If you lived in Uruguay instead of Argentina, you would:

Health

be 3.1 times more likely to die by suicide

Argentina has a suicide rate of 7.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Uruguay, it is 24.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 38.7% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Argentina, 28.2% live below the poverty line as of 2025. In Uruguay, however, that number is 17.3% as of 2024.

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make 69.3% more money

Argentina has a GDP per capita of $14,898 as of 2025, while in Uruguay, the GDP per capita is $25,216 as of 2025.

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Life

be 54.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Argentina, approximately 33.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Uruguay, 15.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 22.5% less likely to die during infancy

In Argentina, approximately 8.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Uruguay, on the other hand, 6.2 children do as of 2024.

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have 11.6% fewer children

In Argentina, there are approximately 11.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Uruguay, there are 9.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 12.2% less on healthcare

Argentina spends 10.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Uruguay, that number is 9.0% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 86.8% less coastline

Argentina has a total of 4,989 km of coastline. In Uruguay, that number is 660 km.

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Safety

be 2.5 times more likely to be murdered

Argentina has a homicide rate of 4.5 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Uruguay, that number is 11.2 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 47.7% more likely to die in a road accident

In Argentina, road accidents kill 8.8 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Uruguay, they kill 13.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 26.6% more home broadband

Argentina has 26.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Uruguay has 33.0 as of 2024.

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use 34.3% more electricity

Argentina uses 2,822 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Uruguay uses 3,790 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 15.2% more strain on fresh water

Argentina withdraws 10% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Uruguay withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 44.8% less likely to die from air pollution

In Argentina, air pollution causes 29.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Uruguay, it causes 16.0 as of 2019.

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emit 35.9% less CO2

Argentina emits 4.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Uruguay emits 2.6 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Uruguay: At a glance

Uruguay is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 175,015 sq km. Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century launched widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control previously held by the Colorado and Blanco parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.
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