical ideas spread to Uruguay, particularly from France, further eroding the influence of the church.{{cite web|title=Explore Uruguay – About Uruguay Government|url=http://www.explore-uruguay.com/uruguay-government.html|publisher=Explore Uruguay|access-date=23 March 2011|archive-date=14 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314184032/http://www.explore-uruguay.com/uruguay-government.html|url-status=live}} In 1837, civil marriage was recognized, and in 1861, the state took over the running of public cemeteries. In 1907, divorce was legalized, and in 1909, all religious instruction was banned from state schools. Under the influence of the Colorado politician José Batlle y Ordóñez (1903–1911), complete separation of church and state was introduced with the new constitution of 1917.{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/43.htm|title=Religion – Uruguay|publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=30 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430025445/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/43.htm|url-status=live}} Uruguay's capital has 12 synagogues and a community of 20,000 Jews as of 2011. With a peak of 50,000 during the mid-1960s, Uruguay has the world's highest rate of aliyah as a percentage of the Jewish population.{{cite web|url=http://forward.com/articles/135932/touring-montevideo-s-jewish-quarters/|title=Touring Montevideo's Jewish Quarters|date=8 March 2011 |publisher=Forward.com|access-date=13 November 2017|archive-date=26 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126185534/http://forward.com/articles/135932/touring-montevideo-s-jewish-quarters/|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Uruguayan Spanish|Rioplatense Spanish}}

Spanish is the de facto national language.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-29 |title=Proponen establecer por ley que el idioma oficial de Uruguay es el español |trans-title=They propose establishing by law that the official language of Uruguay is Spanish |url=https://www.sarandi690.com.uy/2020/07/29/proponen-establecer-por-ley-que-el-idioma-oficial-de-uruguay-es-el-espanol/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115021514/https://www.sarandi690.com.uy/2020/07/29/proponen-establecer-por-ley-que-el-idioma-oficial-de-uruguay-es-el-espanol/ |archive-date=15 November 2023 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Radio Sarandí 690 AM |language=es}} Uruguayan Spanish, as a variant of Rioplatense, employs both {{lang|es|voseo}} and {{lang|es|yeísmo}} (with {{IPA|[ʃ]}} or {{IPA|[ʒ]}}) and has a great influence of the Italian language and its different dialects since it incorporates lunfardo.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cervantes.es/imagenes/file/biblioteca/situacion_espanol/uruguay_situacion_espanol.pdf |title=Particularities of the Spanish language in Uruguay |access-date=15 November 2023 |archive-date=15 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115014121/https://www.cervantes.es/imagenes/file/biblioteca/situacion_espanol/uruguay_situacion_espanol.pdf |url-status=live }} In the border areas with Brazil in the northeast of the country, Uruguayan Portuguese is spoken, which consists of a mixture of Spanish with Brazilian Portuguese.{{Cite web |title=Hacia el portuñol "patrimonio inmaterial de la humanidad" {{!}} Comisión Coordinadora del Interior |url=https://www.cci.edu.uy/node/95 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.cci.edu.uy |archive-date=15 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115014139/https://www.cci.edu.uy/node/95 |url-status=live }} It is a dialect without formally defined orthography and without any official recognition.{{Cite news |last=Fernandez |first=Freddy |date=2006-09-01 |title=Portuñol de Rivera pasó de estigma a riqueza lingüística |trans-title=Portuñol of Rivera went from stigma to linguistic wealth |url=http://www.elpais.com.uy/ProDig/Uruguayos/06/03/16/esp_urugud_206659.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901223003/http://www.elpais.com.uy/ProDig/Uruguayos/06/03/16/esp_urugud_206659.asp |archive-date=1 September 2006 |access-date=2023-11-15 |work=Diario El País |department=Uruguayos}} English is the most widespread foreign language among the Uruguayan people, being part of the educational curriculum.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-22 |title=56% de los uruguayos tienen conocimientos de inglés, aunque solo 13,6% tiene certificación oficial |url=https://ladiaria.com.uy/educacion/articulo/2020/7/56-de-los-uruguayos-tienen-conocimientos-de-ingles-aunque-solo-136-tiene-certificacion-oficial/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522074234/https://ladiaria.com.uy/educacion/articulo/2020/7/56-de-los-uruguayos-tienen-conocimientos-de-ingles-aunque-solo-136-tiene-certificacion-oficial/ |archive-date=2022-05-22 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=la diaria |language=es-UY}}

