Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Uruguay instead of French Polynesia, you would:

Health

be 28.9% less likely to be obese

In French Polynesia, 49.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Uruguay, that number is 35.0% of people as of 2024.

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live 5.9 years less

In French Polynesia, the average life expectancy is 84 years (82 years for men, 87 years for women) as of 2024. In Uruguay, that number is 78 years (74 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

be 35.5% less likely to be unemployed

In French Polynesia, 11.7% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Uruguay, that number is 7.5% as of 2025.

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make 12.4% more money

French Polynesia has a GDP per capita of $22,440 as of 2024, while in Uruguay, the GDP per capita is $25,216 as of 2025.

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Life

be 40.9% more likely to die during infancy

In French Polynesia, approximately 4.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Uruguay, on the other hand, 6.2 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 26.5% more likely to have internet access

In French Polynesia, approximately 72.7% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Uruguay, about 92.0% do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 73.9% less coastline

French Polynesia has a total of 2,525 km of coastline. In Uruguay, that number is 660 km.

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Environment

emit 25.7% less CO2

French Polynesia emits 3.5 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 (2024–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: French Polynesia vs. Uruguay

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Uruguay is 21.4% cheaper than French Polynesia overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
French Polynesia is about 42 times smaller than Uruguay.
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Moving from French Polynesia to Uruguay · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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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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How big is Uruguay compared to French Polynesia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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