Municipalities of Uruguay

Map of municipalities and departments of Uruguay as of 2025.

The Uruguayan departments are subdivided into municipalities and, as of 2025, there are 136 municipalities. This second level administrative division system was created by Law No. 18567 of 13 September 2009 and the first municipalities were created (or converted from Local Boards in the previous system) in March 2010. In the municipal elections of 2010 municipal authorities were elected for the first time and they assumed office months later.

Each municipality is governed by a local council, made up of 5 members. The chairperson of the local council is known as alcalde (mayor) and the remaining members are the councilors.

The Montevideo, Canelones and Maldonado departments are completely covered by municipalities, while the other departments have areas not included in any municipality.

Description

Establishment of the system and creation of municipalities

The municipalities' system was created by Law No. 18567 of 13 September 2009.[1] The current system is ruled by Law No. 19272 of 18 September 2014. This regulation provided that in settlements with more than 2,000 inhabitants a municipality was to be created including their surrounding territories, as long as it consisted in a social and cultural unit with their own common interests, that justified the creation of this kind of political entity. Settlements with less than 2,000 inhabitants were allowed to establish a municipality if the Departmental Board voted for it after the Intendant proposal, or by popular initiative of at least the 15% of voters in the settlement. Municipalities in departmental seats were only allowed to be created by Departmental Boards after the Intendant's proposal.[2]

Election of authorities and government

The municipalities are governed by a local council made up by five members, whose chairperson is known as alcalde (mayor) and the other four members are known as concejales (councilors). They are elected by direct vote each municipal elections, at the same time the departmental authorities are elected.[2]

Criticism

There is an ongoing debate regarding this system, due to the high cost and low quality of public services, ambiguous mandates for citizen participation, and inefficient bureaucracy. Critics highlight, particularly in Montevideo, issues like slow responses to local infrastructure needs, excessive personnel, and a lack of effective horizontal coordination between different municipal jurisdictions.[3]

List of municipalities by department

Artigas

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation [5]
1 Baltasar Brum 2,608 754.0 km2 Juan Marticorena (PN) 15 March 2010
2 Bella Unión 12,406 547.0 km2 William Cresseri (PN) 15 March 2010
3 Tomás Gomensoro 2,902 804.5 km2 Federico Arbiza (PN) 15 March 2010

Canelones

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation [5]
1 18 de Mayo 21,371 11.0 km2 Adriana Sánchez (FA) 20 March 2013
2 Aguas Corrientes 1,728 51.5 km2 Marcelo Delgado (FA) 15 March 2010
3 Atlántida 10,198 108.1 km2 Gustavo González (FA) 15 March 2010
4 Barros Blancos 29,865 22.8 km2 Julián Rocha (FA) 15 March 2010
5 Canelones 27,406 230.8 km2 Darío Pimienta (FA) 15 March 2010
6 Ciudad de la Costa 91,284 61.1 km2 Sonia Misirian (FA) 15 March 2010
7 Colonia Nicolich 14,788 26.0 km2 Líber Moreno (FA) 15 March 2010
8 Empalme Olmos 6,630 152.5 km2 Jorge Álvarez (FA) 15 March 2010
9 La Floresta 8,353 59.1 km2 Néstor Erramouspe (FA) 15 March 2010
10 La Paz 20,194 32.9 km2 Bruno Fernández (FA) 15 March 2010
11 Las Piedras 62,238 53.9 km2 Gustavo González (FA) 15 March 2010
12 Los Cerrillos 7,713 261.4 km2 Néstor Roncio (FA) 15 March 2010
13 Migues 3,802 363.3 km2 Nahuel Jorge (PN) 15 March 2010
14 Montes 1,842 55.5 km2 Rodolfo Salvarrey (PN) 15 March 2010
15 Pando 32,927 114.9 km2 Alcides Pérez (FA) 15 March 2010
16 Parque del Plata 11,054 12.8 km2 Tania Vecchio (FA) 15 March 2010
17 Paso Carrasco 20,842 20.7 km2 Verónica Veiga (FA) 15 March 2010
18 Progreso 14,292 78.5 km2 Claudio Duarte (FA) 15 March 2010
19 Salinas 23,447 83.7 km2 Óscar Montero (FA) 15 March 2010
20 San Antonio 3,283 168.6 km2 Damaso Pani (PN) 15 March 2010
21 San Bautista 3,684 196.5 km2 Roberto Siriani (PN) 15 March 2010
22 San Jacinto 6,691 274.9 km2 Cristian Ferraro (PN) 15 March 2010
23 San Ramón 8,087 249.3 km2 Gonzalo Melogno (PN) 15 March 2010
24 Santa Lucía 18,524 252.2 km2 Leonardo Mollo (FA) 15 March 2010
25 Santa Rosa 6,751 192.5 km2 Ramiro Azor (FA) 15 March 2010
26 Sauce 13,019 295.9 km2 Juan Ottonello (PN) 15 March 2010
27 Soca 3,959 493.1 km2 Roberto Rodríguez (PN) 15 March 2010
28 Suárez 18,153 44.0 km2 Carlos Nalerio (FA) 15 March 2010
29 Tala 9,308 522.1 km2 Leonardo Pérez (PN) 15 March 2010
30 Toledo 18,740 30.3 km2 José Gini (FA) 15 March 2010