As few indigenous people exist in the population, no indigenous languages are thought to remain in active use in the country.{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.org/show_country.asp?name=UY|title=Ethnologue report for Uruguay|publisher=Ethnologue.org|access-date=2 December 2010|archive-date=7 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707075945/http://www.ethnologue.org/show_country.asp?name=UY|url-status=live}} Another spoken dialect was the Patois, which is an Occitan dialect. The dialect was spoken mainly in the Colonia Department, where the first pilgrims settled, in the city called La Paz. There are still written tracts of the language in the Waldensians Library (Biblioteca Valdense) in the town of Colonia Valdense, Colonia Department. Patois speakers arrived to Uruguay from the Piedmont. Originally, they were Vaudois who become Waldensians, giving their name to the city Colonia Valdense, which translated from the Spanish to mean "Waldensian Colony".{{cite book |url=http://dedicaciontotal.udelar.edu.uy/adjuntos/produccion/742_academicas__academicaarchivo.pdf |title=Etnicidad y Lenguaje – La aculturación socio lingüística de los inmigrantes italianos en Montevideo |author=Graciela Barrios |publisher=Departamento de Publicaciones de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación Universidad de la República |date=2008 |access-date=21 April 2017 |archive-date=12 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112203153/http://dedicaciontotal.udelar.edu.uy/adjuntos/produccion/742_academicas__academicaarchivo.pdf |url-status=live }}

In 2001, Uruguayan Sign Language (LSU) was recognized as an official language of Uruguay under Law 17.378.

{{Main|Education in Uruguay}}

File:Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo 25.jpg, founded in 1849|alt=]]

Education in Uruguay is secular, free, and compulsory for 14 years, starting at the age of 4. The system is divided into six levels of education: early childhood (3–5 years), primary (6–11 years), basic secondary (12–14 years), upper secondary (15–17 years), higher education (18 and up), and postgraduate education.[http://www.iadb.org/document.cfm?id=35521105 Uruguay, Secondary and technical education and teacher training support program] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118151726/https://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=35521105 |date=18 January 2021 }} Inter-American Development Bank (pp. 7–8) Public education is the primary responsibility of three institutions: the Ministry of Education and Culture, which coordinates education policies; the National Public Education Administration, which formulates and implements policies on early to secondary education; and the University of the Republic, responsible for higher education. In 2009, the government planned to invest 4.5% of GDP in education.{{cite web|url=http://www.conuruyork.org/Comercial/Invest%20in%20Uruguay%20-%20UnASeP%20.pdf |title=Invest in Uruguay — Unidad de Apoyo al Sector Privado |page=24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174825/http://www.conuruyork.org/Comercial/Invest%20in%20Uruguay%20-%20UnASeP%20.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=25 June 2012}}

Uruguay ranks high on standardized tests such as PISA at a regional level but is also below some countries with similar levels of income to the OECD average. In the 2006 PISA test, Uruguay had one of the greatest standard deviations among schools, suggesting significant variability by socio-economic level. Uruguay is part of the One Laptop per Child project, and in 2009 it became the first country in the world to provide a laptop for every primary school student{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/10/18/uruguay-becomes-first-nation-to-provide-a-laptop-for-every-prima/|title=Uruguay becomes first nation to provide a laptop for every primary school student|date=18 October 2009 |publisher=Engadget|access-date=2 December 2010|archive-date=24 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224212144/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/18/uruguay-becomes-first-nation-to-provide-a-laptop-for-every-prima/|url-status=live}} as part of the Plan Ceibal.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8309583.stm|title=Laptop for every pupil in Uruguay|date=16 October 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=23 February 2011|first=Verónica|last=Psetizki|archive-date=16 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216061841/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8309583.stm|url-status=live}} Over the 2007–2009 period, 362,000 pupils and 18,000 teachers were involved in the scheme; around 70% of the laptops were given to children who did not have computers at home. The OLPC project represents less than 5% of the country's education budget.

