Country Comments

There is no ecological data from the Global Footprint Network available for the carrying capacity of Uruguay. At this point in time Earth Overshoot is unable provide a sustainable population level for the country, nor a sustainability ranking. Uruguay is blessed with rich and abundant biodiversity and a small human population. The country could remain sustainable at current standards of living with five times its population. The country’s fertility rate has been below replacement for the past decade and all indications are it will stay stable or decline further. As a result population growth is at a slow pace and the country should maintain a reserve of renewable natural resources for a long time.

One interesting fact, Uruguay is a major beef exporting country. Cattle outnumber people four to one. CCA Coalition reports there are almost 15 million hectares dedicated to livestock production. The nation’s agricultural sector causes about 75 percent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. (1)

Water pollution has been a downstream problem from the cattle industry from both meat packing and tanneries and in the last 10 years, 10% of Uruguay’s forests have been lost due to logging efforts.

Uruguay scores high on the UN’s human development indicators however gender equality gaps especially in rural areas are prevalent and Amnesty International reported in 2020 a 41% increase in reports of commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. (2)

(1) https://www.ccacoalition.org/en/news/how-uruguay-can-have-environmental-sustainability-–-and-eat-its-beef-too

(2) https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/americas/south-america/uruguay/report-uruguay/