About Uruguay (Please refer to the Internet for a more in-depth overview)
Capital City
The capital city is Montevideo.
Currency
The currency in Uruguay is the Uruguayan peso (UYU). There are plenty of currency
exchange locations throughout Montevideo and the big cities, but you should convert
your money before going to a smaller town, just in case there isn’t one.
Language
Spanish is the official language, and most Uruguayans speak some English, but you
shouldn’t expect very fluid communication. The best way is to learn some basic Spanish
phrases to get around with, and brace yourself for many hand gestures. Uruguayans will
graciously try to understand and talk to you with great patience and politeness, as these
qualities are characteristic of this welcoming nation.
Religion
Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, non-denominational 23.2%,
Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1%.
Location and size
Uruguay is the second-smallest country in South America. It has an area of 176,220
square kilometres, extending 555 kilometres north to south and 504 kilometres east to
west. This tiny country is squashed between Brazil in the north/north-west and
Argentina in the west.
Population
The population of Uruguay is approximately ý3,802,000, with a population density of
21.4. Consequently, Uruguay has one of the most homogeneous populations in South
America; the most common ethnic backgrounds are those from Spain and Italy, i.e.
Spanish Uruguayans and Italian Uruguayans.