Spanish Uruguayans

Spanish Uruguayans (Spanish: hispano-uruguayos) are Uruguayans whose ancestry originates wholly or partly from Spain. They are the longest-established European group in the country, as Spanish immigrants began arriving during the colonial period, prior to independence, when administrative roles were held by European-born settlers and criollos under Spanish rule. Along with the massive waves of immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries, it is estimated that around 70% of the Uruguayan population has Spanish ancestry to varying degrees.

Following independence, Spaniards—together with Italians—were the principal source of immigration from the mid-19th century onward, forming a foundational pillar of modern Uruguayan culture and society. In relative terms, Uruguay received the highest number of Spanish immigrants in proportion to its population.