{{Main|Culture of Uruguay}}

Uruguayan culture is strongly European and its influences from southern Europe are particularly important. The tradition of the gaucho has been an important element in the art and folklore of both Uruguay and Argentina.

{{clear}}

File:2016 Edificio del Hospital Italiano Umberto I, ubicado en la Av. Italia, Br. Gral. Artigas y Jorge Canning en Montevideo (Uruguay).jpg, neoclassical-style building by Luis Andreoni]]

File:Casapueblo.jpg's Casapueblo was his home, hotel and museum.]]

Abstract painter and sculptor Carlos Páez Vilaró was a prominent Uruguayan artist. He drew from both Timbuktu and Mykonos to create his best-known work: his home, hotel and atelier Casapueblo near Punta del Este.{{Cite web |last=Beccacece |first=Hugo |date=2024-09-16 |title=From the archive: inside the wonky home of artist Carlos Páez Vilaró |url=https://www.worldofinteriors.com/story/carlos-paez-vilaro-home-argentina |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=The World Of Interiors |language=en-GB}} The 19th-century painter Juan Manuel Blanes, whose works depict historical events,{{Cite web |date=2012-10-03 |title=Datos biográficos |trans-title=Biographical data |url=https://blanes.montevideo.gub.uy/coleccion/juan-manuel-blanes/datos-biograficos |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Museo de Bellas Artes Juan Manuel Blanes |language=es}} was the first Uruguayan artist to gain widespread recognition. The Post-Impressionist painter Pedro Figari did pastel studies in Montevideo and the countryside.{{Cite web |title=Pedro Figari |url=https://www.oas.org/artsoftheamericas/pedro-figari |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Arts of the Americas}} Most of the paintings were part of the abstract trend, not muralism.{{Citation |last1=Martínez-Carazo |first1=Eva-María |title=The Abstraction, the Unknown Part of Uruguayan Contemporary Muralism |date=2021 |work=Cultural and Creative Mural Spaces |pages=69–81 |editor-last=Santamarina-Campos |editor-first=Virginia |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-030-53106-5_5 |access-date=2024-10-19 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-53106-5_5 |isbn=978-3-030-53105-8 |last2=Santamarina-Campos |first2=Virginia |last3=De-Miguel-Molina |first3=María |editor2-last=Martínez-Carazo |editor2-first=Eva-María |editor3-last=de Miguel Molina |editor3-first=María|url-access=subscription }}

Uruguay has many art museums, most of which are in Montevideo, such as the Torres García Museum and the Gurvich Museum.{{Cite web |last=Moraiti |first=Laura |date=2020-07-13 |title=Visit Uruguay through the art of Torres-Garcia |url=https://www.lifeofcolourproducts.com/blogs/around-the-world/visit-uruguay-through-the-art-of-torres-garcia |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Life of Colour |language=en}} The Torres García Museum was dedicated in honor of the Uruguayan artist Joaquín Torres-García.{{Cite web |title=Museo Torres Garcia (Torres García Museum) in Montevideo, Uruguay |url=https://www.gpsmycity.com/attractions/museo-torres-garcia-(torres-garcia-museum)-33495.html |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=GPSmyCity |language=en}}

{{Main|Music of Uruguay}}

File:Tango dancers in Montevideo.png

{{listen

|filename =

|title = La cumparsita

|description = It is among the most famous and recognizable tangos of all time.

