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Latin America & Caribbean

Living in Uruguay

Among the 116 countries we cover, Uruguay stands out most for civil freedoms and governance. Its weakest dimension is affordability.

Capital
Montevideo
Population
3.4M (2025)
World Bank income group
High income

Key figures

Price level (US = 100)
66Lower means cheaper than the US · 2025
Life expectancy (years)
78.3At birth · 2024
Homicides per 100,000 people
11.3Per 100,000 people per year · 2023
People using the internet
92.0%Share of the population · 2024

Scores by dimension

0–100, relative to the 116 countries we cover (100 = best in our set).

Affordability
30 / 100
Safety
63 / 100
Healthcare
74 / 100
Governance
69 / 100
Civil freedoms
83 / 100
Digital access
88 / 100
Economy
79 / 100
  • Affordability#84 of 116
  • Safety#58 of 116
  • Healthcare#38 of 116
  • Governance#26 of 116
  • Civil freedoms#19 of 116
  • Digital access#41 of 116
  • Economy#59 of 116

The underlying data

Indicators for Uruguay, with the year each value refers to
IndicatorValueYear
Price level (US = 100)WDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.CD / NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD662025
GDP per personWDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.CDUS$25,2162025
GDP per person, adjusted for prices (PPP)WDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CDInt$38,3152025
Unemployment rateWDI · SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS7.5%2025
Inflation (consumer prices)WDI · FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG4.7%2025
Life expectancy (years)WDI · SP.DYN.LE00.IN78.32024
Doctors per 1,000 peopleWDI · SH.MED.PHYS.ZS4.72022
Health spending per personWDI · SH.XPD.CHEX.PC.CDUS$2,0762023
Homicides per 100,000 peopleWDI · VC.IHR.PSRC.P511.32023
People using the internetWDI · IT.NET.USER.ZS92.0%2024
Political stability (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_PV.SC882025
Rule of law (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_RL.SC742025
Government effectiveness (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_GE.SC702025
Control of corruption (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_CC.SC792025
Voice and accountability (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_VA.SC802025
PopulationWDI · SP.POP.TOTL3.4M2025

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators (updated July 13, 2026) and Worldwide Governance Indicators (updated September 25, 2026), CC BY 4.0. We show the most recent year available for each figure. How we score

Uruguay: common questions

Is Uruguay expensive to live in?

The World Bank price level for Uruguay is 66 (US = 100) in 2025, which places it #84 of 116 countries for affordability in our data. This is a national average. Big cities, housing and imported goods can cost much more.

How safe is Uruguay?

Uruguay recorded 11.3 intentional homicides per 100,000 people (2023). Its World Bank political stability score is 88 out of 100 (2025). National figures hide local differences, so check your government's current travel advice for specific areas.

What is healthcare like in Uruguay?

Life expectancy at birth in Uruguay is 78.3 years (2024). There are 4.7 doctors per 1,000 people (2022). Access for foreign residents depends on your visa, residency status and insurance, so confirm what coverage you'd be entitled to.

Do I need a visa to move to Uruguay?

It depends on your citizenship, purpose and length of stay, and the rules change often. We don't give visa advice. Check the official immigration authority or embassy of Uruguay for the current requirements.