What do you know about Uruguay?

Answer 1

Uruguay is the most socially progressive country in South America. It is a welfare state that offers its citizens free health care, free education (from kindergarten to college), retirement pensions, etc.

Uruguay was among the first countries in the world to introduce women's suffrage, divorce, 40 hour work week, paid vacation, etc. By law, employers must pay workers 13 salaries a year (that is, 12 monthly salaries pluys an extra salary before the holidays).

Recently, Uruguay became the first country in Latin America (and second in the Americas) to introduce same sex civil unions by national law. Gays in Uruguay can serve openly in the military. The Uruguayan parliament is currently discussing a bill that will give straight and gay couples equal rights to adopt children. In Montevideo, the capital city, the Diversity Park (Plaza de la Diversidad) was erected by the city council to honor those who were persecuted because of their sexual orientation. Protection againts discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is enshrined in the Constitution.

Uruguay is widely considered the most stable democracy in Latin America. The country ranks least corrupt in Latin America, and the 23rd least corrupt in the world (Transparency International).

The Uruguayan people is mainly of European descent (88% white European) , with a considerable percentage of descendants of Africa (about 10%).

Uruguay is considered the most secular country in the Western Hemisphere: approximately 40% of Uruguayans are non-religious, and of the 47% of the population that are nominally Catholic, only a very small percentage actually practice it.