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Puerto Rico (US) vs Uruguay
Side-by-side comparison of Puerto Rico (US) and Uruguay from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Puerto Rico (US)
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 128 years
Uruguay
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 201 years
In short
Uruguay scores 64.5 in the NationsTree Index (48th in the world) and Puerto Rico (US) scores 55.9 (66th), a gap of 8.6 points. Their trees are 7.9 m and 7.2 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Puerto Rico (US) and Uruguay have a similar population. Uruguay is 20 times larger than Puerto Rico (US) by land area. The economy of Puerto Rico (US) is 28% larger than that of Uruguay (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Puerto Rico (US) 3.2 million and Uruguay 3.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $52,196 in Puerto Rico (US) and $38,315 in Uruguay (2025, international dollars). People in Puerto Rico (US) live on average 3.6 years longer (81.9 vs 78.3 years).
Of 24 indicators reported by both countries, Puerto Rico (US) ranks higher in the world on 9 and Uruguay on 15. Puerto Rico (US) is clearly stronger in trade, economy and main industries. Uruguay is clearly stronger in natural resources and institutions & safety.
As a nation, Uruguay is the older of the two (statehood since 1825, 201 years), compared with Puerto Rico (US) (since 1898). Over the last five years Uruguay improved faster (direction score 63 vs 39 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Puerto Rico (US) and Uruguay.
Puerto Rico (US)
2.5%
177th of 212
Uruguaybetter
57.8%
41st of 212
Secondary enrolmentSociety & health
Puerto Rico (US)
81.5%
126th of 173
Uruguaybetter
119.1%
17th of 173
General government gross debtEconomy
Puerto Rico (US)better
17.6%
16th of 189
Uruguay
65.6%
128th of 189
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Puerto Rico (US)
43.7
139th of 205
Uruguaybetter
70.0
47th of 205
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Puerto Rico (US)
2,205
100th of 183
Uruguaybetter
27,190
23rd of 183
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Uruguay overtook Puerto Rico (US) in population in 2018 and has stayed ahead since.
Uruguay overtook Puerto Rico (US) in the NationsTree Index in 2006 and has stayed ahead since.
Puerto Rico (US) overtook Uruguay in life expectancy in 1991 and has stayed ahead since.
Puerto Rico (US) has been ahead of Uruguay in GDP per person (PPP) and GDP (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
Puerto Rico (US)Uruguay All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Puerto Rico (US) | Uruguay |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 8,870166th/216 · 2024 | 176,21590th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 8,870165th/216 · 2024 | 175,01690th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 3.2 m134th/217 · 2025 | 3.4 m133rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.55%201st/217 · 2025 | -0.06%173rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 361.132nd/216 · 2024 | 19.4188th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 94.3%21st/217 · 2025 | 95.7%17th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 11.2%214th/217 · 2025 | 17.9%141st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 25.3%3rd/217 · 2025 | 16.3%60th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $129.37 bn65th/210 · 2025 | $85.35 bn84th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $166.23 bn87th/199 · 2025 | $129.68 bn93rd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $142.05 bn87th/199 · 2025 | $110.82 bn93rd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $40,62041st/210 · 2025 | $25,21667th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $52,19648th/199 · 2025 | $38,31566th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $27,32052nd/201 · 2025 | $24,02061st/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 0.3%191st/210 · 2025 | 1.8%153rd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | — | 4.7%136th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 6.0%111th/187 · 2025 | 7.5%129th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 65.3%36th/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 17.6%16th/189 · 2025 | 65.6%128th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.4%46th/192 · 2025 | -3.4%116th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 0.7%177th/197 · 2025 | 6.4%98th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 47.0%8th/200 · 2025 | 16.9%149th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 44.0%1st/192 · 2025 | 10.0%101st/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 51.9%137th/200 · 2025 | 65.2%53rd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $60.65 bn61st/182 · 2025 | $23.10 bn88th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $56.37 bn65th/182 · 2025 | $19.33 bn95th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 46.9%59th/183 · 2025 | 27.1%119th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 43.6%93rd/183 · 2025 | 22.6%160th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 90.5%81st/183 · 2025 | 49.7%145th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | — | 1.3%112th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | — | 18.9%107th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | — | 65.3%18th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | — | 0.3%157th/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | — | 9.8%66th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | — | -0.5%80th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | — | 