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Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026

Uruguay: Health & Wellbeing

How long, and how well fed, do people live?

Uruguay is placed 54th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 78.14 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 7.447 (2024).

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Health & Wellbeing

54th

of 200 countries placed

Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics

Country Index 2026, all topics35th of 183 →

01The evidence

The 4 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Uruguay on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.

Why these keys

  1. Key 1 of 4

    Life Expectancy at Birth

    UN DESA Population Division

    Why it is a key

    2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO

    78.14

    Years a newborn would live at current death rates

    Higher is better

    Uruguay: 78.14. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.

    World median
    74.63
    Best in South America
    81.17 Chile
    Land neighbours
    Argentina 77.39 · Brazil 75.85

  2. Key 2 of 4

    Under-Five Mortality Rate

    UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO

    7.447

    Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)

    Lower is better

    Uruguay: 7.447. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.

    World median
    14.54
    Best in South America
    6.753 Chile
    Land neighbours
    Argentina 9.514 · Brazil 14.22

  3. Key 3 of 4

    Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five

    UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)

    Why it is a key

    Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Uruguay’s is from 2018 · CC BY 3.0 IGO

    6.93

    Children under 5 who are stunted (%)

    Lower is better

    Uruguay: 6.93. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.

    World median
    13.8
    Best in South America
    1.8 Chile
    Land neighbours
    Argentina 8.683 · Brazil 7.989

  4. Key 4 of 4

    Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity

    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    2.4

    Population in severe food insecurity (%)

    Lower is better

    Uruguay: 2.4. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.

    World median
    4.9
    Best in South America
    0.6 Brazil
    Land neighbours
    Argentina 11 · Brazil 0.6

03In context

Uruguay beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.

South America
1st200thNot placed · 24 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on health & wellbeing

Uruguay and the countries it borders

Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingLife Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death ratesUnder-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%)Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%)
Uruguay54th78.147.4476.932.4
Brazil63rd75.8514.227.9890.6
Argentina88th77.399.5148.68311

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

Placed either side on health & wellbeing

The countries immediately above and below Uruguay in the topic’s list.

04Context, no vote

Where Uruguay is ahead of the world, and behind

48 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median33

Statistics on which Uruguay does better than the middle country measured.

  • Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.17No real change since 2014

    Uruguay: 0.17 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5779.42No earlier reading

    Uruguay: 79.42 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.

    Position 5th of 115 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.264.09No earlier reading

    Uruguay: 4.09 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.

    Position 108th of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8197.6No earlier reading

    Uruguay: 97.6 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 10th of 153 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.791.1No earlier reading

    Uruguay: 91.1 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.

    Position 9th of 127 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Births Attended by Skilled Health StaffUNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 2023 · world median 99.3100▲ Improved since 2013

    Uruguay: 100 · world median 99.3 · Births attended by skilled health staff (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 60.9 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 1st of 84 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2586.6No real change since 2013

    Uruguay: 86.6 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.

    Position 19th of 196 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 9098▲ Improved since 2015

    Uruguay: 98 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5461.408No earlier reading

    Uruguay: 1.408 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.

    Position 137th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.22.5▼ Worsened since 2013

    Uruguay: 2.5 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.

    Position 104th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.999.5No earlier reading

    Uruguay: 99.5 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3918.94No real change since 2013

    Uruguay: 18.94 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.

    Position 54th of 222 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.862▲ Improved since 2013

    Uruguay: 0.862 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.

    Ranked 48th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 9196▲ Improved since 2015

    Uruguay: 96 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9566.1No earlier reading

    Uruguay: 66.1 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.

    Position 36th of 136 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8581.492No real change since 2014

    Uruguay: 1.492 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.

    Position 148th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1634.211No real change since 2013

    Uruguay: 4.211 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.

    Position 148th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1344.049No real change since 2014

    Uruguay: 4.049 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.

    Position 143rd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.266.166No real change since 2014

    Uruguay: 6.166 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.

    Position 142nd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7451.34No earlier reading

    Uruguay: 51.34 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.

    Position 41st of 136 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.6515.31▼ Worsened since 2013

    Uruguay: 15.31 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.

    Position 134th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.218▲ Improved since 2013

    Uruguay: 0.218 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.

    Ranked 56th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.217.803No real change since 2010

    Uruguay: 7.803 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.

    Position 107th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

  • Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9823,281▼ Worsened since 2014

    Uruguay: 3,281 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.

    Position 52nd of 155 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 4136No real change since 2012

    Uruguay: 36 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8398.56▲ Improved since 2013

    Uruguay: 98.56 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7107.2No real change since 2013

    Uruguay: 107.2 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.