|format = Ogg

}}

File:Murgas (Vazquez, Marzo 2005 -2).jpg singers at the Carnival]]

The folk and popular music of Uruguay shares its gaucho roots with Argentina and the tango. One of the most famous tangos, "La cumparsita" (1917), was written by the Uruguayan composer Gerardo Matos Rodríguez. The candombe is a folk dance performed at Carnival, especially Uruguayan Carnival, mainly by Uruguayans of African ancestry. The guitar is the preferred musical instrument, and in a popular traditional contest called the payada, two singers, each with a guitar, take turns improvising verses to the same tune. Folk music is called canto popular and includes some guitar players and singers such as Los Olimareños, and Numa Moraes.

There are numerous radio stations and musical events of rock music and the Caribbean genres. Early classical music in Uruguay showed Spanish and Italian influence, but since the 20th century, a number of composers of classical music, including Eduardo Fabini, Héctor Tosar, and Eduardo Gilardoni, have made use of Latin American musical idioms more. There are two symphony orchestras in Montevideo, OSSODRE and Filarmonica de Montevideo. Some of the well-known classical musicians are pianists Albert Enrique Graf; guitarists Eduardo Fernandez and Marco Sartor; and singers Erwin Schrott.

Tango has especially affected Uruguayan culture during the 20th century, particularly the 1930s and 1940s with Uruguayan singers such as Julio Sosa from Las Piedras.{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hy8EQ1hEp3BVG-vnlwrClzXfpA7A |title=Argentina, Uruguay bury hatchet to snatch tango honor |last=Termine |first=Laura |date=30 September 2009 |access-date=2 April 2010 |location=Buenos Aires |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011083629/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hy8EQ1hEp3BVG-vnlwrClzXfpA7A |archive-date=11 October 2009}} When tango singer Carlos Gardel was 29 years old, he changed his nationality to be Uruguayan, saying he was born in Tacuarembó.Carlos Gardel was born in France:
{{bull}}{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/lifemusictimesof00coll |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/lifemusictimesof00coll/page/5 5] |title=The Life, Music, and Times of Carlos Gardel |first=Simon |last=Collier |publisher=University of Pittsburgh Press |year=1986 |isbn=0-8229-8498-9 }}
{{bull}}{{cite book |first1=Julián |last1=Barsky |first2=Osvaldo |last2=Barsky |title=Gardel: La biografía |publisher=Taurus |year=2004 |isbn=9870400132 |language=es}}
{{bull}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZVfIus_mXzAC&pg=PA31 |page=31 |title=La sonrisa de Gardel: Biografía, mito y ficción |first=Jorge |last=Ruffinelli |author-link=Jorge Ruffinelli |publisher=Ediciones Trilce |year=2004 |isbn=9974323568 |language=es |access-date=23 October 2015 |archive-date=17 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617125233/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZVfIus_mXzAC&pg=PA31 |url-status=live }}
{{bull}}Bocaz, Luis (March 1986). [http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0006/000684/068421eo.pdf "Tango Time"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824175539/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0006/000684/068421eo.pdf |date=24 August 2018 }}, UNESCO Courier, p. 11. Nevertheless, a Carlos Gardel museum was established in 1999 in Valle Edén, near Tacuarembó.{{cite web |url=http://english.uruguay.com/uruguay_detail_675_carlos_gardel_museum.html |title=Carlos Gardel Museum |publisher=Uruguay.com |access-date=31 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131213114233/http://english.uruguay.com/uruguay_detail_675_carlos_gardel_museum.html |archive-date=13 December 2013}}

