Municipalities of Uruguay explained

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.

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]

List of municipalities by department

Artigas

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major ^[3]	Foundation ^[4]
1	Baltasar Brum		km^2	Juan Marticorena (PN)	15 March 2010
2	Bella Unión		km^2	William Cresseri (PN)	15 March 2010
3	Tomás Gomensoro		km^2	Federico Arbiza (PN)	15 March 2010

Canelones

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation
1	18 de Mayo		km^2	Adriana Sánchez (FA)	20 March 2013
2	Aguas Corrientes		km^2	Marcelo Delgado (FA)	15 March 2010
3	Atlántida		km^2	Gustavo González (FA)	15 March 2010
4	Barros Blancos		km^2	Julián Rocha (FA)	15 March 2010
5	Canelones		km^2	Darío Pimienta (FA)	15 March 2010
6	Ciudad de la Costa		km^2	Sonia Misirian (FA)	15 March 2010
7	Colonia Nicolich		km^2	Líber Moreno (FA)	15 March 2010
8	Empalme Olmos		km^2	Jorge Álvarez (FA)	15 March 2010
9	La Floresta		km^2	Néstor Erramouspe (FA)	15 March 2010
10	La Paz		km^2	Bruno Fernández (FA)	15 March 2010
11	Las Piedras		km^2	Gustavo González (FA)	15 March 2010
12	Los Cerrillos		km^2	Néstor Roncio (FA)	15 March 2010
13	Migues		km^2	Nahuel Jorge (PN)	15 March 2010
14	Montes		km^2	Rodolfo Salvarrey (PN)	15 March 2010
15	Pando		km^2	Alcides Pérez (FA)	15 March 2010
16	Parque del Plata		km^2	Tania Vecchio (FA)	15 March 2010
17	Paso Carrasco		km^2	Verónica Veiga (FA)	15 March 2010
18	Progreso		km^2	Claudio Duarte (FA)	15 March 2010
19	Salinas		km^2	Óscar Montero (FA)	15 March 2010
20	San Antonio		km^2	Damaso Pani (PN)	15 March 2010
21	San Bautista		km^2	Roberto Siriani (PN)	15 March 2010
22	San Jacinto		km^2	Cristian Ferraro (PN)	15 March 2010
23	San Ramón		km^2	Gonzalo Melogno (PN)	15 March 2010
24	Santa Lucía		km^2	Leonardo Mollo (FA)	15 March 2010
25	Santa Rosa		km^2	Ramiro Azor (FA)	15 March 2010
26	Sauce		km^2	Juan Ottonello (PN)	15 March 2010
27	Soca		km^2	Roberto Rodríguez (PN)	15 March 2010
28	Suárez		km^2	Carlos Nalerio (FA)	15 March 2010
29	Tala		km^2	Leonardo Pérez (PN)	15 March 2010
30	Toledo		km^2	José Gini (FA)	15 March 2010

Cerro Largo

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation ^[5] ^[6]	-	1			km^2	Javier Rodríguez (PN)	22 March 2013	-	2			km^2	Luis Seguí (PN)	22 March 2013	-	3			km^2	José Eduardo Lucas (PN)	22 March 2013	-	4			km^2	Daniel Cegade (PN)	25 October 2018	-	5			km^2	Juan Nery dos Santos (PN)	25 October 2018	-	6			km^2	Humberto Allende (PN)	25 October 2018	-	7			km^2	Pablo Nauar (PN)	15 March 2010	-	8			km^2	Favio Freire (PN)	22 March 2013	-	9			km^2	Víctor Noda (PN)	25 October 2018	-	10			km^2	Eduardo Fernández (PN)	22 March 2013	-	11			km^2	Héctor Ortiz (PN)	25 October 2018	-	12			km^2	Durmen Menchaca (PN)	22 March 2013	-	13			km^2	Christian Morel (PN)	15 March 2010	-	14			km^2	Carlos González (PN)	25 October 2018	-	15			km^2	Macarena Da Rosa (PN)	22 March 2013

Colonia

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-	1			km^2	Alicia Espíndola (PN)	15 March 2010	-	2			km^2	Andrés Malan (PN)	22 March 2013	-	3			km^2	Alfredo Sánchez (PN)	22 March 2013	-	4			km^2	Arturo Bentancor (FA)	15 March 2010	-	5			km^2	Walter Eduardo Miranda	26 October 2018	-	6			km^2	María Elena Martin (PN)	26 October 2018	-	7			km^2	Marcelo Alonso (PN)	15 March 2010	-	8			km^2	Agustín Callero (PN)	15 March 2010	-	9			km^2	Marcelo Castro (PN)	22 March 2013	-	10			km^2	Pablo Maciel (PN)	15 March 2010	-	11			km^2	Dany Pérez (PN)	15 March 2010

Durazno

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-				km^2	Carlos Luberriga (PN)	15 March 2010	-				km^2	Fernando Rodríguez (PN)	15 March 2010

Flores

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-				km^2	Agustín Musa (PN)	15 March 2010

Florida

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-	1			km^2	Luis Oliva Monfort (PN)	15 March 2010	-	2			km^2	Stella Tucuna (PN)	15 March 2013 ^[7]	-	3			km^2	Cayetano Stopingi (PN)	15 March 2010

Lavalleja

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-	1			km^2	Pablo Patiño (PN)	27 March 2015	-	2			km^2	Martín Rezk (PN)	15 March 2010	-	3			km^2	Francisco de la Peña (PN)	24 October 2018	-	4			km^2	Verónica Machado (PN)	15 March 2010

