Brief Facts About Uruguay

The country’s official name is República Oriental del Uruguay (Oriental Republic of Uruguay).

Official language of Uruguay is Spanish.

Capital : Montevideo, Over half of the country’s 3.3 million people live in the capital, Montevideo.

Uruguay’s motto is Libertad o Muerte, meaning Liberty or Death.

Uruguay has one of the highest literacy rates in the world with 98,1% for adults.

In 2013, Uruguay was named The Economist’s Country of the Year.

In 2009, Uruguay became the first country in the world to provide every schoolchild with a free laptop and Wi-Fi access.

Despite inflation and other economic problems most Uruguayans enjoy a comfortable standard of living with adequate housing and food and medical care.
Uruguay has fewer urban slums than do most other Latin American countries.
Electricity, running water, and sewers are available to all but the poorest city dwellers.
Most Uruguayans dress in Western style, but some gauchos still wear at least part of the traditional costume, including a flat, wide-brimmed hat, a blanket-like poncho, and baggy trousers tucked into boots.

Uruguay is the only country in Latin America which is entirely outside of the tropics.

Uruguay is the only country whose name in English has the same letter three times in its first five.

The only country in South America smaller than Uruguay is Suriname.

There are more sheep in Uruguay than humans

Uruguay is the only country that keeps track of 100 per cent of its cattle.

Uruguay exported $1 billion worth of livestock in 2000.

The President of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by a Dutch pro-drugs institute for legalising marijuana.

Uruguay became the 20th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2013. This was even before the U.K. did so.

Uruguay exported $1 billion worth of livestock in 2000.

Uruguay has ranked as one of the least corrupt nations at 21 out of 176 by Transparency International. Brazil ranks at the 79th spot while Argentina at the 95th position (2016 stats.)

In 1998, Uruguay exceeded its quota under international fishing regulations by catching more than 930 tons of Swordfish.

Every single house in Uruguay has its own unique name.

Foremost footballer Luís Suarez, is from uruguay and a player in the national soccer team of Uruguay. His nickname is “El Pistolero”, but sometimes he is also called El cannibal and other names because of his bite attacks.

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