Departments of Uruguay
Uruguay consists of 19 departments (departamentos, singular – departamento) (capitals in parentheses):
- Artigas (Artigas). Formed in 1884 from part of Salto Department. The only department to border both Argentina in the west and Brazil in the north and east.
- Canelones (Canelones). One of the original 6 departments created in 1816. The original name was Villa de Guadalupe Department.
- Cerro Largo (Melo). Formed in 1821.
- Colonia (Colonia del Sacramento). One of the original 6 departments created in 1816.
- Durazno (Durazno). Formed in 1822. The original name was Entre Ríos y Negro Department.
- Flores (Trinidad). Formed in 1885 from part of San José Department.
- Florida (Florida). Formed in 1856 from part of San José Department.
- Lavalleja (Minas). Formed in 1837. Was named Minas Department until 1927.
- Maldonado (Maldonado). One of the original 6 departments created in 1816. The original name was San Fernando de Maldonado Department.
- Montevideo (Montevideo). One of the original 6 departments created in 1816.
- Paysandú (Paysandú). Formed in 1820.
- Río Negro (Fray Bentos). Formed in 1868 from parts of Paysandú Department.
- Rivera (Rivera). Formed in 1884 from part of Tacuarembó Department.
- Rocha (Rocha). Formed from part of Maldonado Department.
- Salto (Salto). Formed in 1837.
- San José (San José de Mayo). One of the original 6 departments created in 1816.
- Soriano (Mercedes). One of the original 6 departments created in 1816. The original name was Santo Domingo Soriano Department.
- Tacuarembó (Tacuarembó). Formed in 1837; geographically the largest of the Uruguayan Departments.
- Treinta y Tres (Treinta y Tres). Formed in 1884 from parts of Cerro Largo Department and Lavalleja Department. 'Treinta y Tres' is Spanish for 'Thirty-Three'. The department is named after 33 19th century patriots honoured by Uruguayans.
Populations and Areas
Department |
Area
km² |
Population |
Density |
Capital |
Artigas |
11,928 |
79,317 |
6.65 |
Artigas |
Canelones |
4,536 |
509,095 |
112.23 |
Canelones |
Cerro Largo |
13,648 |
89,383 |
6.55 |
Melo |
Colonia |
6,106 |
120,855 |
10.79 |
Colonia del Sacramento |
Durazno |
11,643 |
60,926 |
5.23 |
Durazno |
Flores |
5,144 |
25,609 |
4.98 |
Trinidad |
Florida |
10,417 |
69,968 |
6.72 |
Florida |
Lavalleja |
10,016 |
61,883 |
6.18 |
Minas |
Maldonado |
4,793 |
147,391 |
30.75 |
Maldonado |
Montevideo |
530 |
1,342,474 |
2,533 |
Montevideo |
Paysandú |
13,922 |
115,623 |
8.31 |
Paysandú |
Río Negro |
9,282 |
55,657 |
6.00 |
Fray Bentos |
Rivera |
9,370 |
109,267 |
11.66 |
Rivera |
Rocha |
10,551 |
70,614 |
6.69 |
Rocha |
Salto |
14,163 |
126,745 |
8.95 |
Salto |
San José |
4,992 |
107,644 |
21.56 |
San José de Mayo |
Soriano |
9,008 |
87,073 |
9.67 |
Mercedes |
Tacuarembó |
15,438 |
94,613 |
6.13 |
Tacuarembó |
Treinta y Tres |
9,676 |
49,769 |
5.14 |
Treinta y Tres |
See also