Population of Uruguay

Let's talk about the population of Uruguay.

As of 2023, Uruguay's population stands at 3,423,108, reflecting a marginal 0.01% growth compared to the 2022 figure. In the previous year, 2022, the population was recorded at 3,422,794, indicating a slight 0.1% decrease from the 2021 population.

Uruguay exhibits a population density of 20 individuals per square kilometer (51 people per square mile). According to the report "Aging in the Americas into the XXI Century," a collaborative publication by PAHO, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the National Institute on Aging, approximately 17.3% of Uruguay's population falls within the 60-and-older age category. This percentage is slightly higher compared to the figures of 16.5% in the United States and 16.3% in Canada.

Uruguay experienced a notable factor contributing to its low population growth rate, primarily attributed to its relatively diminished birth rate. In 1990, the country recorded the lowest average birth rate in Latin America, standing at just 17 per 1,000 inhabitants. Additionally, significant levels of emigration played a role in impeding population growth. Concurrently, Uruguayans enjoyed a relatively high average life expectancy, reaching seventy years for men and seventy-six years for women in 1990. The combination of a comparatively low birth rate, net emigration, and extended life expectancy resulted in Uruguay having an aging population characterized by a pyramid structure more typical of a developed nation than a Third World country.

Montevideo leads as the most populous city in Uruguay, with a population of 1,270,737. Following are other significant urban centers: Salto with 99,823 residents, Paysandu with 73,249, Las Piedras with 69,682, Rivera with 64,631, Maldonado with 55,478, Tacuarembo with 51,854, Melo with 51,023, Mercedes with 42,359, and Artigas with 41,909 residents.

The religious composition in Uruguay is diverse, with Roman Catholics constituting 47.1% of the population. Non-Catholic Christians make up 11.1%, while those identifying as nondenominational account for 23.2%. A smaller percentage includes individuals adhering to the Jewish faith at 0.3%. A notable portion, 17.2%, identifies as atheist or agnostic, and a further 1.1% adhere to other religious beliefs.

Uruguay, predominantly a Christian-majority nation, embraces religious diversity, with Islam forming a minority community. The country's constitution, which upholds a secular stance, allows Muslims the freedom to propagate their faith and establish places of worship.

The estimated Muslim population in Uruguay stands at 1,000, constituting approximately 0.02 percent of the total population. Notable Muslim communities are found in Chuy, near the Brazilian border, as well as in Rivera, Artigas, and the capital city, Montevideo. Montevideo hosts three Islamic centers, including Musallah Al Haazimi, the Egyptian Cultural Islamic Center, and the Islamic Center Uruguay.

The predominant racial group in Uruguay is white, encompassing 88% of the population. Recent studies indicate that over 9% of Uruguay's population identifies as black. Unfortunately, a significant portion of black Uruguayans faces economic challenges, residing in impoverished neighborhoods on the periphery of the capital city.