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Transport and infrastructure in Uruguay

Our listing of the primary types of transport compares the infrastructure of Uruguay with the average of all countries in America. Overall, the main traffic and transport routes are well developed and in comparatively good condition.

In terms of the length of its rail network, Uruguay ranks 36th in the world with 0.49 meters per inhabitant. In total, the rail network is 1,673 kilometers long. Passenger traffic reached 8.00 million passenger-kilometers in 2015.

The waterways listed refer to inland traffic on rivers and canals. The number of ports includes those located on the 660 km of coastline. In 2020, about 761,855 freight containers were transported.

Airports in Uruguay


Back to overview: Uruguay

Road traffic

The network of roads and highways has a total length of 77,732 km. For each of the country's 3.43 million inhabitants, this corresponds to 22.69 meters. This puts Uruguay in 19th place in the global ranking. However, it is also important to note that the country's population density is very low at around 19 inhabitants per km². In this case, disproportionately long distances generally have to be covered to reach the more remote parts of the country.

With an average of 522 traffic fatalities per year (2013 - 2019), road traffic in Uruguay is considered rather mixed. This corresponds to 15.3 accident fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants per year. By comparison, this figure is 12.3 in the USA and 17.0 worldwide.

In Uruguay, traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road, i.e. people drive in the right-hand lane and overtake on the left. Oncoming traffic comes toward you on the left side. This regulation was enforced on September 2nd, 1945. Here you can also find an overview of all countries with left-hand traffic.


 

Uruguay

 totalper 1 mio
inhabitants
per km²
Roadways77,700 km22,687.13 km441.11 m
Railroads1,700 km488.29 km9.49 m
Waterways1,600 km466.98 km9.08 m
Commercial harbors6117.800.000
Airports10.290.006
 

South America

 total per 1 mio
inhabitants
per km²
Roadways3,101,100 km7,134.46 km174.14 m
Railroads85,100 km195.82 km4.78 m
Waterways119,400 km274.61 km6.70 m
Commercial harbors2,2275.120.000
Airports3300.760.000


Data sources used

Global Health Observatory Data Repository (World Health Organization)
UNCTAD
Internation Union of Railways (UIC)
CIA Factbook
OECD Statistics
Wikipedia (german)
Uruguay: AirportsLargest airports and airlines in UruguayThe biggest airports and in Uruguay with further information and data with further information on airlines and destinations
Uruguay: ClimateClimate details in UruguayA climate analysis for Uruguay incl. temperatures, humidity, rain days per month, hours of sunshine, rainfalls
Ranking: MegacitiesMega cities - the biggest cities all over the worldRanking of the biggest cities worldwide. On top: Shanghai, Chongqing and Beijing