Migration trends in Uruguay

Latin America

Uruguay loses more people than it takes in: 263.3K emigrants against 150.6K immigrants. Net balance −112.6K — 3% of the country's population

3.4M

Population

150.6K

Immigrants

263.3K

Emigrants

−112.6K

Outflow

1 in 22 residents of Uruguay was born abroad — and 1 in 14 people born in Uruguay lives abroad

#124 in the world by net migration loss

Top corridors

The largest migration flows in Uruguay

Where people move to

91.5K34.7%

89.3K33.9%

27.2K10.3%

Where people come from

1Argentina

42.6K28.3%

2Venezuela

39.7K26.3%

3Spain

25K16.6%

Immigrants in Uruguay

Key moments

How migration has changed since 1990

1990

91.9K immigrants · 178.6K emigrants

2005

Argentina overtook Spain as the largest source of new arrivals

2020

Migration accounted for 91% of the country's population growth
The foreign-born population passed 100K residents

Today

A surge of arrivals — the foreign-born population jumped 49%
Since 1990: 58.8K more foreign-born residents and 84.7K more emigrants

Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)

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