Progressive. Stable. Developed. Perhaps not words that come to mind first when you think about Uruguay, but definitely terms that apply to this small, South American country.

It is the least corrupt country in South America and since the last dictator left in 1985, the country has made incredible progress. It’s ranked first in the region for democracy, peace, quality of living and lack of corruption. The press is free, people feel secure and things are looking great in terms of future developments.

Uruguay’s president donates 90% of his salary to charity and the government provided all students in the country with a laptop and free Internet. It was also the first country in South America to establish a welfare state.

But there are more reasons to consider calling Uruguay your next home. The climate is very friendly and extreme weather is rare. Public transport is well organised, people are friendly, it’s quiet and local produce is often organic. People live a healthy lifestyle and appreciate their diverse and beautiful environment. The official language is Spanish and people generally don’t speak English or other languages so learning the language is definitely a must.

Education is highly valued in Uruguay and it is the best-educated nation on the continent with the highest literacy rate. Business culture will quickly reveal itself at work, where it is common for people to touch each other’s shoulders or arms when they talk and stand close to each other. Meetings are generally very formal but rarely start on time.