Maldonado

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-	1			km^2	Ernesto San Román (PN)	15 March 2010	-	2			km^2	Nazareno Lazo (PN)	15 March 2010	-	3			km^2	Andrés Rapetti (PN)	15 March 2010	-	4			km^2	Alejandro Echavarria (PN)	15 March 2010	-	5			km^2	René Graña (PN)	15 March 2010	-	6			km^2	Javier Carballal (PN)	15 March 2010	-	7			km^2	Carlos Pereyra (PN)	15 March 2010	-	8			km^2	Patricia Martínez (PN)	15 March 2010

Montevideo

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-	1			km^2	Jorge Meroni (FA)	15 March 2010	-	2			km^2	Silvana Pissano (FA)	15 March 2010	-	3			km^2	Jorge Cabrera (FA)	15 March 2010	-	4			km^2	Matilde Antía (PN)	15 March 2010	-	5			km^2	Gabriel Velazco (FA)	15 March 2010	-	6			km^2	Mercedes Ruiz (PN)	15 March 2010	-	7			km^2	Juan López (PN)	15 March 2010	-	8			km^2	Leticia de Torres (FA)	15 March 2010

Paysandú

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-	1			km^2	Milton Laurencena (PN)	21 March 2013	-	2			km^2	Martín Álvarez (PN)	15 March 2010	-	3			km^2	Graciela Barrutte (PN)	21 March 2013	-	4			km^2	Jhonn Cáceres (PN)	21 March 2013	-	5			km^2	Ramiro Ayende (PN)	15 March 2010	-	6			km^2	Silbia Visoso (PN)	15 March 2010	-	7			km^2	Ricardo Soares (PN)	21 March 2013

Río Negro

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-	1			km^2	Hernán Godoy (PN)	15 March 2010	-	2			km^2	Washington Laco (PN)	22 March 2013	-	3			km^2	Inés Long (PN)	15 March 2010

Rivera

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-	1			km^2	José González (PC)	15 March 2010	-	2			km^2	Luciano Viera (PC)	15 March 2010	-	3			km^2	Luis Alberto Coutinho (PN)	15 March 2010

Rocha

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-	1			km^2	Juan Manuel Olivera (PN)	15 March 2010	-	2			km^2	Eduardo Calabuig (PN)	15 March 2010	-	3			km^2	Sergio Muniz (FA)	15 March 2010	-	4			km^2	Víctor Larrosa (PN)	15 March 2010

Salto

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-	1			km^2	Luis Zuliani (FA)	15 March 2010	-	2			km^2	Antonio Tejeira (PN)	15 March 2010	-	3			km^2	Rosita Moreno (FA)	15 March 2010	-	4			km^2	Sandra Toncobitz (PC)	15 March 2010	-	5			km^2	Santiago Dalmao (FA)	15 March 2010	-	6			km^2	Carlos Souto (FA)	15 March 2010

San José

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-	1			km^2	Marianita Fonseca (PN)	15 March 2010	-	2			km^2	Leonardo Giménez (PN)	22 March 2013	-	3			km^2	Matías Santos (PN)	15 March 2010	-	4			km^2	Norberto Zunino (PN)	22 March 2013

Soriano

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-	1			km^2	Ruben Valentín (PN)	15 March 2010	-	2			km^2	Juan Oronoz (PN)	15 March 2010	-	3			km^2	Washington Loitey (PN)	27 March 2015	-	4			km^2	Juan Vincon (PN)	27 March 2015

Tacuarembó

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-	1			km^2	Ana Isabel Camejo (PN)	27 March 2015	-	2			km^2	Luis Irigoin (PN)	15 March 2010	-	3			km^2	Asdrúbal Rodríguez (PN)	15 March 2010

Treinta y Tres

	Municipality	Population	Area	Major	Foundation	-	1			km^2	Elías Javier Fuentes (PN)	22 December 2017	-	2			km^2	Nidia Vera (PN)	22 December 2017	-	3			km^2	Eduardo Gonzales (PN)	22 December 2017	-	4			km^2	Pablo Echevarría (PN)	15 March 2010	-	5			km^2	José González (PN)	15 March 2010	-	6			km^2	Analía Larrañaga (PN)	22 December 2017

External links

• Ley Nº 18.644 del 12 de febrero de 2010
• Ley Nº 18.653 del 15 de marzo de 2010
• Listado y ubicación de los Municipios en Uruguay - Oficina de Planeamiento y Presupuesto
• Alcaldes y alcaldesas asumen en los 125 Municipios de Uruguay - Elecciones 2020
• Mapa de los municipios de Montevideo
• El Observador: Recorrido por las alcaldías del Departamento de Montevideo
• Corte Electoral- Resultados de las elecciones generales-locales 2010

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ley N° 18567 . 2022-08-28 . www.impo.com.uy.
2. Web site: Ley N° 19272 . 2022-08-28 . www.impo.com.uy.
3. Web site: Alcaldes y Alcaldesas asumieron en los 125 Municipios de Uruguay . 30 November 2020. Office of Planning and Budget. 10 December 2020. es.
4. Web site: Ley N° 18653. es. IMPO. 27 July 2022.
5. Web site: DECRETO Nº 11/13. es. Junta Departamental de Cerro Largo. 2023-03-28.
6. Web site: DECRETO N.º 29/2018. es. Junta Departamental de Cerro Largo. 2023-03-28.
7. Web site: DECRETO JDF Nº 06/2013. es. Departmental Board of Florida. 2023-05-08.