República Oriental del Uruguay

Political Status: Independent state proclaimed in 1825; republic established in 1830; presidential-congressional system reinstated on March 1, 1985, supplanting military-controlled civilian government in power since February 1973.

Area: 68,037 sq. mi. (176,215 sq. km.).

Population: 3,241,003 (2004C); 3,326,000 (2007E). The 2004 figure excludes and the 2006 figure includes an adjustment for underenumeration.

Major Urban Center (2005E): MONTEVIDEO (1,265,000).

Official Language: Spanish.

Monetary Unit: Uruguayan Peso (market rate November 1, 2008: 23.08 pesos = $1US).

President: Dr. Tabaré Ramón VÁZQUEZ Rosas (Progressive Encounter– Broad Front); elected on October 31, 2004, and inaugurated on March 1, 2005, for a five-year term, succeeding Jorge BATLLE Ibáñez (Colorado Party).

Vice President: Rodolfo NIN Novoa (Progressive Encounter–Broad Front); elected on October 31, 2004, and inaugurated on March 1, for a term ...