Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil.
Land Area: 176,220 square kilometers (68,039 sq. miles)
Coastline: 660 km (410 miles)
Highest Point: Cerro Catedral 514 meters ( 1,686 feet)
Lowest Point: 0 meters (Atlantic Ocean)
Notable Landmarks: Take a peek...

Uruguay's well-to-do economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, and high levels of social spending. After averaging growth of five percent annually during 1996-98, in 1999 to 2002 the economy suffered a major downturn, stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problems of its large neighbors. For example, in 2001 to 2002, massive withdrawals by Argentina of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks led to a plunge in the value of the Uruguayan peso. Unemployment rose to nearly 20 percent in 2002, inflation surged and the external debt doubled. Cooperation with the International Monetary Fund and the U.S. has limited the damage. The economy is expected to resume growth in 2004 (perhaps four percent or more) as a result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, the weakness of the dollar against the euro, growth in the region, low international interest rates, and great export competitiveness.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $32.96 billion (2005 est.)
GDP Per Capita: $9,600 (2005 est.)
Number of Workers: 1.52 million (2005 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 12.2% (2005 est.)
Industries: Food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals and beverages.
Currency: Uruguayan peso (UYU)

Type of Government: Constitutional Republic
Head of State: Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005)
Head of Government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005)
Capital City: Montevideo
Legal Age to Vote: 18
Flag Design: Nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy.
Official Language: Spanish (official), Portunol or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier).
Religions: Roman Catholic 66%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, other or non-professing 31%.

A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement, the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to agree to military control of his administration in 1973. By year's end, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold throughout the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.