Swiss Uruguayans are Uruguayan citizens of full or partial Swiss ancestry, who remain culturally connected to Switzerland, or Swiss-born people permanently residing in Uruguay. They are estimated to be around 60,000.

History In 1860, the Basel bank of Siegrist und Fender purchased farm land in Uruguay. It was not long before the first Swiss citizens moved to Uruguay with the goal of working the land as farmers, where they founded the colony of Nueva Helvecia around 1862.

As of 2008, there were 956 people with Swiss passports residing in Uruguay.

Notable Swiss Uruguayans Past José Belloni (1882–1965), sculptor Roque Gastón Máspoli (1917–2004), football player and coach Juan José Morosoli (1899–1959), writer Bernardo Poncini (1814–1874), architect Present Rodrigo Bentancur (born 1997), footballer Julián Schweizer (born 1998), surfer Matías Vitkieviez (born 1985), footballer Walter Zimmer (born 1945), physician and politician

See also

Nueva Helvecia Switzerland–Uruguay relations Austrian Uruguayans French Uruguayans German Uruguayans Italian Uruguayans

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