What South American country has Montevideo as its capital?

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The South American country with Montevideo as its capital is Uruguay. Montevideo sits on the northern shore of the Río de la Plata and is both Uruguay's capital and its largest city.

The city is the country's political, economic, and cultural center. Its location gives Uruguay an important Atlantic-facing port, and Montevideo has long been closely connected to trade, immigration, and the wider Río de la Plata region. The city also contains historic districts such as Ciudad Vieja, known for colonial-era buildings and landmarks.

Uruguay is bordered by Argentina to the west and southwest and Brazil to the north and northeast. It is sometimes confused with Paraguay because both are relatively small South American countries, but Paraguay's capital is Asunción. Another useful distinction is that Montevideo is a city, while Uruguay is the sovereign country whose government is based there.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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