World Context: Uruguay

Source and mapping status

This page maps the site registry entry “Uruguay” to the supplied dataset entity “Uruguay.” Mapping status: exact-name. The source is a frozen 2025 snapshot; dates embedded in individual fields remain controlling.

• Source entity count: 1.
• Selected public fields present: 19.
• Independent corroboration in this page: none.

Place and environment

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil Area: total : 176,215 sq km; land: 175,015 sq km; water: 1,200 sq km Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland Natural hazards: seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts Environmental issues: water pollution from meat-packing, tannery industries; heavy metal pollution; inadequate solid and hazardous waste disposal; deforestation

Population, settlement, and language context

Population: total: 3,449,444 (2025 est.); male: 1,678,419; female: 1,771,025 Population distribution: most of the country's population resides in the southern half of the country; approximately 80% of the populace is urban; nearly half of the population lives in and around the capital of Montevideo Urbanization: urban population: 95.8% of total population (2023); rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Languages: Spanish (official, Rioplatense is the most widely spoken dialect)

Public and legal context

Capital: name: Montevideo; geographic coordinates: 34 51 S, 56 10 W; time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); etymology: the origin of the name is disputed but refers to a hill or mountain ( monte ); one theory combines the Spanish word monte (mountain) with the Latin video (I see) Government type: presidential republic Legal system: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code

Economy and connectivity context

Economic overview: 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 Industries: food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) Internet users: percent of population: 90% (2023 est.) Airports: 65 (2025) Ports: total ports: 8 (2024); large: 0; medium: 1; small: 1; very small: 6; ports with oil terminals: 2; key ports: Colonia, Fray Bentos, Jose Ignacio, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Puerto Sauce

Interpretation and freshness boundary

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