Reducing Poverty: The Commitment of the Uruguayan Government

By María Josefina Arce

On March 1, when Yamandú Orsi of the leftist Broad Front took office as president of Uruguay, he stated that he would seek to reverse urgent problems during his term, one of which is poverty, which strongly impacts various sectors, especially children.

This is a major challenge for the new government since an updated report by the National Institute of Statistics revealed that the poverty rate in the South American country is higher than previously estimated.

The data, which indicates that 17.3 percent of the Uruguayan population will be affected by this scourge in 2024, was calculated using the methodology and basket of goods and services created in 2017. Previously, the methodology and basket of goods and services used as a reference were those from 2006, which experts have qualified as outdated.

The new data reaffirm that the younger population suffers the most from insufficient income. Specifically, 32.2% of children under six years of age live in poverty, a figure that has impacted society.

From ages six to 12, 28.1% are affected, while 27.5% are affected among those aged 13 to 17.

Therefore, one of the government's priorities is to address this situation. As Orsi stated in his inaugural speech, "A country that does not take care of its children does not take care of itself."

He also pointed out that there are no poor children without poor adults, who must have access to the labor market with decent wages and social security benefits.

The authorities have also pointed out that special attention is required for female-headed households, where poverty stood at 16.1% in 2024.

The new government is seeking to realign state resources to effectively carry out its social policies while studying new proposals.

As it has promised, the government is committed to achieving a significant reduction in poverty, particularly among children, over the next five years.