Outline of Uruguay

Last updated September 03, 2025

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Uruguay:

Uruguay – sovereign country located in southeastern South America.^[1] It is home to 3.46 million people, of which 1.7 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area. Montevideo was founded by the Spanish in the early 18th century as a military stronghold. Uruguay won its independence in 1825-1828 following a three-way struggle between Spain, Argentina and Brazil. It is a constitutional democracy, where the president fulfills the roles of both head of state and head of government. The economy is largely based on agriculture (making up 10% of GDP and the most substantial export) and the state sector, Uruguay's economy is on the whole more stable than in its surrounding states, and it maintains a solid reputation with investors.

General reference

Pronunciation: ( /ˈjʊərəɡwaɪ/ ; Spanish: [uɾuˈɣwaj] )
Common English country name: Uruguay
Official English country name: The Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Common endonym(s): Uruguay
Official endonym(s): República Oriental del Uruguay
Adjectival(s): Uruguayan
Demonym(s): Oriental, Uruguayan
Etymology: Name of Uruguay
International rankings of Uruguay
ISO country codes: UY, URY, 858
ISO region codes: See ISO 3166-2:UY
Internet country code top-level domain: .uy

Geography of Uruguay

Uruguay is: a country
Location:
- Southern Hemisphere
- Western Hemisphere
  - Latin America
    - South America
      - Southern Cone
- Time zone: UTC-03
- Extreme points of Uruguay
  - High: Cerro Catedral 514 m (1,686 ft)
  - Low: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
- Land boundaries: 1,648 km

Brazil 1,068 km

Argentina 580 km

Coastline: South Atlantic Ocean 660 km

Population of Uruguay: 3,340,000 - 132nd most populous country
Area of Uruguay: 176,215 km²
Atlas of Uruguay

Environment of Uruguay

An enlargeable map of Uruguay's cities, towns and villages Uruguay2025OSM.png — An enlargeable map of Uruguay's cities, towns and villages

Climate of Uruguay
Renewable energy in Uruguay
Geology of Uruguay
Protected areas of Uruguay
- National parks of Uruguay
Wildlife of Uruguay
- Fauna of Uruguay
  - Birds of Uruguay
  - Mammals of Uruguay

Natural geographic features of Uruguay

Fjords of Uruguay: none
Glaciers of Uruguay: none
Islands of Uruguay
Lakes of Uruguay
Mountains of Uruguay
- Volcanoes in Uruguay: none
Rivers of Uruguay
Valleys of Uruguay
World Heritage Sites in Uruguay: Colonia del Sacramento

Regions of Uruguay

Ecoregions of Uruguay

List of ecoregions in Uruguay

Demography of Uruguay

Demographics of Uruguay

Government and politics of Uruguay

Politics of Uruguay

Branches of the government of Uruguay

Government of Uruguay

Executive branch of the government of Uruguay

Head of state: President of Uruguay,
Head of government: President of Uruguay,
Cabinet of Uruguay: consisting of the President of the Republic and the Ministries
- Ministry of Economy and Finance
- Ministry of Education and Culture
- Ministry of Environment
- Ministry of Foreign Relations
- Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning
- Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining
- Ministry of the Interior
- Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare
- Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries
- Ministry of National Defense
- Ministry of Public Health
- Ministry of Social Development
- Ministry of Transport and Public Works
- Ministry of Tourism

Legislative branch of the government of Uruguay

Parliament of Uruguay (bicameral)
- Upper house: Senate of Uruguay
- Lower house: Chamber of Deputies of Uruguay
- Other dependencies of the Parliament of Uruguay:
  - National Institute for Human Rights and Ombudsman
  - Parliament Commissioner for the Penitentiary System

Judicial branch of the government of Uruguay

Court system of Uruguay:

Supreme Court of Uruguay: highest tier of courts under the Judicial branch.
Courts of Appeals: second highest tier of courts under the Judicial branch. It includes Civil, Criminal, Family, and Labour courts.
District Courts (or Lawyer Courts): in Montevideo these are Bankruptcy, Civil, Contentious Administrative, Criminal, Criminal (Organized Crime), Criminal (Penitentiary Surveillance), Customs, Family, Family (Specialized), Juvenile, and Labour courts. In the interior of the country these are organized according their territorial jurisdiction (with at least two of them in each territorial jurisdiction), being assigned several subject matters to each of them.
Peace Courts: courts of Montevideo, courts of the Interior's Departments' capitals, courts of cities and villages, rural courts.
Other courts: Misdemeanor Courts, Conciliation Courts, Mediation Centers.

