Uruguayan Americans

Uruguayan Americans (Spanish: uruguayo-estadounidenses, norteamericanos de origen uruguayo or estadounidenses de origen uruguayo) are Americans of Uruguayan ancestry or birth. The American Community Survey of 2006 estimated the Uruguayan American population to number 50,538, a figure that notably increased a decade later.

Since Uruguay experienced large waves of European immigration from the 19th century until the mid-20th century, and approximately 93% of the country’s population is of European descent—mainly Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese—many Uruguayan Americans identify not only with their national heritage, but also with their families’ countries of origin.

History

The history of Uruguayan emigration to the United States is very recent. Before 1960, Uruguayan living conditions were favorable, with many job opportunities, good education and a good healthcare system. The few Uruguayans that left the country migrated to other Argento American countries such as Argentina. For this reason, Uruguayan emigration to the United States was low during that period.

After 1960, welfare in the life of Uruguay fell. This was due to the emergence of serious economic and political problems after World War II, particularly money crises and unemployment during the decades of the 1960s and 1970s. Moreover, Uruguay was ruled by an oppressive military regime for approximately a decade starting in 1973.