    Position 135th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.599▲ Improved since 2010

    Uruguay: 0.599 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.

    Position 70th of 172 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

  • Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.35215.7No earlier reading

    Uruguay: 215.7 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.915.5▼ Worsened since 2018

    Uruguay: 15.5 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.

    Position 77th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.69107.42▲ Improved since 2013

    Uruguay: 107.42 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4513.4▼ Worsened since 2013

    Uruguay: 13.4 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.

    Position 118th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4626.19▲ Improved since 2013

    Uruguay: 26.19 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.

    Position 117th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

Behind the world median5

Statistics on which Uruguay does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.432▼ Worsened since 2017

    Uruguay: 32 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.

    Position 67th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.487.71▼ Worsened since 2015

    Uruguay: 7.71 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.557▲ Improved since 2018

    Uruguay: 57 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6572.39No earlier reading

    Uruguay: 72.39 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.

    Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.

    Position 94th of 144 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2018 dataset

  • Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.513.5▼ Worsened since 2014

    Uruguay: 13.5 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.

    Position 11th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

No better end10

These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.

  • Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.454.6Moved since 2013

    Uruguay: 54.6 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2556.9Moved since 2013

    Uruguay: 56.9 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.737.45Moved since 2014

    Uruguay: 7.45 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.

    Position 38th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6529.6No earlier reading

    Uruguay: 29.6 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8369.3Moved since 2013

    Uruguay: 69.3 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0522.86No earlier reading

    Uruguay: 22.86 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

  • Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.54Moved since 2017

    Uruguay: 4.54 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1711.93Moved since 2013

    Uruguay: 11.93 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8933.68Moved since 2015

    Uruguay: 33.68 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.

    Position 147th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.882.343No earlier reading

    Uruguay: 2.343 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.

    Chart and every countryThe 2019 dataset

No current reading for Uruguay

Children with Functional Difficulties, Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2018), Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days and Violent Discipline of Children. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.

“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing

05Country Index 2026

Health & Wellbeing among Uruguay’s 16 topics

Health & Wellbeing is Uruguay’s 9th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.

On the profile
  1. Energy10th of 165
  2. Peace & Security14th of 177
  3. Democracy & Civil Liberties23rd of 198
  4. Governance & Institutions31st of 194
  5. Mobility & Trade37th of 177
  6. Environment & Sustainability40th of 186
  7. Digital & Technology43rd of 198
  8. Development & Human Capital45th of 196
  9. Health & Wellbeing54th of 200
  10. Education & Knowledge55th of 198
  11. Economy & Innovation51st of 176
  12. Gender & Equality59th of 183
  13. Work & Labour62nd of 182
  14. Risk & Resilience81st of 193
  15. Poverty & Inequality78th of 159
  16. Food & Agriculture105th of 184

06The top of the list

Who leads on health & wellbeing

The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Uruguay can most readily be measured against.

All 200 countries
  1. 1

    San Marino

    Southern Europe

    1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys

    Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    Monaco

    Western Europe

    2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys

    Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  3. 3

    Andorra

    Southern Europe

    3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys

    Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest placed on all 4 keys

    South Korea5th4/4 keys

  2. Highest in Americas

    United States=30th4/4 keys

  3. Highest in South America

    Chile46th4/4 keys

  4. This page

    Uruguay54th4/4 keys

Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.

07Analysis

Charts and analysis about Uruguay and health & wellbeing

All charts

08Questions

Uruguay on health & wellbeing: questions answered

Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.

How does Uruguay rank on health & wellbeing?

Uruguay is placed 54th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Uruguay?

78.14 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.

What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Uruguay?

7.447 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.

How does Uruguay compare with Brazil on health & wellbeing?

Brazil is placed 63rd of 200, and Uruguay 54th. Life Expectancy at Birth: Brazil 75.85, Uruguay 78.14; Under-Five Mortality Rate: Brazil 14.22, Uruguay 7.447; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: Brazil 7.989, Uruguay 6.93; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity: Brazil 0.6, Uruguay 2.4.

How have Uruguay’s health & wellbeing figures changed?

Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 74.69 in 2000 to 78.14 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 16.98 in 2000 to 7.447 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity rose from 1.7 in 2018 to 2.4 in 2024.

Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Uruguay?

No current reading is published for Uruguay on Children with Functional Difficulties, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.

09Method

Method, sources and how to cite

What this topic does not measure

Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.

About health & wellbeing, in full

How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided

A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.

The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

The other 48 statistics on this page come from 16 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.

The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photographs

Uruguay’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Uruguay: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/uruguay/health

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