At the end of 2024, the median household income was 76,667 Uruguayan pesos, which means that 50 percent of households have an income less than or equal to this figure. Compared to the previous quarter, there was a decrease of 437 pesos.

Uruguay was the Latin American country with the highest average monthly salary as of 2024, with a net value of around 1,088 U.S. dollars per month, followed by Costa Rica, with 947 U.S. dollars per month. Employment development areas in Latin America Following the recuperation in this sector after the job losses endured throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate persists in its endeavor to stabilize. Informal employment remains as the predominant actor across most Latin American countries, serving as a primary avenue for economic sustenance. Notably, the construction sector has experienced substantial growth, outpacing other relevant industries like tourism and hospitality. Poverty Throughout the past two decades, poverty levels in Latin America remain unchanged. Honduras takes the lead as the country bearing the highest poverty rate, with nearly half of its population dwelling in these circumstances. Across the region, the prevalent delineation is that of individuals classified within the non-extreme and lower-middle poverty strata, characterized by modest income levels.

Uruguay Average Monthly Income per Capita: Urban: Excl Location Allowance data was reported at 23,114.619 UYU in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 20,626.000 UYU for 2015. Uruguay Average Monthly Income per Capita: Urban: Excl Location Allowance data is updated yearly, averaging 4,986.863 UYU from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23,114.619 UYU in 2016 and a record low of 170.884 UYU in 1990. Uruguay Average Monthly Income per Capita: Urban: Excl Location Allowance data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.H002: Average Income Per Capita.

Uruguay Average Income per Capita: Incl Bonus: Excl Location Allowance data was reported at 21,660.291 UYU in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 21,484.307 UYU for May 2018. Uruguay Average Income per Capita: Incl Bonus: Excl Location Allowance data is updated monthly, averaging 12,458.615 UYU from Jan 2006 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 150 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25,671.648 UYU in Jan 2018 and a record low of 5,320.601 UYU in Mar 2006. Uruguay Average Income per Capita: Incl Bonus: Excl Location Allowance data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.H002: Average Income Per Capita.

Uruguay Average Income per Capita: Excl Bonus: Incl Location Allowance: Interior data was reported at 20,992.499 UYU in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 20,686.648 UYU for Sep 2018. Uruguay Average Income per Capita: Excl Bonus: Incl Location Allowance: Interior data is updated monthly, averaging 12,077.056 UYU from Jan 2006 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 154 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21,021.309 UYU in Aug 2018 and a record low of 4,805.116 UYU in Jun 2006. Uruguay Average Income per Capita: Excl Bonus: Incl Location Allowance: Interior data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.H002: Average Income Per Capita.

In 2023, the national gross income per capita in Uruguay increased by 1,870 U.S. dollars (+10.49 percent) compared to 2022. Therefore, the national gross income in Uruguay reached a peak in 2023 with 19,700 U.S. dollars. Gross national income (GNI) per capita is the total value of money received by a country, from both domestic or foreign sources, divided by the midyear population. The World Bank uses a conversion system known as the Atlas method, which implements a price adjusted, three year moving average, smoothing out fluctuations in exchange rates.Find more statistics on other topics about Uruguay with key insights such as value added to gross domestic product by the manufacturing sector, value added by the services industry to the gross domestic product, value added by the agriculture, and forestry and fishing sector to the gross domestic product.

The legally guaranteed minimum wage in Uruguay was 23,604 Uruguayan pesos per month in 2025. This is more than double the minimum monthly wage in 2013 and an increase of 1,161 Uruguayan pesos compared to the previous year.

Average Household Income: Incl Bonus: Excl Location Allowance: Interior data was reported at 50,602.906 UYU in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 51,499.431 UYU for May 2018. Average Household Income: Incl Bonus: Excl Location Allowance: Interior data is updated monthly, averaging 30,720.726 UYU from Jan 2006 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 150 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 62,016.326 UYU in Jan 2018 and a record low of 13,018.966 UYU in May 2006. Average Household Income: Incl Bonus: Excl Location Allowance: Interior data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.H001: Average Household Income.

Average Income per Capita: Excl Bonus: Incl Location Allowance: Interior: >5000 Inhabitants data was reported at 21,756.305 UYU in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 21,969.427 UYU for Aug 2018. Average Income per Capita: Excl Bonus: Incl Location Allowance: Interior: >5000 Inhabitants data is updated monthly, averaging 12,368.336 UYU from Jan 2006 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 153 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21,969.427 UYU in Aug 2018 and a record low of 4,967.150 UYU in Jun 2006. Average Income per Capita: Excl Bonus: Incl Location Allowance: Interior: >5000 Inhabitants data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.H002: Average Income Per Capita.

Uruguay Average Wage Index: Private: Mfg: Paper and Paper Products data was reported at 248.790 Jul2008=100 in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 250.770 Jul2008=100 for Sep 2018. Uruguay Average Wage Index: Private: Mfg: Paper and Paper Products data is updated monthly, averaging 122.995 Jul2008=100 from Jan 2003 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 190 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 250.770 Jul2008=100 in Sep 2018 and a record low of 59.690 Jul2008=100 in Jan 2003. Uruguay Average Wage Index: Private: Mfg: Paper and Paper Products data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.G010: Wage Index: Jul 2008=100.

