Rio Negro: population, jobs, health and schools
Rio Negro is a department of Uruguay, number 17 of 19 by population. Rio Negro had 57,334 residents at the 2023 Census, 1.6% of Uruguay's 3,499,451 people and 3rd smallest of 19 departments by population.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Rio Negro: The unemployment rate in Rio Negro was 8.9% in the June-August 2026 moving quarter (Uruguay: 7.1%), joint 4th highest of 19 departments; about 2,600 people were unemployed.
- Health in Rio Negro: Life expectancy at birth in Rio Negro was 76.7 years in 2022 (Uruguay: 76.3), 8th highest of 19 departments.
- Education in Rio Negro: Rio Negro had 55 public primary schools with 4,643 pupils in 2023, plus 7 private schools with 485 pupils.
Is the population of Rio Negro growing or shrinking?
Between 2011 and 2023 the population of Rio Negro rose by 1,321 people (+2.4%), from 56,013 to 57,334; the national change was +2.5% and this was 9th weakest growth of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow has the population of Rio Negro changed since 1996?
Rio Negro had 53,275 residents in 1996, against 57,334 in 2023, a change of +4,059 people (+7.6%) 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 Rio Negro?
From July 2011 to May 2023, Rio Negro recorded 8,762 births and 5,676 deaths, a natural increase of 3,086 people (MSP vital statistics; 2023 deaths preliminary).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyDo more people move to or leave Rio Negro?
Total population change in Rio Negro between 2011 and 2023 (+1,321) differed from natural change (+3,086) by -1,765 people, a gap of -3.2% of the 2011 population that INE treats as an implicit migration balance; this was 5th most negative 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
- Canelones 608,956
- 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
- 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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