The Uruguayan departments are subdivided into municipalities and, as of 2023, there are 127 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.
Map of municipalities and departments of Uruguay as of 2021.
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.
Establishment of the system and creation of municipalities
edit
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
edit
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]
List of municipalities by department
edit
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major [ 3]
Foundation [ 4]
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
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major [ 3]
Foundation [ 4]
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
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major [ 3]
Foundation [ 4] [ 5] [ 6]
1
Aceguá
1,686
825.9 km2
Javier Rodríguez (PN)
22 March 2013
2
Arbolito
263
604.5 km2
Luis Seguí (PN)
22 March 2013
3
Arévalo
572
396.5 km2
José Eduardo Lucas (PN)
22 March 2013
4
Bañado de Medina
1,583
451.3 km2
Daniel Cegade (PN)
25 October 2018
5
Centurión
242
648.1 km2
Juan Nery dos Santos (PN)
25 October 2018
6
Cerro de las Cuentas
496
817.3 km2
Humberto Allende (PN)
25 October 2018
7
Fraile Muerto
3,450
407.1 km2
Pablo Nauar (PN)
15 March 2010
8
Isidoro Noblía
2,808
665.2 km2
Favio Freire (PN)
22 March 2013
9
Las Cañas
242
648.2 km2
Víctor Noda (PN)
25 October 2018
10
Plácido Rosas
602
524.8 km2
Eduardo Fernández (PN)
22 March 2013
11
Quebracho
497
701.2 km2
Héctor Ortiz (PN)
25 October 2018
12
Ramón Trigo
368
1,270.5 km2
Durmen Menchaca (PN)
22 March 2013
13
Río Branco
16,270
933.2 km2
Christian Morel (PN)
15 March 2010
14
Tres Islas
301
445.7 km2
Carlos González (PN)
25 October 2018
15
Tupambaé
1,269
1,110.1 km2
Macarena Da Rosa (PN)
22 March 2013
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major [ 3]
Foundation
1
Carmelo
19,606
390.2 km2
Alicia Espíndola (PN)
15 March 2010
2
Colonia Valdense
4,535
147.4 km2
Andrés Malan (PN)
22 March 2013
3
Florencio Sánchez
4,040
295.6 km2
Alfredo Sánchez (PN)
22 March 2013
4
Juan L. Lacaze
13,635
107.3 km2
Arturo Bentancor (FA)
15 March 2010
5
La Paz
1,005
62 km2
Walter Eduardo Miranda
26 October 2018
6
Miguelete
1,814
720 km2
María Elena Martin (PN)
26 October 2018
7
Nueva Helvecia
11,224
95.1 km2
Marcelo Alonso (PN)
15 March 2010
8
Nueva Palmira
10,063
126.8 km2
Agustín Callero (PN)
15 March 2010
9
Ombúes de Lavalle
3,936
397.8 km2
Marcelo Castro (PN)
22 March 2013
10
Rosario
11,161
230.2 km2
Pablo Maciel (PN)
15 March 2010
11
Tarariras
7,788
484.4 km2
Dany Pérez (PN)
15 March 2010
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major [ 3]
Foundation
Sarandí del Yí
7,389
6,562 km2
Carlos Luberriga (PN)
15 March 2010
Villa del Carmen
2,891
479.2 km2
Fernando Rodríguez (PN)
15 March 2010
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major [ 3]
Foundation
Ismael Cortinas
914
0.95 km2
Agustín Musa (PN)
15 March 2010
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major [ 3]
Foundation
1
Casupá
2,228
94.7 km2
Luis Oliva Monfort (PN)
15 March 2010
2
Fray Marcos
3,432
279.4 km2
Stella Tucuna (PN)
15 March 2013 [ 7]
3
Sarandí Grande
6,509
211.5 km2
Cayetano Stopingi (PN)
15 March 2010
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major [ 3]
Foundation
1
Aiguá
3,165
1,365.0 km2
Ernesto San Román (PN)
15 March 2010
2
Garzón
1,020
623.2 km2
Nazareno Lazo (PN)
15 March 2010
3
Maldonado
90,593
189.7 km2
Andrés Rapetti (PN)
15 March 2010
4
Pan de Azúcar
8,025
606.4 km2
Alejandro Echavarria (PN)
15 March 2010
5
Piriápolis
14,461
135.9 km2
René Graña (PN)
15 March 2010
6
Punta del Este
11,128
21.8 km2
Javier Carballal (PN)
15 March 2010
7
San Carlos
33,293
1,651.0 km2
Carlos Pereyra (PN)
15 March 2010
8
Solís Grande
2,613
204.9 km2
Patricia Martínez (PN)
15 March 2010
