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

Health

live 3.0 years longer

In Mexico, the average life expectancy is 75 years (72 years for men, 78 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 2.3 times more spent on your healthcare

Mexico spends $1,368 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Uruguay spends $3,135 as of 2023.

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have 80.6% more doctors per person

Mexico has 25.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Uruguay has 46.7 as of 2022.

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be 3.6 times more likely to die by suicide

Mexico has a suicide rate of 7.0 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 41.6% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Mexico, 29.6% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Uruguay, however, that number is 17.3% as of 2024.

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make 81.5% more money

Mexico has a GDP per capita of $13,889 as of 2025, while in Uruguay, the GDP per capita is $25,216 as of 2025.

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be 2.8 times more likely to be unemployed

In Mexico, 2.7% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Uruguay, that number is 7.5% as of 2025.

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Life

be 64.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Mexico, approximately 42.0 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 48.8% less likely to die during infancy

In Mexico, approximately 12.1 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 36.6% fewer children

In Mexico, there are approximately 15.5 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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Basic Needs

be 10.7% more likely to have internet access

In Mexico, approximately 83.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Uruguay, about 92.0% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 17.2% more on education

Mexico spends 4.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Uruguay spends 4.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 64.0% more on healthcare

Mexico spends 5.5% 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 92.9% less coastline

Mexico has a total of 9,330 km of coastline. In Uruguay, that number is 660 km.

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Safety

be 54.7% less likely to be murdered

Mexico has a homicide rate of 24.9 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Uruguay, that number is 11.2 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 52.0% more home broadband

Mexico has 21.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Uruguay has 33.0 as of 2024.

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live with 73.2% less strain on fresh water

Mexico withdraws 45% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Uruguay withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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use 42.6% more electricity

Mexico uses 2,658 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Uruguay uses 3,790 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 46.7% less likely to die from air pollution

In Mexico, air pollution causes 30.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Uruguay, it causes 16.0 as of 2019.

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emit 29.4% less CO2

Mexico emits 3.6 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), The World Factbook, 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 Mexico? See an in-depth size comparison.

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