Cerro Largo

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation [5][6][7]
1Aceguá1,686825.9 km2Javier Rodríguez (PN)22 March 2013
2Arbolito263604.5 km2Luis Seguí (PN)22 March 2013
3Arévalo572396.5 km2José Eduardo Lucas (PN)22 March 2013
4Bañado de Medina1,583451.3 km2Daniel Cegade (PN)25 October 2018
5Centurión242648.1 km2Juan Nery dos Santos (PN)25 October 2018
6Cerro de las Cuentas496817.3 km2Humberto Allende (PN)25 October 2018
7Fraile Muerto3,450407.1 km2Pablo Nauar (PN)15 March 2010
8Isidoro Noblía2,808665.2 km2Favio Freire (PN)22 March 2013
9Laguna Merín
10Las Cañas242648.2 km2Víctor Noda (PN)25 October 2018
11Plácido Rosas602524.8 km2Eduardo Fernández (PN)22 March 2013
12Quebracho497701.2 km2Héctor Ortiz (PN)25 October 2018
13Ramón Trigo3681,270.5 km2Durmen Menchaca (PN)22 March 2013
14Río Branco16,270933.2 km2Christian Morel (PN)15 March 2010
15Tres Islas301445.7 km2Carlos González (PN)25 October 2018
16Tupambaé1,2691,110.1 km2Macarena Da Rosa (PN)22 March 2013

Colonia

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation
1Carmelo19,606390.2 km2Alicia Espíndola (PN)15 March 2010
2Colonia Valdense4,535147.4 km2Andrés Malan (PN)22 March 2013
3Florencio Sánchez4,040295.6 km2Alfredo Sánchez (PN)22 March 2013
4Juan L. Lacaze13,635107.3 km2Arturo Bentancor (FA)15 March 2010
5La Paz1,00562 km2Walter Eduardo Miranda26 October 2018
6Miguelete1,814720 km2María Elena Martin (PN)26 October 2018
7Nueva Helvecia11,22495.1 km2Marcelo Alonso (PN)15 March 2010
8Nueva Palmira10,063126.8 km2Agustín Callero (PN)15 March 2010
9Ombúes de Lavalle3,936397.8 km2Marcelo Castro (PN)22 March 2013
10Rosario11,161230.2 km2Pablo Maciel (PN)15 March 2010
11Tarariras7,788484.4 km2Dany Pérez (PN)15 March 2010

Durazno

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation
Sarandí del Yí7,3896,562 km2Carlos Luberriga (PN)15 March 2010
Villa del Carmen2,891479.2 km2Fernando Rodríguez (PN)15 March 2010

Flores

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation
Ismael Cortinas9140.95 km2Agustín Musa (PN)15 March 2010

Florida

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation
1Casupá2,22894.7 km2Luis Oliva Monfort (PN)15 March 2010
2Fray Marcos3,432279.4 km2Stella Tucuna (PN)15 March 2013 [8]
3Sarandí Grande6,509211.5 km2Cayetano Stopingi (PN)15 March 2010

Lavalleja

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation
1José Batlle y Ordóñez2,283784.1 km2Pablo Patiño (PN)27 March 2015
2José Pedro Varela5,398851.8 km2Martín Rezk (PN)15 March 2010
3Mariscala1,830634 km2Francisco de la Peña (PN)24 October 2018
4Solís de Mataojo2,924101.6 km2Verónica Machado (PN)15 March 2010

Maldonado

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation
1Aiguá3,1651,365.0 km2Ernesto San Román (PN)15 March 2010
2Garzón1,020623.2 km2Nazareno Lazo (PN)15 March 2010
3Maldonado90,593189.7 km2Andrés Rapetti (PN)15 March 2010
4Pan de Azúcar8,025606.4 km2Alejandro Echavarria (PN)15 March 2010
5Piriápolis14,461135.9 km2René Graña (PN)15 March 2010
6Punta del Este11,12821.8 km2Javier Carballal (PN)15 March 2010
7San Carlos33,2931,651.0 km2Carlos Pereyra (PN)15 March 2010
8Solís Grande2,613204.9 km2Patricia Martínez (PN)15 March 2010

Montevideo

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation
1Municipality A207,911144.2 km2Jorge Meroni (FA)15 March 2010
2Municipality B147,57711.8 km2Silvana Pissano (FA)15 March 2010
3Municipality C148,95217.6 km2Jorge Cabrera (FA)15 March 2010
4Municipality CH159,52812.1 km2Matilde Antía (PN)15 March 2010
5Municipality D181,15386.5 km2Gabriel Velazco (FA)15 March 2010
6Municipality E153,39527.5 km2Mercedes Ruiz (PN)15 March 2010
7Municipality F168,93785.0 km2Juan López (PN)15 March 2010
8Municipality G151,302142.7 km2Leticia de Torres (FA)15 March 2010

