Demographics of Uruguay

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Uruguay, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

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Uruguay

Population

Demographics of Uruguay, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands.
Census population in thousands
YearPop.±% p.a.
1852132    
1860229.5+7.16%
19081,042.7+3.20%
19632,595.5+1.67%
19752,788.4+0.60%
19852,955.2+0.58%
19963,163.8+0.62%
20043,241+0.30%
20113,286.3+0.20%

According to the 2010 revison of the World Population Prospects the total population was 3,369,000 in 2010, compared to only 2,239,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 22.5%, 63.7% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 13.8% was 65 years or older.[1]

Total population
(x 1000)
Proportion
aged 0–14
(%)
Proportion
aged 15–64
(%)
Proportion
aged 65+
(%)
1950 2 23927.963.98.2
1955 2 37227.664.38.1
1960 2 53827.864.18.1
1965 2 69428.163.68.3
1970 2 80927.963.38.8
1975 2 82927.762.79.6
1980 2 91526.962.710.4
1985 3 01126.862.310.9
1990 3 10926.062.411.6
1995 3 22325.062.612.4
2000 3 31924.562.413.0
2005 3 32323.862.813.5
2010 3 36922.563.713.8

Vital statistics

UN estimates

The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates for Uruguay. [1]

Period Live births
per year
Deaths
per year
Natural change
per year
CBR* CDR* NC* TFR* IMR* Life expectancy
total
Life expectancy
males
Life expectancy
females
1950-1955 49 000 24 000 25 00021.210.510.72.735766.063.369.3
1955-1960 54 000 25 000 29 00021.910.011.92.835367.064.270.3
1960-1965 57 000 25 000 32 00021.99.512.42.904868.365.371.5
1965-1970 56 000 26 000 30 00020.59.610.82.804768.565.571.8
1970-1975 60 000 28 000 32 00021.110.011.13.004668.765.672.1
1975-1980 58 000 29 000 29 00020.210.110.12.894269.566.373.1
1980-1985 54 000 29 000 25 00018.39.88.52.573470.967.674.5
1985-1990 56 000 30 000 26 00018.29.88.42.532372.168.675.7
1990-1995 58 000 31 000 27 00018.29.78.52.492073.069.276.8
1995-2000 55 000 31 000 24 00016.99.57.42.301674.270.477.9
2000-2005 53 000 31 000 22 00015.99.56.52.201475.371.678.9
2005-2010 51 000 31 000 20 00015.19.35.82.121376.472.779.9
2010-2015 49 000 32 000 17 00014.59.45.12.051177.173.680.5
2015-2020 49 000 32 000 17 00014.19.34.82.001077.974.581.1
* CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)

Births and deaths[2][3]

