Uruguayan Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Uruguay lies on the Atlantic coast of South America, between Argentina and Brazil, with Montevideo as its capital. Spanish is the official language. It is known for its beaches, its cattle ranches and its stable democracy. Uruguayans in Britain include students, professionals and families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 2,281 people living in the city had been born in South America, a group that includes Uruguay; and 976 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Hispanic or Latin American.

Working for Birmingham

Uruguayan residents work in fields such as business, education, healthcare and hospitality. Uruguay is a leader in renewable energy and technology in Latin America, and Uruguayan professionals bring those experiences to their work.

Birmingham is one of the youngest and most diverse cities in Europe, and its progress has always depended on people who chose to make it home. Its hospitals, schools and universities, its building sites, workshops, warehouses and kitchens all rely on skills brought from around the world. The Uruguayan community adds its own share to that effort, and takes pride in giving back to the city that welcomed it.

Culture and community life

Uruguay hosted and won the first football World Cup in 1930, and football remains a national passion. Candombe, a drumming tradition recognised by UNESCO, fills the streets at carnival, and mate and the asado are shared rituals of friendship.

The story of the Uruguayan community in Birmingham is still being written, by students, workers, parents and pensioners who call the city home. It is a story of hard work, friendship and quiet pride, and Birmingham is richer for it.