The percentage of population in Uruguay under the poverty line plummeted between 2020 and 2024, decreasing from **** to a minimum of **** percent. In 2023, the share of the population living under the poverty line stood at **** percent.

In 2022, approximately 0.76 percent of Uruguayans were living on less than 3.65 U.S. dollars per day, down from 1.61 percent of the country's population at the beginning of the decade. Nevertheless, social inequality remains a challenge in Latin America as a whole.

Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) in Uruguay was reported at 10.1 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Uruguay - Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line (% of population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Uruguay UY: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Urban: % of Urban Population data was reported at 10.100 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 12.000 % for 2013. Uruguay UY: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Urban: % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 24.400 % from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2014, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 39.900 % in 2004 and a record low of 10.100 % in 2014. Uruguay UY: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: Urban: % of Urban Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Urban poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the urban population living below the national poverty lines.; ; World Bank, Global Poverty Working Group. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines.; ; This series only includes estimates that to the best of our knowledge are reasonably comparable over time for a country. Due to differences in estimation methodologies and poverty lines, estimates should not be compared across countries.

Uruguay: Poverty ratio, percent living on less than 1.90 USD a day: The latest value from 2022 is 0.2 percent, an increase from 0.1 percent in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 5.84 percent, based on data from 28 countries. Historically, the average for Uruguay from 1981 to 2022 is 0.38 percent. The minimum value, 0 percent, was reached in 1981 while the maximum of 1 percent was recorded in 2004.

In 2022, the Cerro Largo region was the area in Uruguay with the highest percentage of people living in poverty, at 19.1 percent. Rivera was the second poorest region with approximately 15.5 percent. Uruguay's capital, Montevideo, rounded out the top three with nearly 13 percent of its residents living in poverty.

Uruguay UY: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: % of Population data was reported at 7.900 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9.400 % for 2016. Uruguay UY: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 13.050 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2017, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 32.500 % in 2006 and a record low of 7.900 % in 2017. Uruguay UY: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. National poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty lines. National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys.; ; World Bank, Global Poverty Working Group. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines.; ; This series only includes estimates that to the best of our knowledge are reasonably comparable over time for a country. Due to differences in estimation methodologies and poverty lines, estimates should not be compared across countries.

The incidence of homelessness and poverty in households registered a decrease between 2020 and 2024. In 2027, it was estimated that 11.4 percent of households were living below the poverty line in Uruguay, the lowest share of the analyzed period. In 2024, the value was 13.4 percent, which was a decrease of 1.7 percent points compared to the previous year.

Uruguay UY: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data was reported at 39.700 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 40.200 % for 2015. Uruguay UY: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data is updated yearly, averaging 42.400 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 46.400 % in 2007 and a record low of 39.700 % in 2016. Uruguay UY: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Lorenz curve plots the cumulative percentages of total income received against the cumulative number of recipients, starting with the poorest individual or household. The Gini index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus a Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

Uruguay UY: Income Share Held by Highest 20% data was reported at 45.900 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 46.100 % for 2015. Uruguay UY: Income Share Held by Highest 20% data is updated yearly, averaging 48.100 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 52.000 % in 2007 and a record low of 45.900 % in 2016. Uruguay UY: Income Share Held by Highest 20% data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

Urban poverty rate of Uruguay plummeted by 15.83% from 12.0 % in 2013 to 10.1 % in 2014. Since the 1.27% climb in 2004, urban poverty rate sank by 74.69% in 2014. Urban poverty rate is the percentage of the urban population living below the national urban poverty line.

The percentage of Afro-descendants living in a situation of poverty in Uruguay experienced a steep decline between 2010 to 2019. In 2018, it was estimated that **** percent of Afro-descendant people in Uruguay were living below the poverty line, up from **** percent the previous year. Poverty in the Latin American country is more extended among the Afro-descendant population, as the general poverty rate in Uruguay stood at *** percent in 2019, more than ten percent lower.

Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data was reported at 21.700 % in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 21.600 % for 2021. Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 22.700 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2022, with 30 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 27.000 % in 2004 and a record low of 20.500 % in 2017. Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Societal Poverty Line. The Societal Poverty Line is expressed in purchasing power adjusted 2017 U.S. dollars and defined as max($2.15, $1.15 + 0.5*Median). This means that when the national median is sufficiently low, the Societal Poverty line is equivalent to the extreme poverty line, $2.15. For countries with a sufficiently high national median, the Societal Poverty Line grows as countries’ median income grows.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

From 2010 to 2020, Afro-Uruguayan children had a higher annual incidence of child poverty than the rest of the population. In 2020, approximately ** percent of Afro-Uruguayan children lived in poverty.