Average population (x 1000) Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000)
1900 926 30 58012 87817 702 33.013.919.1
1901 951 31 70312 50419 199 33.313.120.2
1902 976 31 52613 43918 087 32.313.818.5
1903 1 004 32 60013 67318 927 32.513.618.9
1904 1 023 26 98411 51515 469 26.411.315.1
1905 1 056 33 70913 61220 097 31.912.919.0
1906 1 087 32 57815 08317 495 30.013.916.1
1907 1 124 33 65715 56118 096 29.913.816.1
1908 1 043 35 52014 42121 099 34.113.820.2
1909 1 079 35 66315 24920 414 33.114.118.9
1910 1 116 35 92716 51519 412 32.214.817.4
1911 1 160 37 53016 55220 978 32.414.318.1
1912 1 208 39 17116 74522 426 32.413.918.6
1913 1 261 40 31515 37424 941 32.012.219.8
1914 1 297 38 57115 35023 221 29.711.817.9
1915 1 327 38 04616 60221 444 28.712.516.2
1916 1 359 36 98320 33816 645 27.215.012.2
1917 1 387 36 75217 34819 404 26.512.514.0
1918 1 409 38 91420 00918 905 27.614.213.4
1919 1 442 39 30718 90420 403 27.313.114.1
1920 1 473 39 33519 04120 294 26.712.913.8
1921 1 505 39 61118 44921 162 26.312.314.1
1922 1 542 40 26116 41523 846 26.110.615.5
1923 1 579 40 23118 11022 121 25.511.514.0
1924 1 616 41 88019 13222 748 25.911.814.1
1925 1 653 42 16719 33222 835 25.511.713.8
1926 1 695 43 09117 82825 263 25.410.514.9
1927 1 737 42 84519 93922 906 24.711.513.2
1928 1 782 44 63219 07025 562 25.010.714.3
1929 1 823 44 23619 66024 576 24.310.813.5
1930 1 875 45 71820 04925 669 24.410.713.7
1931 1 922 44 85421 16323 691 23.311.012.3
1932 1 956 44 03619 82524 211 22.510.112.4
1933 1 982 41 65020 35821 292 21.010.310.7
1934 2 007 41 33720 06521 272 20.610.010.6
1935 2 030 41 42621 51419 912 20.410.69.8
1936 2 053 40 70519 84320 862 19.89.710.2
1937 2 080 41 33721 56119 776 19.910.49.5
1938 2 108 41 70121 65820 043 19.810.39.5
1939 2 132 42 86219 34123 521 20.19.111.0
1940 2 155 42 89320 69522 198 19.99.610.3
1941 2 175 44 28720 38123 906 20.49.411.0
1942 2 194 42 67020 64622 024 19.49.410.0
1943 2 211 43 50020 73822 762 19.79.410.3
1944 2 216 46 44319 99026 453 21.09.011.9
1945 2 266 49 02119 62729 394 21.68.713.0
1946 2 290 48 97818 41530 563 21.48.013.3
1947 2 317 46 79620 13926 657 20.28.711.5
1948 2 343 49 03319 32629 707 20.98.212.7
1949 2 383 54 83818 35136 487 23.07.715.3
1950 2 239 56 85819 19937 659 25.48.616.8
1951 2 261 45 28119 19026 091 20.08.511.5
1952 2 286 46 71019 08327 627 20.48.412.1
1953 2 313 47 46419 40828 056 20.58.412.1
1954 2 342 49 88819 15330 735 21.38.213.1
1955 2 373 56 11120 61135 500 23.78.715.0
1956 2 405 56 38919 89536 494 23.58.315.2
1957 2 438 56 33721 72234 615 23.18.914.2
1958 2 471 57 10020 93736 163 23.18.514.6
1959 2 505 56 58923 52333 066 22.69.413.2
1960 2 539 56 30222 10438 507 22.28.715.2
1961 2 572 54 95021 95442 503 21.48.516.5
1962 2 604 56 12022 56343 541 21.68.716.7
1963 2 635 57 14123 52439 542 21.78.915.0
1964 2 666 55 10024 11838 707 20.79.014.5
1965 2 695 53 83024 77435 440 20.09.213.2
1966 2 723 51 12024 86233 966 18.89.112.5
1967 2 750 52 01026 48434 024 18.99.612.4
1968 2 775 53 33025 99135 277 19.29.412.7
1969 2 795 56 75027 54428 456 20.39.910.2
1970 2 810 54 87026 44128 429 19.59.410.1
1971 2 818 55 99028 52727 463 19.910.19.7
1972 2 822 56 47028 32728 143 20.010.010.0
1973 2 822 56 64028 43828 202 20.110.110.0
1974 2 824 58 28028 28929 991 20.710.010.6
1975 2 830 59 14027 43731 703 20.99.711.2
1976 2 842 59 19028 84530 345 20.810.210.7
1977 2 857 57 97628 92729 049 20.310.110.2
1978 2 876 57 27628 04129 235 19.99.810.2
1979 2 896 55 77028 32127 449 19.39.89.5
1980 2 916 53 85429 84424 010 19.110.68.5
1981 2 935 53 92327 64426 279 18.49.49.0
1982 2 954 53 71327 18626 527 18.29.29.0
1983 2 973 53 40528 47524 930 18.09.68.4
1984 2 993 53 34830 01123 337 17.810.07.8
1985 3 012 53 76628 56625 200 17.99.58.4
1986 3 031 54 08028 79125 289 17.99.58.4
1987 3 050 53 36829 88523 483 17.59.87.7
1988 3 069 55 79830 91224 886 18.210.18.1
1989 3 089 55 32429 62125 703 17.99.68.3
1990 3 110 56 01330 21026 277 18.09.78.5
1991 3 132 54 75429 77424 980 17.59.58.0
1992 3 155 54 19030 00824 182 17.29.57.7
1993 3 178 55 95331 61624 337 17.69.97.7
1994 3 201 55 99030 12225 868 17.59.48.1
1995 3 224 56 69531 52525 170 17.69.87.8
1996 3 248 58 86231 10827 754 18.19.68.5
1997 3 271 58 03230 45127 581 17.79.38.4
1998 3 292 54 76031 91722 843 16.69.76.9
1999 3 309 54 00432 43021 574 16.39.86.5
2000 3 321 52 77030 45622 314 15.99.26.7
2001 3 327 51 95931 22820 731 15.69.46.2
2002 3 328 51 95331 62820 325 15.69.56.1
2003 3 325 50 63132 58718 044 15.29.85.4
2004 3 324 50 05232 22017 832 15.19.75.4
2005 3 325 46 94432 31914 625 14.19.74.4
2006 3 330 47 41031 05616 354 14.29.34.9
2007 3 338 47 37333 70613 667 14.210.14.1
2008 3 349 47 48431 36316 121 14.29.44.8
2009 3 360 47 15232 17914 973 14.09.64.5
2010 3 372 47 42033 47413 946 14.19.94.1
2011 3 383 46 69933 00013 699 13.89.84.0

