Uruguay

The Oriental Republic of Uruguay (República Oriental del Uruguay) is located on the Atlantic Coast of southern South America, wedged between its two large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. Uruguay, which declared independence in 1825, is among the wealthier nations in Latin America, and was the first country in the region to establish a welfare state. Historically, Uruguay’s economy has been vulnerable to regional economic fluctuations, but during the last decade, the country has enjoyed economic stability and extensive social programs that have led to low unemployment figures and falling poverty rates. Approximately 90 percent of Uruguay’s population of 3.5 million reside in urban areas, half in Montevideo. As a result, poverty is prevalent in urban settings, and is often concentrated in specific neighborhoods, which in ...