2.3%92nd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.0%187th/209 · 2021 | 1.9%97th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.01%106th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.01%81st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.00%183rd/209 · 2021 | 1.91%37th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 6.6%125th/206 · 2024 | 12.4%85th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 2,205100th/183 · 2022 | 27,19023rd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 3.9 m46th/194 · 2020 | 3.5 m50th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $2.92 bn41st/175 · 2020 | $1.09 bn67th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | — | 7.7%70th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 792,00065th/107 · 2017 | 2.2 m49th/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 81.938th/217 · 2024 | 78.365th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | — | 7.457th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.751995 | 4.6713th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 3.31996 | 2.473rd/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | — | 94%66th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 88.8%52nd/153 · 2024 | 63.3%96th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 81.5%126th/173 · 2024 | 119.1%17th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 71.7%16th/55 · 2022 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 39.8%4th/217 · 2025 | 24.7%60th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | — | 9.0%44th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 92.4%2017 | 98.9%15th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 77.9%31st/150 · 2023 | 80.0%28th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | — | 0.86248th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | — | 40.087th/108 · 2024 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | — | 0.2%18th/108 · 2024 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 98.9%31st/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 32.5%107th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 87.3%74th/186 · 2022 | 92.0%45th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12671st/210 · 2024 | 14634th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 28.066th/208 · 2024 | 33.049th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | — | 2.7071st/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | — | 1,49860th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | — | 563,6322009 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 4.82147th/203 · 2024 | 2.57103rd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 2.5%177th/212 · 2022 | 57.8%41st/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 7.831st/200 · 2023 | 10.952nd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 49.7%59th/214 · 2024 | 11.5%162nd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | — | 1,95957th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 43.7139th/205 · 2025 | 70.047th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 59.064th/207 · 2025 | 79.417th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 68.068th/207 · 2025 | 74.141st/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 72.087th/207 · 2025 | 88.415th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 60.373rd/205 · 2025 | 65.055th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 64.979th/205 · 2025 | 80.023rd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 14.6125th/145 · 2023 | 11.2118th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | — | $1.95 bn66th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | — | 2.3%48th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | — | 7.1%48th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | — | 22,000100th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | — | 1.32%49th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 1.0 m150th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 1.0 m2000 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.43%2015 | 0.70%51st/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 1397th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 60595th/197 · 2023 | 1,06087th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Puerto Rico (US) or Uruguay?
Uruguay has the larger population: 3.4 m (2025) compared with 3.2 m for Puerto Rico (US) (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Puerto Rico (US) or Uruguay?
Uruguay is larger: 176,215 km² (2024) compared with 8,870 km² for Puerto Rico (US) (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Puerto Rico (US) or Uruguay?
Puerto Rico (US) has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $166.23 bn intl. (2025) compared with $129.68 bn intl. for Uruguay (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Puerto Rico (US) or Uruguay?
Puerto Rico (US) has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $52,196 intl. (2025) compared with $38,315 intl. for Uruguay (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Puerto Rico (US) or Uruguay?
Puerto Rico (US) has the higher life expectancy at birth: 81.9 years (2024) compared with 78.3 years for Uruguay (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Puerto Rico (US) or Uruguay?
Uruguay: 64.5 points (48th in the world); Puerto Rico (US): 55.9 points (66th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bolivia
Costa Rica
Panama
Paraguay
El Salvador
Guyana
HondurasSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Puerto Rico (US) vs Uruguay — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/puerto-rico-us-vs-uruguay. Data as of 26 October 2026.