Share of population living in the capital city in Uruguay
Uruguay: Share of population living in the capital city was 36.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in the capital city in Uruguay, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in the capital city in Uruguay stood at 36.6%. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in Uruguay peaked at 47.1% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 36.6%, in 2020.
Uruguay ranks 26th of 170 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in the capital city in Uruguay, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 46.5% | — |
| 1955 | 46.3% | -0.5% |
| 1960 | 45.7% | -1.4% |
| 1965 | 45.4% | -0.5% |
| 1970 | 46.0% | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 47.1% | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 46.2% | -1.8% |
| 1985 | 45.5% | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 44.1% | -3.3% |
| 1995 | 42.6% | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 40.6% | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 39.3% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 38.7% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 38.0% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 36.6% | -3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 46.4% | 46.3% | 46.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 45.5% | 45.4% | 45.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 46.6% | 46.0% | 47.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 45.9% | 45.5% | 46.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 43.4% | 42.6% | 44.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 40.0% | 39.3% | 40.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 38.4% | 38.0% | 38.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 36.6% | 36.6% | 36.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More population data for Uruguay
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.49 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 78,530 people (2100)
- Population density 12.83 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.0062 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in the capital city in Uruguay?
- Share of population living in the capital city in Uruguay was 36.6% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 47.1% in 1975.
- What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.6% in 2020.
- How does Uruguay rank for share of population living in the capital city?
- Uruguay ranks 26th out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uruguay data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.