Location:
South America, to the South of Brazil.

Neighbouring areas:
To the north and northeast, Uruguay borders with Brazil, to the southeast with the Atlantic Ocean, to the south with the River Plate and to the west, with Argentina.

Surface:
176.215 km2; about 4 times Switzerland's surface.

Capital City:
Montevideo, about 1.400.000 habitants.

Administrative Districts:
19 Departments.

Population:
3.300.000 habitants (1998 census). Population distribution: 91% in the cities, 9% in the countryside.

Ethnic groups:
88% of uruguayans are of european descent - 8% are of mixed races - 4% of african descent.

Language:
Spanish.

Religion:
66% Roman Catholic - 34% other religions.

History:
Uruguay belonged to Spain during colonial times, and together with Argentina and Paraguay made up the River Plate Viceroyalty during several decades. These three countries are still termed the Plate States. At the beginning of the nineteenth century the first struggles for independence began, and twenty years later independence was declared in Uruguay with the aid of General José Gervasio Artigas - the country's national hero. In 1825 the democratic and independent Eastern Republic of Uruguay (Republic to the east of the Uruguay River) was established, which after some comings and goings along the years, has existed since 1967 as a presidential republic.