Rock and roll was first introduced into Uruguay with the arrival of the Beatles and other British bands in the early 1960s. A wave of bands appeared in Montevideo, including Los Shakers, Los Iracundos, Los Moonlights, and Los Malditos, of which all became major figures in the so-called Uruguayan Invasion of Argentina.{{cite web |url=http://open.salon.com/blog/jeanette_d/2009/10/03/are_you_ready_for_the_uruguayan_invasion |title=Are You Ready For the Uruguayan Invasion? |work=Salon |date=5 October 2009 |access-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011050622/http://open.salon.com/blog/jeanette_d/2009/10/03/are_you_ready_for_the_uruguayan_invasion |archive-date=11 October 2009}} Popular Uruguayan rock bands include La Vela Puerca, El Cuarteto de Nos, and Cursi. In 2004, the Uruguayan musician and actor Jorge Drexler won an Academy Award for composing the song "Al otro lado del río" from the movie The Motorcycle Diaries, which narrated the life of Che Guevara.{{Cite web |last=Prada |first=Paulo |date=2005-03-02 |title=A Tone-Deaf Oscar Snubbed the Best Song Winner |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-02-oe-prada2-story.html |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

{{Main|Uruguayan cuisine}}

Uruguayan food culture comes mostly from the European cuisine culture. Most of the Uruguayan dishes are from Spain, France, Italy, and Brazil, the result of immigration caused by past wars in Europe. Daily meals vary between meats, pasta of all types, rice, sweet desserts and others, with meat being the principal dish due to Uruguay being one of the world's largest producers of meat in quality.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

Typical dishes include: "Asado uruguayo" (big grill or barbecue of all types of meat), roasted lamb, Chivito (sandwich containing thin grilled beef, lettuce, tomatoes, fried egg, ham, olives and others, and served with French fries), Milanesa (a kind of fried breaded beef), tortellini, spaghetti, gnocchi, ravioli, rice and vegetables.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

One of the most consumed spreads in Uruguay is Dulce de leche (a caramel confection from Latin America prepared by slowly heating sugar and milk). The most typical sweet is Alfajor, which is a small cake, filled with Dulce de leche and covered with chocolate or meringue. Other typical desserts include the Pastafrola (a type of cake filled with quince jelly) and Chajá (meringue, sponge cake, whipped cream and fruits, typically peaches and strawberries are added). Mate, a herbal drink, is the most typical beverage in Uruguay.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

{{Main|Uruguayan literature}}File:José Enrique Rodó.jpg

José Enrique Rodó (1871–1917), a modernist, is considered Uruguay's most significant literary figure. His book, Ariel (1900), deals with the need to maintain spiritual values while pursuing material and technical progress. It also stresses resisting cultural dominance by Europe and the United States. Notable amongst Latin American playwrights is Florencio Sánchez (1875–1910), who wrote plays about contemporary social problems that are still performed today.

From about the same period came the romantic poetry of Juan Zorrilla de San Martín (1855–1931), who wrote epic poems about Uruguayan history. Also notable are Juana de Ibarbourou (1895–1979), Delmira Agustini (1866–1914), Idea Vilariño (1920–2009), and the short stories of Horacio Quiroga and Juan José Morosoli (1899–1959). The psychological stories of Juan Carlos Onetti (such as "No Man's Land" and "The Shipyard") have earned widespread critical praise, as have the writings of Mario Benedetti.

Uruguay's best-known contemporary writer is Eduardo Galeano, author of Las venas abiertas de América Latina (1971; "Open Veins of Latin America") and the trilogy Memoria del fuego (1982–87; "Memory of Fire"). Other modern Uruguayan writers include Sylvia Lago, Jorge Majfud, and Jesús Moraes.

The Reporters Without Borders worldwide press freedom index has ranked Uruguay as 19th of 180 reported countries in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://rsf.org/en/ranking_table|title=2019 World Press Freedom Index|website=RSF|language=en|access-date=21 May 2019|archive-date=24 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424043201/https://rsf.org/en/ranking_table|url-status=live}} Freedom of speech and media are guaranteed by the constitution, with qualifications for inciting violence or "insulting the nation". Uruguay's freedom of the press was severely curtailed during the years of military dictatorship. On his first day in office in March 1985, Sanguinetti reestablished complete freedom of the press. Consequently, Montevideo's newspapers expanded their circulations.{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/80.htm|title=The Media – Uruguay|publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=30 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430025454/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/80.htm|url-status=live}} Uruguayans have access to more than 100 private daily and weekly newspapers, more than 100 radio stations, and some 20 terrestrial television channels, and cable TV is widely available.

