Canelones: population, jobs, health and schools
Canelones is a department of Uruguay, number 2 of 19 by population. Canelones had 608,956 residents at the 2023 Census, 17.4% of Uruguay's 3,499,451 people and 2nd largest of 19 departments by population.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Canelones: The unemployment rate in Canelones was 7.4% in the June-August 2026 moving quarter (Uruguay: 7.1%), 8th highest of 19 departments; about 24,700 people were unemployed.
- Health in Canelones: Life expectancy at birth in Canelones was 76.8 years in 2022 (Uruguay: 76.3), 6th highest of 19 departments.
- Education in Canelones: Canelones had 233 public primary schools with 42,792 pupils in 2023, plus 65 private schools with 6,846 pupils.
Is the population of Canelones growing or shrinking?
Between 2011 and 2023 the population of Canelones rose by 72,195 people (+13.5%), from 536,761 to 608,956; the national change was +2.5% and this was 2nd fastest growth of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow has the population of Canelones changed since 1996?
Canelones had 458,602 residents in 1996, against 608,956 in 2023, a change of +150,354 people (+32.8%) over 27 years; Uruguay grew +7.4% over the same period.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Canelones?
From July 2011 to May 2023, Canelones recorded 69,528 births and 60,563 deaths, a natural increase of 8,965 people (MSP vital statistics; 2023 deaths preliminary).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyDo more people move to or leave Canelones?
Total population change in Canelones between 2011 and 2023 (+72,195) differed from natural change (+8,965) by +63,230 people, a gap of +11.8% of the 2011 population that INE treats as an implicit migration balance; this was 2nd most positive of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow departments are governed in Uruguay
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.
Every tier of government in Uruguay
Other departments of Uruguay
- Montevideo 1,302,954
- Maldonado 212,951
- Salto 136,197
- Colonia 135,797
- Paysandu 121,843
- San Jose 119,714
- Rivera 109,300
- Tacuarembo 96,013
- Cerro Largo 91,025
- Soriano 83,685
- Rocha 80,707
- Artigas 77,487
- Florida 70,325
- Durazno 62,011
- Lavalleja 59,175
- Rio Negro 57,334
- Treinta Y Tres 47,706
- Flores 26,271
Up a level: Uruguay · government and power in Uruguay
Sources
- 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…)
- 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: 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: 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: 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…)
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