Uruguay is located in the southeastern part of South America, in the Southern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere, between roughly 30° S and 35° S latitude and 53° W and 58° W longitude. It lies west of the South Atlantic Ocean, north of the Río de la Plata estuary, and east of the Uruguay River, with low hill ranges such as the Cuchilla Grande and plains extending toward major river basins. These coordinates place the territory on global world maps just south of the subtropics and east of central Argentina, within the temperate belt of the continent.
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The official name of the country is the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, commonly shortened to Uruguay in reference works and international datasets. It is generally classified within the Southern Cone region of South America, together with Argentina and Chile, based on shared latitudinal range and broadly similar temperate climate patterns.
This article sets out where Uruguay is in South America and in the wider world, with geographic coordinates, regional classification, borders, seas, time zone data, network coverage patterns, and basic travel-related context.
Where Is Uruguay? Key Takeaways
Uruguay lies in southeastern South America
Regionally, Uruguay is grouped in the Southern Cone, with temperate conditions and shared latitudes with central Chile and central Argentina.
The country has land borders with Brazil and Argentina and maritime fronts along the Río de la Plata and the South Atlantic.
Standard time is UTC−3 year-round, so clocks do not change
International access generally relies on Montevideo Carrasco International Airport and a small number of Río de la Plata ferry terminals.
Key Facts About Uruguay’s Location
Uruguay’s core location attributes cover its continental placement, basic dimensions, standard identifiers, and reference population range.
| Atributo | Value |
| Capital | Montevideo (listed in official references as the capital of Uruguay) |
| Continente | Sudamérica |
| Subregión | Cono Sur |
| Población | Approximately 3.4–3.5 million inhabitants |
| Área | About 176,000–177,000 square kilometers |
| Zona(s) horaria(s) | Uruguay Time (UYT) |
| ISO-2 | UY |
| ISO-3 | URY |
| Código de llamada | +598 |
| Bandera nacional | The Uruguay flag is characterized by horizontal white and blue stripes, with a golden Sun of May in the canton |
Where Is Uruguay Located Geographically?
Uruguay is located on the Atlantic side of southern South America within temperate latitudes just south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Its territory consists mainly of rolling plains and low hill systems, without very high mountain ranges or arid deserts.
Latitude and Longitude: It extends roughly from 30° S to 35° S latitude and 53° W to 58° W longitude.
Hemispheres: It lies entirely in the Southern Hemisphere and entirely in the Western Hemisphere.
Total Land Area: It covers about 176,000 square kilometers, excluding inland waters.
Major Physical Features: It has low hill ranges such as the Cuchilla Grande and Sierra Carapé, extensive interior grasslands, and river basins, with Cerro Catedral as the highest point at about 513–514 meters.
Tectonic Setting: It sits on the stable interior of the South American Plate, away from active plate boundaries.
Uruguay is on the Atlantic side of southern South America, just south of the Tropic of Capricorn.
Is Uruguay in South America?
Uruguay is in South America and forms part of the southeastern sector of the continent. It is commonly placed within the Southern Cone subregion in geographic and socio-economic classifications.
South America: Uruguay is listed under this continent in global geographic reference frameworks.
Southern Cone: The country is grouped with Argentina and Chile in this subregion based on its location in the southern part of the continent.
Nordic or other regional labels: Uruguay is not classified within European, African, Asian, or North American regional groupings.
Continental reclassification: No mainstream atlas or encyclopedia places Uruguay outside South America.
Where Is Uruguay Located Relative to Its Neighbors?
Uruguay is located between Brazil and Argentina, with land and river boundaries and a maritime frontage toward the South Atlantic. This neighboring configuration creates a compact set of international contacts rather than a large number of bordering states.
The arrangement of boundaries follows a combination of north–south and east–west alignments, with rivers and estuarine waters forming much of the separation from Argentina, and open land borders connecting to Brazil. Maritime limits extend into the Atlantic and across the Río de la Plata, intersecting with shipping routes and fishing areas.
Fronteras terrestres: Uruguay shares land borders with Brazil to the north and northeast and with Argentina mainly to the west along stretches of the Uruguay River and certain terrestrial sections.
Fronteras marítimas: Maritime boundaries extend into the Río de la Plata toward Argentina and outward into the South Atlantic, following agreed jurisdictional lines and exclusive economic zone limits.
River alignments: The Uruguay River and other watercourses form substantial parts of the border layout, particularly along the western side opposite Argentina.