Costa Rica is the country with the highest minimum monthly wage in Latin America. According to the minimum salary established by law as of January 2025, workers in the Central American country enjoy a basic monthly wage of over 726 U.S. dollars, an increase of 2.37 percent compared to the previous year. They also earn over 200 U.S. dollars more than the second place, Uruguay. On the other side of the spectrum is Venezuela, where employees are only guaranteed by law a minimum salary of 130 bolívares or little more than 2.50 dollars per month. Can Latin Americans survive on a minimum wage? Even if most countries in Latin America have instated laws to guarantee citizens a basic income, these minimum standards are often not enough to meet household needs. For instance, it was estimated that almost 25 million people in Mexico lacked basic housing services. Salary levels also vary greatly among Latin American economies. In 2020, the average net monthly salary in Mexico was barely higher than Chile's minimum wage in 2021. What can a minimum wage afford in Latin America? Latin American real wages have generally risen in the past decade. However, consumers in this region still struggle to afford non-basic goods, such as tech products. Recent estimates reveal that, in order to buy an iPhone, Brazilian residents would have to work at least two months to be able to pay for it. A gaming console, on the other hand, could easily cost a Latin American worker several minimum wages.

Uruguay scored 0.71 in the gender gap index area of economic participation and opportunity in 2024. This means that women are 71 percent less likely to have equal economic participation and opportunities than men. During this period, the South American country scored 0.64 in estimated earned income, which represents that, on average, women in Uruguay only earn 64 percent of the income earned by men.

Uruguay Average Household Income: Excl Bonus: Incl Location Allowance: Interior: >5000 Inhabitants data was reported at 62,903.559 UYU in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 63,287.789 UYU for Aug 2018. Uruguay Average Household Income: Excl Bonus: Incl Location Allowance: Interior: >5000 Inhabitants data is updated monthly, averaging 35,147.563 UYU from Jan 2006 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 153 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 63,287.789 UYU in Aug 2018 and a record low of 15,404.083 UYU in May 2006. Uruguay Average Household Income: Excl Bonus: Incl Location Allowance: Interior: >5000 Inhabitants data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.H001: Average Household Income.

This statistic illustrates the annual household income per capita in Uruguay from 2006 to 2020. In 2020, Uruguay's annual household income amounted to 6,926 U.S. dollars, down from 9,212 the year before.

Uruguay Average Household Income: Incl Bonus: Incl Location Allowance: Montevideo data was reported at 87,992.495 UYU in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 85,925.219 UYU for May 2018. Uruguay Average Household Income: Incl Bonus: Incl Location Allowance: Montevideo data is updated monthly, averaging 47,746.093 UYU from Jan 2006 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 150 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98,458.668 UYU in Jan 2018 and a record low of 22,450.705 UYU in Mar 2006. Uruguay Average Household Income: Incl Bonus: Incl Location Allowance: Montevideo data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.H001: Average Household Income.

Average Wage Index: Private: WR: Wholesale & Commission trade, Excl Motor Vehicles & Motorcycles data was reported at 312.310 Jul2008=100 in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 311.900 Jul2008=100 for May 2018. Average Wage Index: Private: WR: Wholesale & Commission trade, Excl Motor Vehicles & Motorcycles data is updated monthly, averaging 131.700 Jul2008=100 from Jan 2003 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 186 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 312.310 Jul2008=100 in Jun 2018 and a record low of 59.850 Jul2008=100 in Feb 2003. Average Wage Index: Private: WR: Wholesale & Commission trade, Excl Motor Vehicles & Motorcycles data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.G010: Wage Index: Jul 2008=100.

Guyana was the South American country 20360the highest gross national income per capita, with 20,360 U.S. dollars per person in 2023. Uruguay ranked second, registering a GNI of 19,530 U.S. dollars per person, based on current prices. Gross national income (GNI) is the aggregated sum of the value added by residents in an economy, plus net taxes (minus subsidies) and net receipts of primary income from abroad. Which are the largest Latin American economies? Based on annual gross domestic product, which is the total amount of goods and services produced in a country per year, Brazil leads the regional ranking, followed by Mexico, Argentina, and Chile. Many Caribbean countries and territories hold the highest GDP per capita in this region, measurement that reflects how GDP would be divided if it was perfectly equally distributed among the population. GNI per capita is, however, a more exact calculation of wealth than GDP per capita, as it takes into consideration taxes paid and income receipts from abroad. How much inequality is there in Latin America? In many Latin American countries, more than half the total wealth created in their economies is held by the richest 20 percent of the population. When a small share of the population concentrates most of the wealth, millions of people don't have enough to make ends meet. For instance, in Brazil, about 5.32 percent of the population lives on less than 3.2 U.S. dollars per day.

Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the least affordable city in South America in the first half of 2022 to buy an apartment. The ratio measures the number of years needed for a two-earner household where one person works full time and one person works half-time to buy a 90-square meter apartment. It assumes the property has the average square meter price for the city and that home buyers earn the average net salary. Montevideo, Uruguay, was one of the most affordable cities, where it took about nine years to buy an apartment.

Luis Lacalle Pou, president of Uruguay since 2020, had by far the highest gross salary per month across a selection of presidents in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is worth noting that Uruguay has one of the highest average salaries in the region. He was followed by the Colombian president, Iván Duque, who, as of June 2022, had a gross monthly salary of 9,424 U.S. dollars.

In 2023, the regional average income per capita in Latin America and the Caribbean reached 9,566.22 U.S. dollars, up from some 8,827.08 dollars per person in the previous year. At that point in time, five Caribbean states and Uruguay registered the highest gross national income per capita in Latin America and the Caribbean. Gross national income (GNI) is the aggregated sum of the value added by residents in an economy, plus net taxes (minus subsidies) and net receipts of primary income from abroad.