Foreign relations of Uruguay

International organization membership

The Eastern Republic of Uruguay is a member of:^[1]

Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL)
Andean Community of Nations (CAN) (associate)
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Group of 77 (G77)
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
International Criminal Court (ICCt)
International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol)
International Development Association (IDA)
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO)
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
Latin American Economic System (LAES)
Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

Nonaligned Movement (NAM) (observer)
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
Organization of American States (OAS)
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
Rio Group (RG)
Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur)
Unión Latina
Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)
United Nations (UN)
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS)
United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG)
United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI)
United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
World Confederation of Labour (WCL)
World Customs Organization (WCO)
World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
World Health Organization (WHO)
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
World Trade Organization (WTO)

Law and order in Uruguay

Law of Uruguay:

Constitution of Uruguay
Laws of Uruguay:
- Civil Code
- Penal Code
- General Procedure Code
- General Law on Private International Law

Human rights in Uruguay:

LGBT rights in Uruguay
Freedom of religion in Uruguay

Legal enforcement of Uruguay:

National Police of Uruguay

Legal issues:

Military of Uruguay

Command
- Commander-in-chief:
Forces

Administrative divisions

Departments of Uruguay: the country is currently divided in 19 departments. Each department has an executive branch led by an intendant, and a legislative branch called Departmental Board.

Artigas. Founded: 1884. Capital: Artigas. Area: 11928 km².
Canelones. Founded: 1816. Capital: Canelones. Area: 4536 km².
Cerro Largo. Founded: 1821. Capital: Melo. Area: 13648 km².
Colonia. Founded: 1816. Capital: Colonia del Sacramento. Area: 6106 km².
Durazno. Founded: 1822. Capital: Durazno. Area: 11643 km².
Flores. Founded: 1885. Capital: Trinidad. Area: 5144 km².
Florida. Founded: 1856. Capital: Florida. Area: 10417 km².
Lavalleja. Founded: 1837. Capital: Minas. Area: 10016 km².
Maldonado. Founded: 1816. Capital: Maldonado. Area: 4793 km².
Montevideo. Founded: 1816. Capital: Montevideo. Area: 530 km².
Paysandú. Founded: 1820. Capital: Paysandú. Area: 13922 km².
Río Negro. Founded: 1868. Capital: Fray Bentos. Area: 9282 km².
Rivera. Founded: 1884. Capital: Rivera. Area: 9370 km².
Rocha. Founded: 1880. Capital: Rocha. Area: 10551 km².
Salto. Founded: 1837. Capital: Salto. Area: 14163 km².
San José. Founded: 1816. Capital: San José de Mayo. Area: 4992 km².
Soriano. Founded: 1816. Capital: Mercedes. Area: 9008 km².
Tacuarembó. Founded: 1837. Capital: Tacuarembó. Area: 15438 km².
Treinta y Tres. Founded: 1884. Capital: Treinta y Tres. Area: 9676 km².

Local government in Uruguay: since 2009 there is a new system of second level administrative divisions called "municipalities" in each department.

History of Uruguay

History of Uruguay, by period or event

Indigenous peoples of Uruguay
- Charrúa people
- Guarani people
Spanish colonization of the Americas
Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata (1776–1814)
Banda Oriental
British invasions of the Río de la Plata (1806–1807)
Liga Federal (1815–1820)
Cisplatina (1821–1828)
Thirty-Three Orientals
Treaty of Montevideo (1828)
Uruguayan Civil War (1839–1851)
Uruguayan War (1864–1865)
Paraguayan War 1864–1870
Revolution of the Lances (1870–1872)
Battle of Masoller (1904)
Batllism
Tupamaros
Civic-military dictatorship of Uruguay (1973–1985)
Law on the Expiration of the Punitive Claims of the State (1986)

History of Uruguay, by region

History of Uruguay, by subject

Political history of Uruguay

The history of Uruguay according to the political period (interim and other administrations in italics):

