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

Health

live 10.3 years longer

In Rwanda, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 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 17.7 times more spent on your healthcare

Rwanda spends $177 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Uruguay spends $3,135 as of 2023.

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have 51.9 times more doctors per person

Rwanda has 0.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Uruguay has 46.7 as of 2022.

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have 67.3% more access to essential health services

Rwanda scores 49 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Uruguay scores 82 as of 2021.

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be 6.3 times more likely to be obese

In Rwanda, 5.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Uruguay, that number is 35.0% of people as of 2024.

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be 2.9 times more likely to die by suicide

Rwanda has a suicide rate of 8.7 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 33.8% less likely to be unemployed

In Rwanda, 11.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Uruguay, that number is 7.5% as of 2025.

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be 36.9% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Rwanda, 27.4% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Uruguay, however, that number is 17.3% as of 2024.

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make 22.4 times more money

Rwanda has a GDP per capita of $1,124 as of 2025, while in Uruguay, the GDP per capita is $25,216 as of 2025.

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Life

be 93.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Rwanda, approximately 229.0 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 25.6% more likely to be literate

In Rwanda, the literacy rate is 78.8% as of 2022. In Uruguay, it is 98.9% as of 2024.

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be 78.9% less likely to die during infancy

In Rwanda, approximately 29.4 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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have 65.1% fewer children

In Rwanda, there are approximately 28.1 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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Basic Needs

be 56.5% more likely to have access to electricity

In Rwanda, approximately 64% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 58% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Uruguay, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 2.9 times more likely to have internet access

In Rwanda, approximately 31.7% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Uruguay, about 92.0% do as of 2024.

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be 62.3% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Rwanda, approximately 61% of people have access to drinking water (88% in urban areas, and 56% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Uruguay, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 95% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 75.8% more on healthcare

Rwanda spends 5.1% 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 3.1 times more likely to be murdered

Rwanda has a homicide rate of 3.6 per 100,000 people as of 2020. In Uruguay, that number is 11.2 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 12.1% more likely to die in a road accident

In Rwanda, road accidents kill 11.6 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 55.1 times more home broadband

Rwanda has 0.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Uruguay has 33.0 as of 2024.

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live with 40.3% less strain on fresh water

Rwanda withdraws 20% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Uruguay withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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use 49.4 times more electricity

Rwanda uses 77 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Uruguay uses 3,790 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 74.2% less likely to die from air pollution

In Rwanda, air pollution causes 62.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Uruguay, it causes 16.0 as of 2019.

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emit 16.1 times more CO2

Rwanda emits 0.2 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 (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). 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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