#1. There are more sheep in Uruguay than humans! In 2005, Uruguay, which is well suited for raising sheep and cattle, had 9,712,000 sheep, which was second highest in South America after Brazil. The production costs for raising livestock are low, but the quality of production is high in Uruguay.#2. Exports of meat and wool made Uruguay prosperous during the early 20^thcentury.

#3. Uruguay exported $1 billion worth of livestock in 2000.

#4. Uruguay is the only country to keep track of 100% of their cattle. There are three cows for every person in the country.

#5. Uruguay’s industrial economy is mainly dependent on petroleum products, transportation equipment, electrical machinery and food processing.

#6. Brazil and Argentina are major trade partners of Uruguay.

#8. It is one of the few countries in South America to have access to clean waterfor its entire population.

#9. Uruguayan countrymen played test cricket in the mid-nineteenth century. Between 1868 and the Second World War, they played Argentina – 29 times.

#10. Uruguay won its only Olympic gold medals in the 1924 and 1928 Olympics. They won these medals in football (soccer).

#11. The first-ever FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930. Uruguay defeated Argentina 4–2 and won the FIFA World Cup in the same year.

#12. Uruguay is comparable in size to Oklahoma.

#14. Uruguay has ranked as one of the least corrupt nations at 21 out of 176 by Transparency International. Brazil ranks at the 79th spot while Argentinaat the 95th position (2016 stats.)

#15. After Chile, Uruguay is the second-least corrupt country in South America.

#16. In 2010, Uruguay’s president Juan Maria Bordaberry was also sentenced to 30 years for murder and his role in the 1973 military coup.

#17. In 2012, a bill was approved by its Senate to legalize abortions during first-trimester pregnancies. This bill attracted a lot of attention among other countries in Latin America. The only other country in Latin America where abortion is legal is Cuba. 

#18. Uruguay became the 20^th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2013. This was even before the U.K. did so.

#19. Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Uruguay in 1999 caused several nations to stop the import of beef and lamb from the country. Efforts were then made to eradicate the disease successfully.

#20. In 1998, Uruguay exceeded its quota under international fishing regulations by catching more than 930 tons of Swordfish.

#22. The country has the lowest poverty and population-growth rates in South America. Interestingly, they also have the highest urbanization and literacy rates in the region.

#23. Uruguayans have free access to education, which is why their literacy rate is highest in South America. Education is compulsory in Uruguay.

#24. The country is the first in the world to provide a free laptop and Wi-Fi connection to its school children.

#25. Uruguay has scenic, beautiful beaches along its coastline, which covers 500 kilometers in total length.

#26. Grassland covers almost three-quarters of Uruguay.

#27. The highest point in Uruguay is Cerro Catedral, at 1684 feet (514 meters) above sea level.

#29. Uruguayans are very fond of naming their houses, which is why every single house in the country has its own name. Their houses are not marked with numbers as in other countries. They also name their cities from a collection of names that they use for many other cities. For this reason, you may get confused if you are traveling from one city to the other!

#30. Did you read the name carefully – ‘Uruguay’? It is the only country whose name in English has the same letter repeated three times in its first five letters. The repeated letter is ‘U’.

#31. Uruguay is the second-smallest country in South America, after Suriname.

#32. Uruguayans go to bars not just to become intoxicated, but to socialize.

#34. Uruguay has the longest national anthem in the world in terms of duration of music (105 bars; almost six minutes.)

#35. Smoking is banned in Uruguay in enclosed public places. Almost one-third of its population smokes, which is why strict measures were adopted to curb this deadly habit. A campaign called “A Million Thanks” was launched by the president to reference the number of smokers. Interestingly, the legislation was supported by close to 70% of its smoking population.

#36. Uruguay’s national flag has nine strips and a sun with a human face in the upper left-hand corner. Their national anthem also contains the line “No one insults the image of the sun!”

#38. Advertising is done by means of large speakers installed on the tops of vans running across the city. Van drivers use microphones to deliver advertisements.

#39. The name Uruguay, when translated, means “river of painted birds.”

#40. Amazingly, Uruguay has the world’s poorest politician. Yes, their president lives in simplicity, donating 90% of his salary to noble causes. He owns a one-bedroom house and a three-legged dog.

#41. Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, during the colonial period was a hub for slave trade in South America. As a result, at least 10 percent of the population of the country is descended from slaves.

#42. In 1913, Uruguay had a divorce law in force that would allow Uruguayan woman to seek divorce at their sole request. Chile on the other hand, legalized divorce in 2004.

#43. Uruguay produced almost 95% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2015.

#44. A woman in Uruguay was recently stopped from aborting her child by court. Actually, her boyfriend filled a law suit in the court claiming that he is willing to up bring the child on his own even if the mother of the child is not interested. The court ruled in favor of the boyfriend, which however, is against the rule of the country where abortions are legally permitted until the 12^th week of pregnancy. The women, however has decided that she would appeal against the decision as she does not want to give birth to the child.

#45. Philip Morris, a leading tobacco giant, was asked by the court to pay Uruguay a hefty fine of $7 million over a disputed cigarette advertisement.

Original article: http://thefactfile.org/uruguay-facts/