Immigration to Uruguay in numbers: who comes, how many, and from where
After a century, Uruguay is again a country that receives immigrants. The 2023 Census confirms it: how many arrived, from which countries, and why they choose Uruguay — with official data and sources.
Walk around Montevideo today and you'll hear accents from across Latin America. It's not just an impression: Uruguay has become a country of immigration again, something that hadn't happened in over a century. Who comes, how many are they, and where do they come from? The INE's 2023 Census has the numbers, and here we walk you through them.
A historic turn
The 2023 Census marked a turning point. The foreign-born population living in Uruguay doubled compared to 2011, going from around 2% to about 4% of the total. It's the first time since 1908 that the census shows a rise in the foreign-born. And the impact was huge: without immigration, the country's population would have fallen.
The INE's own director summed up immigration's role in the latest census:
«Los inmigrantes permitieron que tuviéramos una leve ganancia de población en el periodo intercensal.»
In English: Immigrants allowed us to have a slight population gain in the intercensal period.
El Observador — 2023 Census: the immigrant wave (INE statements)https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/el-sorprendente-dato-en-el-censo-sobre-los-inmigrantes-que-tan-grande-fue-la-ola-de-extranjeros--2023112714290INE — 2023 Census (population and migration)https://www.gub.uy/instituto-nacional-estadistica/censos2023pvhHow many arrived?
Between 2012 and 2023, about 61,810 immigrants arrived in the country, according to the INE — well above the roughly 13,000 of the 2000-2011 period. In a decade, immigration multiplied several times over and became the engine of population growth.
INE — 2023 Census (population and migration)https://www.gub.uy/instituto-nacional-estadistica/censos2023pvhWhere do they come from?
Here's the most striking change. Historically, the second-largest origin was Brazil; today it has been displaced. The new wave comes mostly from Venezuela, Argentina and Cuba, which together account for nearly two-thirds of recent immigrants. After them come other Latin American origins, Spain and the United States.
Main nationalities (immigrants 2012–2023)
| Nationality | Share |
|---|---|
| Venezuela | 27% |
| Argentina | 22% |
| Cuba | 20% |
| Brasil | 6% |
| Colombia | 4% |
| España | 3% |
| Perú | 3% |
| Estados Unidos | 2% |
| Chile | 2% |
| República Dominicana | 2% |
Why do they choose Uruguay?
The reasons repeat in almost every account: economic, legal and social stability, safety, good connectivity and a calm quality of life. Add to that a relatively open immigration framework and, for remote workers, a residence permit for digital nomads. The official promotion agency sums it up like this:
Why Uruguay attracts, in Uruguay XXI's words:
«La combinación entre infraestructura, buena conectividad, estabilidad económica, jurídica y social, así como por su calidad y estilo de vida relajado.»
In English: The combination of infrastructure, good connectivity, economic, legal and social stability, as well as its quality and relaxed lifestyle.
Uruguay XXI — Digital nomadshttps://www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/es/noticias/articulo/nomades-digitales-destacan-a-uruguay-como-un-destino-ideal-por-su-infraestructura-y-su-estilo-de-vida-relajado/What this means for you
Many of those who arrive end up working on their own: they open a unipersonal to invoice their services. If you're one of them, see our posts on who can open a unipersonal and the state of the self-employed market — and, when you're ready, let Tributo build your tax calendar.
In short: Uruguay is living its largest migration wave in over a century. About 4% of the population was born abroad, roughly 61,810 immigrants arrived between 2012 and 2023, and most come from Venezuela, Argentina and Cuba. Behind every number is someone starting over — many of them as a one-person business. Always verify the figures with the INE before citing them.