According to an index compiled by the United Nations Program for Development (UNDP), Uruguay is ranked third in Latin America in terms of human development and 50th worldwide out of 182 countries.

The index is constructed according to the following social welfare variables such as life expectancy, literacy, school enrollment, and per capita GDP. In Uruguay, life expectancy is 76 years and 97.9% of the population is literate.

(El Espectador, 5 October 2009)