Paysandú

# Municipality Population Area Major Foundation
1Chapicuy1,3821,043.6 km2Milton Laurencena (PN)21 March 2013
2Guichón6,8601,670.1 km2Martín Álvarez (PN)15 March 2010
3Lorenzo Geyres1,704938.7 km2Graciela Barrutte (PN)21 March 2013
4Piedras Coloradas1,9561,192.7 km2Jhonn Cáceres (PN)21 March 2013
5Porvenir4,178954.5 km2Ramiro Ayende (PN)15 March 2010
6Quebracho3,6711,088.4 km2Silbia Visoso (PN)15 March 2010
7Tambores1,4752,388.0 km2Ricardo Soares (PN)21 March 2013

Río Negro

# Municipality Population Area Major Foundation
1Nuevo Berlín2,604498.7 km2Hernán Godoy (PN)15 March 2010
2San Javier2,830817.8 km2Washington Laco (PN)22 March 2013
3Young17,5501,039.8 km2Inés Long (PN)15 March 2010

Rivera

# Municipality Population Area Major Foundation
1Minas de Corrales3,985381.7 km2José González (PC)15 March 2010
2Tranqueras8,190976.6 km2Luciano Viera (PC)15 March 2010
3Vichadero4,048510.5 km2Luis Alberto Coutinho (PN)15 March 2010

Rocha

# Municipality Population Area Major Foundation
1Castillos9,6512,152.6 km2Juan Manuel Olivera (PN)15 March 2010
2Chuy9,75892.8 km2Eduardo Calabuig (PN)15 March 2010
3La Paloma5,516247.7 km2Sergio Muniz (FA)15 March 2010
4Lascano7,922745.5 km2Víctor Larrosa (PN)15 March 2010

Salto

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation
1Belén2,269164.7 km2Luis Zuliani (FA)15 March 2010
2Colonia Lavalleja2,4781,472.6 km2Antonio Tejeira (PN)15 March 2010
3Mataojo1,0282,241.5 km2Rosita Moreno (FA)15 March 2010
4San Antonio3,865430.8 km2Sandra Toncobitz (PC)15 March 2010
5Rincón de Valentín1,203872.8 km2Santiago Dalmao (FA)15 March 2010
6Villa Constitución3,8961,537.8 km2Carlos Souto (FA)15 March 2010

San José

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation
1Ciudad del Plata32,154125.8 km2Marianita Fonseca (PN)15 March 2010
2Ecilda Paullier5,025694.7 km2Leonardo Giménez (PN)22 March 2013
3Libertad14,326441.9 km2Matías Santos (PN)15 March 2010
4Rodríguez4,8491,167.3 km2Norberto Zunino (PN)22 March 2013

Soriano

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation
1Cardona5,029356.1 km2Ruben Valentín (PN)15 March 2010
2Dolores19,577413.7 km2Juan Oronoz (PN)15 March 2010
3José Enrique Rodó3,077396.3 km2Washington Loitey (PN)27 March 2015
4Palmitas2,304178.7 km2Juan Vincon (PN)27 March 2015

Tacuarembó

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation
1Ansina3,289792.2 km2Ana Isabel Camejo (PN)27 March 2015
2Paso de los Toros13,232560.3 km2Luis Irigoin (PN)15 March 2010
3San Gregorio de Polanco3,722444.7 km2Asdrúbal Rodríguez (PN)15 March 2010

Treinta y Tres

# Municipality Population Area Major [4] Foundation
1Cerro Chato1,407 km2Elías Javier Fuentes (PN)22 December 2017
2Enrique Martínez1,246 km2Nidia Vera (PN)22 December 2017
3Rincón1,767 km2Eduardo Gonzales (PN)22 December 2017
4Santa Clara de Olimar2,485482.4 km2Pablo Echevarría (PN)15 March 2010
5Vergara4,064622.5 km2José González (PN)15 March 2010
6Villa Sara1,724534 km2Analía Larrañaga (PN)22 December 2017

References

  1. ↑ "Ley N° 18567". www.impo.com.uy. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  2. 1 2 "Ley N° 19272". www.impo.com.uy. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  3. ↑ Freigedo, Martín; Milanesi, Alejandro; Rodríguez, José Raúl (2023). "Decentralizing Under Uncertainty: Informal Relations and Results-Based Management in the Municipalization Process in Uruguay". Public Organiz Rev. 23: 927–944. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Alcaldes y Alcaldesas asumieron en los 125 Municipios de Uruguay" (in Spanish). Office of Planning and Budget. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "Ley N° 18653" (in Spanish). IMPO. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  6. ↑ "DECRETO Nº 11/13" (PDF) (in Spanish). Junta Departamental de Cerro Largo. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  7. ↑ "DECRETO N.º 29/2018" (PDF) (in Spanish). Junta Departamental de Cerro Largo. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  8. ↑ "DECRETO JDF Nº 06/2013" (in Spanish). Departmental Board of Florida. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
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