State-run radio and TV are operated by the official broadcasting service SODRE. Some newspapers are owned by, or linked to, the main political parties. El Día was the nation's most prestigious paper until its demise in the early 1990s, founded in 1886 by the Colorado party leader and (later) president José Batlle y Ordóñez. {{Lang|es|El País}}, the paper of the rival Blanco Party, has the largest circulation. Búsqueda serves as a forum for political and economic analysis. Although it sells only about 16,000 copies a week, its estimated readership exceeds 50,000.

{{Main|Sport in Uruguay}}

File:Estadio centenario 2.JPG]]

File:Uruguay fans Russia 2018.jpg in Russia]]

Soccer is the most popular sport in Uruguay. The first international match outside the British Isles was played between Uruguay and Argentina in Montevideo in July 1902.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/argurures.html|title=ARGENTINA-URUGUAY Matches 1902–2009|first=Héctor Darío|last=Pelayes|date=24 September 2010|access-date=27 April 2011|archive-date=5 January 2019|website=RSSSF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105020111/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/argurures.html|url-status=live}} Soccer was introduced to Uruguay by English sailors and workers in the 19th century alongside rugby and cricket. Uruguay won gold at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=512/edition=197020/overview.html |title=Paris, 1924 |publisher=FIFA |access-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615203810/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament%3D512/edition%3D197020/overview.html |archive-date=15 June 2010 }} and again in 1928 in Amsterdam.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=512/edition=197029/overview.html |title=Amsterdam, 1928 |publisher=FIFA |access-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615204240/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament%3D512/edition%3D197029/overview.html |archive-date=15 June 2010 }} Its national football team has won the FIFA World Cup on two occasions. Uruguay won the inaugural tournament on home soil in 1930 and again in 1950, famously defeating home favorites Brazil in the final match. Uruguay has won the Copa América (an international tournament for South American nations and guests) 15 times, one less than Argentina, the last one in 2011. Uruguay has by far the smallest population of any country that has won a World Cup.{{cite web |last=Shail |first=Mark |date=6 July 2010 |url=http://www.givemefootball.com/world-cup/uruguay-10-fascinating-facts |title=Uruguay: 10 fascinating facts – The smallest country to win the World Cup have big ambitions again |website= Give Me Football |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427051641/http://www.givemefootball.com/world-cup/uruguay-10-fascinating-facts |archive-date=27 April 2011}} Despite their early success, they missed three World Cups in four attempts from 1994 to 2006.{{Cite web |last=Sissoko |first=Moussa |date=2024-03-22 |title=Fanvip |url=https://fanvip.space |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=fanvip.space |language=en}} Uruguay reached the semifinal for the first time in 40 years in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Diego Forlán was presented with the Golden Ball award as the best player of the 2010 tournament.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8804708.stm|title=World Cup 2010: Diego Forlan collects Golden Ball award|date=11 July 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=4 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404190438/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8804708.stm|url-status=live}} Uruguay exported 1,414 soccer players during the 2000s, almost as many players as Brazil and Argentina.{{cite web |date=6 January 2011 |title=Uruguay "exported" 1.414 football players in the last decade |url=http://en.mercopress.com/2011/01/06/uruguay-exported-1.414-football-players-in-the-last-decade |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110170957/http://en.mercopress.com/2011/01/06/uruguay-exported-1.414-football-players-in-the-last-decade |archive-date=10 January 2011 |access-date=23 February 2011 |publisher=MercoPress}} In 2010, the Uruguayan government enacted measures intended to retain players in the country. There are two Montevideo-based soccer clubs, Nacional and Peñarol; they have won three Intercontinental Cups each. When the two clubs play each other, it is known as Uruguayan Clásico.{{cite news |date=27 November 2005 |title=Uruguay se parte en dos |trans-title=Uruguay divides into two |work=El País |url=http://historico.elpais.com.uy/05/11/27/pdepor_187281.asp |access-date=11 October 2022 |language=es |archive-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028233409/http://historico.elpais.com.uy/05/11/27/pdepor_187281.asp |url-status=live }} In the rankings for June 2012, Uruguay was ranked the second best team in the world, according to the FIFA world rankings, their highest ever point in soccer history, falling short of the first spot to the Spain national soccer team.[https://www.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/index.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_ranking The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – Ranking Table] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027044652/http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/index.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_ranking|date=27 October 2014}}. FIFA.com. Retrieved on 25 June 2012.

