Population, GDP, natural resources, leaders and history of Uruguay: the Magna Factbook country file, with its Magna grade (MBB, ranked #48 of 195).
Uruguay is a presidential republic in Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil. The country's capital is Montevideo; it covers 176,215 sq km. Independence: 25 August 1825 (from Brazil). Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland. Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown. Population: 3.4 million (2025 estimate). Population growth: +0.06% per year. Median age: 37.4 years. Life expectancy: 78.9 years (2024 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…
| Capital | Montevideo |
|---|---|
| Population | 3,449,444 (2025 est.) |
| GDP (PPP) | $108.502 billion (2024 est.) |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | $32,000 (2024 est.) |
| Real GDP growth | 3.1% (2024 est.) |
| Inflation | 4.8% |
| Unemployment | 8.5% |
| Public debt | 62.4% of GDP (2023 est.) |
| Exports | $23.329 billion (2024 est.) |
| Imports | $19.117 billion (2024 est.) |
| Life expectancy | 78.9 years (2024 est.) |
| Median age | 37.4 |
| Urbanization | 95.8% of total population (2023) |
| Government | presidential republic |
| Independence | 25 August 1825 (from Brazil) |
| Languages | Spanish (official, Rioplatense is the most widely spoken dialect) |
MBB · 57/100 — The Magna grade is our 0–100 composite of structural national power — five dimensions, 100+ indicators. It is the Bureau's own assessment, not a mirror of World Bank or CIA figures.
Momentum 0 — Quarterly momentum: the Bureau's read on the country's trajectory over the last quarter, from −10 (deteriorating fast) to +10 (accelerating).
The quarter's signal was silence: no major domestic development, no external shock, no diplomatic breakthrough.
The country's course remains what it was in June — set by structural realities that no single quarter rewrites.
Hydropower.
Yamandú Orsi — President. President Yamandú ORSI Martínez (since 1 March 2025)
Uruguay maintains 51 embassies and 41 consulates abroad, hosts 44 foreign diplomatic missions, holds permanent missions to UN New York, OAS Washington. The breadth of a diplomatic network is a direct measure of diplomatic power — it shows how far a country’s influence, alliances and interests reach.
| Embassies abroad | 51 |
|---|---|
| Consulates abroad | 41 |
| Foreign missions hosted | 44 |
| Multilateral missions | UN New York, OAS Washington |
Source: Consular Affairs Center, diplomatic & consular networks database, Mar 2026 report (of-country ranking) https://zenodo.org/records/18917562 ; Jan 2026 report (in-country ranking) https://zenodo.org/records/18109976
Transport networks are economic power made physical — ports, runways, railways and pipelines decide what a country can move, sell and defend.
| Sea access | Coastal — 660 km of coastline. |
|---|---|
| Airports (total) | 65 + 4 heliports (registration prefix CX) |
| Major seaports | Colonia, Fray Bentos, Jose Ignacio, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Puerto Sauce |
| Railways | 1673 km |
| Pipelines | 257 km gas, 160 km oil (2013) |
Carrasco General Cesáreo L. Berisso International Airport (MVD) — Ciudad de la Costa; Capitan Corbeta CA Curbelo International Airport (PDP) — Punta del Este; Pres. Gral. Óscar D. Gestido Binational Airport (RVY) — Rivera/Santana do Livramento.
Sources: OurAirports public-domain extract (2026-10-02); per-entry Wikipedia links included; CIA World Factbook via cia_factbook snapshot (2026-09-28); theodora.com CIA mirror (CIA World Factbook Transportation section), scraped 2026-10-02
| Political system | presidential republic |
|---|---|
| Last election | 2024 — general (presidential + parliamentary); 2024-11-24 (runoff; first round 2024-10-27); winner: Yamandú Orsi (Broad Front (Frente Amplio)); Broad Front returns to power after 5 years of Lacalle Pou government AP News |
| Next election | 2029 — general (scheduled) |
Source: constitutional schedule / public election calendar
MBB · 57 Ranked #48 of 195 countries in the Magna Country Rankings. Full ranking breakdown for Uruguay.
