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

Health

live 4.3 years longer

In Paraguay, the average life expectancy is 74 years (71 years for men, 77 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

Paraguay spends $1,469 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Uruguay spends $3,135 as of 2023.

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have 20.1% more doctors per person

Paraguay has 38.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Uruguay has 46.7 as of 2022.

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have 13.9% more access to essential health services

Paraguay scores 72 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Uruguay scores 82 as of 2021.

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be 3.9 times more likely to die by suicide

Paraguay has a suicide rate of 6.4 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 3.6 times more money

Paraguay has a GDP per capita of $7,027 as of 2025, while in Uruguay, the GDP per capita is $25,216 as of 2025.

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be 56.7% more likely to be unemployed

In Paraguay, 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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Life

be 74.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Paraguay, approximately 58.0 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 57.2% less likely to die during infancy

In Paraguay, approximately 14.5 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 50.3% fewer children

In Paraguay, there are approximately 19.7 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 12.8% more likely to have internet access

In Paraguay, approximately 81.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Uruguay, about 92.0% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 34.8% more on education

Paraguay spends 3.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Uruguay spends 4.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Safety

be 38.1% less likely to die in a road accident

In Paraguay, road accidents kill 21.0 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Uruguay, they kill 13.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 65.9% more likely to be murdered

Paraguay has a homicide rate of 6.8 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 2.6 times more home broadband

Paraguay has 12.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Uruguay has 33.0 as of 2024.

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use 58.7% more electricity

Paraguay uses 2,389 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Uruguay uses 3,790 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 6.5 times more strain on fresh water

Paraguay withdraws 2% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Uruguay withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 36.0% less likely to die from air pollution

In Paraguay, air pollution causes 25.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Uruguay, it causes 16.0 as of 2019.

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emit 2.2 times more CO2

Paraguay emits 1.2 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). 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 Paraguay? See an in-depth size comparison.

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