Departments of Uruguay: population and official figures
Uruguay is divided into 19 departments. The largest by population is Montevideo with 1,302,954 people (37.2% of the total); the smallest is Flores with 26,271. Figures come from Uruguay's national statistics institute (INE): the 2023 Census for population, the Continuous Household Survey for jobs, and INE population estimates for life expectancy and fertility, with school data from the Ministry of Education and Culture published in the INE statistical yearbook.
Who governs Uruguay's departments?
Departments (19): Intendente and departmental council (junta departamental, 31 members) directly elected for five years. Roads, urban planning, waste, transport, local taxes; in practice the main local government.
How local power works in Uruguay · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 19 departments, largest first
| # | Department | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montevideo | 1,302,954 | 2023 | – |
| 2 | Canelones | 608,956 | 2023 | – |
| 3 | Maldonado | 212,951 | 2023 | – |
| 4 | Salto | 136,197 | 2023 | – |
| 5 | Colonia | 135,797 | 2023 | – |
| 6 | Paysandu | 121,843 | 2023 | – |
| 7 | San Jose | 119,714 | 2023 | – |
| 8 | Rivera | 109,300 | 2023 | – |
| 9 | Tacuarembo | 96,013 | 2023 | – |
| 10 | Cerro Largo | 91,025 | 2023 | – |
| 11 | Soriano | 83,685 | 2023 | – |
| 12 | Rocha | 80,707 | 2023 | – |
| 13 | Artigas | 77,487 | 2023 | – |
| 14 | Florida | 70,325 | 2023 | – |
| 15 | Durazno | 62,011 | 2023 | – |
| 16 | Lavalleja | 59,175 | 2023 | – |
| 17 | Rio Negro | 57,334 | 2023 | – |
| 18 | Treinta Y Tres | 47,706 | 2023 | – |
| 19 | Flores | 26,271 | 2023 | – |
More on Uruguay: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay: Censo 2023: estimated population, intercensal growth and structure by sex and age, total country and departments (final results, December 2024), Tables 1 and 2, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 608174e04006…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay: Mercado de trabajo por area geografica de residencia (ECH), June-August 2026: Tables 1-3 by department, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 410c443622d8…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay: A.2.3 Mortality indicators, total country and departments, 1996-2023 (life expectancy at birth and at 65; Population estimates and projections, Revision 2025), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e0bb53ebfb61…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay: A.2.4 Fertility indicators, total country and departments, 1996-2023 (general and total fertility rate, mean age at maternity; Revision 2025), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4830200ff087…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay: Anuario Estadistico Nacional 2024, table 3.1.3: schools, teachers and pupils in public and private common primary education by department (MEC), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f21b4c9b002…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay: Anuario Estadistico Nacional 2024, table 3.1.8: pass rate in public lower secondary education by modality and department (MEC), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 afd3e8097808…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay: Anuario Estadistico Nacional 2024, table 3.1.9: establishments and students in upper secondary education by department (MEC), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 51d7a7e44d34…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay: Anuario Estadistico Nacional 2024, table 3.1.12: pass rate in public upper secondary education by modality and department (MEC), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2b68354044e1…)
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