Uruguay Cities by Population 2024

Bordered by two huge countries – Argentina to the west and Brazil to the north – Uruguay is the second smallest country in South America (after Suriname). Regarded as one of the most socially progressive countries in the world, in 2013 Uruguay was named as 'Country of the Year' by The Economist. The country's capital city of Montevideo is home to a population of approximately 1.3 million, which represents around one-third of the country's total population. This figure increases to two million for the larger metropolitan area. Located along Uruguay's southern coast, Montevideo is the southernmost capital city in the Americas.

Uruguay's other key cities are significantly smaller than Montevideo. The northwestern city of Salto is the second-largest in country, but has a population of just over 100,000. The city is situated on the east bank of the Río Uruguay across from the Argentine city of Concordia, and the Salto Grande Bridge connects the two countries. With 95,176 residents, the city of Ciudad de la Costa is the third-largest in the country. However, it was only established as a city in 1994 and is still regarded as an extension of nearby capital Montevideo's metropolitan area. Due to its location on the banks of the Río de la Plata, Ciudad de la Costa is known for its sandy beach that stretches 16 kilometers along the coast.