Climate | Population | Eduaction | Government

The Uruguayan population is of European origin, mainly Spanish and Italian, regardless of other nationalities – which is a product of an open-door migration policy.

There is a representation of black population, who arrived in Uruguay from Africa at the beginning of the Spanish domination period.

As for the Indian population, they disappeared more than one hundred years ago. This accounts for a different population profile than the ones in other Latin American countries.

According to the latest statistics, the number of inhabitants in Uruguay is of 2,940,300 - figure which can be read as of low density when taking into account the number of square kilometres in the national territory.

However, though Uruguay is a stockbreeder country, its population is mainly urban (80%) and concentrates in its capital city, Montevideo (43% - almost half of the total figure). Its birth rate is low, the lowest in South America.

On the other hand, its life expectancy rate is high – 72 years for men and 74 for women -, which can be read as satisfactory sanitation and nutrition levels.

Uruguayan people are well-educated, open-minded and helpful to foreigners. Their tastes and customs are simple and family-oriented, loving outdoor life and sports – in particular, football (arguably, the national sport and passion).

Source: Ministry of Tourism and Sports