Education
Uruguay has a virtually universal literacy rate, comparable to most developed countries. Education is compulsory for students aged 6 to 11, and the education system is free from pre-school to university level. Private schools, however, are very expensive. All children entering the school system receive a computer as soon as they start reading and have free access to the Internet in all public areas of the country. Among the renowned university centers are the University of the Republic of Montevideo, founded in 1849, and the Catholic University of Uruguay, founded in 1985. Both institutions have numerous faculties, including distinguished medical and engineering schools that today attract students from all over the country. Their student-teacher ratio is one of the lowest in the world, with only 14 students per teacher, in contrast to France where the ratio reaches 19 students per teacher. Nevertheless, dropout rates remain high, especially at the secondary level. Financial barriers, lack of access to schools, and poor school environments are some of the factors that reportedly push students to leave school before graduation. Naturally, this dropout phenomenon raises many problems, as it not only implies a decrease in productivity, but also a breakdown in civic and social engagement of the population, an increase in violence and a decrease in the performance of the health care system. The country obviously still has a lot of work to do in the area of education, although it remains at the top of the list of the best education systems in Latin America.
Legalization of cannabis
In an effort to combat drug trafficking, Uruguay approved a drastic measure in 2014 by legalizing the production, sale and consumption of cannabis for recreational purposes. However, certain conditions were adopted by the law, such as the fact that marijuana users must be at least 18 years old, residents of Uruguay and registered in a user registry. The current regulation offers three ways to legally acquire marijuana: individual cultivation, clubs and purchase in pharmacies. Consumers are allowed to buy up to ten grams of cannabis per week. The law also provides for production quotas, allowing each Uruguayan to grow up to six cannabis plants for personal consumption, and for the formation of smokers' associations of 15 to 45 people, who may collectively grow up to 99 plants. Uruguayan President Jose Mujica's initiative is the first of its kind in the world, as the signed law places the entire production chain under state authority. In 2020, the cannabis sector in Uruguay had 120 companies, employing more than 1,000 people. In terms of exports, Uruguay achieved an impressive figure in 2020, sending nearly eleven tons of cannabis, mainly to Europe. This made the country the largest hemp exporter in the world. Finally, the very first medical cannabis wellness and education center in Latin America is currently under construction at La Tertulia, a 110-hectare estate located 15 km from Laguna Garzón. It is also possible to take a tour of the cannabis museum in Montevideo.
LGBTQI+ Community
Uruguay is a pioneer in diversity and inclusion and has become one of the most advanced countries in terms of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQI+) rights over the years. Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1934 and in 2009, gay and lesbian couples could now jointly adopt children. Also in 2009, Uruguay approved the change of civil status for transsexuals (by 51 votes out of 53), a great first for the South American continent. According to the aforementioned draft: "Every person has the right to the free development of his or her personality in accordance with his or her own gender identity, regardless of his or her biological, genetic, anatomical, morphological or hormonal sex." In 2013, Uruguay became the third country in South America to officially legalize same-sex marriage, and in 2018, the Uruguayan Congress went even further by approving a law guaranteeing rights to transgender people, granting them the choice to undergo gender reassignment surgery. Since then, members of the LGBTQI+ community have been able to undergo this procedure, which will be paid for by the state. Thanks to these inclusive legislations and the promotion of sex and gender diversity, the country attracts about 250,000 tourists from this community every year. In 2021, Uruguay was ranked the 5th most gay-friendly country in the world, according to the Spartacus International Gay Guide, which measures the living conditions of members of the LGBTQI+ community in each country. What's more, national companies can now apply for a "gay-friendly" company certification. As for events celebrating these cultures, a March for Diversity is held every year on the last Friday of September, organized by the Coordinadora de la Marcha por la Diversidad. On that day, starting at 7pm, slogans such as "Discrimination is also violence, don't let indifference win you over" and "No diversity: no democracy" begin to echo along Libertador Avenue. In the center of the capital, in the Plaza de la Diversidad Sexual (Sexual Diversity Square), there is a "homomonument". Inaugurated in 2005, it displays a quote that reveals the country's progressive and liberal values: "To honor diversity is to honor life: Montevideo for the respect of all genders, identities and sexual orientations." In addition, a hotel exclusively for gay men has opened on the nudist beach of Chihuahua, a few kilometers from Punta del Este. The emerging gay scene has also given rise to well-known nightclubs that host colorful parties and eccentric, burlesque drag shows. Uruguay is an example of a country that promotes equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Health
Uruguay has a universal, public health care system, known as the Sistema Nacional Integrado de Salud (SNIS), which is available to all residents of the country, including foreigners. Funded by the government and managed by the Ministry of Public Health, it includes public hospitals, clinics and primary care centers. The SNIS provides a full range of health services, including prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, as well as coverage for certain drugs, although some limitations apply. The density of doctors per capita is five per thousand, comparable to that of Western countries. In addition, Uruguayan citizens have the freedom to choose their health care provider and family doctor. Government spending on health care accounts for about 10 percent of GDP in Uruguay, which is higher than the OECD average of 8.8 percent. In addition, there is an important tradition of social protection, stemming from legislation passed in 1912 and 1929. For example, after the creation of pension schemes for some military personnel and civil servants in the 19th century, coverage gradually expanded to reach near-universal coverage for pensions, disability, insurance, and survivors' benefits by the mid-1950s. There are, however, some disparities in access to health care, with the capital city having better medical facilities than other parts of the country.
Poverty
In 2021, the World Bank reported that Uruguay's middle class had become the largest in Latin America, representing more than 60 per cent of its population. According to an OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) report, in 2004 the share of people living below the poverty line was 39.9 per cent. In other words, 4 out of 10 Uruguayans lived on less than US$1.90 a day. Today, the country can boast the lowest poverty rate in Latin America, with 3.2% of its population living on less than 1,000 euros per month. In October 2022, the activity rate for the country as a whole was 62.1%, the employment rate was 57.2% and the unemployment rate was 7.8%.
Policy
The Eastern Republic of Uruguay is a secular and sovereign state characterized by a democratic and republican system, with a separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The executive branch is composed of the President, Luis Lacalle Pou, son of former President Luis Lacalle Herrera (1990-1995), the Vice President, Beatriz Argimón, and the Council of Ministers, which assists them. Under the current electoral system, the President of the Republic is elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage and is limited to one term, as are governors and mayors.
The main political parties in Uruguay are
Colorado Party. Founded in 1836. Since the restoration of democracy in 1985, the Colorado Party has governed Uruguay three times: between 1985 and 1990 (Julio Maria Sanguinetti), between 1995 and 2000 (again Julio Maria Sanguinetti) and between 2000 and 2005 (Jorge Batlle). It is a right-wing, conservative, nationalist and protectionist party that advocates American-style liberalism.
National Party. Founded in 1836 by Manuel Oribe. Since the restoration of democracy, the National Party governed Uruguay between 1990 and 1995 (Luis Alberto Lacalle Herrera) and in the current legislature (Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou).
Frente Amplio. Coalition founded in 1971, composed of numerous parties and political groups ranging from the center-left to the extreme left. It has governed Uruguay three times: between 2005 and 2010 (Tabaré Vázquez Rosas), between 2010 and 2015 (José Mujica) and between 2015 and 2020 (Tabaré Vázquez Rosas again). It is directed by Javier Miranda.
