The Uruguay briefing
Make room for Uruguay.
A place to live well. A place to invest for generations.
By James McDonaugh · September 2026
Uruguay’s appeal is both personal and financial: space, simplicity and time together, supported by strong institutions and high-quality assets. These are the facts and figures behind that view, drawn from our own research. The full briefing, with photographs and a personal note from James, is sent to everyone who enquires.
Room for a different rhythm.
Big skies, open countryside and Atlantic light make space part of daily life. The rhythm is unhurried: beach mornings, long lunches and evenings around the table. At the stables, at the harbour or among the vines, there is something here for everyone.
Family life centres on time outdoors and time together. The pleasure is barefoot and understated, with comfort measured in privacy and ease. Trust and continuity matter here, underpinned by enduring democratic institutions and strong civil liberties. A home to return to, year after year.
Strong foundations. High-quality assets.
Uruguay combines dependable institutions with direct ownership of productive land and coastal property. Foreign investors receive equal treatment in law and can transfer capital and profits abroad.1
From January 2026, qualifying new tax residents can use eligible urban property investments above 12.5 million UI (roughly US$2 million) to secure eleven tax years’ exemption on foreign passive income, followed by five years at half the standard 12% rate under the extension’s investment criteria.8
We suggest Uruguay as a modest, long-term allocation: typically 1% to 3% of family wealth, built over several years rather than in a single purchase.
- 97/100Political rights and civil liberties.Freedom House, 2026.2
- BBB+Investment-grade sovereign credit.S&P, stable outlook.3
- 4.55%Annual inflation in August 2026, close to the central bank’s 4.5% target.INE; IMF.5
Least perceived corruption in Latin America.
Uruguay ranks 17th of 182 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2025, with the highest score in Latin America and a score above the United Kingdom, France and the United States.4
| Country | Score |
|---|---|
| Uruguay | 73 |
| United Kingdom | 70 |
| France | 66 |
| United States | 64 |
| Chile | 63 |
| Argentina | 36 |
| Brazil | 35 |
Productive land.
Productive land connects ownership to agriculture and forestry, with income from use or leasing alongside long-term land value. The national average sale price of farmland rose from US$448 per hectare in 2000 to US$4,178 per hectare in 2025, in nominal terms.6
| Year | US$ per hectare |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 448 |
| 2025 | 4,178 |
Maldonado is attracting residents.
Between the 2011 and 2023 censuses the population of Maldonado, the department that includes Punta del Este and José Ignacio, grew by 23.7%, against 2.5% for Uruguay as a whole.7 We see this growing population supporting a broader base of housing demand.
| Area | Growth |
|---|---|
| Maldonado department | +23.7% |
| Uruguay | +2.5% |
Your place in Uruguay.
More time together. A home for southern summers. A second footing for the years ahead.
- ~99%Adult literacy, ages 15 and over, 2024.World Bank.9
- 98%Electricity from renewable sources, 2025 generation.MIEM.10
- 1stMost peaceful country in Latin America.Global Peace Index 2026.11
A move with children.
A move with children starts with everyday life: schools, neighbourhoods and a home that works long after summer ends. If you keep roots elsewhere, we arrange care for your property while you are away.
When residency is part of the plan.
When residency is part of your plan, we work alongside your tax and legal advisers to sequence the property purchase with your wider decisions. Legal residency and tax residency are distinct, and the order in which they are arranged matters.
After a liquidity event.
Your property should fit your financial plans too. After a business sale or other liquidity event, we bring discretion and a clear process to your next move, and coordinate with the family office, private bank or advisers who look after the wider picture.
What to hold, and why.
A coastal home, a property for rental income, or the acreage of a chacra, vineyard or estancia: we help you weigh how you will use it, what it can earn and what you want to hold for the next generation.
James Anthony & Co. acts solely for you as the buyer, from search and acquisition to ongoing stewardship.
Sources
- IMPO, Investment Law 16,906 (opens in a new tab).
- Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2026: Uruguay (opens in a new tab).
- Ministry of Economy and Finance, Sovereign credit ratings (opens in a new tab).
- Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 (opens in a new tab).
- INE, Índice de Precios del Consumo, August 2026 (opens in a new tab); IMF, Uruguay Article IV consultation 2025 (opens in a new tab).
- MGAP-DIEA, Compraventas de tierras de uso agropecuario 2025 (opens in a new tab).
- INE, Censo 2023 (opens in a new tab), Maldonado and national results; James Anthony & Co. calculations.
- IMPO, Law 20,446, article 648 (opens in a new tab); Decree 188/026 (opens in a new tab).
- World Bank, World Development Indicators: adult literacy rate, Uruguay (opens in a new tab).
- MIEM, Electricity generation 2025 (opens in a new tab).
- Institute for Economics and Peace, Global Peace Index 2026 (opens in a new tab).
The full briefing, with photographs and a personal note from James, is sent to everyone who enquires.
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