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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of Paraguay



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Paraguay Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War of 1932-35, Paraguay won large, economically important areas from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since then.
   Geography    Paraguay Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
South America
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 406,750 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 3,995 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 7.47%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 92.29% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
670 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
336 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 0.49 cu km/yr (20%/8%/71%)
per capita: 80 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country
   People    Paraguay Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,831,306 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 36.9% (male 1,283,311/female 1,240,769)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 1,988,256/female 1,968,869)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 161,811/female 188,290) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 21.7 years
male: 21.5 years
female: 22 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.39% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
28.47 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 25.55 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 29.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 75.56 years
male: 72.99 years
female: 78.26 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.8 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
600 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2008)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4% of GDP (2004)
   Government    Paraguay Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
constitutional republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Asuncion
geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
promulgated 20 June 1992
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15 August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15 August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 20 April 2008 (next to be held April 2013)
election results: Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez elected president; percent of vote - Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez 40.8%, Blanca OVELAR 30.6%, Lino OVIEDO 21.9%, Pedro FADUL 2.4%, other 4.3%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 15, PLRA 14, UNACE 9, PPQ 4, other 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 30, PLRA 27, UNACE 15, PPQ 3, APC 2, other 3
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges appointed on the proposal of the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Alianza Patriotica por el Cambio (Patriotic Alliance for Change) or APC [Fernando LUGO]; Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Jose Alberto ALDERETE]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana]; Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella]; Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Emilio CAMACHO Paredes]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Blas LLANO]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Coordinating Board of Campesino Organizations or MCNOC [Luis AGUAYO]; National Federation of Campesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA]; National Workers Central or CNT [Secretary General Juan TORRALES]; Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT [Jorge Guzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo]
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
CAN (associate), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmers
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
Ambassador Liliana AYALDE
embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
FAX: [595] (21) 228-603
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
   Economy    Paraguay Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. This sector features both reexport of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population, especially in rural areas, derives its living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. On a per capita basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty, corruption, limited progress on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure. The economy rebounded between 2003 and 2007, posting modest growth each year, as growing world demand for commodities combined with high prices and favorable weather to support Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$26.7 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$10.87 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.6% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4,000 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 22.7%
industry: 17.6%
services: 59.7% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.787 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 31%
industry: 17%
services: 52% (2007)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.6% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 46.1% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
56.8 (2008)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
18.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $2.159 billion
expenditures: $2.042 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
27% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25.03% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.943 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.368 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.457 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-1% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
70 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
64 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
27,410 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2007)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25,940 bbl/day (2007)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (1 January 2007 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$119 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$5.463 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood, leather
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Argentina 28.1%, Uruguay 15.2%, Brazil 12.7%, Chile 5.9%, Germany 4.9%, Russia 4.5% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$6.094 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery, tractors, chemicals, vehicle parts
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Brazil 30.4%, US 22.8%, Argentina 14.4%, China 8.6% (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.463 billion (31 December 2007)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3.492 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.057 million (2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$233.8 million (2005)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
guarani (PYG)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
guarani (PYG) per US dollar - 5,031 (2007), 5,672.8 (2006), 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3 (2003)
   Communications    Paraguay Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
453,800 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.33 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching center is in Asuncion
domestic: the fixed-line market is a state monopoly; deficiencies in provision of fixed-line service have resulted in a rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services fostered by competition among multiple providers
international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 41, FM 121, shortwave 6 (3 inactive) (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
5 (2007)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.py
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
19,691 (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
280,000 (2007)
   Transportation    Paraguay Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
838 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 825
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 267
under 914 m: 532 (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 36 km
standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 29,500 km
paved: 14,986 km
unpaved: 14,514 km (2000)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,100 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 23
by type: cargo 18, carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Argentina 5, Netherlands 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
   Military    Paraguay Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation, Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Paraguay, FAP) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 1,589,873
females age 16-49: 1,585,573 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 1,327,730
females age 16-49: 1,356,989 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 72,109
female: 70,509 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1% of GDP (2006 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Paraguay Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, and Europe; weak border controls, extensive corruption and money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


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