9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)
Religions
Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)
Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and unspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census)
Languages
Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%
machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products
External Debt
$2,245,000,000 $
$125,900,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
guarani (PYG) per US dollar - 4,337.7 (2008 est.), 5,031 (2007), 5,672.8 (2006), 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6 (2004)
lei (RON) per US dollar - 2.5 (2008 est.), 2.43 (2007), 2.809 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.500%
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
8
Location
Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine
Area
406,752 km sq
238,391 km sq
Coastline
0 km
225 km
Climate
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
