| variable | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2007 | 2008-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| real gdp growth | 0.07 | 3.18 | 2.45 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.6 |
| CPI % | 62.48 | 38.09 | 9.26 | 6.9 | 8.35 | 5.9 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Unemployment rate | 10.74 | 10.39 | 12.84 | 7.4 | 7.67 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Debt/GDP % | - | 27.3 | 65.18 | 43.55 | 54.79 | 63.0 | 67.6 | 65.7 | 66.8 | 67.7 |
| Current account balance/GDP % | - | - | - | - | -1.0 | -3.0 | -0.8 | -0.5 | -0.8 | -0.9 |
Data derived from World Economic Outlook Database. To see main macroeconomic indicator in graphs click here
The Spanish founded the city of Montevideo in modern-day Uruguay in 1726 as a military stronghold, and it soon became an important commercial center due to its natural harbor. Argentina initially claimed Uruguay, but Brazil annexed the country in 1821. Uruguay declared its independence in 1825 and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century launched widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros (or Movimiento de Liberación Nacional-Tupamaros) launched in the late 1960s and pushed Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By year-end, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was restored in 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio (FA) Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control by the Colorado and National (Blanco) parties. The left-of-center coalition retained the presidency and control of both chambers of congress until 2019. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the South American continent.
Area: 176,215 sq km km2
Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Natural resources: arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish
Groups: White 87.7%, Black 4.6%, Indigenous 2.4%, other 0.3%, none or unspecified 5% (2011 est.)
Languages: Spanish (official, Rioplatense is the most widely spoken dialect)
Religions: Roman Catholic 36.5%, Protestant 5% (Evangelical (non-specific) 4.6%, Adventist 0.2%, Protestant (non-specific) 0.3%), African American Cults/Umbanda 2.8%, Jehovah's Witness 0.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 0.2%, other 1%, Believer (not belonging to the church) 1.8%, agnostic 0.3%, atheist 1.3%, none 47.3%, unspecified 3.4%<br><br>Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 15%, other 6%, agnostic 3%, atheist 10%, unspecified 24% (2023 est.)
Capital: Montevideo
Government type: presidential republic
Chief of state: President Yamandú ORSI Martínez (since 1 March 2025)
Head of government: President Yamandú ORSI Martínez (since 1 March 2025)
Description: General Assembly (Asamblea General) - bicameral
high-income, export-oriented South American economy; South America’s largest middle class; low socioeconomic inequality; growing homicide rates; growing Chinese and EU relations; 2019 Argentine recession hurt; key milk, beef, rice, and wool exporter
food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
GDP by sector: Agriculture: 6.4% (2024 est.), Industry: 16.8% (2024 est.), Services: 65.3% (2024 est.)
Export partners: China 21%, Brazil 17%, USA 8%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Export commodities: wood pulp, beef, milk, rice, wood (2023)
Import partners: Brazil 22%, China 18%, Argentina 11%, USA 9%, Nigeria 4% (2023)
Import commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, trucks, fertilizers (2023)
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
Military expenditure: 2024: 2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Information derived from worldfactbook.io (Lupon Media), open successor to the CIA World Factbook. Data sourced from World Bank, IMF, UN and other international organizations.