[1] The Portuguese arrived in Uruguay around the time of the Spanish colonial period.
Later Portuguese arrivals included pirates in conflict with Spanish leadership; Colonia del Sacramento, established by the Portuguese in 1680,[2] which eventually turned into a regional center of smuggling, is a notable example of those ages.
During the second half of the 19th century and part of the 20th, several additional Portuguese immigrants arrived; the last wave was during 1930–1965.
Actual figures may be higher because it is not mandatory for Portuguese citizens to notify their embassy upon moving abroad.
In addition to Portuguese citizens, there are also many luso-descendants (lusodescendentes) whose numbers are hard to estimate.