Safest cities in Uruguay
3 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in UruguayAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Uruguay, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Crime
- Street crime in MontevideoStreet crime happens in Montevideo, including:
- Theft from cars in MontevideoCriminals regularly break into cars left on the street. Try to park in paid car parks or well-lit, busy areas.
- Crime outside MontevideoCrime rates are generally lower in other parts of Uruguay, but still take usual precautions.
Laws and cultural differences
- MoneyYou cannot always use credit cards outside of major towns. ATMs may not always accept UK debit cards.
- Smoking and e-cigarette bansIt is illegal to smoke, including e-cigarettes, in enclosed public places such as restaurants, shopping centres and cinemas.
- MarijuanaIf they have registered with the Uruguayan government, it is legal for Uruguayan nationals or foreign nationals who have been resident for more than 2 years, to grow marijuana or buy it from registered pharmacies. However, it is illegal for tourists to do this.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex marriage is legal and there are anti-discrimination laws. Uruguay also recognises same-sex civil unions. It is common to see same-sex couples together in public, and hostility or discrimination towards LGBT+ visitors is rare.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Swimming safetyMany beaches in Uruguay have lifeguards from December to March, although times vary across the country. Take care when swimming in rivers or the Atlantic Ocean. There can be currents, rocks and sandbanks with sudden descents.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Uruguay, see information on driving abroad.
- Road conditionsThe main toll roads from Colonia del Sacramento to Montevideo and Punta del Este are in good condition and well-marked. However, serious road traffic accidents are common and often caused by poor road layout and speeding.
- Bus terminalThe main bus terminal for long distance journeys is Tres Cruces (in Spanish). There are visible security patrols. Keep a close eye on your belongings.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- FloodingOccasional heavy storms can last 2 to 3 days and cause severe damage and flooding. Check for severe weather warnings from the Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology (in Spanish). See UK Met Office forecasts for Uruguay.
- Forest firesForest fires can break out in the hottest months from December to March in dry areas. Extinguish cigarettes and fires appropriately. Call 911 to contact the fire brigade.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Uruguay, updated 2025-12-10 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 11.28 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 40.02024
- Human development
- HDI 0.8622023
- Income
- $36,330/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 14.8 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 88/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 73/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 73/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 2.5/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.82GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 10.9 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 4.7 doctors /1k2.4 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 3.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 3.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Uruguay (as of 2025).
How Uruguay compares
| Measure | Uruguay | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 11 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +8.9 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 40.0 | 35.2 | +4.8 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.862 | 0.763 | +0.099 — better for Uruguay |
| Road deaths | 14.8 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −0.6 /100k — better for Uruguay |
| Rule of law | 73/100 | 52/100 | +21/100 — better for Uruguay |
| Corruption perceptions | 73/100 | 39/100 | +34/100 — better for Uruguay |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 10.9 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −8.8 µg/m³ — better for Uruguay |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.5/10 | 3.8/10 | −1.3/10 — better for Uruguay |
| Measure | Uruguay | South America median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 11 /100k | 8.6 /100k | +2.7 /100k — better for South America median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 40.0 | 44.2 | −4.2 — better for Uruguay |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.862 | 0.777 | +0.085 — better for Uruguay |
| Road deaths | 14.8 /100k | 16.0 /100k | −1.2 /100k — better for Uruguay |
| Rule of law | 73/100 | 48/100 | +25/100 — better for Uruguay |
| Corruption perceptions | 73/100 | 35/100 | +38/100 — better for Uruguay |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 10.9 µg/m³ | 18.4 µg/m³ | −7.5 µg/m³ — better for Uruguay |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.5/10 | 4.7/10 | −2.2/10 — better for Uruguay |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 3 cities, safest first
- Maldonado59.2 · #4497 worldwide
- Montevideo56.5 · #4744 worldwide
- Las Piedras56.5 · #4745 worldwide