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

Health

live 3.8 years longer

In Kazakhstan, the average life expectancy is 75 years (70 years for men, 79 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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see 2.1 times more spent on your healthcare

Kazakhstan spends $1,460 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Uruguay spends $3,135 as of 2023.

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have 24.5% more doctors per person

Kazakhstan has 37.5 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Uruguay has 46.7 as of 2022.

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be 65.6% more likely to be obese

In Kazakhstan, 21.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Uruguay, that number is 35.0% of people as of 2024.

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be 69.5% more likely to die by suicide

Kazakhstan has a suicide rate of 14.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Uruguay, it is 24.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 71.6% more money

Kazakhstan has a GDP per capita of $14,692 as of 2025, while in Uruguay, the GDP per capita is $25,216 as of 2025.

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be 57.7% more likely to be unemployed

In Kazakhstan, 4.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Uruguay, that number is 7.5% as of 2025.

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be 3.5 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Kazakhstan, 5.0% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Uruguay, however, that number is 17.3% as of 2024.

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Life

be 16.2% less likely to die during infancy

In Kazakhstan, approximately 7.4 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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be 50.0% more likely to die during childbirth

In Kazakhstan, approximately 10.0 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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have 49.8% fewer children

In Kazakhstan, there are approximately 19.5 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 2.4 times more on healthcare

Kazakhstan spends 3.8% 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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Safety

be 4.4 times more likely to be murdered

Kazakhstan has a homicide rate of 2.5 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In Uruguay, that number is 11.2 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 2.2 times more home broadband

Kazakhstan has 15.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Uruguay has 33.0 as of 2024.

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live with 65.2% less strain on fresh water

Kazakhstan withdraws 35% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Uruguay withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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use 26.3% less electricity

Kazakhstan uses 5,146 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Uruguay uses 3,790 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 76.5% less likely to die from air pollution

In Kazakhstan, air pollution causes 68.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Uruguay, it causes 16.0 as of 2019.

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emit 79.6% less CO2

Kazakhstan emits 12.6 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), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019). 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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How big is Uruguay compared to Kazakhstan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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