Border corridors: Key road and bridge corridors concentrate crossings and access routes, rather than distributing them evenly along the entire boundary length.
Where Is Uruguay? Seas, Oceans, & Natural Features
Uruguay is situated on the Atlantic façade of South America, with a shoreline that includes the outer Río de la Plata estuary and a section of the open South Atlantic coast. Inland, the landscape consists of low hills, plains, and river systems, without large desert areas.
Seas/Oceans: The South Atlantic Ocean and the Río de la Plata estuarine waters.
Costa: Atlantic and estuarine coastline along the Río de la Plata and open ocean segments.
Major Rivers: Uruguay River and numerous tributaries, plus interior streams draining toward the Atlantic basin.
Mountains: Low hill ranges such as Cuchilla Grande and Sierra Carapé, including Cerro Catedral.
Desiertos: No major desert regions are within the national territory.
Where Is Uruguay Located? Time Zones and Seasonal Geography
Uruguay is located within a single national time zone that aligns its clocks with UTC−3 throughout the year. The absence of daylight saving time distinguishes the present arrangement from earlier seasonal clock-change practices.
The time difference in Uruguay relative to Greenwich Mean Time is fixed at three hours behind, which simplifies long-term scheduling in international databases and for recurring events. Seasonally, the country experiences temperate conditions, with the Southern Hemisphere summer roughly from December to February and winter from June to August.
| Zona horaria | Value |
| Zona(s) horaria(s) | Uruguay Time (UYT) |
| UTC offset | UTC−3 |
| DST status | No daylight saving time is currently observed |
| Regions covered | The entire territory encompasses all departments and localities |
Where Is Uruguay? Significance of Its Location for Travelers
Uruguay is located on the southeastern margin of South America and is accessible by regional flights, long-distance buses, and Río de la Plata ferries. Typical direct flight durations from major South American hubs range from about one to three hours, while journeys from Europe or North America ordinarily include at least one intermediate stop.
Montevideo Carrasco International Airport functions as the primary international air gateway, complemented by ferry terminals such as those in Montevideo and Colonia del Sacramento that face Buenos Aires across the estuary. These nodes define how passenger flows enter and leave the country, particularly for itineraries that combine Uruguay with Argentina or Brazil.
Travellers assessing where is Uruguay in South America frequently integrate the country into wider regional routes and consult planning resources that list the top things to do in Uruguay to allocate time between coastal towns, interior estancias, and Montevideo. Jet lag effects remain moderate for visitors from neighboring countries but become more pronounced for arrivals from East Asia or western North America, where multi-leg flights involve long total travel times.
Network Coverage Across the Location of Uruguay
Uruguay’s national territory consists of plains and low hills, with higher population densities near Montevideo and coastal departments and lower settlement densities in parts of the interior. These patterns shape the deployment of mobile network infrastructure across urban zones, secondary towns, and rural districts.
Coverage generally follows main highways, rail routes, and urban corridors, with more limited signal reach in remote agricultural areas and certain hill regions. Along international borders, devices may connect to foreign networks where overlapping signals occur, so roaming settings require attention.
Antel: State-owned operator with a national network footprint covering urban areas, towns, and key transport routes across multiple departments.
Movistar: Private operator with coverage concentrated around cities, major roads, and populated corridors, including a strong presence in Montevideo and other large localities.
Claro: A private operator with networks focused on cities and regional centers, plus selected intercity and cross-border corridors.
Users planning longer overland routes typically consult operator coverage maps or crowdsourced mapping tools before departure to check signal availability along planned roads and in smaller settlements.
Using SimCorner eSIMs and SIM cards in Uruguay Location
Travelers arriving in Uruguay often require mobile data for navigation, messaging, and digital payments from the moment they reach Montevideo Carrasco International Airport or major bus terminals. Local prepaid options are available through physical outlets, though store hours and language constraints can complicate immediate activation.
SimCorner provides access to eSIMs and tourist Uruguay SIM cards connected to major local networks such as Antel, Movistar, and Claro. Plans are described as data-focused and hotspot-enabled, with eSIM Uruguay options allowing activation before or upon arrival and eliminating the need for physical SIM handling.
Service information indicates transparent plan structures, no separate roaming fees within defined coverage areas, and 24/7 online support rather than in-person desks. Device compatibility depends on the handset model and supported frequency bands, so users typically verify specifications before purchase.
