MigrantoImmigrants in Uruguay
150.6K foreigners live in Uruguay — 4% of the country's population
Immigrants in Uruguay by country
The 3 largest groups make up 71% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Argentina | 42578 |
| Venezuela | 39689 |
| Spain | 24980 |
| Brazil | 19034 |
| Italy | 11274 |
| Germany | 2129 |
| Chile | 1980 |
| Poland | 1792 |
| Paraguay | 1579 |
| USA | 958 |
| Romania | 939 |
| Portugal | 861 |
| Mexico | 819 |
| France | 722 |
| United Kingdom | 698 |
| Canada | 480 |
| Peru | 137 |
By region of origin
70% of immigrants come from Latin America
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Key facts
Immigrants in Uruguay in numbers
The immigrant population has grown 49% since 2020
The number of foreigners living in Uruguay rose from 101K to 150.6K in four years.
The share of immigrants from Latin America has grown since 1990
32.2% of immigrants came from Latin America in 1990, compared with 70.2% today.
Argentines are the largest group by a wide margin
28% of all immigrants were born in Argentina, while the next group accounts for just 26%.
Immigration drives population growth
21% of the population growth of Uruguay since 1990 came from immigrants.
Immigrants come from a wider range of countries than in 1990
The largest group's share fell from 38% to 28%.
Immigrant population in Uruguay over time
Foreigners living in Uruguay, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 91866 |
| 1995 | 86635 |
| 2000 | 81477 |
| 2005 | 75452 |
| 2010 | 70395 |
| 2015 | 72691 |
| 2020 | 100965 |
| 2024 | 150649 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Uruguay, by year
| Year | Argentines | Venezuelans | Spaniards | Brazilians | Italians |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 14559 | 773 | 34478 | 10581 | 15780 |
| 1995 | 17970 | 713 | 29447 | 11084 | 14943 |
| 2000 | 21691 | 659 | 24303 | 11507 | 13403 |
| 2005 | 25992 | 610 | 18858 | 12923 | 8155 |
| 2010 | 26782 | 565 | 15718 | 11978 | 7095 |
| 2015 | 27662 | 583 | 16232 | 12369 | 7327 |
| 2020 | 33022 | 14908 | 19374 | 14762 | 8744 |
| 2024 | 42578 | 39689 | 24980 | 19034 | 11274 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Uruguay
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Uruguay
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Uruguay?
Around 150.6K immigrants live in Uruguay — the world's #124 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Uruguay are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 4% of the population of Uruguay — that's 150.6K out of a total population of 3.4M.
Where do most immigrants in Uruguay come from?
Most immigrants in Uruguay come from Argentina, Venezuela and Spain — these three countries account for about 71% of all immigrants.
How many Argentines live in Uruguay?
Around 42.6K Argentines live in Uruguay — about 28% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Uruguay growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Uruguay has grown from 72.7K to 150.6K, about 107%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Uruguay come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Uruguay. Their children born in Uruguay are not included.
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Living in Uruguay
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