Origins and ethnicity

Uruguay is a multiethnic society, which means that it is home to people of many different ethnic backgrounds. In that case, Uruguyans usually treat their nationality as a citizenship rather than an ethnicity.

Uruguayans share a Spanish linguistic and heavily Spanish cultural background with its neighbour Argentina. Most Uruguayans are descended from colonial-era settlers and immigrants from Europe with almost 88% of the population being of European descent,[4] The majority of these European immigrants were Spaniards, followed closely by Italians, including numbers of French, Germans, Portuguese, British (English or Scots), Irish, Swiss, Russians, Poles, Bulgarians, Hungarians, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Estonians, Latvians, Swedes, Danes, Dutch, Belgians, Austrians, Croats, Greeks and other Scandinavians. There are also smaller numbers of Turkish, Armenian, Serbs, Georgian, Jews and Lebanese people.

Almost the entire ethnic-European population has at least partial Spanish and/or Italian roots, with many having ancestry from various other ethnic groups, e.g., Portuguese, French and English descent.

Many Swiss settlements (colonias or "colonies"), such as Colonia Suiza, Colonia Valdense and Nueva Helvecia, were founded in the department of Colonia. Also, there are towns founded by early British settlers, such as Conchillas and Barker. A Russian colony called San Javier, is found in the department of Río Negro. There are Mennonite colonies in the department of Río Negro and in the department of Canelones.

Many of the European immigrants arrived in the late 19th century and have heavily influenced the architecture and culture of Montevideo and other major cities. For this reason, Montevideo and life within the city are very reminiscent of Western Europe.

The rest of the Uruguayan population is Black/Afro-Uruguayan of African descent and about 1 or 2% are of Asian descent, mostly are Lebanese/Syrian Arab, and Chinese or Japanese ancestry (see Bárbara Mori).

Amerindians make up a small population in the Rural North-West region, with Mestizos making up 6% of the Population.

Demographic distribution

Metropolitan Montevideo, with about one and a half million inhabitants, is the capital and largest city. The rest of the urban population lives in about 20 towns. Montevideo is about 200 kilometers (120 mi) away from Buenos Aires in neighboring Argentina.

Uruguay is distinguished by its high literacy rate (97.3%) and a large urban middle class.

As a result of the low birth rate, high life expectancy, and relatively high rate of emigration of younger people, Uruguay's population is quite mature. In 2006, the country had a birth rate of 13.91 births per thousand population, lower than neighboring countries Argentina (16.73 births/1000 population)[3] and Brazil (16.56 births/1,000 population).

