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Trading Basics

Uruguay

Capital
Montevideo
Region
Latin America & Caribbean
Income group
High income
Population
3.4 million (2025)

At a glance

  • Prices in Uruguay rose 4.7% in 2025, faster than in most countries.
  • Uruguay's economy grew 1.8% in 2025, slower than most economies.
  • Output per person in Uruguay was US$25,216 in 2025, higher than in most countries.
  • 7.5% of Uruguay's labour force had no job in 2025, a higher share than in most countries.
  • Uruguay's central government owed 65.3% of GDP in 2024, more than in most countries with data.
  • Uruguay had 3.4 million people in 2025: about less than 0.1% of everyone on Earth, the 133rd largest population of 217 countries and territories.
  • Uruguay had a current account deficit of 0.5% of GDP in 2025, close to the middle of the range worldwide.

Consumer prices, change over the year (yearly average)

4.7%
World median 3.0%

Since 2000

Show the numbers
Inflation in Uruguay and the world median, last ten years
YearUruguayWorld median
20254.7%3.0%
20244.9%3.0%
20235.9%5.7%
20229.1%8.0%
20217.8%3.5%
20209.8%1.9%
20197.9%2.2%
20187.6%2.5%
20176.2%2.3%
20169.6%1.6%

Real GDP, change over the year

1.8%
World median 3.4%

Since 2000

Show the numbers
Economic growth in Uruguay and the world median, last ten years
YearUruguayWorld median
20251.8%3.4%
20243.3%3.4%
20230.8%3.2%
20224.6%4.3%
20215.8%5.1%
2020−7.4%−3.8%
20190.9%2.8%
20180.2%3.2%
20171.7%3.3%
20161.7%3.1%

GDP divided by population, in US dollars at current prices

US$25,216
World median US$7,882

Since 2000

Show the numbers
GDP per person in Uruguay and the world median, last ten years
YearUruguayWorld median
2025US$25,216US$7,882
2024US$24,308US$7,853
2023US$23,379US$7,862
2022US$21,009US$7,656
2021US$17,882US$7,269
2020US$15,758US$6,433
2019US$18,316US$7,037
2018US$19,250US$6,978
2017US$19,185US$6,548
2016US$17,010US$5,982

Share of the labour force without a job (ILO modelled estimate)

7.5%
World median 5.1%

Since 2000

Show the numbers
Unemployment in Uruguay and the world median, last ten years
YearUruguayWorld median
20257.5%5.1%
20248.2%5.1%
20238.4%5.2%
20227.9%5.3%
20219.3%6.0%
202010.4%6.4%
20198.8%5.4%
20188.3%5.4%
20177.9%5.6%
20167.8%5.9%

Central government debt, % of GDP

65.3%
World median 53.2%

Since 2001

Show the numbers
Government debt in Uruguay and the world median, last ten years
YearUruguayWorld median
202465.3%53.2%
202361.4%60.7%
202253.8%55.6%
202158.1%58.8%
202060.4%64.3%
201950.1%49.2%
201847.3%47.3%
201745.1%51.2%
201646.5%50.2%
201547.3%49.4%

Everyone living in the country, mid-year

3.4 million

Since 2000

Show the numbers
Population in Uruguay and the world median, last ten years
YearUruguay
20253.4 million
20243.4 million
20233.4 million
20223.4 million
20213.4 million
20203.4 million
20193.4 million
20183.4 million
20173.4 million
20163.4 million

Current account balance, % of GDP

−0.5%
World median −0.8%

Since 2000

Show the numbers
Current account balance in Uruguay and the world median, last ten years
YearUruguayWorld median
2025−0.5%−0.8%
2024−0.8%−1.3%
2023−3.0%−1.2%
2022−3.5%−3.0%
2021−2.4%−2.4%
2020−0.6%−1.7%
20191.3%−2.1%
2018−0.5%−2.9%
20170.0%−2.1%
20160.8%−2.8%

About these figures

All numbers are yearly. The world median is the middle value of all countries with a figure for the same year: half of them are above it and half below. Sparklines show Uruguay since 2000 or since its first figure.

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), updated 2026-10-08. Original sources: Inflation: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics; Economic growth: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; GDP per person: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; Unemployment: International Labour Organization, ILO modelled estimates (ILOSTAT); Government debt: International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics; Population: United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects) and national statistical offices; Current account balance: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments Statistics, with World Bank and OECD data. Yearly figures; recent years are often revised. All sources and terms.