Most people in Uruguay are of European descent, particularly Italian and Spanish ancestry. The economy is fairly stable in the country and a large middle class enjoys a comfortable life in urban areas.

Most of the country is made up of grasslands. The primary economic activities in Uruguay center around raising and processing animals for meat, as well as making products with wool and leather. In fact, 75% of the land in Uruguay is used to raise livestock while another 10% is used to grow grains to feed those animals. Uruguay produces very few products for its people within the country, so it imports most things like fuel and consumer goods.

Despite the economic stability of the country, Uruguay has had an unstable political history. Starting in the early 1970s, the military ruled for 12 years. Many people were imprisoned and there was a lot of corruption. Uruguay has held democratic elections since 1985. The country requires its citizens to vote and if they don’t, they must pay a fine. Click on the photos below to learn more about Uruguay.