Indigenous period: no political organization known.
Colonial period and fight for independence.
Nation building and prelude to civil war (1828–1839). Provisional governments of Suárez - Rondeau - Lavalleja. Presidencies of Pérez - Rivera - Anaya - Oribe - Pereira.
Civil War (1839–1852). Presidency of Rivera (2nd). Simultaneous governments of Defensa (Suárez) and Cerrito (Oribe).
End of civil war and politics of "fusion" (1852–1875). Presidencies of Berro - Giró. Triumvirate of Flores, Rivera and Lavalleja. Presidencies of Flores - Lamas (Montevideo only) - Bustamante - Pla - Pereira - Berro - Cruz Aguirre - Villalba. Dictatorship of Flores. Presidencies of Varela - Batlle y Grau - Gomensoro - Ellauri.
Militarism and modernization (1875–1919). Presidency of Varela. Dictatorship of Latorre and his subsequent presidency. Presidencies of Vidal - Santos - Vidal (2nd) - Santos - Tajes - Herrera y Obes - Stewart - Idiarte Borda - Cuestas. Dictatorship of Cuestas. Presidencies of Batlle y Ordóñez - Cuestas - Batlle y Ordóñez - Williman - Batlle y Ordóñez (2nd) - Viera.
Batlle reforms and modern Uruguay (1919–1933). Presidencies of Brum - Serrato - Campistegui - Terra.
Authoritarian rule and end of collective head of government (1933–1943). Dictatorship of Terra. Presidency and brief dictatorship of Baldomir.
Post WWII and period of prosperity (1943–1955). Presidencies of Amézaga - Berreta - Batlle Berres - Martínez Trueba. 1st National Council of Government.
Economic decline, social conflicts and guerrilla (1955–1973). 2nd, 3rd and 4th National Council of Government. Presidencies of Gestido - Pacheco Areco - Bordaberry.
Civic-military dictatorship of Uruguay (1973–1985). Rule by the Armed Forces and their allies. Regime of Bordaberry - Demicheli - Méndez - Álvarez.
Return to democracy and present times (1985–present). Presidencies of Addiego - Sanguinetti - Lacalle - Sanguinetti (2nd) - Batlle - Vázquez - Mujica - Vázquez (2nd) - Lacalle Pou.

Culture of Uruguay

Cuisine of Uruguay
Disability in Uruguay
Languages of Uruguay
National symbols of Uruguay
Orders, decorations, and medals of Uruguay: the decorations granted by the Uruguayan authorities to distinguish persons or organizations due to meritory services or achievements.
- Civilian decorations:
  - Medal of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay: a decoration granted to foreign individuals due to reciprocity reasons and diplomatic relationships.^[2]
  - Delmira Agustini Medal: granted to local or foreign individuals to distinguish their work and contribution to further improve the culture.^[3]
  - Order of Sports Merit: this decoration acknowledges individuals whose relevant merits or career path related to sports, locally or internationally, contributed with the development of the sports in Uruguay, and also to individuals who contributed with international covenants related to sports.^[4]
- Military decorations:
  - Medal of Military Merit: highest military award related to the Army of Uruguay, that awards civilian and military individuals, Uruguayan or foreign, and also to military units or institutions, due to meritory services or relevant contributions to the Army of Uruguay, and also for exceptional performance in combat in the case of military units.^[5]
  - Medal of Aeronautical Merit: highest military award related to the Uruguayan Air Force, that awards civilian and military individuals, Uruguayan or foreign, for their outstanding services in benefit of the Uruguayan Air Force or the national aviation.^[6]
  - Decoration Honor of Naval Merit Commander Peter Campbell: highest military award related to the Navy of Uruguay, that acknowledges civilian and military individuals, Uruguayan or foreign, and also to military units and Uruguayan or foreign institutions, for their outstanding services or relevant works served to the Uruguayan Navy.^[7]
  - 18 May 1811 Medal: second award in Army decorations hierarchy, to acknowledge meritory services to the Uruguayan Army.^[8]
  - 15 November 1817 Medal: second award in Navy decorations hierarchy, to distinguish civilian and military individuals, military units or institutions, for their merits related to the Navy.^[9]
  - Medal of Military Valor: third award in Army decorations hierarchy, to recognize heroic or valor in actions performed in duty.^[10]
  - Decoration General José Artigas Leader of the Orientals: decoration by the Staff of Defense office to distinguish individuals who contributed with their services to the Ministry of Defense, Staff of Defense office or to the branches of Armed Forces in general.^[11]
People of Uruguay
Prostitution in Uruguay
Public holidays in Uruguay: New Year's Day (1 January), Children's Day (6 January, commonly referred as Epiphany), Carnival (several days in February or March), Tourism Week (a week in March or April, also known as Holy Week), Landing of the 33 Patriots Day (19 April), Workers' Day (1 May), Anniversary of the Battle of Las Piedras (18 May), Birthday of José Artigas (19 June), Constitution Oath (18 July), Declaration of Independence (25 August), Day of the Race (12 October), Deceased ones Day (2 November), Family's Day (25 December, commonly referred as Christmas).
Religion in Uruguay
World Heritage Sites in Uruguay