Another popular sport is basketball.{{cite web |url= http://www.explore-uruguay.com/uruguay-sports.html#.WaO8SNFpzct |title= Top Uruguay Sports |date= 28 August 2017 |author= Explore Uruguay |access-date= 28 August 2017 |archive-date= 28 August 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170828144113/http://www.explore-uruguay.com/uruguay-sports.html#.WaO8SNFpzct |url-status= live| language=es}} Its national team qualified for the Basketball World Cup seven times, more often than other countries in South America, except Brazil and Argentina. Uruguay hosted the official Basketball World Cup for the 1967 FIBA World Championship and the official Americas Basketball Championship in 1988 and 1997, and is a host of the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup.

• Outline of Uruguay
• Index of Uruguay-related articles

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• Andrew, G. R. (2010). Blackness in the White Nation: A History of Afro-Uruguay, The University of North Carolina Press
• Behnke, A. (2009). Uruguay in Pictures, Twenty First Century Books
• Box, B. (2011). Footprint Focus: Uruguay, Footprint Travel Guides
• Burford, T. (2010). Bradt Travel Guide: Uruguay, Bradt Travel Guides
• Canel, E. (2010). Barrio Democracy in Latin America: Participatory Decentralization and Community Activism in Montevideo, The Pennsylvania State University Press
• Clark, G. (2008). Custom Guide: Uruguay, Lonely Planet
• Jawad, H. (2009). Four Weeks in Montevideo: The Story of World Cup 1930, Seventeen Media
• Lessa, F. and Druliolle, V. (eds.) (2011). The Memory of State Terrorism in the Southern Cone: Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, Palgrave Macmillan
• Mool, M (2009). Budget Guide: Buenos Aires and Montevideo, Cybertours-X Verlag

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{{Library resources box}}

• [https://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=UY Key Development Forecasts for Uruguay] from International Futures

• [https://uruguay.uy/en Uruguay] – Official website of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay
• [https://www.gub.uy Government] – Official website of the Government of Uruguay
• [https://www.gub.uy/presidencia Presidency] – official website of the president of Uruguay
• [https://www.parlamento.gub.uy General Assembly] – official website of the General Assembly of Uruguay
• [https://parlamento.gub.uy/camarasycomisiones/senadores Senate] – official website of the Senate of Uruguay
• [https://www.parlamento.gub.uy/palacio3/index1280.asp?e=0&w=1366 Chamber of Representatives] – official website of the Chamber of Representatives of Uruguay
• [https://www.gub.uy/instituto-nacional-estadistica Statistics] – official website of the National Institute of Statistics

• [https://www.1811-2011.edu.uy/B1 Uruguay (1811–2011)] – website describes Uruguay in this period
• [http://www.guiadelmundo.org.uy/cd/countries/ury/History.html "History"] – Uruguayan history at Guía del Mundo

• [https://uruguay.uy/en/visit Visit Uruguay] – Uruguay's official tourism portal

• {{Wikiatlas}}
• {{Osmrelation-inline|287072}}

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