If you lived in Uruguay instead of Sri Lanka, you would:

Health

see 6.2 times more spent on your healthcare

Sri Lanka spends $507 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Uruguay spends $3,135 as of 2023.

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have 4.1 times more doctors per person

Sri Lanka has 11.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Uruguay has 46.7 as of 2022.

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have 22.4% more access to essential health services

Sri Lanka scores 67 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Uruguay scores 82 as of 2021.

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be 3.1 times more likely to be obese

In Sri Lanka, 11.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Uruguay, that number is 35.0% of people as of 2024.

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be 67.9% more likely to die by suicide

Sri Lanka has a suicide rate of 14.7 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Uruguay, it is 24.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 5.0 times more money

Sri Lanka has a GDP per capita of $5,002 as of 2025, while in Uruguay, the GDP per capita is $25,216 as of 2025.

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be 88.0% more likely to be unemployed

In Sri Lanka, 4.0% 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 16.7% less likely to die during childbirth

In Sri Lanka, approximately 18.0 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 19.2% more likely to die during infancy

In Sri Lanka, approximately 5.2 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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Basic Needs

be 68.5% more likely to have internet access

In Sri Lanka, approximately 54.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Uruguay, about 92.0% do as of 2024.

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be 10.4% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Sri Lanka, approximately 90% of people have access to drinking water (98% in urban areas, and 88% 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 2.6 times more on education

Sri Lanka spends 1.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Uruguay spends 4.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 2.5 times more on healthcare

Sri Lanka spends 3.7% 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 50.7% less coastline

Sri Lanka has a total of 1,340 km of coastline. In Uruguay, that number is 660 km.

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Safety

be 13.0% more likely to die in a road accident

In Sri Lanka, road accidents kill 11.5 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 3.9 times more home broadband

Sri Lanka has 8.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Uruguay has 33.0 as of 2024.

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live with 86.7% less strain on fresh water

Sri Lanka withdraws 91% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Uruguay withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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use 5.9 times more electricity

Sri Lanka uses 644 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Uruguay uses 3,790 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 56.8% less likely to die from air pollution

In Sri Lanka, air pollution causes 37.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Uruguay, it causes 16.0 as of 2019.

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emit 2.4 times more CO2

Sri Lanka emits 1.1 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), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. 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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