Croatian Uruguayans

Croatian Uruguayans
Hrvati u Urugvaju (Croatian)
Croata-uruguayos (Spanish)
Croatian monument in Punta del Este
Total population
3,300–5,000
Regions with significant populations
Montevideo · Colonia
Languages
Rioplatense Spanish · Croatian
Religion
Christianity (predominantly Catholicism)
Related ethnic groups

Croatian Uruguayans are Croat migrants to Uruguay and their descendants. The first Croats reached the Río de la Plata region during the second half of the 18th century; the biggest inflow of immigrants was mostly during the first half of the 20th century. They established their own institutions, such as the Croatian Home. According to estimates from the United Nations, there are some 3,300 people of Croat descent living in Uruguay, whereas other estimates place the figure at around 5,000. In 2006, author and politician Eduardo R. Antonich published the monograph Hrvatska i Hrvati u Urugvaju (English: Croatia and Croats in Uruguay), which explores the history of the Croatian community within Uruguay.