After a decade of continuous growth, the Uruguayan economy experienced a recession over 1998-2001, with a deeper contraction registered in 2002 following the unraveling of the Argentinean crisis in late 2001, which culminated in default, and devaluation in early 2002. The recession had a deteriorating effect on poverty, and other social indicators, although considered better than in the majority of Latin American countries. Notably, increased unemployment began in 1998 - unemployment, and self-employment - was accompanied by a reduction in real wages in the private sector. In addition, since 1999, pensions, which constitute a sizeable portion of household incomes, have been falling as well. Vulnerable groups were the most affected, which are groups composed by households in which the head is unemployed, employed in the informal sector, or self-employed; crowded households; households headed by construction sector workers; and, by individuals with low educational attainment, or by young persons. There are also some "new poor", notably individuals living in households with intermediately educated heads. This growth in poverty resulted from three broad factors: a) higher incidence of unemployment, combined with longer unemployment spells, and less hours worked, all of which affected more the vulnerable segments; b) reductions in real earnings originated by inflation, and the reduced rate of increase in nominal remunerations. These were compounded by occupational, and sectoral shifts in the labor market, that contributed to the reduction of average earnings; and, c) higher household income inequality. The government response to the recession included many positive actions, in particular, the existence of a firmly established, and overall well designed set of social programs, including social assistance, and, there are three programs that play an important role in mitigating and coping with social risks: an early child development program; a housing program targeted to poor households in rural areas; and, a housing program with similar characteristics, but targeted to urban slums, introduced in 2000. Notwithstanding, some fragmentation within institutions, and overlapping program objectives across institutions, were found in some social interventions. A key question arising from the analysis in the Report is why nominal wages kept growing in the face of reduced economic activity, forcing a significant quantity adjustment of the labor market. Analyses of the effect of policies showed, that public wage rigidities exerted a negative, although small, impact on employment as a whole until 2001, especially for intermediately educated individuals, and those belonging to the three lowest quintiles of the income distribution. The report finds that both the public wage bill, and overall wage inequality would be lower if, public workers earned accordingly with the private pay structure. As noted in the final chapter, however, a deeper analysis of the labor market is needed, to assess other factors preventing adjustments in this market. Currently, the existing evidence in this regard is contradictory.

The age and racial ethnicity of people are relevant variables for the analysis of poverty. This affects the younger ones to a greater extent; in particular in those between 6 and 12 years of age, where the highest levels are registered. In 2021, it was estimated that **** percent of children aged 5 or younger were living below the poverty line in Uruguay, a share that went up to **** percent in 2024. On the other hand, at that time, the share of Uruguayans aged 65 or more living under the poverty line was merely *** percent.

Uruguay UY: Income Share Held by Third 20% data was reported at 15.400 % in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 15.400 % for 2015. Uruguay UY: Income Share Held by Third 20% data is updated yearly, averaging 14.700 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.400 % in 2016 and a record low of 13.400 % in 2007. Uruguay UY: Income Share Held by Third 20% data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

This statistic shows the poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Uruguay from 2009 to 2019. In 2019, the poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Uruguay amounted to 8.8 percent.

Uruguay UY: Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data was reported at 17.800 % in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 17.300 % for 2021. Uruguay UY: Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data is updated yearly, averaging 18.000 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2022, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19.800 % in 2009 and a record low of 16.900 % in 2018. Uruguay UY: Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uruguay – Table UY.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The percentage of people in the population who live in households whose per capita income or consumption is below half of the median income or consumption per capita. The median is measured at 2017 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) using the Poverty and Inequality Platform (http://www.pip.worldbank.org). For some countries, medians are not reported due to grouped and/or confidential data. The reference year is the year in which the underlying household survey data was collected. In cases for which the data collection period bridged two calendar years, the first year in which data were collected is reported.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

The gini index in Uruguay was forecast to remain on a similar level in 2029 as compared to 2024 with 0.39 points. According to this forecast, the gini will stay nearly the same over the forecast period. The Gini coefficient here measures the degree of income inequality on a scale from 0 (=total equality of incomes) to one (=total inequality).The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in more than 150 countries and regions worldwide. All input data are sourced from international institutions, national statistical offices, and trade associations. All data has been are processed to generate comparable datasets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the gini index in countries like Paraguay and Chile.