Armenians began to settle in Uruguay in the early 19th century. Since 1912, a significant number from Marash, Kessab, Ayntap, Zeytun, and Kesaria settled in Montevideo. The community began to form in the 1920s when large groups of Armenian refugees who survived the Armenian Genocide and took asylum in the Middle East, moved to Uruguay. 

Currently, the number of Uruguayan-Armenians varies between 15,000 and 20,000. Armenians are mainly concentrated in Montevideo, with few families in the city of Piriápolis.

In Uruguay, the Armenian community officially represents the Central Administrative Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church. They have one Apostolic, one Catholic, and two Evangelical churches with two-day schools. The Armenian national parties (ARF, SDHP, ADL) are locally involved with their patriotic, charitable, cultural, and youth unions/clubs. The majority of Armenians are engaged in trade and crafts, with a large number of entrepreneurs (shoe factory owners, wholesalers), lawyers, doctors, accountants, engineers, civil servants, and cultural figures.

In addition, Armenians are active in political life. Lilian Keshishyan, of Armenian descent, has been the Minister of Sports and Tourism of Uruguay since 2012.

In the arts, there are Armenian dance groups, choirs, orchestras, and theater groups in Uruguay. Also, there are three broadcasted Armenian radio stations and one published newspaper. 

In one of the central squares of Montevideo, a monument called “Armenia” is erected to honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The adjacent coastal avenue is called "Rambla-Armenia" with another square in the coastal city of Piraeus called "Armenia".

Uruguay was the first country to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide in 1965, declaring April 24 "Armenian Martyrs' Remembrance Day".