Why Are There So Many Armenians in Uruguay and Argentina?

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]The Peruvian national team had a Uruguayan coach, but of Armenian origin.

[00:00:04]Despite the great geographical distance and the limited cultural connection, there are about 20,000 Armenians in Uruguay and around 100,000 in Argentina.

[00:00:12]The first wave of Armenian immigration to the Rio de la Plata occurred in 1915 during the genocide perpetrated by the Young Turks. Although most chose to flee to nearby countries in Europe, others feared that the Ottomans would win the war and preferred to go farther away.

[00:00:27]The United States was the main destination in the Americas, but at that time, Argentina and Uruguay, neutral [music] peaceful countries that made it easy to obtain visas, were also prosperous nations [music] thanks to the export of meat and grains. After settling, Armenians in the Rio de la Plata region formed community networks that helped more Armenians arrive. In 1965, Uruguay was the first country to recognize the Armenian genocide, and the Montevideo Council recognized the independence of the now-defunct Artsakh.