FACTBOX-Facts about Uruguay

Oct 25 - A conservative former president and an ex-guerrilla fighter face off in Uruguay's presidential election on Sunday, both vowing to maintain market-friendly policies that have made it one of the region's most stable economies.

Jose Mujica, a left-wing senator and former guerrilla leader, is leading polls but he is not expected to win enough votes in the first round to avoid a run-off against his main rival, center-right former President Luis Lacalle. [ID:nN25153539]

Here are some facts about Uruguay:

* Bordered by large neighbors Argentina and Brazil, small Uruguay has a population of 3.3 million and about 2.56 million people are eligible to vote on Sunday.

* Uruguay used to be dubbed the "Switzerland of South America" because it had higher living standards than most neighboring countries, lower rates of illiteracy and more progressive social legislation.

* High inflation and surging unemployment in the 1960s sparked political turmoil with Marxist Tupamaro guerrillas fighting an armed campaign against the government and business. A military dictatorship ruled the country from 1973 to 1985.

* Uruguay's main exports are beef and other farm goods, making it vulnerable to sharp changes in global commodities prices. It suffered one of its worst crises in 2002 due to an economic meltdown in neighboring Argentina.

* Uruguay was one of the first countries in Latin America to establish a welfare system and the first Latin American country to allow gay couples to adopt. The government also lifted a ban on homosexuals serving in the armed forces.