From the invention of tango to the world’s longest national anthem, these are the most interesting facts about Uruguay.
Fast facts
Official name: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Population: 3,425,330
Area: 176,215 sq km
Capital city: Montevideo
Major languages: Spanish (official)
Major religions: Christianity (42% Roman Catholic, 15% Protestant), 24% did not specify
Time zone: UTC-3 (Montevideo Standard Time)
Fun facts about Uruguay
1. Uruguay is in the southeastern area of South America, bordered by Brazil and Argentina.
2. Uruguay is the second-smallest country in South America. Only Suriname is smaller.
3. Indigenous groups such as the Charrúa and Guaraní Indians were the first known to occupy Uruguay.
4. The indigenous population declined significantly following the arrival of European settlers between the 16th and 19th centuries.
5. Spanish navigator Juan Díaz de Solís was the first European to explore Uruguay in 1516.
6. Over the following centuries, the region was contested by Spanish and Portuguese powers before eventually gaining independence under leaders such as José Gervasio Artigas.
7. Uruguay has the world’s longest national anthem, taking around six minutes to sing. It is called Orientales, la Patria o La Tumba (“Uruguayans, the Fatherland or the Grave”).
8. The flag of Uruguay has nine horizontal stripes alternating white and blue, representing the original nine departments. In the upper left corner, there’s a white square with a golden sun called the “Sun of May,” symbolizing freedom and independence.
See how Uruguay’s flag compares to other South American flags.
9. Uruguay is one of the most progressive nations in Latin America for LGBT people, ranking seventh in the world for the protection of sexual orientation and gender Identity (SOGI) minorities in 2020.
10. Yerba Mate, a caffeinated beverage, is a beloved favorite among South Americans. Uruguayans are particularly fond of it, consuming an impressive annual average of 6-8 kilograms (around 13–18 pounds) per person.
11. The name “Uruguay” comes from the Guarani language, meaning “river of painted birds”.
12. In 2009, Uruguay became the first country to give every primary school student a laptop.
13. Uruguayans are such lovers of salt that the Montevideo city government has had to ban it from appearing on the tables of restaurants and schools. Salt shakers, along with ketchup and mayonnaise, are not readily available at the diner’s disposal.
14. Building on the salt fact, 30% of the population suffers from hypertension (high blood pressure), which explains the imposed salt laws.
15. Uruguay is the least corrupt country in Latin America, placing 17th globally on Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
16. Uruguay is sometimes described as “one big farm.” At one point, cows outnumbered people four to one.
17. Beef is the main export of Uruguay, accounting for 20% of the total goods exported in 2022.
18. More than 80% of Uruguay’s exports are agricultural-based.
19. Ninety-eight percent of Uruguay’s energy comes from renewable sources.
20. The first-ever World Cup was hosted in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1930. It paid off as their national team won the cup.
21. Argentina and Uruguay have agreed to disagree about the origins of the tango, and now both share credit for its invention. Said to be developed in the lower classes of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, it certainly takes two to tango!
22. The world’s “poorest president” comes from Uruguay. Jose Mujica, who reigned as president from 2010 to 2015, donated 90% of his monthly salary to charity, the equivalent of $12,000 USD.
23. Uruguay was the first country in the world to legalize cannabis for recreational use.
24. Uruguay has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, L’œuvre de l’ingénieur Eladio Dieste: Église d’Atlántida, Paysage industriel de Fray Bentos and Quartier historique de la ville de Colonia del Sacramento.
25. Uruguay was one of the first countries to separate church from state and renamed some Christian holidays to reflect the secular society. In 1919, Christmas Day became known as Family Week and Holy Week was rebranded as Tourism Week.
26. The year 2023 marked a significant water emergency for Uruguay, as the country faced its worst drought in 70 years. The government has increased the spending on water infrastructure to lessen the impact.
Explore more: Test your knowledge with our South America map quiz.
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Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. With seven years of teaching experience and a background in educational content, she specialises in creating clear reference resources about countries, geography and global topics.