| Area Total | 176,215 sq km |
| Climate | warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown |
| Natural Resources | arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish |
| Imports | $8.607 billion (2017 est.) partners: China 20%, Brazil 19.5%, Argentina 12.6%, US 10.9% (2017) |
| Exports | $11.41 billion (2017 est.)m partners: China 19%, Brazil 16.1%, US 5.7%, Argentina 5.4% (2017) |
| Government | presidential republic |
| Capital | Montevideo |
| Population | 3.4 million (July 2018 est.) |
| Ethnicity | white 87.7%, black 4.6%, indigenous 2.4%, other .3%, none or unspecified 5%; note: data represent primary ethnic identity (2011 est.) |
| Language | Spanish (official) |
News about Uruguay
- With Milei present and Lula absent, Mercosur and EU sign landmark deal in Asunción
on January 18, 2026The European Union and South America’s Mercosur bloc signed their long-negotiated association and free trade agreement on Saturday in Paraguay, with Argentina’s President Javier Milei attending the ceremony and Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva absent, represented instead by his foreign minister.
- Mercosur and EU sign historic trade agreement in Asunción after 26 years of negotiations
on January 17, 2026On January 17, 2026, the Mercosur bloc and the European Union (EU) will formalize a comprehensive association and free trade agreement in Asunción, Paraguay, marking the culmination of nearly 26 years of negotiations, according to international and regional news outlets.
- Brazil transfers military equipment to Uruguay and Paraguay to bolster regional security
on January 16, 2026Brazil has enacted two laws formalizing the transfer of military aircraft and equipment to Uruguay and Paraguay, as part of an initiative to upgrade operational capabilities of neighboring countries and enhance regional security, Agência Brasil reported.
- US to suspend immigrant visas for 75 countries, including Uruguay; Orsi calls it a “worrying signal”
on January 15, 2026Uruguay’s President Yamandú Orsi said he was concerned by Washington’s decision to pause immigrant visa issuance for citizens of 75 countries —including Uruguay— starting January 21, with no end date announced. “In numerical terms it’s not very important, but as a signal it certainly worries us,” Orsi said after meeting US Ambassador Lou […]
- BBC ranks Uruguay 10th among world's top tourism destinations
on January 15, 2026The British Broadcasting Corporation has named Uruguay as one of the top 20 travel destinations for the year, ranking it at number 10 globally, minly due to its sustainable alternatives. The South American country was also demed an ideal alternative to crowded global hotspots.
- EU-Mercosur deal to be signed in Asunción on Jan. 17
on January 9, 2026The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the European Union (EU) will be signed in Paraguay on Saturday, Jan. 17, Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno confirmed on Friday, following the decisive round of voting in Brussels, where France and its allies failed to reach the minimum number to topple the initiative.
- Uruguay: donated islands for environmental bilateral initiative
on January 9, 2026Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi took delivery on Thursday of three islands in the Uruguay River purchased by US philanthropist Gilbert Butler to develop a binational "Peace Park" Project together with neighboring Argentina.
- Uruguay records lowest yearly inflation in over two decades
on January 6, 2026Uruguay's inflation last year fell below the Central Bank’s (BCU) official target of 4.5%, hitting 3.65% after December's -0.09%, making President Yamandú Orsi's first annual National Institute of Statistics (INE) report a historic one with figures not recorded since 2001.
- Paraguay's Peña approves of Maduro's arrest and wishes Venezuelans all the best
on January 5, 2026Paraguayan President Santiago Peña celebrated Washington's intervention in Caracas to hold Bolivarian leader Nicolás Maduro Moros accountable before a New York court of law.
- Paraguayan group buys over major Uruguayan retail business
on January 3, 2026Paraguay's Grupo Vierci has signed a binding agreement to acquire 100% of GDN Uruguay's shares, encompassing key retail brands including Supermercados TaTa, Farmacia San Roque, BAS apparel, MultiAhorro Hogar home goods, and wholesale chain Frontoy.