Emigration

During the past four decades, an estimated 500,000 Uruguayans had emigrated, principally to Brazil, Argentina and Europe. (Spain is the main destination for Uruguayans, but they are also drawn to the United Kingdom, Italy, France and Germany.) Other Uruguayans went to various countries in Europe, Australia and the USA.

Neighboring ties and short distances between Uruguayan cities and Argentine capital Buenos Aires, have drawn a path of success for very talented Uruguayans who settled in the neighbor country and became famous and locally accepted. Some famous Uruguayans who excelled in Argentina are entrepreneur and financier Juan Navarro, sports journalist Victor Hugo Morales, singer and actress Natalia Oreiro, soccer players Antonio Alzamendi, Enzo Francescoli and Carlos Goyen, actor Daniel Hendler, actress China Zorrilla, entertainer Carlos Perciavalle and former playboy and journalist Luis César Avilés.

Emigration to the United States also rose recently, but remains a small part of the US population. The majority of Uruguayans in the US live in New York City, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and urban areas of California.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Uruguay
Religion in Uruguay (2008)[5]
Religion Percent
Roman Catholic
 
45.7%
Non-Catholic Christian
 
9.0%
Nonsectarian believers
 
30.1%
Atheist
 
12.0%
Agnostic
 
2.0%
Other
 
1.2%

Uruguay has no official religion, church and state are officially separated, and religious freedom is guaranteed. A 2008 survey by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística of Uruguay gave Catholicism as the main religion, with 45.7% of the population, 9.0% are non-Catholic Christians, 0.6% are Animists or Umbandists (an Afro-Brazilian religion) and 0.4% Jewish. 30.1% reported believing in a god, but not belonging to any religion, while 14% were Atheist or Agnostic.[5] Among the sizeable Armenian community in Montevideo the dominant religion is Christianity, specifically Armenian Apostolic.[6]

Political observers consider Uruguay the most secular country in the Americas.[7] Uruguay's secularization began with the relatively minor role of the church in the colonial era, compared with other parts of the Spanish Empire. The small numbers of Uruguay's Indians and their fierce resistance to proselytism reduced the influence of the ecclesiastical authorities.[8]

After independence, anticlerical ideas spread to Uruguay, particularly from France, further eroding the influence of the church.[9] In 1837, civil marriage was recognized and in 1861 the state took over the running of public cemeteries. In 1907, divorce was legalized and in 1909, all religious instruction was banned from state schools.[8] Under the influence of the radical Colorado reformer José Batlle y Ordóñez (1903–1911) complete separation of church and state was introduced with the new constitution of 1917.[8]

Demographic data[10]

Population

3,865,425 (July 2014 est.)

Note: The 2011 Census of the National Statistics Institute of Uruguay began in September 2011 and the preliminary results, stating population of departments, were announced in December 2011. Final results with numbers for localities were still pending as of 26 June 2012.

Median age

Population growth rate

0.24% (2011 est.)

Net migration rate

-1.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Urbanization

Sex ratio

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,900 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2007 est.)

Racial groups

European 88%, Mestizo 8%, Black 4%, Amerindian <1%

Languages

Spanish (Uruguayan Spanish), Uruguayan Sign Language, Portuñol, Portuguese.

Literacy

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2008)

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision
  2. United nations. Demographic Yearbooks
  3. Instituto Nacional de Estadistica: Estadisticas vitales
  4. Constituciones Hispanoamericanas - Constituciones - Uruguay
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Encuesta Continua de Hogares 2008 — Religion". Instituto Nacional de Estadística. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  6. 1/0 Technology Corp. – Paul R. Williams,John BUDDAY Running. "Armenian General Benevolent Union – Publications". Agbu.org. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  7. "UMM | Latin American Area Studies – Countries". Morris.umn.edu. 2009-08-27. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Religion — Uruguay". Library of Congress Country Studies. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  9. "Explore Uruguay - About Uruguay Government". Explore Uruguay. Retrieved 23 Mar 2011.
  10. Central Intelligence Agency. "People :: Uruguay". The World Factbook. Retrieved January 5, 2010.