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major [ 3]
Foundation
1
Municipality A
207,911
144.2 km2
Jorge Meroni (FA)
15 March 2010
2
Municipality B
147,577
11.8 km2
Silvana Pissano (FA)
15 March 2010
3
Municipality C
148,952
17.6 km2
Jorge Cabrera (FA)
15 March 2010
4
Municipality CH
159,528
12.1 km2
Matilde Antía (PN)
15 March 2010
5
Municipality D
181,153
86.5 km2
Gabriel Velazco (FA)
15 March 2010
6
Municipality E
153,395
27.5 km2
Mercedes Ruiz (PN)
15 March 2010
7
Municipality F
168,937
85.0 km2
Juan López (PN)
15 March 2010
8
Municipality G
151,302
142.7 km2
Leticia de Torres (FA)
15 March 2010
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major
Foundation
1
Chapicuy
1,382
1,043.6 km2
Milton Laurencena (PN)
21 March 2013
2
Guichón
6,860
1,670.1 km2
Martín Álvarez (PN)
15 March 2010
3
Lorenzo Geyres
1,704
938.7 km2
Graciela Barrutte (PN)
21 March 2013
4
Piedras Coloradas
1,956
1,192.7 km2
Jhonn Cáceres (PN)
21 March 2013
5
Porvenir
4,178
954.5 km2
Ramiro Ayende (PN)
15 March 2010
6
Quebracho
3,671
1,088.4 km2
Silbia Visoso (PN)
15 March 2010
7
Tambores
1,475
2,388.0 km2
Ricardo Soares (PN)
21 March 2013
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major
Foundation
1
Nuevo Berlín
2,604
498.7 km2
Hernán Godoy (PN)
15 March 2010
2
San Javier
2,830
817.8 km2
Washington Laco (PN)
22 March 2013
3
Young
17,550
1,039.8 km2
Inés Long (PN)
15 March 2010
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major
Foundation
1
Minas de Corrales
3,985
381.7 km2
José González (PC)
15 March 2010
2
Tranqueras
8,190
976.6 km2
Luciano Viera (PC)
15 March 2010
3
Vichadero
4,048
510.5 km2
Luis Alberto Coutinho (PN)
15 March 2010
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major
Foundation
1
Castillos
9,651
2,152.6 km2
Juan Manuel Olivera (PN)
15 March 2010
2
Chuy
9,758
92.8 km2
Eduardo Calabuig (PN)
15 March 2010
3
La Paloma
5,516
247.7 km2
Sergio Muniz (FA)
15 March 2010
4
Lascano
7,922
745.5 km2
Víctor Larrosa (PN)
15 March 2010
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major [ 3]
Foundation
1
Belén
2,269
164.7 km2
Luis Zuliani (FA)
15 March 2010
2
Colonia Lavalleja
2,478
1,472.6 km2
Antonio Tejeira (PN)
15 March 2010
3
Mataojo
1,028
2,241.5 km2
Rosita Moreno (FA)
15 March 2010
4
San Antonio
3,865
430.8 km2
Sandra Toncobitz (PC)
15 March 2010
5
Rincón de Valentín
1,203
872.8 km2
Santiago Dalmao (FA)
15 March 2010
6
Villa Constitución
3,896
1,537.8 km2
Carlos Souto (FA)
15 March 2010
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major [ 3]
Foundation
1
Ciudad del Plata
32,154
125.8 km2
Marianita Fonseca (PN)
15 March 2010
2
Ecilda Paullier
5,025
694.7 km2
Leonardo Giménez (PN)
22 March 2013
3
Libertad
14,326
441.9 km2
Matías Santos (PN)
15 March 2010
4
Rodríguez
4,849
1,167.3 km2
Norberto Zunino (PN)
22 March 2013
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major [ 3]
Foundation
1
Cardona
5,029
356.1 km2
Ruben Valentín (PN)
15 March 2010
2
Dolores
19,577
413.7 km2
Juan Oronoz (PN)
15 March 2010
3
José Enrique Rodó
3,077
396.3 km2
Washington Loitey (PN)
27 March 2015
4
Palmitas
2,304
178.7 km2
Juan Vincon (PN)
27 March 2015
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major [ 3]
Foundation
1
Ansina
3,289
792.2 km2
Ana Isabel Camejo (PN)
27 March 2015
2
Paso de los Toros
13,232
560.3 km2
Luis Irigoin (PN)
15 March 2010
3
San Gregorio de Polanco
3,722
444.7 km2
Asdrúbal Rodríguez (PN)
15 March 2010
#
Municipality
Population
Area
Major [ 3]
Foundation
1
Cerro Chato
1,407
km2
Elías Javier Fuentes (PN)
22 December 2017
2
Enrique Martínez
1,246
km2
Nidia Vera (PN)
22 December 2017
3
Rincón
1,767
km2
Eduardo Gonzales (PN)
22 December 2017
4
Santa Clara de Olimar
2,485
482.4 km2
Pablo Echevarría (PN)
15 March 2010
5
Vergara
4,064
622.5 km2
José González (PN)
15 March 2010
6
Villa Sara
1,724
534 km2
Analía Larrañaga (PN)
22 December 2017