Art in Uruguay

Sports in Uruguay

Education in Uruguay

Education in Uruguay: under the principles of compulsory, secular and free education of the public education institutions since 1876. The system comprises pre-primary education (compulsory from 4-year-old children), compulsory primary education, compulsory lower and higher secondary education, and voluntary tertiary education (university and not university).
Universities in Uruguay:
- Public: University of the Republic, Technological University of Uruguay.
- Private: ORT University, University of the Enterprise, Catholic University, University of Montevideo, CLAEH University.

References

1 2 "Uruguay". The World Factbook . United States Central Intelligence Agency. July 2, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
↑ "Ley N° 16300. AUTORIZACION AL PODER EJECUTIVO A ACUÑAR LA "MEDALLA DE LA REPUBLICA ORIENTAL DEL URUGUAY" A LOS EFECTOS DE ENTREGARLAS A PERSONALIDADES EXTRANJERAS" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
↑ "Ley N° 19050. CREACION DE "LA MEDALLA DELMIRA AGUSTINI"" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
↑ "Decreto N° 148/997. CREACION DE LA ORDEN AL MERITO DEPORTIVO. DEPORTISTAS Y PERSONALIDADES DESTACADAS. COMISION NACIONAL DE EDUCACION FISICA" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
↑ "Decreto N° 511/991. CREACION DE LA MEDALLA AL MERITO MILITAR" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
↑ "Decreto N° 49/992. OTORGAMIENTO DE MEDALLA AL MERITO AERONAUTICO" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
↑ "Decreto N° 368/993. CONDECORACIONES. MEDALLA AL MERITO NAVAL" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
↑ "Decreto N° 71/019. DEROGACION DEL DECRETO 469/997 Y CREACION DE LA DISTINCION "MEDALLA 18 DE MAYO DE 1811"" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
↑ "Decreto N° 43/000. CREACION DE LA MEDALLA 15 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 1817" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
↑ "Decreto N° 227/007" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
↑ "Decreto N° 372/013. CREACION DE LA DISTINCION "GRAL. JOSE ARTIGAS - JEFE DE LOS ORIENTALES"" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 7 January 2021.

External links

General

Maps

Wikimedia Atlas of Uruguay

Maps of Uruguay at WorldAtlas.com

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Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
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[CIA_World_Factbook-1] 1 2 "Uruguay". The World Factbook . United States Central Intelligence Agency. July 2, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2009.

[Ley16300-2] "Ley N° 16300. AUTORIZACION AL PODER EJECUTIVO A ACUÑAR LA "MEDALLA DE LA REPUBLICA ORIENTAL DEL URUGUAY" A LOS EFECTOS DE ENTREGARLAS A PERSONALIDADES EXTRANJERAS" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 9 August 2020.

[Ley19050-3] "Ley N° 19050. CREACION DE "LA MEDALLA DELMIRA AGUSTINI"" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 14 July 2020.

[Dec148-997-4] "Decreto N° 148/997. CREACION DE LA ORDEN AL MERITO DEPORTIVO. DEPORTISTAS Y PERSONALIDADES DESTACADAS. COMISION NACIONAL DE EDUCACION FISICA" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 7 January 2021.

[Dec-511-991-5] "Decreto N° 511/991. CREACION DE LA MEDALLA AL MERITO MILITAR" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 29 May 2020.

[Dec49-992-6] "Decreto N° 49/992. OTORGAMIENTO DE MEDALLA AL MERITO AERONAUTICO" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 24 September 2020.

[Dec368-993-7] "Decreto N° 368/993. CONDECORACIONES. MEDALLA AL MERITO NAVAL" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 14 December 2020.

[Dec71-2019-8] "Decreto N° 71/019. DEROGACION DEL DECRETO 469/997 Y CREACION DE LA DISTINCION "MEDALLA 18 DE MAYO DE 1811"" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 16 August 2020.

[Dec43-000-9] "Decreto N° 43/000. CREACION DE LA MEDALLA 15 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 1817" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 14 December 2020.

[10] "Decreto N° 227/007" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 20 January 2021.

[Dec372-013-11] "Decreto N° 372/013. CREACION DE LA DISTINCION "GRAL. JOSE ARTIGAS - JEFE DE LOS ORIENTALES"" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 7 January 2021.

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