Arab Uruguayans (Arabic: عرب أوروغواي), are Uruguayan of Arab ethnic, citizens or residents whose ancestry traces back to any of various waves of immigrants from the Arab world, Mostly from Lebanon and Syria.
Total population | |
---|---|
over 50,000 descendants (2% of total population)[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Montevideo, Chuy | |
Languages | |
Uruguayan Spanish, Arabic | |
Religion | |
Christians (majority) and Islam (minority) |
Arab Uruguayans originated mainly from what is now Lebanon (of which there may be over 50,000 descendants[1][2]). There are also individuals from other Arab countries such as Egypt, Syria, Morocco and Palestine.
Most Uruguayans of Arabic descent are Christians, with some Muslim minorities.[1] There was also a small influx of Arab Jews, who have since lost their Arab cultural identity.
Arab Uruguayans are among the smallest Arab diaspora groups in the world. There are some 500 Arab-speaking people in the border towns of Chuy and Rivera.[1]
Lately there are two noticeable trends: