Uruguayan Venezuelans are people born in Uruguay who live in Venezuela, or Venezuelan-born people of Uruguayan descent. Modern estimates put the figure of Uruguayans in Venezuela at ca. 9,000.[1]
Many Uruguayan-born persons live in Venezuela, for a number of reasons. Both countries share the Spanish language; the historical origins of both nations is common (part of the Spanish Empire until the early 19th century); Venezuela has a bigger economy, which attracted Uruguayans in search of opportunities; and, from the political point of view, during the civic-military dictatorship of Uruguay (1973-1985) Venezuela remained democratic, so some Uruguayans went into exile in Venezuela. However, in recent years of Chavismo, some have returned to Uruguay.[2]
Uruguayan residents in Venezuela have their own institutions, for instance, the Uruguayan-Venezuelan Center[3] and the Consultative Council in Caracas.[4]
