Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Uruguay
Uruguay: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 17.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Uruguay, 2000–2020
Source: World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, public sector employment as a share of total employment in Uruguay stood at 17.0%.
That represents a change of up 9.2% on the previous year and up 18.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public sector employment as a share of total employment in Uruguay peaked at 18.0% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 14.3%, in 2010.
Uruguay ranks 46th of 79 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Uruguay, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 17.2% | — |
| 2001 | 16.6% | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 17.9% | +7.8% |
| 2003 | 18.0% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 17.7% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 16.6% | -5.9% |
| 2006 | 15.7% | -5.9% |
| 2007 | 14.9% | -5.0% |
| 2008 | 14.9% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 14.3% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 14.3% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 14.4% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 14.8% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 14.9% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 14.7% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 15.0% | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 14.8% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 15.1% | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 15.6% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 17.0% | +9.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.4% | 14.3% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.8% | 14.3% | 15.6% | 9 |
| 2020s | 17.0% | 17.0% | 17.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More work & labour data for Uruguay
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.72 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0269 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,567 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 95.27 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,144 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,102 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 2,246 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is public sector employment as a share of total employment in Uruguay?
- Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Uruguay was 17.0% in 2020, according to World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 18.0% in 2003.
- What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.3% in 2010.
- How does Uruguay rank for public sector employment as a share of total employment?
- Uruguay ranks 46th out of 79 countries with data for 2020.
- Is public sector employment as a share of total employment rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uruguay data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Public sector employment as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of all employed people who are paid employees of the public sector, including government, the armed forces, public services, and state-owned enterprises.